Non fossil fuel propulsion

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by rob denney, Sep 10, 2011.

  1. upchurchmr
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    upchurchmr Senior Member

    Discovery,

    At the risk of staying of topic, I would also like to see the link on crash survivability.

    Just had a co-worker almost die due to removing his safety belt just before a crash. He was thrown into the dash between the airbags and is very slowly recovering from major damage.
    I know that is not a statistic, just one (hearsay to you) example.

    Thanks.
     
  2. thudpucker
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    thudpucker Senior Member

    algae diesel?
     
  3. rwatson
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    rwatson Senior Member

    I watched an agricultural program showing huge algae farms in western australia.

    At the moment, its not economical to make diesel from it - all their in come is selling the algae as food supplements,

    http://www.aurorainc.com/technology/facilities/karratha-facility/


    "Algae expert says biofuel boom still a pipedream
    Murdoch University Professor Michael Borowitzka.

    Professor Michael Borowitzka from Murdoch University's Algae Research and Development Centre says the production of biofuels is not yet cost-effective.

    His centre has studied about 400 algal strains in the last 15 years.

    It was part of a recent biofuel pilot study at Karratha and is involved in a joint venture building a demonstration plant at Whyalla in South Australia.

    Professor Borowitzka says biofuel can be produced for between 50 cents and 80 cents a litre.

    "There's great demand for renewable sustainable fuels, the challenge is to produce biofuel cost-effectively," Professor Borowitzka said.

    "It's still actually quite a long way away. We have to reduce the cost of production by at least a factor of 10.""

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-22/algae-farmers-spruik-potential-for-wa-biofuel-boom/4769326
     
  4. FAST FRED
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    FAST FRED Senior Member

    Science doesn't deal with certainty it deals with probablilities because the best current knowledge is always subject to change based on new information. That degree of uncertainty is no excuse for failing to take action today.


    Thats how Science Was , before politics and vast Gov $$$$$ backing had to get rid of discussion .

    Now its the lock step consensus , with no discussion allowed.

    All HAIL the new doom predictions , or else!

    The UN had to dump 4/5 of its latest report contents to create a summary that agreed with the HOAX.

    Politics , not Science.
     
  5. rwatson
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    rwatson Senior Member


    Yeah right - so you didnt read the article.

    Goes to show ....
     
  6. thudpucker
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    thudpucker Senior Member

    Good Watson, thanks for the link.
    If I knew how to do it, I'd buy some of the Algae and start growing right here on my little Farm.
     
  7. discovery
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    discovery Junior Member

    Lets all go back to steam power -- powered by the methane rising from the piles that form just below our mouths. Some of us will go faster than the rest.
     
  8. discovery
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    discovery Junior Member

    "Professor Borowitzka says biofuel can be produced for between 50 cents and 80 cents a litre."

    Thats about all our fuel would cost now if not for the govt taxes.

    I do agree we need to look for something more than fossil fuels, and whatever we go to will need to run in the same engines we have now (same technology) because anything new that requires refits and such will not be "economically viable" unless it only requires minor change. I dont think current govt support will bring any breakthroughs simply because there is no incentive to change. In Australia, the only financial support groups big enough to find this "yellow brick road to a golden fuel source" are all making too much money from fossil fuels, and until we remove this conflict of interest, my apathetic view will not change.:eek:
     
  9. FAST FRED
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    FAST FRED Senior Member

    whatever we go to will need to run in the same engines we have now (same technology) because anything new that requires refits and such will not be "economically viable" unless it only requires minor change.

    Correct , can you imagine the cost for every engine mfg in the world to scrap their existing eng mfg equipment , even if the engines will only be installed in new items?
     
  10. Rastapop
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    Rastapop Naval Architect

    I look forward to my next car being electric, and charging it overnight from energy stored during the day from solar panels.
     
  11. upchurchmr
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    upchurchmr Senior Member

    Good luck with that.

    I look forward to your report on the total cost of using and charging the car.
     
  12. Rastapop
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    Rastapop Naval Architect

    Cost of charging will be zero....
     
  13. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

  14. upchurchmr
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    upchurchmr Senior Member

    Just shows how people jump on a bandwagon with no real information.
     

  15. Rastapop
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    Rastapop Naval Architect

    Please do tell how the act of charging will cost me :p
     
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