Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

caraher

(6,276 posts)
8. Nope
Mon Oct 29, 2012, 12:40 AM
Oct 2012

Sucking CO2 out of the air. Burning hydrocarbons (i.e. compounds containing hydrogen AND carbon atoms) produces the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. This would use energy to suck CO2 out of the air and produce hydrocarbons. The energy stored in those hydrocarbons could then potentially be released again by burning them (which would again produce CO2).

Contrary to the suggestion of the article, they will NOT be able to store more energy for potential release by burning the fuel than they put into creating the fuel from the CO2 in the air. If that were possible, then they have created a perpetual motion machine. I see no reason to believe they can do this.

could coal plants use this process?? Angry Dragon Oct 2012 #1
There wouldn't be much point ... VMA131Marine Oct 2012 #3
What I meant to capture the Co2 that coal plants spew out Angry Dragon Oct 2012 #4
Co2 is fungible ToxMarz Oct 2012 #5
You could. Some algae-to-biodiesel proposals suggest coal plants as a CO2 source NickB79 Oct 2012 #14
That would be as silly as diluting gasoline with alcohol. sofa king Oct 2012 #16
Suck the hydrocarbons out of the air. liberal N proud Oct 2012 #2
Nope caraher Oct 2012 #8
That's one thing they did point out, that it's not economically feasible Warpy Oct 2012 #6
Problems krispos42 Oct 2012 #9
Don't need tanker trucks jeff47 Oct 2012 #12
Yeah,but they have to be close by the plants... krispos42 Oct 2012 #15
One can extend the pipelines as needed jeff47 Oct 2012 #17
My concept is that each plant starts out small... krispos42 Nov 2012 #21
Hydrogen is a problem jeff47 Oct 2012 #13
No question mark caraher Oct 2012 #7
The author should have said something else Confusious Oct 2012 #10
They're wrong. jeff47 Oct 2012 #11
But here is the rub NoOneMan Nov 2012 #23
So since it won't pay of instantly, we should just keep burning stuff like always? jeff47 Nov 2012 #24
Keep burning stuff like always opposed to burning more stuff like always? NoOneMan Nov 2012 #25
Alternatively (and probably more efficiently) Bosonic Nov 2012 #18
Interesting idea... caraher Nov 2012 #19
Don't know the energy requirements of the air technique either Bosonic Nov 2012 #20
More of an E&E post ... eppur_se_muova Nov 2012 #22
Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Science»The big question mark ove...»Reply #8