View Single Post
Old 10-25-2017, 07:06 PM   #1 (permalink)
Xist
Not Doug
 
Xist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Show Low, AZ
Posts: 12,230

Chorizo - '00 Honda Civic HX, baby! :D
90 day: 35.35 mpg (US)

Mid-Life Crisis Fighter - '99 Honda Accord LX
90 day: 34.2 mpg (US)

Gramps - '04 Toyota Camry LE
90 day: 35.39 mpg (US)

Don't hit me bro - '05 Toyota Camry LE
90 day: 30.49 mpg (US)
Thanks: 7,254
Thanked 2,229 Times in 1,719 Posts
Diesel in NASA's hydrogen fuel cell plane



Somehow people think that spoilers make cars aerodynamic. I have read many comments on here that downforce is drag.

Well, so is lift. NASA says that if we reduce the lift\drag on a plane at cruise, we drastically reduce the energy needed to propel it. Popular Mechanics explains that the huge wings are only needed for takeoff and landing, but the X-57 uses the six motors on each wing to provide lift on takeoff and landing, larger motors on each wingtip to actually propel the craft, and until battery technology improves, "you don't need hydrogen fuel to power a fuel cell—you can use diesel."

"The energy density of Hydrogen is 120MJ/kg. The energy density of gasoline is 31 MJ/liter × 3.8 liter/gallon = 117 MJ/gallon." Gasoline is 29/30ths as energy dense as diesel, so diesel is closer to hydrogen.

Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	gallery-1500485417-sceptor-water-nasa2.jpg
Views:	217
Size:	43.0 KB
ID:	22879  
  Reply With Quote