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Eco Tech: Simple device from history can generate cheap hydrogen for the newer world

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Eco Factor: Device invented in 1833 modified to generate cheap hydrogen.

Italian researcher G.D. Botto designed an amazing device in 1833 which produced electricity using a thermocouple of two metals – platinum and iron. Botto connected alternating links of the two metals in a chain that was further wrapped around a wooden rod. When one end of the rod was heated with a flame, electricity was produced due to the temperature difference between the two ends. Botto made hydrogen bubbles in water through electrolysis, to prove that current was flowing in the thermocouple.

A team of modern Italian researchers have now modified the device, not to show that electricity can be generated in a thermocouple, but to use the hydrogen gas generated by electrolysis. These researchers replaced the flame that Botto used with two parabolic mirrors to concentrate the sun’s rays onto a tube, which is wrapped in metal. They also replaced the expensive platinum with cheaper copper. The metal wrapped tube is also filled with water to increase the temperature difference between the two ends of the tube.

As the sun’s rays heat the tube from one end and water keeps things cool at the other, electricity is produced, which then carries out electrolysis and generates hydrogen from water. Though the current developed in the process is a mere 20mW, hydrogen production is pretty neat. Similar devices can be connected together to increase the amount of hydrogen produced from the process.

The Dark Side:

The hydrogen produced during the process is not how much you want to fill your future car with, however, if the researchers make use of thermoelectric semiconductor instead of a thermocouple, hydrogen production can be enhanced substantially.

Via: Gas2.0

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