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In reply to the discussion: The U.S. Navy Just Announced The End Of Big Oil And No One Noticed [View all]GliderGuider
(21,088 posts)15. Here's a sensible analysis of the claim
http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/navy-process-to-make-fuel-from-seawater/
It's just another limited utility process that requires enormous amounts of input energy to work. In an environment where electricity from low-carbon sources can be used directly (like using wind power on land) this process is pointless. The Navy is simply exploiting the unique set of circumstances and requirements presented by nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
The reason the navy is talking about jet fuel and testing the fuel on model planes, rather than talking about fuel for their ships, is that converting seawater into hydrocarbon fuel requires more energy than you get back. This is not a method for creating fuel, but rather for storing energy as fuel.
If you have a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, you still need jet fuel for all the jets. If, however, you can use that nuclear power to manufacture jet fuel, then you will be more self-sufficient.
If, however, your ship is fueled by oil, there is no utility to this process except to waste energy. Theoretically you could have solar or wind-power on board that you can then use to make fuel from seawater, but such a source of energy is unlikely to produce a significant amount of fuel at sea.
If you have a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, you still need jet fuel for all the jets. If, however, you can use that nuclear power to manufacture jet fuel, then you will be more self-sufficient.
If, however, your ship is fueled by oil, there is no utility to this process except to waste energy. Theoretically you could have solar or wind-power on board that you can then use to make fuel from seawater, but such a source of energy is unlikely to produce a significant amount of fuel at sea.
It's just another limited utility process that requires enormous amounts of input energy to work. In an environment where electricity from low-carbon sources can be used directly (like using wind power on land) this process is pointless. The Navy is simply exploiting the unique set of circumstances and requirements presented by nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
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The U.S. Navy Just Announced The End Of Big Oil And No One Noticed [View all]
Katashi_itto
Nov 2014
OP
We're already putting far more CO2 into the oceans than this could pull out
muriel_volestrangler
Nov 2014
#29
That actually won't be a problem due to the rising concentration of CO2 worldwide, due to human
AtheistCrusader
Nov 2014
#71
It went from 360 to 390 PPM in 10 years last decade. And this doesn't add to it.
AtheistCrusader
Nov 2014
#74
You say that as if over-saturating the oceans with CO2 doesn't have any consequences.
AtheistCrusader
Nov 2014
#81
Then Exxon and the other bastards are gonna charge you to truck sea water to your car.
Hoppy
Nov 2014
#5
That type of model engine runs on alcohol and possibly added nitromethane, not jet fuel or gasoline
Fumesucker
Nov 2014
#20
This is just too cool. Thanks for posting, I missed it when the news first broke.
RiverLover
Nov 2014
#8
That's true, and I think the earlier objections didn't mean 'greenhouse', specifically but some
AtheistCrusader
Nov 2014
#86
Nuclear power is almost like solar in that the $$$ cost of the fuel isn't what makes it expensive.
hunter
Nov 2014
#46
It would be cheaper for land transportation to use electricity from the nuclear plants
muriel_volestrangler
Nov 2014
#30
And water used in this process doesn't cease to exist. It goes right back into the hydrologic cycle
AtheistCrusader
Nov 2014
#72
The US could build desalination plants like much of the rest of the world
nationalize the fed
Nov 2014
#58
Ummm ... no, it didn't. It found an expensive way to convert one form of energy to another.
eppur_se_muova
Nov 2014
#37
The new Fuel Cell Cars allow for all the driving anyone wants to do
nationalize the fed
Nov 2014
#57
Yes, this is mainly a way to make nuclear aircraft carriers more self-sufficient
caraher
Nov 2014
#59