From Guest Blogger Mihai Grumazescu re: Zero Emission Vehicles
Craig: Why focus only on Zero Emissions? Turbocharged ICEs and even fuel cell EVs are consuming the oxygen we breathe. Taking care of GHG emissions is part of the solution – natural oxygen is also in short supply. Imagine all our vehicles will be fuel cell EVs. Will less oxygen and a more humid air make us live better? We may ask astronauts on Apollo 13.
Another side effect of large scale adoption of FCVEs and H2ICE vehicles is tail pipe liquid water release. In high traffic, this water will end up on our windshields, becoming a nuisance.
Roads will be wet all the time and icy in winter, regardless of precipitations.
The whole solution is: Zero Emissions and Air-intake (ZEA).
What I propose is a different kind of energy storage and a new model of electric mobility based on hydrogen fuel cells. Especially when using AFCs, this solution is highly sustainable, low cost and reliable. Compared to lithium batteries, it is 3-4 times better in energy and power density terms. Like batteries, during its life cycle, it exchanges only energy with the environment. Unlike batteries, the input energy is mainly mechanical.
Instead of being plugged in, the EV goes to a filling and recovery station (FRS) and trades in the content of its tank with freshly recharged electric liquid fuel (ELF). The operation will take the same time as filling a tank with gasoline. Consumers will not be asked to change habits. Old habits are a major obstacle in adopting new technologies!
Unlike fossil and bio-fuels, distribution is reduced at filling a network of FRSs just once. They will not be only point of sales but also automatic processing plants for recovery and recharge of the ELF. Discharged electrolytes are pumped out and charged electrolytes are pumped in the tank of the EV – in equal amounts, with no environmental footprint.
ELF may become the new after-oil fuel for electric mobility serving after-lithium generation of EVs.
This technology is based on a closed cycle electrochemical process using abundant raw materials. Its development takes advantage of solid science and mature technologies and components put to work synergistically. Hydrogen economy will make more sense if no hydrogen storage is required. During discharge, the “battery” is gassing internally producing hydrogen and oxygen gases used to feed a PEM or AFC fuel cell. Water and chemicals are fully recuperated to start a new cycle – a full ZEA solution.
The “four stroke” air-free closed cycle starts with what I called Kinetic Electrolysis. In this case, splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen does not consume electricity – it yields electricity! The energy input is mainly mechanical (pumping, braking, tide, gravity, etc.).
The international patent application can be viewed at:
http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?WO=2010066025
This technology is scalable, stationary applications from residential to grid stability and renewable energy storage being its low hanging fruits. Mainly wind farms can benefit from energy storage to curb natural limitations (wind variability) and unnatural limitations (curtailment due to transmission congestion). Wind turbines can be simplified by driving pumps instead of generators and produce ELF that can be either used in transportation or locally to serve AFC fuel cells and generate electricity on demand. Energy storage at GWh/4-8 hour size becomes feasible and economical due to low cost raw materials.
I would appreciate any advice on how to promote/commercialize this invention.
Sincerely yours,
Mihai Grumazescu
Electrical Engineer
Canada
E-mail: grumius@mail.com
