Solar Fusion, 24 hour storage of solar power

HysteryDiagnosis

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Jan-25-10 07:33 PM
Original message

Solar Fusion, 24 hour storage of solar power

http://cleantech.com/news/5536/startup-247-solar-storage-breakthrough

Startup claims 24/7 solar power breakthrough

Molten salts are currently being used to store solar thermal energy in the U.S., Spain and elsewhere (see Concentrated solar gets salty and SolarReserve pulls in cash for solar thermal). But Solar Fusion claims to be unique in using an exothermic (heat-releasing) chemical reaction, not merely physically heating and cooling the salt.

The company estimates the cost of the system to be on par with fossil fuels.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

eppur_se_muova

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jan-26-10 10:03 PM
Response to Original message

1. "The company's approach uses calcium hydride, a simple, non-toxic salt."

Ummmmm...

Potential Acute Health Effects:
Extremely hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant). Very hazardous in case of skin
contact (corrosive, permeator), of ingestion, of inhalation. The amount of tissue damage depends on length of
contact. Eye contact can result in corneal damage or blindness. Skin contact can produce inflammation and
blistering. Inhalation of dust will produce irritation to gastro-intestinal or respiratory tract, characterized by burning,
sneezing and coughing. Severe over-exposure can produce lung damage, choking, unconsciousness or death.
Inflammation of the eye is characterized by redness, watering, and itching. Skin inflammation is characterized by
itching, scaling, reddening, or, occasionally, blistering.
Potential Chronic Health Effects:
Extremely hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant).
Very hazardous in case of skin contact (corrosive, permeator), of ingestion, of inhalation.
CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available.
MUTAGENIC EFFECTS: Not available.
TERATOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available.
DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY: Not available.

***

Incompatibility with various substances:
Extremely reactive or incompatible with moisture.
The product reacts violently with water to emit flammable but non toxic gases.

***

http://www.sciencelab.com/xMSDS-Calcium_hydride-9927121

But when a spokesman says it's "nontoxic", journos faithfully take notes.

CaH₂ reacts very rapidly with water to form calcium oxide (lime), or, with excess water, hydroxide (slaked lime), and H₂. Both calcium compounds are strongly alkaline; this is what is responsible for most of the health hazards listed.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

NNadir

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jan-26-10 10:34 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. Other than that, it's completely safe, except for the fire risk. Amory Lovins pointed out, in 1975

that most of us would have solar powered molten salt tanks in our backyards by the year 2000.

The article in the 1976 edition of the great physics journal Foreign Affairs was a great work of unparalleled genius.

No one of course, would doubt Amory Lovins. He is always right because he says he is.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

kristopher

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jan-26-10 11:11 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. And thanks to your hero Reagan...

Edited on Tue Jan-26-10 11:11 PM by kristopher

We have a world of fossil fuels, global warming and nuclear wastes instead.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

NNadir

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Wed Jan-27-10 08:28 AM
Response to Reply #3

4. I have observed that the main strategy of "renewables will save us advocates"

seems to be "If you don't know something, make it up."

You know nothing about me whatsoever. We are not friends. Therefore anything you say about me that is not relevant to what I write here is made up. If you would like to assert that I have ever supported dangerous oil, dangerous coal or dangerous natural gas, my more than 15,000 posts on this site are available as public record.

You are also invited to see if I ever said anything in favor of Reagan ever. If you cannot produce such an example, it would be reasonable to assume you are a liar.

I certainly am not a bourgeois car CULTists apologizing for dangerous natural gas and declaring it a "clean fuel."

I favor the immediate phase out of all dangerous fossil fuels, something the "renewables will save us" car CULTists have neither the guts or smarts to support.

As for so called "nuclear waste," that term is just a scientifically illiterate talking point. I understand the chemistry and physics of every nuclide, actinide, transition metal, gas and anion in used nuclear fuel. I have made clear my contention that the waste mentality should not apply to these things, but it is very hard to get that through those who are bourgeois dilettantes where scientific issues are concerned.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Wed May 01st 2024, 05:08 AM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.