Large power plants spread over acres of land and needing huge infrastructural investment would be things of past if what Indian Born scientist Dr. K. R. Sridhar of Bloom Energy, USA is to be believed.
K.R. Sridhar, a former NASA Advisor and a Rocket Scientist, must have taken eight years to come out with this "box" that generates power wirelessly through a combination of oxygen and a fossil fuel - say natural gas, bio-gas, etc. but his invention is already being tested by giants such as Google, WalMart, FedEx and eBay. Just imagine a fridge sized box kept in a corner of the building providing complete environment friendly and cost effective power solutions for the entire building that too without making noise, no vibrations and no smell!
As per K.R. Sridhar, every household will be able to afford a Bloom Box within a decade for as less as 3000 US Dollars which could supply non-stop power 24 Hours x 365 days of the year. "We would like to be in every home in five to ten years" said K.R. Sridhar in CBS' "60 Minutes" on Sunday night. Interestingly the name “Bloom Energy” was given by his nine year old son.
Bloom Box uses thin ceramic wafers resembling floppy discs made from sand. These ceramic wafers are painted with green ink in one side that acts as Anode and black ink on the other side that acts as Cathode. What material is used to make the ink? This is an undisclosed secret. Hydrocarbons in the form of Natural gas are passed over the stacked cells and the chemical reaction that takes place when oxygen mixes generates electricity.
Though there are reservations about durability of the devise and the maintenance costs, K.R. Sridhar says with reasonable maintenance, the devise will last for a life span of 10 years.
If mass utilization of this energy alternative becomes reality, all the power plants and associated Energy firms in this business may have to think of alternative business!
Welcome new invention and good luck Dr. Sridhar's Bloom Box.
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