Technology Management, Inc. (TMI), a company in Ohio has created the world’s first kilowatt sized solid oxide fuel cell system that makes electricity from soy bean oil. This is pretty cool news for many, but may not bode well for the vegans and vegetarians out there. Yes, that’s right, these fuel cells are essentially gobbling down tofu, and the last time soybean oil was harvested for scientific research WWII was started. (Or it could have been when Germany invaded Poland…I can’t remember). Regardless, another war is the last thing we want on our hands, but if the vegans and the vegetarians unite against the farmers and the fuel cell companies, that is just what we will have. Battalions of farmers in armored mowers mowing down legions of Double V (W) troops, fuel cell plants laid siege for months, soybean fields burned to the ground, when will the madness stop??!!! Ahem…it looks like someone watched Gladiator last night…Â
Anyway, assuming this is the real world, (which I never do), I suppose this can only be good for the fuel cell industry. Plus, these are still in development stage, so they probably aren’t using enough soybeans to bother starting a war over. And speaking of development, the project got some contributions from USDA Biomass Initiative Program, the Ohio Soybean Council and Ohio’s Third Frontier Project. I everyone should thank the Ohio Soybean Council for sacrificing some of their own for the betterment of mankind…anyone get it? or too obscure?
Author’s Note:Â This article is VERY bizarre, even by my standards; I just don’t know what happened here.
User Page: ethan
Tofu Fuel Cells From Ohio!!!
October 10, 2007 – 5:06 pm
Special Ops Invests in Hydrogen Drone: Possibly Dangerous?
October 2, 2007 – 6:28 pm
Exciting news for those of you interested in airplanes and hydrogen, (so…everybody). The United States Special Ops has invested in a hydrogen powered drone plane. Oh boy!!! As some of you may know the Special Ops is in charge of the Navy SEALS, the Green Berets, and the Rangers (not the hockey team). They are also in charge of some less well known programs such as the 102nd Elephant Brigade, the Marines SMILEYFACES, the Army PumpkinPatch, and of course Jason Bourne.
The drone can travel for 5-7 days at altitudes around 60,000 feet. It was designed by AeroVironment, and sports the company’s large, but tastefully black logo on its wings. There are several theories flying around about the decision to use hydrogen. In January the government said, “Hydrogen power is a critical technology to achieve the long duration requirements of the UAS.” Others such as Dale from the trailer park down the way say it is just George W. Bush caving into “them yuppy liberals’” demands to make the war more green. Dale is an expert in his field…literally. (He grows tomatoes). Then there is Tim from the office next door who has “hard, undeniable evidence” that the plane is actually an H-bomb very sneakily disguised as a drone. Apparently, after seeking out a target it will eject its wings, and then plummet 60,000 ft and explode. Also, I guess there is an escape pod so the military gnomes flying inside can get safely away…Don’t necessarily take the frightening words of Tim to heart because he claims he is from Mercury, and that his mom was a banana. And come to think of it, I am not really sure if he works at the office; I think he actually lives in the box outside. These are some very intriguing theories though, and I tend to think I have an open mind, so will take them all into consideration before presenting a final report on the matter. For the purposes of this site, the important thing is that it is, in fact, powered by hydrogen. It seems everyone is seeing the value of alternative fuels, regardless of the reason.
Pee-on Batteries, the New Rage from Japan!!
September 20, 2007 – 6:19 pm
Aqua Batteries, based in Japan, has developed a snazzy new battery that runs off of various fluids, and yes, that does include urine. Hooray!!! This is just the product I have been waiting for. I can’t even count the number of times a flashlight, class clicker, or walkman, (and yes I DO know what an iPod is), has died right when I needed it, and I start thinking, “If only there was a way I could pee on it and make it work…I would never ask for anything again.” And FINALLY my prayers have been answered.
The NoPoPo battery has not only made this dream come true, but also has an endlessly entertaining name and comes with a package that displays an adorable, angry, yellow robot whose presence just screams, “BUY ME!!!” NoPoPo stands for Non-Pollution Power and is available in AA and AAA form. The batteries are re-chargeable but lose their peak power after the first charge, which means they can only be used three to five times. That’s not too bad, and they don’t contain any harmful chemicals or mercury so you are not faced with the usual panic attack when the need to dispose of them arrives. Instead of painstakingly searching for a place to recycle them, or hoarding them until a place to recycle them presents itself, or throwing them away and then feeling like you just nuked the Earth, simply place them in the trashcan and walk away knowing you are a wonderful person because you have a battery hat can run on pee. Disclaimer: peeing on batteries may have unwanted side affects, such as strange smell, loss of friends, unsanitary small appliances, and/or awkward dating situations. Please urinate wisely.
