Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1998 21:14:27 -0500
Reply-To: "Robert A. Alexander" <satcong@VOL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: "Robert A. Alexander" <satcong@VOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Hydrogen powered?/FRIDAY
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Michael - I've had it with these confounded hydrocarbon-based engines!
My '85GL is into its second week of refitting with what I hope to be a
real hydrogen powered engine that will not only produce gobs of
pollution-free power, BUT will produced vast quantities of potable
drinking water at the same time!!!
I "lucked" into buying a Russian fuel-cell unit via a buddy of mine who
works for NASA at Cape Canaveral! Apparently, it was intended to make
the trip to the Russian "space station", but the Russians have decided
to abandon the station next year. It cost me $6,000. The damn thing
weighs only 200# and is capable of a continuous output of of 224VDC with
a power rating of 55KW and anything inbetween, depending upon hydrogen
flow!!! It doesn't take much to realize this is a potential of about
250 amps of current!
I found a dc motor, capable of 60HP at 200-250VDC, online from a
supplier, for about $3000, including shipping. I sent the specs to Joel
Walker, who is, I hope, busy fabricating the S.S. plate to mount the dc
motor to my Vanagon transmission. It WILL be a treat to NOT have to
worry about using a clutch, though!!!
The only problem I'm having, for now, though, is a dependable source of
hydrogen and the device which "chops" the voltage for acceleration
purposes! I just knew I should have bid on one of the all-electric
vehicles the TVA were using in their research projects about 10 years
ago! Their units were capable of handling about 30KW and they let
several of the vehicles go for $1000!!! Methinks the "chopper" unit
will run me that much or more.
Hydrogen sources are even more interesting, though. My current interest
is with NaH, or Sodium Hydride. The US Military uses canisters of CaH,
Calcium Hydride, in their portable hydrogen generators for field
launches of hydrogen balloons for, uh, weather readings. But, NaH seems
to be so much more efficient! "Powerballs",
http://www.powerball.net/inside/density/index.html , has been most
helpful in their quest to find serious folks who have the ability to
publicize the advantages in utilizing their product.
Westfalia dudes/dudettes ought to be especially interested in my
project! Just the potable, pure water generation should shake their
grates! Hell, one of my clients had his pickup truck converted to
burning propane about 15n years ago. He just had the engine rebuilt
last month and tells me the mechanic was amazed that there was NO carbon
buildup with his engine!!! As nasty as propane is, can you even imagine
just how non-polluting hydrogen-burning would be???
BOB - WA4RRN
'85GL
http://www.impeachment.org
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