[salsawonder]

The San Diego Union Tribune ran a cool info article this morning called Crude Numbers in their Quest section. It lists interesting fuel facts that will reinforce the need to conserve and to recycle. I am sure that there is probably an online connection but I am not savvy enough to get it.

Here is a little sample:
* It takes 98 tons of prehistoric plant material to make one gallon of gas.
* Almost 300 million barrels of oil could be saved each year by raisingUS auto-efficiency standards by 2.75 mpg.
* If the tires of all cars on US roads were properly inflated it would save an estimated 2 billion gallons of gas each year.
*It took 125 years to consume the first trillion barrels of oil. It is estimated that the next trillion will be used up in just 30 years
I especially liked this one :wink:
*A 175 pound man can be converted (via thermal depolymerization, a process that uses pressure and heat to reduce complex organic materials)into 38 pounds of oil and 7 pounds of gas plus minerals and water.

 

[Wynder]

*A 175 pound man can be converted (via thermal depolymerization, a process that uses pressure and heat to reduce complex organic materials)into 38 pounds of oil and 7 pounds of gas plus minerals and water.

SOILENT FUEL IS PEEEEOOOOOPLEEE!

 

[wstander]

Here is the link:



http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051228/6.html

 

[DanMan32]

*A 175 pound man can be converted (via thermal depolymerization, a process that uses pressure and heat to reduce complex organic materials)into 38 pounds of oil and 7 pounds of gas plus minerals and water.

SOILENT FUEL IS PEEEEOOOOOPLEEE!

Yes, but how much energy does it take to make the conversion? Now we are back to the problem of making ethanol.

 

[s3nfo]

The San Diego Union Tribune

Here is a little sample:
* It takes 98 tons of prehistoric plant material to make one gallon of gas.
<snip>
*A 175 pound man can be converted (via thermal depolymerization, a process that uses pressure and heat to reduce complex organic materials)into 38 pounds of oil and 7 pounds of gas plus minerals and water.

The SDUT is not known for their responsible journalism.

I'm a little confused on the math, 98 tons of prehistoric biomatter to make 1 gallon of gas, but only 175 lbs of current biomatter to make a bit over 1 gallon of gas. Efficiency is WAY up, must be the Prius connection.........

 

[salsawonder]

It's either the difference between pre-historic and "advanced" material or the amount of time use to reconfigure the molecules......... Course you DO have to wonder how someone came up with the idea of using a 175# man???? The Prius forums are not the only place for geeks (meant in a loving way!) to bounce around ideas.....