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Hydrogen-powered plane takes off

Posted April 04, 2008 8:45 AM

From BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition:

The first manned, hydrogen-powered plane has been successfully tested in the skies above Spain, its makers say. The small, propeller-driven craft, developed by aviation giant Boeing, made three short flights at an airfield south of Madrid, the company said. It was powered by hydrogen fuel cells, which produce only heat and water as exhaust products. The tests could pave the way for a new generation of greener aircraft, the company said. Boeing's chief technology officer John Tracy said the flights were "a historical technological success" and "full of promises for a greener future".

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#1

Re: Hydrogen-powered plane takes off

04/05/2008 12:03 AM

<"The plane is non-polluting....The waste products are heat and water....">

An interesting set of conflicts, to be sure.

The only problems of using Hydrogen technology are:

  • Fire risk
  • Explosion risk
  • Refuelling station availability
  • Waste heat
  • Full process efficiency, because that Hydrogen has to be made from water, using electricity, and that electricity must be produced.....etc
  • Others...

No doubt about it, if Hydrogen Technology is going to be the new way to power cars/trucks/planes etc, all the problems will be easily overcome.

Kind Regards....

__________________
"The number of inventions increases faster than the need for them at the time" - SparkY
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#2
In reply to #1

Re: Hydrogen-powered plane takes off

04/05/2008 11:58 AM

All of those problems sound like gasoline problems, with the exception of the fact that the energy must be generated for electrolysis, or a similar process, rather than pumping oil out of the ground.

But I've heard that to get 1 gallon of gasoline, there are several used in the process to get it to you, so, all the "same" if that factor is taken into account.

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