Spring Break
Companies explore new energy options
Rainier Ramirez
Issue date: 4/4/07 Section: News
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Renewable clean energy though hydrogen power is a step closer to reality, according to Robert Olson, vice president of Modesto based SOG Research and Development Corporation.
According to a news release, SOG Research and Development Corporation has contracted UC Davis to validate their Dynamic Combustion Chamber. They say that it can produce energy pollution free in a process of combining hydrogen and oxygen in an enclosed vessel that, when ignited, will produce clean energy.
"Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe - it will never run out," Olson said.
He added that natural gasses are probably going to run out by 2020, and fossil fuels will run out by 2050.
The hydrogen energy process begins with solar, wind or wave energy powering the electrolysis process, which is to separate hydrogen and oxygen out of water, Olson said. After that, both elements are ignited in an enclosed vessel to generate heat and steam to move a turbine.
Essentially they are just using renewable energy to get hydrogen, which will in turn be used for energy again, Olson said. This is effective because hydrogen can be used when it is needed, unlike wind or solar energy, which requires the wind and sun.
"With current energy problems it's hard to believe that they could get energy so easily," said Laurie Teodoro, a senior majoring in biology. She said that it seems complicated because they are using energy to make more energy.
"If it was something big, I'm sure I would have heard about it before," Teodoro said.
According to Olson, they have been working on this process since 2005 and had filed for a patent in March 2006.
Dr. Paul Erickson, the director of the Hydrogen Production and Utilization Laboratory at UC Davis, said he considers it to be interesting and a step in the right direction for renewable energy.
"There are new aspects of it, but I would not say there is anything earth shattering about it," Erickson said. "What we are doing is validating one small portion of their overall idea ¬- it's interesting to me and I am excited to do it."
According to a news release, SOG Research and Development Corporation has contracted UC Davis to validate their Dynamic Combustion Chamber. They say that it can produce energy pollution free in a process of combining hydrogen and oxygen in an enclosed vessel that, when ignited, will produce clean energy.
"Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe - it will never run out," Olson said.
He added that natural gasses are probably going to run out by 2020, and fossil fuels will run out by 2050.
The hydrogen energy process begins with solar, wind or wave energy powering the electrolysis process, which is to separate hydrogen and oxygen out of water, Olson said. After that, both elements are ignited in an enclosed vessel to generate heat and steam to move a turbine.
Essentially they are just using renewable energy to get hydrogen, which will in turn be used for energy again, Olson said. This is effective because hydrogen can be used when it is needed, unlike wind or solar energy, which requires the wind and sun.
"With current energy problems it's hard to believe that they could get energy so easily," said Laurie Teodoro, a senior majoring in biology. She said that it seems complicated because they are using energy to make more energy.
"If it was something big, I'm sure I would have heard about it before," Teodoro said.
According to Olson, they have been working on this process since 2005 and had filed for a patent in March 2006.
Dr. Paul Erickson, the director of the Hydrogen Production and Utilization Laboratory at UC Davis, said he considers it to be interesting and a step in the right direction for renewable energy.
"There are new aspects of it, but I would not say there is anything earth shattering about it," Erickson said. "What we are doing is validating one small portion of their overall idea ¬- it's interesting to me and I am excited to do it."
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