That's cool stuff. Way beyond what I expected.  Thanks.  I was just doing a=
 newbie mass to energy conversion to make my imaginary battery not cross th=
e bounds of physics.  Perhaps if I left off the word "chemical reaction" it=
 would have made sense.  Nonetheless, I learned a ton by asking it.

Lindy

P.S. Russell you're still way cool in my book even if you don't get drunk a=
nd think you could win the millennium award with  a basic understanding of =
PNP transistors (like I did).

-----Original Message-----
From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf Of=
 RussellMc
Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 1:32 AM
To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public.
Subject: Re: [OT] Thought experiment: Understanding volts vs amps


There is a very solid finite upper limit on chemical efficiency based on th=
e bond energies.
Actual can approach theoretical for thermal release.
Useable in engines is lower.
Most hydrocarbons have around 10 kWh/kg bond energy LPG about 14 kWh/kg.
Hydrogen gives about 40 kWh/kg.
High explosives are in the same approximate range as hydrocarbons - they ar=
e just "better" at breaking all their bonds at once than is eg petrol.
Fortunately.
A cup of petrol and a stick of dynamite are of about same energy content.
Petrol (as usually used) needs to be vaporised and mixed with air to libera=
te its energy. Do this "in the open" and you have a FAE - fuel air explosiv=
e. Flour does it too! (grain milling plants sometimes manage to explosively=
 decompose due solely to grain dust and air igniting).


--=20
http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
.