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What stands out in this is that basically: if you want to make synthetic fuel for higher energy-density than batteries, synthetic propane or methane look better

• jabl 5y ago
  If you're going for a synthetic hydrocarbon, you might as well go for one which is liquid at normal operating temperatures, which makes logistics a lot easier.
  • rjmunro 5y ago
    So are liquid hydrocarbons as easy to synthesise as gas ones? (I genuinely have no idea, just wondering)
    • Robotbeat 5y ago
      No. Methane is the easiest hydrocarbon fuel to synthesize, although the CO2 capture requires some energy. The others require increasing amounts of CO2 for the same fuel energy and also have higher energy losses in synthesis and combustion. Ammonia has no CO2 requirement but the hydrogen to ammonia energy conversion process (Haber process) is slightly less efficient than that for methane (Sabatier).
      • jabl 5y ago
        From methane you can relatively easily produce methanol, which also has a relatively low ratio of carbon atoms vs others. Sure, not as energy dense as, say, kerosene, but an easy to handle liquid.
        • Robotbeat 5y ago
          That’s true, but that means losses.