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Isn't using any hydrocarbon going to give you the issue with pollution that gasoline does? You're not really solving any problems simply changing what hydrocarb

by mhurron 12y ago

Isn't using any hydrocarbon going to give you the issue with pollution that gasoline does? You're not really solving any problems simply changing what hydrocarbon you choose to burn.

korethr 12y ago
IMO, that would depend on the form the waste carbon is produced in, which would influence how it is disposed of. Taking a common hydrocarbon such as propane, and stripping all the hydrogens out of it will produce pure carbon. Last I checked, carbon tends to be a solid at standard pressure and temperature. AFAICT, the concern about carbon pollution is it ending up in the atmosphere in the form of gaseous compounds and messing with the complex feedback loops that regulate the climate. Solid carbon isn't going to do that very well.
Htsthbjig 12y ago
"Isn't using any hydrocarbon going to give you the issue with pollution that gasoline does" Not really. A fuel cell converts an hydrocarbon to C02. That's it. A thermal engine like a diesel creates particles like this: http://www.epa.gov/region1/eco/airtox/diesel.html http://www.epa.gov/region1/eco/airtox/diesel.html And the high temperatures creates nitrogen oxides that create acid rain. When you start a car, the catalyst converter needs 5 to 10 minutes to get enough temperature for starting to work.
Htsthbjig 12y ago
"You're not really solving any problems simply changing what hydrocarbon you choose to burn." You are solving lots of problems: 1-Lots of countries in the world have natural gas(or coal), but very few have oil.Just not depending on the petrodollar is a big plus as it would made countries more self reliant. 2-Reserves of natural gas are way higher than of oil. 3-If efficiency doubles, you need to spend half of it. 4-You can synthesize it artificially if you have C02, water, and energy.
jessaustin 12y ago
Hydrocarbons are not a monolith. Each different process using each different fuel produces a different mix of exhaust. This is why some (not all!) global warming aficionados prefer natural gas to coal, as they allege the former produces less warming than the latter. (I think we can stipulate that it produces less particulate pollution and smog.)

by mhurron 12y ago

Isn't using any hydrocarbon going to give you the issue with pollution that gasoline does? You're not really solving any problems simply changing what hydrocarbon you choose to burn.

korethr 12y ago

IMO, that would depend on the form the waste carbon is produced in, which would influence how it is disposed of. Taking a common hydrocarbon such as propane, and stripping all the hydrogens out of it will produce pure carbon. Last I checked, carbon tends to be a solid at standard pressure and temperature. AFAICT, the concern about carbon pollution is it ending up in the atmosphere in the form of gaseous compounds and messing with the complex feedback loops that regulate the climate. Solid carbon isn't going to do that very well.

Htsthbjig 12y ago

"Isn't using any hydrocarbon going to give you the issue with pollution that gasoline does" Not really. A fuel cell converts an hydrocarbon to C02. That's it. A thermal engine like a diesel creates particles like this: http://www.epa.gov/region1/eco/airtox/diesel.html http://www.epa.gov/region1/eco/airtox/diesel.html And the high temperatures creates nitrogen oxides that create acid rain. When you start a car, the catalyst converter needs 5 to 10 minutes to get enough temperature for starting to work.

Htsthbjig 12y ago

"You're not really solving any problems simply changing what hydrocarbon you choose to burn." You are solving lots of problems: 1-Lots of countries in the world have natural gas(or coal), but very few have oil.Just not depending on the petrodollar is a big plus as it would made countries more self reliant. 2-Reserves of natural gas are way higher than of oil. 3-If efficiency doubles, you need to spend half of it. 4-You can synthesize it artificially if you have C02, water, and energy.

jessaustin 12y ago

Hydrocarbons are not a monolith. Each different process using each different fuel produces a different mix of exhaust. This is why some (not all!) global warming aficionados prefer natural gas to coal, as they allege the former produces less warming than the latter. (I think we can stipulate that it produces less particulate pollution and smog.)