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Lightcell: An engine that uses light to make electricity

(www.lightcellenergy.com)
128 points curl-up | 2 comments | 14 Jan 25 13:36 UTC | HN request time: 0.4s | source
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DaniFong ◴[18 Jan 25 01:42 UTC] No.42745018[source]▶
hey! this is the inventor, danielle fong.

thanks to curl-up who posted this, whoever you are.

since it came up, "wire-to-wire" efficiency is what I intended to coin a synonym for electrical to electrical efficiency, with hydrogen storage. for example, an 80% electrical to hydrogen efficiency, and a 50% hydrogen to electrical efficiency, would yield a 40% wire to wire (electrical to electrical) efficiency. of course, people are working on 95% electric to hydrogen efficiency, and 50% fuel to electrical efficiency is a target.

here's an illustrative energy flow diagram for us trying to hit 60% -- even more aggressive. https://x.com/DanielleFong/status/1775595848887677138

replies(1): >>42745153 #
PaulHoule ◴[18 Jan 25 02:03 UTC] No.42745153[source]▶
Why would I use this instead of a fuel cell?
replies(1): >>42745191 #
1. DaniFong ◴[18 Jan 25 02:11 UTC] No.42745191[source]▶
fuel cells have trouble being cheap, lightweight, high efficiency, and long lasting, all at the same time. I think this could have better scaling on all those dimensions, plus could use natural gas or propane or other fuels for when you don't have hydrogen

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42745109

replies(1): >>42746447 #
2. worik ◴[18 Jan 25 06:54 UTC] No.42746447[source]▶
> fuel cells have trouble being cheap, lightweight, high efficiency, and long lasting, all at the same time.

Flow batteries?

Not light weight (for stationary batteries, does that matter) but tick the rest of the boxes