Monday, September 25, 2006

A Higher Stream of Consciousness

Ahh... the cold water running down my parched throat satisfies my thirst. When I look at the empty glass, I picture the drops of water reacting to my body. I see how the liquid nourishes the cells of my body to keep them multiplying and performing their necessary role. Without this water, my body would start to collapse and the cells would try to find nourishment from other cells, practically killing each other in a desperate fight for survival.

I wake up from the daydream and put the crystal glass down. I contemplate how scientist dream of using water, not only as a life-giving product, but as an infinite source of energy. I believe it was Julius Verne who first wrote a tale where water was a source of energy. With water so abundant on our earth and our thirst for energy continuously increasing, it seems like a perfect pipe dream. This particular dream, though, has many dreamers all who are acting to make it reality.

Water contains two vital elements, one part oxygen and two parts hydrogen. The hydrogen is the key to a driving force where the world can enjoy clean combustion and infinite electricity. We burn trillions of hydrogen atoms everyday since it is also a vital component in fossil fuels. The more hydrogen, the cleaner the burn and higher quality flame. A pure hydrogen flame can be used to boil a pot of water or drive the relentless piston engine with an end resulting in only water emissions. Ahh... an environmentalist dream too.

The US space program developed an important technology to convert hydrogen into electricity and water, the fuel cell. A fuel cell chemically burns hydrogen by adding oxygen to it, but first by re-routing the joining electrons to follow an electrical path. Ideally, any electrical gizmo can tap into these electrons to do useful work. A current application is the electric car. By removing the automobile’s engine and replacing it with a fuel cell engine a new industrial model evolves, the electrification of transportation.

Electricity as we all know is a wonderful energy source. It keeps our beers cold and our playstations hot. Important human services are powered by electricity, thus putting electricity to the top of most important energy types. Though once our transportation sector is pumped full of electrons, then electricity hits a higher plane. Environmentally, economically, socially, and technically. How can this be feasible? If we draw upon our earths two greatest resources, water and the sun, then the dream can become a reality. The dreamers are certainly betting their money into it, so perhaps it is closer than we imagine.

I fill the glass with water again and peer inside. The water catches sparks of light and reflects an array of brilliant colours. Yes, the possibility is there and I can see it. It is a huge undertaking, but the individual pieces are coming together and the end result looks magnificent.

to be continued...

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Every idea has its inception. Every dream has its beginning and every invention came from the basic observation of the nature and its bevaviour. Now we can fly, and communicate at the speed of light or perhaps faster. Every creation has the moment of "Big Bang"
To be continue...
By Random Thoughts.

3:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I had never actually thought of the process involved in dying of thirst.

BTW the Swedish Royalty are coming to Canada...

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today that King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden will make a State visit to Canada from October 24 to October 28, 2006, at the invitation of Governor General Michaëlle Jean.

"Canada and Sweden have long standing close and friendly diplomatic relations," said the Prime Minister. "The visit by the King and Queen of Sweden to Canada, underline the shared values and common goals held by our two countries and two peoples."

This is the second State visit to Canada for King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. While in Canada, the King and Queen will visit Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Quebec city. They will meet with the Governor General and the Lieutenant Governors of Ontario and Quebec. The Royal couple will visit various cultural, sports and environmental sites in each of these cities and have an opportunity to meet with Canadians and Swedes from many walks of life who are living and working in Canada.

3:55 AM  
Blogger Swedish lamps and other energy tales said...

Thanks for the comments.

For those in Canada, try to go out and see the King and Queen. They have quite a lovely family. http://www.royalcourt.se

I found out that the King likes to hunt. Perhaps he will bag himself a beaver or something they don't have here in Sweden.

Darklamp

12:33 AM  

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