On 5/20/2014 6:39 PM, Lloyd E. Sponenburgh wrote:
fired this volley in
:

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2014/04/...ure-navy-devel
ops-technology-to-turn-seawater-into-fuel/?intcmp=features

That's hilarious! Leave it to Fox to Fox up the real story!

Apparently, they missed thermodynamics class, or they're lying about what
it is they're actually 'extracting' from the sea water.

Maybe they're filtering out oyster oil and burning that as fuel!G

Lloyd


The fuel is created with the help of an electrolytic cation exchange
module, a machine which removes carbon dioxide from seawater while
simultaneously producing hydrogen. The gases are then formed into liquid
hydrocarbons by a metal catalyst in a reactor system, the lab said in a
statement.

"In close collaboration with the Office of Naval Research P38 Naval
Reserve program, NRL has developed a game changing technology for
extracting, simultaneously, CO2 and H2 from seawater," said Dr. Heather
Willauer, an NRL research chemist. “This is the first time technology of
this nature has been demonstrated with the potential for transition,
from the laboratory, to full-scale commercial implementation.”


and


NRL has made significant advances in the development of a gas-to-liquids
(GTL) synthesis process to convert CO2 and H2 from seawater to a
fuel-like fraction of C9-C16 molecules. In the first patented step, an
iron-based catalyst has been developed that can achieve CO2 conversion
levels up to 60 percent and decrease unwanted methane production in
favor of longer-chain unsaturated hydrocarbons (olefins). These
value-added hydrocarbons from this process serve as building blocks for
the production of industrial chemicals and designer fuels.
Fuel From Sea Concept - Carbon Capture SkidE-CEM Carbon Capture Skid.
The E-CEM was mounted onto a portable skid along with a reverse osmosis
unit, power supply, pump, proprietary carbon dioxide recovery system,
and hydrogen stripper to form a carbon capture system [dimensions of 63"
x 36" x 60"].

(Photo: U.S. Naval Research Laboratory)

In the second step these olefins can be converted to compounds of a
higher molecular using controlled polymerization. The resulting liquid
contains hydrocarbon molecules in the carbon range, C9-C16, suitable for
use a possible renewable replacement for petroleum based jet fuel.

The predicted cost of jet fuel using these technologies is in the range
of $3-$6 per gallon, and with sufficient funding and partnerships, this
approach could be commercially viable within the next seven to ten
years. Pursuing remote land-based options would be the first step
towards a future sea-based solution.

The minimum modular carbon capture and fuel synthesis unit is envisioned
to be scaled-up by the addition individual E-CEM modules and reactor
tubes to meet fuel demands.

NRL operates a lab-scale fixed-bed catalytic reactor system and the
outputs of this prototype unit have confirmed the presence of the
required C9-C16 molecules in the liquid. This lab-scale system is the
first step towards transitioning the NRL technology into commercial
modular reactor units that may be scaled-up by increasing the length and
number of reactors.

The process efficiencies and the capability to simultaneously produce
large quantities of H2, and process the seawater without the need for
additional chemicals or pollutants, has made these technologies far
superior to previously developed and tested membrane and ion exchange
technologies for recovery of CO2 from seawater or air.