Iron May Replace Ordinary Fuel In The Future – Scientists Say

Don Wood – MessageToEagle.com – Using iron in the tank instead of fuel does sound strange, but not it’s not an unrealistic scenario according to scientists.

Iron is our plant’s most common element and it could be a good idea to make more use of it. A recent study shows the capacity of iron powder for energy storage is impressive.

It may look like ordinary powder, but it could well be the energy carrier of the future. Credit: Bart van Overbeeke

Researchers at the Eindhoven University of Technology are now experimenting on a “baby,” a pilot installation fired with iron powder that produces heat. The structure, developed by the Metal Power consortium to which Team SOLID belongs and is financed by the Province of Noord-Brabant, has no CO₂ emissions and the residual product—rust—can be recovered.

“The supply of energy from wind turbines and solar panels fluctuates enormously. Where there is a surplus of supply, you need to be able to store that energy. You can do that with batteries, but that is not suitable for all situations, such as storing large amounts of energy.

We are now investigating an alternative: storing energy in iron powder. “When you burn that powder, the energy is released as heat,” Professor and mechanical engineer Niels Deen explains.

“Iron powder is also easy to transport and can be recycled. If you combust iron powder with hot gases to drive a turbine or an engine, rust powder remains. Using hydrogen produced from electricity surpluses from sustainable sources you turn it into iron powder again. That’s how you extract the oxygen from the rust particles, “ Deen ads.

If iron is such a beautiful energy carrier, why is it that we working on it only now?

“Human beings have been burning metal for centuries. Think of fireworks, developed by the Chinese. But exactly how it all works is something we’ve only known for a few years,” says Professor Philip de Goey.

According to Niels Deen, there is another important reason: “There has always been an easier alternative: fossil fuels. If they are widely available, cheap and everyone wants to use them, then why look for alternatives? But we have the zeitgeist with us now. “Metal fuels’ are benefiting from that.”

The professors firmly believe in their project, but it will only be ‘part of the solution to the big environmental problem.” Cars won’t be running on iron powder for a while.

See also:

‘Artificial Leaf’ That Produces Clean Synthetic Fuel – Developed

Millions Of Tons Of Plastic Waste Could Be Turned Into Clean Fuels, Other Products

Air-Gen – Ingenious Device Creates Electricity Out Of Thin Air

More About Technology

“Three other sectors are already very promising. We are working with the maritime sector to develop sustainable ships, powered by the combustion of iron powder, and for any industry that requires high temperatures (for chemical processes of around 1000 degrees) and coal-fired power stations, they can be fired using iron powder. “That’s the focus of our attention with Uniper,” Professor De Goey says

“If you close large Dutch coal-fired power stations, it’s a huge obliteration of capital. But if you can convert them without CO₂ emissions, with only rust as a residual product, then it becomes attractive to energy companies,” professor Deen explains.

The Earth has iron ore in abundance. But does that also apply to iron powder?

According to De Goey, the answer is no. “There are now about ten suppliers worldwide. With the current supply, you could now convert ten coal-fired power stations and supply them with iron powder. But if market demand increases, then the supply will be there,” he says.

“The big advantage is that you only need to make that powder once. Then you can reuse it constantly. Iron remains iron,” Professor Deen says.

Written by Don Wood – MessageToEagle.com Staff