Comments on: Light the World Using Dirt Powered Fuel Cells! http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/05/22/light-the-world-using-dirt-powered-fuel-cells/ Future-forward design for the world you inhabit Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:39:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Stephanie82http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/05/22/light-the-world-using-dirt-powered-fuel-cells/comment-page-1/#comment-82393 Stephanie82 Sat, 24 May 2008 22:10:52 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/05/22/light-the-world-using-dirt-powered-fuel-cells/#comment-82393 I believe this to be a great idea and maybe a possible solution to solving the energy crisis in lighting Africa, but is it really going to be all that simple? As posted by Androo if the fuel cell requires new material as previously stated then will this really be all that of a working solution? Or will such a project only great more problems in the long run to Africa's enegry crisis? I believe this to be a great idea and maybe a possible solution to solving the energy crisis in lighting Africa, but is it really going to be all that simple? As posted by Androo if the fuel cell requires new material as previously stated then will this really be all that of a working solution? Or will such a project only great more problems in the long run to Africa’s enegry crisis?

]]> By: hughhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2008/05/22/light-the-world-using-dirt-powered-fuel-cells/comment-page-1/#comment-82313 hugh Fri, 23 May 2008 23:09:19 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/05/22/light-the-world-using-dirt-powered-fuel-cells/#comment-82313 Not impressed!The energy (and technology) that is in the electrodes, the bio-film and the mystical circuit board (a wee booster circuit??) - oh, and in the container! are in all way in excess of the power that might be delivered.What is wrong with solar powered LED units with a better battery maintenance circuit?? - less muss, less fuss and higher power densities - and you don't have to muck with it. The common garden solar lights are the same technology - but their construction and batteries are crap, but they embody the general principles.I think that this is a 'feel good' for people who like playing in mud.Hugh Not impressed!

The energy (and technology) that is in the electrodes, the bio-film and the mystical circuit board (a wee booster circuit??) – oh, and in the container! are in all way in excess of the power that might be delivered.

What is wrong with solar powered LED units with a better battery maintenance circuit?? – less muss, less fuss and higher power densities – and you don’t have to muck with it. The common garden solar lights are the same technology – but their construction and batteries are crap, but they embody the general principles.

I think that this is a ‘feel good’ for people who like playing in mud.

Hugh

]]> By: Scotthttp://www.inhabitat.com/2008/05/22/light-the-world-using-dirt-powered-fuel-cells/comment-page-1/#comment-82201 Scott Thu, 22 May 2008 22:17:14 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/05/22/light-the-world-using-dirt-powered-fuel-cells/#comment-82201 I think this is a great project and is a wonderful first step in discovering organic power sources. Although i don't see this lighting africa in the next few years i think this type of thinking could eventually do just that. I think this is a great project and is a wonderful first step in discovering organic power sources. Although i don’t see this lighting africa in the next few years i think this type of thinking could eventually do just that.

]]> By: Androohttp://www.inhabitat.com/2008/05/22/light-the-world-using-dirt-powered-fuel-cells/comment-page-1/#comment-82164 Androo Thu, 22 May 2008 15:25:21 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/05/22/light-the-world-using-dirt-powered-fuel-cells/#comment-82164 While I love the idea of free energy, and admire their ingenuity, I'm concerned that the power density in this situation remains a bit of a stumbling block.1 cubic meter of organic material is a lot of organic material (has anyone else worked as a landscaper?), especially for 1 LED light. Even if you only needed to run that light for half the day, you'd still need a cube 80x80x80cm to charge the battery. If the fuel cell doesn't need fresh material for the microbes to break down, this might be a workable solution, but if they do, it's a lot of effort to put in for a single light. While I love the idea of free energy, and admire their ingenuity, I’m concerned that the power density in this situation remains a bit of a stumbling block.

1 cubic meter of organic material is a lot of organic material (has anyone else worked as a landscaper?), especially for 1 LED light. Even if you only needed to run that light for half the day, you’d still need a cube 80×80x80cm to charge the battery. If the fuel cell doesn’t need fresh material for the microbes to break down, this might be a workable solution, but if they do, it’s a lot of effort to put in for a single light.

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