Hydrogen Hybrid

Archive for July, 2008

There are many benefits of using hydrogen as a fuel, compared to conventional fuel options.

1) Hydrogen is incredibly inexpensive. They is an unlimited quantity waiting to be harvested and used. Fossil fuels are a finite resource, which one day will be completely depleted. Hydrogen is a renewable fuel source.

2) Hydrogen is extremely clean fuel. When hydrogen fuels an engine, there is no carbon dioxide, the only by-product is crystal clear water.

3) Hydrogen is safer to burn than any existing fuel source currently being used. We are all much more conscience of the environment and how we can protect it. In the USA, California has laws requiring clean-burning cars, and hydrogen would fulfill this legal mandate. Because hydrogen is produced “on demand” and not stored,it is safer to use.

4) Hydrogen is more affordable than fossil fuels. Hydrogen can be produced with either solar or wind power, both of which cost consumers nothing.

5) Hydrogen creates more energy per pound than any other conventional fuel. Hydrogen is two to three times more energy efficient than petrol, disiel or gas in vechiles.

A vast amount of research is currently being done into providing a cleaner, safer, renewable source of unlimited fuel termed “the hydrogen economy.” This is the potential future where consumers become dependant on hydrogen as the primary fuel source.

If that day comes, we will save us money and protect our environment.

Why Hydrogen is a safe fuel?
The main reason is that hydrogen ir rarely found in its ionic, free floating state. Hydrogen always bonds with itself or other gases around it when it is free floating. The systems discussed are based on using hydrogen using “on-demand” application. It is not stored for later use.

Pure hydrogen cars require extensive, and expensive engine modifications. Converting from petrol/gas only needs minor adjustments and can be removed in a matter of minutes.

The electrolysis of water is a simple process where a liquid undergoes a chemical change while conducting an electric current. The electrolysis of water breaks the water molecule apart into is hydrogen and oxygen ions. Liquids that conduct electricity must contain freely moving ions in order to complete a circuit.

Water is a great conductor of electricity. When a water molecule is broken up we get two H+ ions but only one 02- ion. The electrolysis of water produces twice as much hydrogen gas as oxygen.

A simple experiment to demonstrate this principle:
If you place two wires connected to a battery the positive ions (the H+ ions) will be attracted to the negatively charged electrons on the wire. All ions strive to be neutral. FOr it to become neutral, it will need to collect an electron from the negatively charged end of the wire, creating a neutral hydrogen atom.

When the two are joined together it forms hydrogen gas. This is why you see bubbles rising from the negative end of the wire.

So which side is producing the hydrogen?
Remember, every water molecule is broken up with two H+ ions and only one 02- ion. The electrolysis of water produces twice as much hydrogen gas as oxgen, so the side with the most bubbles is producing the hydrogen gas.

Oxygen is also much heavier than hydrogen, being sixteen times heavier. So, the height of oxygen (half the quantity) is eight times more than hydrogen.

Hydrogen is the third most common element on earth. Yet there is very little free hydrogen in the air. Since it is highly reactive, and reactis when released with other gases.

When hydrogen reacts with oxygen we get the reverse of electrolysis = water. It’s also very light (fifteen times lighter) than air, so it rises quickly.

Hydrogen is difficult to store. It has no colour or smell, dissipates quickly, unlike a liquid which forms a puddle. Hydrogen leaks are hard to detect and is highly flammable and burns with a nearly colourless flame.
Storage os hydrogen is subject to tight regulations and control.

When hydrogen is used “on-demand” the problems expensive storage vessels or heavy toxic source materials are not required. It doesn’t produce any by-products that have to be disposed of or create supply problems when looking for our source materials.

Electrolysis continuously produces small quantities of petrol/gas as needed. This is much safer than the storage-type hydrogen systems.

How the Hydrogen On-Demand system works.
A on-demand hydrogen generator is basically a tank that holds distilled water and an electrolyte, such as potassium hydroxide.

The water is charged to induce electrolysis, which separates the hydrogen and oxygen molecules. This is collected and forced into the engine through the air intake system. The added oxygen increases the octane level of the fuel.

Once the on-demand hydrogen is in the engine, it helps increase the flame spread during the combustion process. In other words, the hydrogen makes the flame in your engine burn faster.

The fuel you are putting into your car is used to power your car, and less is lost as unused waste. In this way the hydrogen is used as a combustion catalyst.

On-Demand hydrogen can reduce emissions, increase power, and increase petrol mileage of your car.

Is this the same as Brown’s Gas?
An Australian profession named Yul Brown, is credited with inventing the process of using hydrogen collected from electrolysis of water. Yul Brown is famous for creating a device that took water and created usable oxygen and hydrogen without any spontaneous combustion. Through electrolysis one litre of water can be made into 1,860 litres of hydrogen gas.

All of us are concerned about the environment. We know that car exhaust emissions are some of the most dangerous environmental pollutants. Unburned fuel is the greatest component of your cars emissions. Hydrocarbon fuels are extremely dangerous to both humans and the atmosphere. Unburned fuel, released through your car’s exhaust, polluting our air and environment.

