Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Fuel cells

["Herve Jaubert" <caribsub@coqui.net>]

here is an interesting link on a update fuel cells technology
http://216.51.18.233/fcnews.html

Herve Jaubert
----- Original Message -----
From: Captain Nemo <vulcania@interpac.net>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2000 4:39 AM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Fuel cells


>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <CWall@swri.edu>
>
> " Pat, I haven't seen this one, but I'd suspect it is a PEMFC running on
> methanol."
>
> Hi Craig!
>
> Nope.  It wasn't hydrogen or methanol either.  As I recall, it was some
kind
> of solid chemical with no off-gassing problems at all.  That's what makes
it
> revolutionary, and why I thought it might have some potential in a
minisub.
> Sure wish someone would recall that URL.
>
> "Just remember that while the exhaust from a PEMFC running on neat
hydrogen
> gas is water vapor, operation on methanol yields CO and CO2.   And besides
> the requirement for oxygen, you have to get the gaseous waste products off
> the boat...and they'll be at low pressure. You'll have to compress them to
> get them overboard."
>
> Thanks for reminding me that gaseous waste products need to be collected,
> compressed, and ejected from the closed environment; and if I may take
this
> conversation in what might hopefully be an even more constructive
direction,
> please note that I wasn't insulted and didn't berate you for thinking I
> didn't already know this.  ;-)
>
> You know, Craig, I've been in some heated exchanges here myself.
> Fortunately, these guys are still talking to me; and I say "fortunately"
> because (no matter what anyone might have told you) the people who share
> their knowledge on this website are actually pretty sharp, and one can
> definitely benefit from an association with them.
>
> Your propane ballast system idea has pros and cons.  Generally, I don't
> think you're going to find much acceptance in this safety conscious group,
> if only for the reason that propane is inflammable, while compressed air
is
> not.   The concern may not only be for you, but also for others who read
and
> are influenced by the concepts presented here.  At PSUBS, there's a
> prevailing tendency towards protecting the information pool from ideas
that
> could be unusually dangerous.  If the guys think what you're suggesting
> might be a little too unsafe, they're going to let you know about it, and
> that's just how it is.  (Check out some of the responses I got to my
> "underwater dragster" idea!)
>
> Anyway, you've presented your ideas to the members; gotten their
responses;
> and argued your point according to your own beliefs.  But (and this is
> something I learned the hard way)  there comes a time when it's 'nuff
said,
> and one should just let it go.
>
> Nobody said it more eloquently than Vance did.  I could only cosign his
post
> by adding that, in my opinion, when people with years of hard experience
in
> real submarines are willing to freely share the insight they had to work
> for, those still in the theoretical stage would be wise to listen.
>
> Time to give it a rest, bud.  Come on back and talk to us about something
> else.
>
> VBR,
>
> Pat
>
> BTW: Happy Veteran's Day, everybody!  ;-)
>
>
>
>
>