Re: Remember "Bit-Slice" Chips ?

On Sun, 8 Dec 2024, Rich wrote:

D <nospam@example.net> wrote:

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On Sun, 8 Dec 2024, rbowman wrote:
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On Sun, 8 Dec 2024 01:08:41 -0500, 186282@ud0s4.net wrote:
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   Well, Musk sells gigantic lithium batteries

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I'm waiting for more accurate information but there is a rumor Musk may
pivot to hydrogen. Great, another technology with no supporting
infrastructure.
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Wow, Toyota would celebrate! I think they are still clinging to hydrogen.

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Unless there's been some new exotic materials discovered that solves
the hydrogen embrittement problem, hydrogen on a large scale will
either be very very expensive for the pipe/bottle replacements needed,
or will simply create a different sort of "bomb" (vs.  a lithum battery
fire) sitting next door.

This is what my friendly neighbourhood AI had to say about it (caveat emptor!):
The choice of materials for tanks, pipelines, and other storage systems is crucial. Hydrogen can cause embrittlement in metals, leading to cracks and leaks. Therefore, materials that are resistant to hydrogen embrittlement must be used. Common choices include:
High-strength steel: Often used for high-pressure tanks.
Composite materials: These can provide lightweight options with good resistance to hydrogen.
Non-metallic materials: Such as certain plastics that do not suffer from embrittlement.
2. Storage Methods
Hydrogen can be stored in various forms, each with its own safety considerations:
Compressed Gas Storage: Hydrogen is stored at high pressures (typically 350-700 bar). This requires robust pressure vessels designed to withstand these conditions without leaking or failing.
Liquid Hydrogen Storage: At extremely low temperatures (-253°C), hydrogen becomes liquid. This method requires insulated cryogenic tanks to maintain low temperatures and prevent vaporization.
Metal Hydrides: Some metals can absorb hydrogen at certain conditions, forming metal hydrides. This method allows for safer storage at lower pressures but requires careful handling during charging and discharging.
What about storing it as water, and producing it close to where cars need to be fueled up? I assume it would be very inefficient and probably difficult, or else someone would already have done it. But I do not know any specifics, so just genuinely curious.

A better 'solution' (although the catalyst tech may not yet exist) is
some form of electrically driven catalyst that could extract CO2 from
the air and synthesize some form of liquid fuel (liquid at STP).  Then
solar PV would have a "sink" for their extra energy, and the
synthesized liquid fuel could be stored in normal non-pressure vessels,
piped/transported via the existing liquid fuel infrastructure, and
'burned' at a location remote from the synthesis to "move energy
around".
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Of course the rabid greenies would see "burn fuel to make electricity"
as bad, even if the fuel being burned was synthesized via Solar PV
energy and atmospheric CO2 (plus likely water input as well, since one
tends to need some hydrocarbon bonds to create a fuel that is liquid at
STP).
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