The Guardian: Thousands march in Cuba in rare mass protests amid economic crisis

[jim bell]

 On Saturday, July 24, 2021, 12:18:28 PM PDT, grarpamp <grarpamp at gmail.com> wrote:
 
 
 > float them to the shores, catapult, RC drone or balloon drop

https://nypost.com/2021/07/19/could-balloons-power-uncensored-internet-in-cuba/

>Tethered 12NM out at sea with altitude line of sight,
>well within any cpunks Bitcoin fun budget,
>challenge to keep WiFi steadily aimed,
>consider long kite tail stabilization, gimbal mount...

Jim Bell's suggestion:
The balloon could use hydrogen.  The night operation could employ that hydrogen in a fuel-cell for energy, oxygen from the atmosphere.

This would be reversed during the day electrolyzing water to regenerate the hydrogen gas.  The water could be obtained by dessicating it out of the atmosphere with a deliquiescent dessicant, perhaps concentrated sulfuric acid.  
Fuel cell



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Fuel cell

A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel (often hydrogen) and an oxidi...
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Proton-exchange membrane fuel cell


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Proton-exchange membrane fuel cell

PEMFCs are built out of membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) which include the electrodes, electrolyte, catalyst,...
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Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), also known as polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells, are a type of fuel cell being developed mainly for transport applications, as well as for stationary fuel-cell applications and portable fuel-cell applications. Their distinguishing features include lower temperature/pressure ranges (50 to 100 °C) and a special proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane. PEMFCs generate electricity and operate on the opposite principle to PEM electrolysis, which consumes electricity. They are a leading candidate to replace the aging alkaline fuel-cell technology, which was used in the Space Shuttle.[1]

PEMFCs are built out of membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) which include the electrodes, electrolyte, catalyst, and gas diffusion layers. An ink of catalyst, carbon, and electrode are sprayed or painted onto the solid electrolyte and carbon paper is hot pressed on either side to protect the inside of the cell and also act as electrodes. The pivotal part of the cell is the triple phase boundary (TPB) where the electrolyte, catalyst, and reactants mix and thus where the cell reactions actually occur.[2] Importantly, the membrane must not be electrically conductive so the half reactions do not mix. Operating temperatures above 100 °C are desired[citation needed] so the water byproduct becomes steam and water management becomes less critical in cell design.

Reactions[edit]
Further information: Fuel cell
A proton exchange membrane fuel cell transforms the chemical energy liberated during the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to electrical energy, as opposed to the direct combustion of hydrogen and oxygen gases to produce thermal energy.



  
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