A Brand New Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bike
September 6, 2007 – 5:48 pm
A company in China just came out with a new hydrogen bike. The company, Shanghai Pearl Hydrogen Power Source Technology Co, unveiled its creation at the 9th China International Exhibition on Gas Technology, Equipment and Applications. How they have gone 9 years with a name that long, I have no idea. You would think they would have learned from The InterUniversal Meeting of Those Who Like to Attend Expositions in Foreign Countries and Star Systems, but are too Afraid to Leave Their Respective Houses (IUMTWLAEFCSSALRH). At any rate, the bike seems to be a bit of a hit at the show. They already have some orders for it, and for a cool $2,600; who could resist? Never fear, they expect to have the price down to about $500 as soon as they can start mass producing them. No word on when that will be, but have faith.
The bike is clearly superior to electric bikes…with the exception of the price tag it has right now. It runs on renewable hydrogen using a fuel cell. The tanks, conveniently located behind the seat for you convenience, take about half an hour to recharge, compared to a batteries three hours. The tanks are also significantly lighter than the standard lead batteries on electrics. I’ll have to check in with my research team, but preliminary guesses are pointing to the LEAD for the extra weight. It is a delicious snack, but lead is not all that practical when trying to reduce weight. The bikes have a cruising speed of about 15 mph, for about 60 miles. That’s pretty good, I mean it is no Lance Armstrong, but I doubt you could buy Lance to pedal you around for under $2,600.
Living Green on a Low Budget
September 5, 2007 – 8:06 pm
Living Green on a Low Budget? Hm. That sounds pretty impossible. I know I don’t have the money for a Prius or to install solar panels at home. Heck, I don’t even own a home. So, what kinds of things can you do on a smaller scale and on a bit more reasonable budget? Well, surprisingly enough, I have some pretty good ideas, most of which I actually do.
One of the best things to conserve is water. If you shower, which I recommend, turn it off when you are done. I know some people like to leave the shower running all day and night so they don’t have to adjust the temperature when they get back in for the next one. It’s just such a hassle!!! But, seriously, the extra twenty seconds or so it takes to readjust the temperature will save you a lot of money, and makes all that water available for other good things like…drinking or irrigating fields or washing your Excursion 8,000 times a day…oh wait, that’s wrong-well I am sure you get the idea. Also, I know this may be a stretch, but most washing machines hold more than one article of clothing, so when you do laundry try doing several days worth of clothes at once. I have also found that some of your outer clothes can stand to be worn twice without a wash, (and by twice I mean anywhere from 2 to 11 times). Don’t do this if you have been rolling in the mud all day, or even part of the day, someone is bound to notice.
Next on the agenda: electricity. Turn OFF the lights when you are not in the room. I know it’s weird, but just bear with me on this one. Some people will tell you that if a room is left in the dark for too long it will grow mold and monsters. This is mostly false. With the exception of Weegums, (creatures that feed on darkness), nothing will grow in the dark, and Weegums are easily eradicated. As soon as you turn on the light the next time you go in the room, the Weegums dissolve into oxygen. So, just turn off the lights. Another thing you, the savvy consumer, can do is buy CFLs. These bad boys cost a little more, but save you a ton of money on your energy bill over all. You don’t have to replace every bulb in the house right away…at least I won’t tell if you don’t. Just buy a pack, and as the old bulbs burn out, replace them with CFLs. There is a trace amount of mercury in them I believe, which some people have an objection to. There are recycling places for these bulbs, and each one lasts on average 10 years and I am sure there will be plenty of places to recycle them in 2017. And yes, mercury is dangerous, but if you avoid eating the bulbs you will be fine. Just give it a whirl, and if some thing goes wrong, feel free to leave a comment that says, “Hey, Ethan! You are an idiot. I put CFLs in my house, a wormhole opened to the 11th dimension, my kitty, Morsel, got sucked through, and now I can’t use my basement.†I will likely tell you that this is not due to the CFLs, but more likely it is the Continuum Warp Vacuum Indigo Drive the government installed under your house in the 1950’s activating itself. Hit more to continue>>>
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