When hydrogen is used in the combustion process, it makes the flame burn faster and accelerates combustion overall. As a result, fewer of these hydrocarbon fuel particles are allowed to escape without been used.

How does this happen?
Hydrogen is the smallest known molecular in the universe. When it is forced into the combustion chamber, it’s small size allows it to enter quickly. It’s light weight molecules move quickly, creating more molecular collisions than any other molecule.

Hydrogen burns faster than gasoline alone, so this actually decreases the time it takes for combustion to occur, within the combustion chamber of your car’s engine. This produces a more complete burn earlier in the stroke, more energy is converted into power and less heat (energy) leaves the engine during the
exhaust stroke. More fuel is converted into usable energy, so you get more power out of your engine, and fewer dangerous emissions are pasted through your exhaust.

Reducing Carbon Build Up and Increasing Power
As you know, traditional fuels leave behind byproducts during the internal combustion process. The burn process also leaves behind carbon. Most of the carbon is vented through the exhaust system, however, a thin layer of solidified carbon does build up within your engine.

This leads to problems in your engine, you can pay to have a “de-carbon” your engine, which uses chemicals for removal. Excess carbon in your engine decrease the power, causing the engine to generate less horsepower and torque. Higher-octane fuels help burn off some of this residue.

Using an On-Demand Hydrogen system not only increase combustion efficiency, it also raises the octane level of your fuel. A higher octane level means that the engine burns more cleanly.

Burning hydrogen to improve the combustion process cleans up the carbon that is building up in your engine. When this is removed, your horsepower increases. Cleaning the engine makes it run smoother, increasing the horsepower even more.

The cost is negligible. You will need some potassium hydroxide ($5 worth will last more than a year). You will also have to buy mineral-free (distilled) water. This is readily available at your local grocery store for about $1 per gallon. Considering the average hydrogen generator units use about a gallon of water
per 2,400 miles. (or one litre lasts for about 630 kilometres). On this basis it will cost you around $10 - $20 per year in mineral-free water.

You should ensure you will always have enough water to produce the hydrogen gas that your car needs. Either check water level each time you fill up with petrol. or install a reservoir (with distilled water) so you don’t forget. Then you really only need to full this up every 1,000 miles.

Why do you use distilled water. Minerals leaves behind a muddy substance that can affect how well the generator works.

Rain water has no minerals in it. If you have a dehumidifier, the water it collects is free of mineral. Some city water treatment systems take out minerals, and if yours does, then you can use tap water safely.

Check your hydrogen generator often, to ensure it is clean, and mud free. With distilled water, the amount of maintenance you will need to do is almost nil.

Hydrogen generators use your cars alternator as it’s only source of power.
This small amount of electrical charge is enough to seperate the oxygen and
hydrogen gasses. These are quickly channeled into the engine, where they help
to improve the burn from your cars fuel. Most units draw between 4 to 10 Amps,
which puts on undue strain on your engine.

What a On-Demand Hydrogen generator will and will not do?
It will not completely replace your existing fuel source. You will be buying less
fuel because you will have better fuel mileage.

Many things affect the mileage you will get from your car, including driving skill,
terrain, whether you are driving in the city, stopping and starting or using the
freeway or highway. Most people who install hydrogen generators on their cars,
and change nothing about their driving, will see an increase in mileage of between
25% to 50%.

You will notice a difference the first time you full up after installing one of
these devices. YOu will have gone much further on your tank of petrol than you
had been able to before installing they hydrogen generator.
There is more burnable fuel now available for your engine to use.
This translates into increased horsepower for your car.

You car will run smoother and cleaner
You will have fewer emissions from your engine, which means cleaner air.

Burning hydrogen helps clean out the carbon residue inside your engine, giving
you fewer costs for repairs and lowers maintenance costs. It will also clean up
the 02 sensor.

The bottom line is On-Demand Hydrogen generator will save you money in many ways.

Hydrogen will not likely explore when used as a fuel in your car. It does, however,
require special handling considerations, in much the same ways as fossil fuels.
Petrol is extremely flammable, and can only be used in approved containers.
It it is spilled, there are specific steps to properly clean it up and avoid fire
hazards. Hydrogen is very similar. Yes, itis a gas, and you do have to be careful
with hydrogen, and it will catch on fire.

Hydrogen is as safe to use as gasoline.

You may wonder if hydrogen is dangerous to touch or breathe it. Hydrogen is difficult
to touch since it is a gas, so that is not a really a concern. The liquid in a
On-Dmeand Hydrogen generator is water, and there is no danger in touching water.

Hydrogen does not harm you if you breathe a small amount. the gas is non-toxic to
humans and other living things.

If everyone started using it will it create another problem? An article published in
Science magazine in August 2004 by John Turner, the use of water to create hydrogen
for running cars on hydrogen fuel cells.

He found that if all the cars in the USA changed to hydrogen power it would require
around 100 billion gallons of water a year. That sounds like a lot. But take into
account that to produce gasoline was currently using 300 billion gallons of water
per year.

These generators do not use much water at all, on average most need half a pint
of distilled water every 1,000 miles.

This water will have minimum impact on the overall water demand. If you live in an
area with high rainfall, you can collect the rainwater to fill your generator.