奥迪用“空气和水”合成新燃料

 　　German Car Manufacturer Audi Creates Fuel From Air And Water

　　奥迪用“空气和水”合成新燃料

　　Creating an alternative green or carbon neutral fuel to replace gasoline has been the holy grail for scientists for many years. However, while there has been some progress with inventions like electric batteries and biofuel, most options are either too expensive or not commercially viable¹ to compete effectively with the fossil fuel. Now automobile² manufacturer Audi is stepping up to the challenge with a fuel made from carbon dioxide and water.

　　研究出环保且碳中性的燃料来代替汽油，一直被看做是科学界的圣杯。然而，虽然最近在蓄电池和生物燃料领域有些许进步，有些原材料还是因为过于昂贵或者不具商业价值，难敌化石燃料。奥迪公司现在正加快脚步，挑战一种由二氧化碳和水合成的新燃料。

　　合成新燃料

　　Called e-diesel³, the fuel developed in collaboration⁴ with Dresden-based Sunfire, was created in a lab using a simple but innovative⁵ technique. The scientists began by boiling water to temperatures exceeding 800°C (1,472°) using a renewable source of energy like solar, wind or hydropower. The resulting steam was decomposed⁶ into its two constituents⁷, hydrogen and oxygen with the help of electrolysis. The researchers then transformed the carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide. The hydrogen and carbon monoxide were piped into a reactor⁸ and subjected to extreme pressure and temperatures, to produce what scientists call long-chain hydrocarbons⁹. This liquid that Audi refers to as "blue crude" was then refined in a similar way to standard crude oil to produce e-diesel.

　　这种叫e-diesel的燃料是奥迪公司与德国Dresden工厂的Sunfire公司联合开发的，用的是一种简单但是先进的技术。科学家们先要利用太阳能或风能等绿色能源把水加热至800°C (1,472°)，而后把产生的蒸汽电解为氢气和氧气。然后，在把二氧化碳转化为一氧化碳。接下来，他们把氢气与二氧化碳在高压和高温下混合，生成一种名为“blue crude”的燃料。最后再提炼这种燃料，方法类似于把化石燃料炼成汽油。

　　While most of the CO2 used in the production of e-diesel comes from a biogas facility, it also absorbs some from the surroundings, helping¹⁰ remove the harmful greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.

　　虽然生产e-diesel所需的二氧化碳来自沼气生产设施，有些也可以来自环境，这样就可以帮助减少温室气体。

　　E- diesel is certainly not the first attempt at making carbon neutral fuel, and it will by no means be the last. However, the development is certainly a step in the right direction for clean energy. As Johanna Wanka, Germany's minister of education and research states, "If we can make widespread use of CO2 as a raw material, we will make a crucial contribution to climate protection and the efficient use of resources, and put the fundamentals of the 'green economy' in place."

　　E-diesel绝不是人们对制造碳中性燃料的第一次尝试，也绝不会是最后一次。然而，这绝对是洁净能源探索历程中对的一步。德国联邦教育及研究部部长Johanna Wanka评论称，如果可以广泛使用二氧化碳作为原料，就会对环保和节能做出重要贡献，为打造绿色经济奠定基础。

1 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

2 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

3 diesel   

n.柴油发动机，内燃机

参考例句：

• We experimented with diesel engines to drive the pumps.我们试着用柴油机来带动水泵。
• My tractor operates on diesel oil.我的那台拖拉机用柴油开动。

4 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

5 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

6 decomposed   

已分解的，已腐烂的

参考例句：

• A liquid is decomposed when an electric current passes through it. 当电流通过时，液体就分解。
• Water can be resolved [decomposed] into hydrogen and oxygen. 水可分解为氢和氧。

7 constituents   

n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素

参考例句：

• She has the full support of her constituents. 她得到本区选民的全力支持。
• Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water. 氢和氧是水的主要成分。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 reactor   

n.反应器；反应堆

参考例句：

• The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy.原子反应堆发出大量的热能。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules.在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

9 hydrocarbons   

n.碳氢化合物，烃( hydrocarbon的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Hydrocarbons (HC), like carbon monoxide, represent unburned and wasted fuel. 碳氢化合物(HC)像一氧化碳一样，为未燃尽的和被浪费掉的燃料。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• With this restricted frequency range it is not applicable to hydrocarbons. 这个较紧缩的频率范围不适用于烃类。 来自辞典例句

10 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。