TECHNICAL NEWS :
Future Fuel Cell on Hydrogen Peroxide !
Imagine the Lead Acid battery that we use in our cars to start the engine will be replaced by a pencil cell. Not a Joke! That's what the new Hydrogen Peroxide Fuel Cells will do.

Researchers are developing a new type of environment friendly fuel cell that runs on aluminium and generates about 20 times more electricity compared to a similar sized Lead -acid battery used in cars.

The chemical differs from water only in that it contains two oxygen atoms. It is relatively easy to manufacture - in principle it could be made from water.

Also as a direct fuel (H₂O₂₎ can be then broken down with chemical catalysts, yielding oxygen that combusts with alcohol-based fuels, such as methanol or ethanol. Such a propulsion system would provide an alternative to today's non-renewable hydrocarbon fuels that are processed from crude oil.

In the fuel cells, hydrogen peroxide serves two roles: it is a "catholyte," meaning it is both the electrolyte - a liquid that conducts electricity and allows the reaction to occur - and it is the cathode, or the portion of the battery that attracts electrons. The aluminium serves as the cell's fuel and its anode; as it oxidizes, it gives up electrons. Waste products include water and recyclable chemical compounds.

It is hoped that we shall have hydrogen-peroxide-based propulsion systems in operation within a decade.

This could lead to a complete change in the way we run our ships as this will provide us with safe, clean, compact, reliable, abundant and a cheap source of energy and thus propulsion.
Prepared by : Diwakar Puri - Technical Superintendent

A Letter from ESM...            
Following an in-house meeting with the heads of department of the company, we have introduced a couple of changes in our newsletter in this issue. This is just an experiment, which could be permanent feature basis the feedback received from our readers.
The new items include a regular news feature from our Technical department and some lighthearted topics. We are also particularly happy to include an interesting contribution from Capt. S.K.Sood from British Hazel, which however was originally meant for our Quality department.

Thank you very much Capt. Sood, - hope to receive more such thoughts in future too.
In our sincere endeavour to encourage and appreciate our hard working crew on board, we have also introduced an incentive award for our chief cooks and stewards who normally remain at the back stage and only come into the limelight with their incompetence and consequent complain from the crewmembers. We do hope, with the new system of recognition, our chief cooks will be more productive and attentive to the food requirement on board.
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