Originally published March 2 2005
Frederick J. Edeskuty, a pioneer in hydrogen fuel research, reflects on the potential and problems of hydrogen energy
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Back in the 1980's, Frederick J. Edeskuty was pioneering hydrogen fuel research when there was almost no call for it. Edeskuty was toiling in obscurity with almost no funding and little governmental support, while working through problems that ranged from handling liquid hydrogen to difficulties importing a German fuel tank. However, through these troubles, Edeskuty has become a respected expert in the field and he now travels and lectures widely.
Hydrogen is one of those elusive halfway answers to the world's future fuel needs.
Beginning in the early 70s, LANL was one of a number of places around the world where hydrogen fuel research took a modest step into the real world.
First using a government Dodge pickup, Edeskuty and his lab colleagues with volunteer help, devised a way to convert the truck to a hydrogen operation.
They were experts in how to store and handle liquid oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen at extremely low temperatures, largely because of the Rover program, an effort at LANL to build a nuclear-powered rocket engine for the space program.
The Buick was purchased by the state of New Mexico and a research program was funded by the Department of Energy.
A colleague in Germany grew interested and sent a specially designed gas tank, Edeskuty recalled, that got hung up in customs.
Yes, he said, unvented liquid hydrogen does build up pressure, but that would not pose a problem for fleet cars or busses, vehicles that are used regularly.
"There will probably never be any widespread use of hydrogen in internal combustion engines," he said, basically because of the necessity of the additional equipment and procedures needed to allow the hydrogen fueled engine to operate at the same power level as the gasoline fueled engine.
This is because, even though on a weight basis hydrogen contains two and a half times as much energy as does gasoline, on a volume basis it contains much less energy.
Years after his adventures with the hydrogen cars, Edeskuty recalls the episodes among the high points of his career.
Because of his expertise and the world's fascination, he was invited to lecture all over the world, including France, Germany, Russia, China and Japan, not to mention talks all over the United States and New Mexico.
"The gang from Los Alamos," he called the group.
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