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Hi,
Has anyone got more details on the 'bloom box' than what the media has. Appears to be some revolutionary technology, but I am skeptical. How is it that giants like GE, Siemens never got a clue of what it really is? Is it a fraud of monumental proportions being imposed on a gullible public? If it is not, then what is the cost per unit of electricity with this wonder gizmo. Let us start a discussion on the subject & see how it goes.
Regards,
Ankur.
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Bloom Box
Started by ankur2061, Feb 23 2010 11:47 PM
3 replies to this topic
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#2
riven
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Posted 24 February 2010 - 10:04 AM
Not much info but the key seems to lie around this
"Inside the box are a unique kind of fuel cell consisting of ceramic disks coated with green and black "inks". The inks ... transform a stream of methane (or other hydrocarbons) and oxygen into power, when the box heats up to its operating temperature of 1,000 degrees Celsius.
So we have to supply enough power to get 1000C which will then be taken from the power that the box produces once running. Furthermore practically using oxygen is unlikely; air is more probable and this will reduce efficiency. Then there is the efficiency involved in producing the hydrocarbon...
It seems that Bloom box does nothing different to other fuel cells on the market. The main issue with SOFC (solid oxide fuel cells the type here) is how to make things cheap, something that requires incremental changes over time. It is rarely something that drops out of the sky overnight.
Finally it is well publicized that it is a customer push to go public with this not Sridhar's. Yet he still contests that he is on schedule. I find this in conflict.
"Inside the box are a unique kind of fuel cell consisting of ceramic disks coated with green and black "inks". The inks ... transform a stream of methane (or other hydrocarbons) and oxygen into power, when the box heats up to its operating temperature of 1,000 degrees Celsius.
So we have to supply enough power to get 1000C which will then be taken from the power that the box produces once running. Furthermore practically using oxygen is unlikely; air is more probable and this will reduce efficiency. Then there is the efficiency involved in producing the hydrocarbon...
It seems that Bloom box does nothing different to other fuel cells on the market. The main issue with SOFC (solid oxide fuel cells the type here) is how to make things cheap, something that requires incremental changes over time. It is rarely something that drops out of the sky overnight.
Finally it is well publicized that it is a customer push to go public with this not Sridhar's. Yet he still contests that he is on schedule. I find this in conflict.
Edited by riven, 24 February 2010 - 10:05 AM.
#3
riven
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Posted 25 February 2010 - 05:03 AM
Two more points
The company made an operating loss of over 80 million last year
The state of art in SOFC is towards low temperature process for obvious reasons. Bloom box does not conform to this.
The company made an operating loss of over 80 million last year
The state of art in SOFC is towards low temperature process for obvious reasons. Bloom box does not conform to this.
#4
Chemical9
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Posted 25 May 2010 - 03:45 PM
Hi,
Has anyone got more details on the 'bloom box' than what the media has. Appears to be some revolutionary technology, but I am skeptical. How is it that giants like GE, Siemens never got a clue of what it really is? Is it a fraud of monumental proportions being imposed on a gullible public? If it is not, then what is the cost per unit of electricity with this wonder gizmo. Let us start a discussion on the subject & see how it goes.
Regards,
Ankur.
For start-up companies IP is very important, as it helps them to protect their technology. So if you don't find "useful" information it doesn't mean that the company is fraud. I also don't believe only " GIANT" companies can revolutionize the technology as it is evident from VC's like Khosla, who invest billions in start-up companies.
