Can we harness energy from air using electrolysis or an aircell?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of harnessing energy from air through methods such as electrolysis or the concept of an "aircell." Participants explore various chemical reactions, particularly redox reactions, and the potential for electron flow in circuits using air components.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether it is possible to make electrons flow using air or through electrolysis of air, suggesting the idea of an aircell.
  • One participant notes that electrolysis of air produces ozone, which is unstable and can react destructively with organic molecules.
  • Another participant proposes that oxygen in air could react with substances to form redox reactions, potentially controlled by catalysts, though they express uncertainty about the feasibility.
  • A participant mentions that while water can be used as a cell, air's lower density makes it theoretically possible but inefficient to create an aircell.
  • Discussion includes references to existing technologies, such as DARPA's research into fuel cells that utilize air and hydrogen for micro aerial vehicles.
  • Participants explore the concept of ionization and the conditions under which electrons can be made to flow, including the effects of heat and external electric or magnetic fields.
  • There is a suggestion that heating can cause ionization, but participants also inquire about other methods to achieve electron flow.
  • Some participants discuss the regular patterns in electric and magnetic fields and their influence on electron behavior, while others seek clarification on these concepts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion contains multiple competing views and remains unresolved regarding the feasibility and methods of harnessing energy from air. Participants express uncertainty and propose various ideas without reaching consensus.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in understanding the technical details of proposed methods, such as the efficiency of aircells and the specific conditions required for electron flow. There is also mention of the need for significant heat to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

benzun_1999
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Is it possible to make electrons flow in a circuit just using air or electrolysis of air or sumthing like that. Is an aircell possible?

-Benzun
 
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benzun_1999 said:
Is it possible to make electrons flow in a circuit just using air or electrolysis of air or sumthing like that. Is an aircell possible?
Not really. Electrolysis of air creates ozone, but ozone is very unstable so it breaks down on whatever it hits. Sometimes that ozone will hit an organic molecule and destroy it. This is why those expensive Ionic Breeze air cleaners are actually worth buying. :wink:
 
What about using Oxygen in air, it will react with with many substance and redox may be formed.The reactionrate may be controlled by catalyst

Well, i am not sure is it possible , just ask and imagine
 
superegg said:
What about using Oxygen in air, it will react with with many substance and redox may be formed.The reactionrate may be controlled by catalyst

Well, i am not sure is it possible , just ask and imagine
In Canada we called that "fire"
 
Water can be used as a "cell" and is composed of two of the elements existent in "air" But air is much less dense than water, so I would venture to say that yes, it is theoretically possible to create an air cell, but horribly inefficient.
 
One is pretty much stuck with Windmills or Wind Turbines.
 
DARPA has been looking into fuel cells that use air for powering micro airial vehicles. In a standard fuel cell a red-ox reaction (although it has been a looooong time since i was in chem) occurs and the electrons from this reaction are used to provide a current and electro motive force. I believe the fuel cell arrangements darpa is looking into use the oxygen in the air as an oxidizer and a fuel such as hydrogen. I am not sure of the technical details or how the configure the circuit.
 
redox reactions... does anyone have a sugestion... is it possible to make electrons flow in any other way? I know i am acting dumb but is it possible to make electrons jump from one atom to another by some other way?? is it possible to make the atoms unstable?
 
  • #10
when i mean unstable i mean kind of exited state where an electron needs to be kicked out... not unstable like in the nucleus...
 
  • #11
benzun_1999 said:
redox reactions... does anyone have a sugestion... is it possible to make electrons flow in any other way? I know i am acting dumb but is it possible to make electrons jump from one atom to another by some other way?? is it possible to make the atoms unstable?

Electrons can flow by adding an electric/magnetic field. Electrons jumping between atoms is called ionization. Atoms can be made unstable by heating them.
 
  • #12
so is heat the only way to ionize? i am pretty dumb... is there any other method like some irregularity in the electric or magnetic field?
 
  • #13
what do you mean by irregularity in electric or magnetic field??
 
  • #14
The very fact that there are discrete energy levels for specific nuclear combinations means that there is some regular pattern in the electric and magnetic field in-between the electrons and nucleus. Please forgive me if I am wrong, so have any idea to affect this field?
 
  • #15
as has been already pointed out, these fields can be affected by heating or application of external magnetic fields
 
  • #16
can you tell me how far it is possible to do by using external magneting field? please give me reading materials, i am just a student.
 
  • #18
heat makes water split into hydrogen and oxygen but this needs massive amounts of heat

the people who tested the first nuclear bomb thought that they were going to set the sky afire (just a thought)
 

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