The thermodynamics most people don't understand. As with most chemical reactions in nature, they can go two directions. A couple hydrogen molecules (H2) plus an oxygen (02) looks like this 2H2 + O2 ---> 2H2O
Just a little bit of activation energy sets these reactive and unstable molecules in motion and it goes from hydrogen and oxygen into a stable compund we know as water. Very strong, one-way reaction that gives off a lot of energy (exothermic) on it's way to being water.
The problem is that it takes that same amount of energy, plus a little extra, in reverse to break water back down into it's component hydrogen and oxygen (endothermic). The laws of thermodynamics are universal laws of physics. Science is trying to bend the laws. Still. Running machinery on water has been conceived since the beginning of machinery and to the public it appears it is currently happening, but things aren't always as they appear. You can't put more energy into a process than you ultimately generate. Otherwise you're in the negative and it is simply not sustainable.
I think it would be worth a Nobel prize to the person who defies physics and makes this truly profitable. I think metal catalysts hold hope, but it will still require an energy input to drive the backwards reaction. Right now, in autos, it is run from a 12V input, but the reaction is incredibly slow with that low an energy input. Create the catalyst alloy, you get to name it Wojonium.
Do you have 3/8, 14" titanium carving bars, Wojo? |