Metal powders such as iron, aluminum and zirconium can be transformed into alternatives to the limited pollutant fossil fuels we know today. We have known such powders for half a century. Used as a solid fuel in the aerospace industryBut now the door may be opening to a new generation of recyclable fuels with direct application to transportation and energy markets.
generate heat like fossil fuels
For now, the work done by the researchers focuses on generating a steady flame within a stream of metal particles suspended in the air.they have Heat levels similar to those reached by current fossil fuel internal combustion engines were obtained.
The main primary source they propose to use is the millions of tons of iron produced annually by the metallurgical, chemical and electronic industries.This is powdered and used in an external combustion engine. Produces only waste that is non-toxic solid metal oxides that can be recycled to ensure sustainability.
The next step in the project is to try and first demonstrate an improved recycling process. By using a heat engine coupled with a metal powder burner, it is possible to achieve near zero emissions.
Next Step: Prototype
The next step in research, as explained by McGill University, is to build a prototype. “Laboratory work at McGill and elsewhere Using metal fuels in heat engines is technically possible, but no one has yet demonstrated the idea in practice.“So the next step in turning lab findings into usable technology is to ‘build a prototype burner and couple it to a heat engine.’
so they discovered One of the recyclable and sustainable fuels of the future here? Does it sound doable to you? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
sauce: McGill.
