Ethanol is the perfect fuel for Fuel Cells

[JohnWxy]

http://running_on_alcohol.tripod.com/id30.html

A fuel cell is a device that can obtain 40 to 50% efficiency in conversion of a fuel into useable power (as opposed to approximately 18% efficiency for the average internal combustion engine). This technology is a by-product of the NASA space program, developed to provide a lightweight and efficient power source for use on manned space missions. Some fuel cells use specialized molecular sieves made of complex polymers with some type of anode/cathode properties , and others use expensive platinum catalysts. There are four main types available. Some use pure hydrogen as a fuel source to make electricity. Some are designed to run on propane, but may only have a membrane life expectancy of 3,000 hours (125 days). One of the main problems with any fuel cell is contamination of the membrane. So it seems like a great advantage, then, to use a fuel source which has been distilled and is 99.9999 % pure. The ideal fuel for a fuel cell is ethanol. Plus, this is a biologically derived fuel with no horrible byproducts.

[greenman3610]

1. a close friend with ties to the ag industry

tells me that the biproduct of ethanol production turns
out to be this goo that nobody has thought much about
while production was relatively low,...but recently
has been shown to be a potential polycarbon source
that could be used industrially in such ubiquitous products as
PVC. The cost is minimal, and industries are moving
to see who might cash in on this potential goldmine...

[Javaman]

2. Or would that be goomine....;) nt