Navy is looking to use seawater as fuel...

[sarguy01]

US Navy: Converting Seawater Into Fuel a 'Game-Changer' | Defense News | defensenews.com

The Navy is researching using seawater to power their ships and planes.

[markweatherill]

I think we have the solution to the rising sea levels!

[redneck]

.

More information with a brief description of the process.

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=80171


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[Superfuelgero]

Chlorine?

[darcane]

While converting seawater to fuel is feasible, this is bordering on fodder for the Unicorn Corral, especially in the quotes from the Navy personnel.

1st Rule of Fight Club, er, Thermodynamics is that energy cannot be created. I think it's a safe bet that these "reactor systems" require a large input of energy (electricity?). I don't believe for a moment that they will be able to use this to create fuel without some outside source of energy.

Now, if they use it to fuel planes that take off from a nuclear powered ship, sure I can see that being useful.

[CapriRacer]

I'm with darcane. This just sounds wrong. I can see the dissolved CO2, but where is the hydrogen coming from? I'm not aware that there is dissolved H2 in water that can be extracted. And even then, there appears to be a process that requires the input of energy.

Al in all, this sounds like a less than zero sum game.

[bryn]

I just had the visual of a f-14 with a fish bowl style HHO system zip tied to the rudder

[darcane]

Originally Posted by CapriRacer

I'm with darcane. This just sounds wrong. I can see the dissolved CO2, but where is the hydrogen coming from? I'm not aware that there is dissolved H2 in water that can be extracted. And even then, there appears to be a process that requires the input of energy.

Al in all, this sounds like a less than zero sum game.

I presume electrolysis to break the water apart. Hence the abundant use of electricity...

[RustyLugNut]

Originally Posted by CapriRacer

I'm with darcane. This just sounds wrong. I can see the dissolved CO2, but where is the hydrogen coming from? I'm not aware that there is dissolved H2 in water that can be extracted. And even then, there appears to be a process that requires the input of energy.

Al in all, this sounds like a less than zero sum game.

But, that is not the point of the exercise. And, this is far from being a Unicorn tech.

Electricity is needed along with catalysts to power the reaction and the equipment. This has been doable in the lab for decades. The unique part of the NRL application is the use of certain catalysts that provide long chain (C7 and above) output instead of the usual methane. This allows for a possible drop in fuel for diesel and JP-8.

The electricity is problematical, but not overly so if you allow a unit compact enough to be placed on a nuclear powered ship with an abundance of excess electrical output or in-theater where an electrical grid is available. The wild-ass-guesstimate of 6-8 dollars a gallon is the point of the exercise.

Providing fuel to front line units and protecting that fuel all along the supply chain becomes very expensive. 60-80 dollars a gallon are numbers I have heard thrown around for JP-8 to the front. In some theaters, that number can hit 120 dollars a gallon. Providing fuel in theater cuts your costs dramatically even at $10 a gallon pricing. And, it provides you with greater security.

Looking forward, the technology can be widely applied to consumer markets when nuclear power-plants become common. The ability to turn excess electricity into liquid fuel during off peak hours will be invaluable.

Here is more discussion from Green Car Congress:

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2014...0408-navy.html

And a link to the NRL download of the 2010 paper:

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2014...0408-navy.html

[darcane]

Originally Posted by RustyLugNut

But, that is not the point of the exercise. And, this is far from being a Unicorn tech.

I get that. But that's not how the article is written.

Originally Posted by Vice Adm. Philip Cullom

We are in very challenging times where we really do have to think in pretty innovative ways to look at how we create energy

Sorry, energy is not created.

...researchers warn it will be at least a decade before US ships are able to produce their own fuel on board.

No ship will be producing fuel for itself. It will produce fuel by using its nuclear power plant for aircraft taking off from it or for other ships but not for itself.

As I read it, the rest of the article implies that ships will produce the fuel needed to power themselves. And I'm sorry, that is not going to happen.