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This partly science - partly current-events commentary ...
A particular terrorist explosive, the name of which need not be mentioned
for present purposes, is quietly in the science news lately for a number of
security-related reasons. But for alternative energy R&D, the more specific
interest is related to its main but little-known physical anomaly. It is
peroxide based, but very different from conventional explosives in that it does
not release heat during the explosion.
Did the full implications of that feature hit you yet?
If not, let me repeat: it does not release heat during the explosion!
At least not very much.
Irony-of ironies ! Would not it be some kind of poetic justice in the
present socio-political climate (i.e. MidWest vs. MidEast, so to speak) if the
fear-product of Islamic terrorism led directly to a major alternative-energy
advance - which significantly lowered the demand for Middle-Eastern oil? Not as
farfetched as one might imagine. Read-on.
The phase-change conversion of solid to gas (aka the steam engine) normally
is a product of temperature addition, or combustion; and normally results in
around a 1500-1 to 2000-1 volume change or correspondingly - a pressure
differential of around 3000 psi max. This volume and pressure swing can be
easily converted into energy using an ICE or turbine engine.
The process of energy conversion, like combustion, normally obeys Boyle's
Law (kind-of): Here is NASA's graphic version of this law:
But what happens when the "Law" is broken, and rather explosively ?
In the spirit of 'swords to plowshares' - the implication of the
aforementioned phase-change bomb-anomaly is, of course, that when an engine
is based on a similar chemical reaction, yet perhaps not quite so dangerous as
the one in question, and is employed to convert gas-pressure to torque -
then the Carnot limitations and other measures of energy/heat content will
not apply in the same way as with real heat engines.
In fact, some observers might be led to opine that there is a window of
opportunity for so-called "free-energy" here. However, it is more a situation of
time-shifting and concentrating ambient heat over time into a subsequent large
explosion in a comparative instant - rather than anything mysterious or
'aetheric' - but "free-energy" has a nice "ring to it", don't you think? And
aether is most likely involved somehow.
IOW a real violation of sacrosanct thermodynamic laws is doubtful, as
the energy input is often merely shifted in time to the manufacturing stage for
the alternative-fuel. For instance, in a related vein, several companies are
trying to exploit compressed air as an alternative energy solution. A compressed
air tank serves as a "battery", of sorts but unlike all known batteries, this
one will last for decades instead of 5-6 years; and there is no phase change
involved. In the situation of compressed air, there is an apparent "entropic
expansion" as the air expands, reversing the Carnot assumptions. The engine
often ices-up and can show well over 100% efficient - IF (big if) -
one neglects the energy used to compress the gas.
There is a lesser known variant of this phenomenon which does utilize phase change, rather than compression, and the thermodynamic energy balance is more complicated. This phenomenon is scientifically known as 'Entropic Explosion', and is reminiscent of the rapid reaction that produces gas in the safety air-bags of cars during accidents where one does not want to substitute a lesser burn injury for a major impact injury. The Entropic Explosion (EE) phenomenon may serve to a lesser extent to
explain how HOOH can be used as a monopropellant rocket fuel when its apparent
energy content is low - much lower than the specific impulse of exhaust would
indicate. Compared to burning hydrogen in oxygen, the specific impulse of HOOH
monopropellant shows about a five to one net advantage, when
graphed against heat energy content of either fuel. Specific impulse converts
directly into torque. There are also implications for expanding HOOH through a
turbine in a closed cycle using a tiny amount of H2 as a "pilot" and peroxide as
the oxidant/fuel. More on that later but the idea is that the advantages of the
peroxide are so great that they will support on onboard electrolysis to create
added synergy with some "high-mobility" H2 in the mix.
But to bring you up to date on what is probably a new concept to many (i.e. never before mentioned on this forum, as far as I can tell) : An "entropic explosion" is defined simply as an explosion in which the reactants undergo a large change in volume without releasing a large amount of heat. It is real, but not a highly favored event thermochemically - and involves a so-called "entropy burst," which some might categorize as very difficult to reconcile with the laws of thermodynamics, as they are now applied. Since the torque - which can is captured from such an entropic explosion event can be efficiently captured and converted into electricity or heat, there is an unusual situation involved in computing the thermodynamic balance, giving the superficial appearance of overunity. Not so - but the total system may end-up being extraordinarily efficient, compared with combustion. That's the end (or beginning) of today's pregnant-thought. Sorry to leave
you dangling, but any more in one sitting might constitute...
err... carnivore-bait... <g>
Jones
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