how does it work

littlesprite · November 7, 2014

I am probably going to embarrass myself here but how does this work, and could it be used to power a boat, especially one that floats on the salty stuff.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/salt-water-powered-4-x-4-car-n45cd?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=15P9_W1_D6&utm_content=Product-6&utm_campaign=15P9-6

JimG · November 7, 2014

Very interesting question........and certainly one I can't answer. I'll look forward to the responses.

Viking23 · November 7, 2014

Have a look here..

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminum-air_battery

It uses aluminium foil and this makes a primary battery, so cannot be re-charged.

The "fuel cell" in the Maplin case, will have so many activations, and then that's it..

New cell to buy.

Now, if you had an aluminium boat... you could use that in an emergency to power your boat, for a limited time, before the aluminium wasted away and the boat sunk. lol. I'm not suggesting this as a solution though... lol.

Now while you are reading this, just think about your boat...

A similar galvanic cell is made with different metals in contact with water. Your anodes are designed to erode rather than props, rudders etc. The problem comes with outboard engines, Zinc is used as an anode, but in salt water, these can erode away rather quickly, so clearly doing a good job.

Hope it helps,

Richard

Baitrunner · November 7, 2014

If they can do it on a real car then why not. I am sure the technology isn't cheap and at the risk of sounding a bit of a conspiracy theorist I could see a lot of the oil companies trying to suppress it for a few years still.

Cant wait for Robins review of the next generation electric boats now.

And why not use it instead of gas, oil, coal, nuclear in power stations?

Watch this space and in a few years time we can all speed around on the next tidal surge when we have unlimited fuel :naughty:

I am sure when i was a kid I had a bath toy that used bicarbonate of soda to push it along - would need a heck of lot of bicarb though for a proper boat.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2739768/The-sports-car-runs-SALTWATER-Vehicle-goes-0-60mph-2-8-seconds-just-approved-EU-roads.html

Baitrunner · November 7, 2014

This one is even better.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/salt-water-fuel.htm

Don't forget though magnesium anodes for fresh water and Aluminium if you go more brackish or both salt and fresh water often. Magnesium erodes even quicker in salt water than Zinc.