Water as a fuel source?

is it possible to make water (two hydrogen and one oxygen molecules) into a fuel source? I know hydrigen is a good source of energy, so why cant we just use water? Its simple, and extremely abundant. Hell, the aliens use it as their source of fuel

 

You can use water as fuel by separating hydrogen and oxygen, but you use more energy splitting them than you receive from the individual elements.

 

Yep, it's as streamlight said, as of yet we can't produce an efficient enough way to seperate the hydrogen out and then use the hydrogen as fuel. As it currently is cars and other things running on hydrogen still use other fuels to break down the water and to cool the hydrogen so it's in liquid form.

 

No, you'd merely be converting (and losing) energy you already have, not making more of it.

You were misinformed.

Because it'd be a waste of energy. No net gain.

 

Not really, hydrogen is a great energy source, but it just isn't harnessable.

 

Oh, it can be harnessed easily enough, but at a net loss. Therefore it isn't a source.

 

Hydrogen itself is a great source of energy, if we can find elemental hydrogen that will be proven, it's just we don't have that capability.

 

Since there just isn't any hydrogen free for the taking, it can't be considered a source.

 

ask them over in the science forum they know all about this
http://hipforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=38

 

I'm already satisfied, but you can ask if ya want.

 

Hence outer space, Jupiter is nearly all hydrogen, when a technology is developed that could allow efficient travel to and from other planets, it becomes a very viable source.

 

Sounds...cheap...and worthwhile. :H

 

One of the most abundant sources for energy is the sun, which will most likely be used at some point in the future, when space technology becomes more feasible.

 

Um, we already use it now...exclusively.

 

Ah, sorry, what I meant was using it to a greater degree, with more efficiency. Basically a VERY large solar panel (a BIT more technical but still) placed in orbit around the sun, closer than we are, able to transfer the energy and send it to use through microwaves...it would generate a LOT of energy, as much as we need.

 

A greater degree of exclusivity?


It's definitely a neat thought, but personally, I don't feel there is much need for a giant spaceborne solar panel. Solar power is easier to harness/use than that. It's even unavoidable.

 

Solar power on this planet isn't very efficient though, and provides very little energy, lately it's been made twice as efficient, yet still provides nowhere near enough energy...but being able to capture a great amount could mean we need no other form of energy. The energy could be sent long distances via sever focused beams of microwaves, it'd allow much more expansion into space with such a readily available power source. Ach, well, it'll be a long time coming if such a thing does happen. =D Got enough problems as it is here on Earth.

 

you know you can use vegetable oil for fuel.... i think thats pretty rad.... all you need is a kit with the filter wich isnt that costly and the vegetable oil is free man.... better for the atmosphere too ......

 

This thread was a good read. So, using solar or wind energy for eloctolysis to seperate hydrogen creates a net energy loss. Heck, just a break even amount of hydrogen would be good enough. Something to consider though, since hydrogen is portable, even with the net loss, wouldn't it still be worth it? By portable, I mean it can be used to fuel an automobile for longer trips than any other non-carbon dioxide producing fuel source. Also, unlike a solar vehicle, it can propell an automobile at night.

So, the net loss may still be too great to be considered "worth it", but I'd like to see evidence of that.

 

I just meant hydrogen itself can't be considered an energy source because its use always involves a net energy loss (as with any means of storage). That doesn't mean it can't be used to store energy from sources like solar and wind.