Burning ice new fuel?

Jacqui D · 03-30-2009, 06:32 PM

How burning ice could soon be used to heat our homes
By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 2:25 PM on 24th March 2009
Gas hydrates, known as 'ice that burns,' may provide a clean, sustainable fuel source in the future.

(Credit: J. Pinkston and L. Stern/US Geological Survey)

Forget coal or oil - we may soon be using ice to heat our homes. Frozen natural gas found deep beneath the sea and Arctic could be used to power homes and factories.
The 'gas hydrates' that burst into flames at the touch of a match, could be mined just like gas, say U.S government researchers. There is enough in America to heat 100million homes for a decade.
'These gas hydrates could serve as a bridge to our energy future until cleaner fuel sources, such as hydrogen and solar energy, are more fully realized,' study co-leader Dr Tim Collett from the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Gas hydrates, known as 'ice that burns,' are cleaner than other fossil fuels and leave a smaller carbon dioxide footprint, the researchers said.
They form when methane gas from decomposing organic material comes into contact with water at low temperatures and high pressures.
However, the process of burning gas hydrates will need to become more efficient, if it is to be a viable fuel.

Last November, a team of USGS researchers estimated that 85.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas could potentially be extracted from Alaska's North Slope region.
'It's definitely a vast storehouse of energy,' Dr Collett says.
'But it is still unknown how much of this volume can actually be produced on an industrial scale.'

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Scientists worldwide are now doing research on gas hydrates in order to understand how this strange material forms and how it might be used to supplement coal, oil, and traditional natural gas.
The team's findings will be presented at the American Chemical Society's National Meeting in Utah.

03-30-2009, 06:32 PM	#1
Jacqui D Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kent,England Posts: 1,267	Burning ice new fuel? How burning ice could soon be used to heat our homes By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 2:25 PM on 24th March 2009 Gas hydrates, known as 'ice that burns,' may provide a clean, sustainable fuel source in the future. (Credit: J. Pinkston and L. Stern/US Geological Survey) Forget coal or oil - we may soon be using ice to heat our homes. Frozen natural gas found deep beneath the sea and Arctic could be used to power homes and factories. The 'gas hydrates' that burst into flames at the touch of a match, could be mined just like gas, say U.S government researchers. There is enough in America to heat 100million homes for a decade. 'These gas hydrates could serve as a bridge to our energy future until cleaner fuel sources, such as hydrogen and solar energy, are more fully realized,' study co-leader Dr Tim Collett from the U.S. Geological Survey said. Gas hydrates, known as 'ice that burns,' are cleaner than other fossil fuels and leave a smaller carbon dioxide footprint, the researchers said. They form when methane gas from decomposing organic material comes into contact with water at low temperatures and high pressures. However, the process of burning gas hydrates will need to become more efficient, if it is to be a viable fuel. Last November, a team of USGS researchers estimated that 85.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas could potentially be extracted from Alaska's North Slope region. 'It's definitely a vast storehouse of energy,' Dr Collett says. 'But it is still unknown how much of this volume can actually be produced on an industrial scale.' More...£1,390 world's cheapest car headed for Britain Scientists worldwide are now doing research on gas hydrates in order to understand how this strange material forms and how it might be used to supplement coal, oil, and traditional natural gas. The team's findings will be presented at the American Chemical Society's National Meeting in Utah.