Renewable energy to power vehicle engine

Step 4: The DC supply

DC supply powers the electrolysis process....

To charge the supply, use a battery or dynamo/alternator.

Read the following instructable:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bike-Generator/

Now, the circuit is complete.

I hope this instructable makes sense and has some appeal to it.

BEST OF LUCK GUYS! MAKE UR OWN VERSION SOON AND DO NOT FORGET TO SHARE IT!

Comments

[the man gadget]

merkidemis the bit that you fail to grasp is that if you can run an engine on this type of generator but not use all of the electricity from the alternator then the excess can be used to charge batteries or run an inverter and the other added benefit is that the heat generated from the engine can also be used to heat the watertank in the house and keep the engine running at a constant temp. The project I am building is for microgeneration so that I can be permanently disconnected from the grid and therefore not contributing to the carbon footprint. I am not looking to challenge the world of thermodynamics just harnessing energy to my advantage and not line the pockets of the greedy utilities companies.

[merkidemis]

Let's see, the theoretical max efficiency for electrolysis is about 82% (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolysis_of_water), the most efficient alternator is currently around 22% (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MHD_generator), and most ICE engines, even with turbocharging, average around 20%, 37% being on the high end. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_combustion_engine). Even if you could capture some of the waste heat, converting it into usable energy to accomplish work (like heating the water to increase the electrolysis efficiency) is not going to get you to 100%. Plus you need to take into account the work you're actually trying to accomplish, such as moving a vehicle. Road surface friction, wind resistance, etc will all sap efficiency from the system.

Also, please read past the first sentence in my initial post. This is a perfectly fine method to power an engine, but will not provide the closed energy loop the author is proposing it does. It would prove to be a fine hybrid system provided that the "DC Voltage Supply" step is getting additional power from another source, such as solar panels. But, at that point, you might as well cut out all the horrible efficiency losses and just use electric motors.

This kind of project has been popping up for decades, and for clear reasons none have ever worked. And none of those reasons have been because of the greed of energy companies.

[merkidemis]

The problem is the laws of thermodynamics. Energy is lost because the electrolysis of water is not 100% efficient, the combustion engine is nowhere near 100% efficient, neither is the alternater. Energy is lost through friction and heat. This is an ages old idea, and as impossible today as it was decades ago. If there was an additional source of energy to offset the losses, then it would be fine. A solar array, for example.

[egriff]

yeah it seems as though solar cells will be required for this and a plug in charger for bad weather

[paulm39083]

this argument that is based on the " laws of thermodynamics" is just plain foolishness. Merkidemis takes into account exactly what the other naysayers have spouted for years, and that is it, what is missing here is the benefit side of this ridiculas comment. It is true that it does take energy to produce brown gas, but what if _{I design a cell, test and install with an o2 and map enhancer, and save 50% on my gas useage........ is this an example of an energy source that does not work ? You naysayers need to do a FULL evaluation of this technology. Just spouting the laws of thermodynamics just doesn't cut it. I too studied therm in college and we advanced to Nuclear thermodynamics as well, ( that was nearly 45 years ago) and have used my engineering education my whole life. there are problems with any new or re-newed ideas, study the process, learn and experiment, you just piss me off with your narrowness.}

[merkidemis]

Yeah, if you're such an expert then by all means, provide some examples where this has worked. Please provide a link to a frictionless alternator. And please don't accuse of narrowness. The whole reason all of us are even on this site is to find and share awesome new ideas and techniques. It just happens that this particular idea is neither new nor awesome.

[ideaguy00]

http://bingofuel.online.fr/bingofuel/index.htm

[the man gadget]

I have been working on this type of project for months and have had some great results. I am already making 1ltr of hydrogen/min and only using 5 amps@12vdc. After a great deal of research and expense of prototypes I have nearly completed a system that will run a small engine for as long as I like as long as the alternator will continue to power the system....

[DALEK MOSQUITO]

Please tell me how you are making hydrogen so efficiently i would love to know.

[bajol_ijo030883]

Could u share your electrolizer and how to build it?

[trekman]

1Ltr/Min @ 5 amps is good. I have been working with HHO generators for some time. I might be able to help you. Get in touch with me so we can exchange some info. I have been testing different designs using different electrolyte in different amounts. Might be able to use some of what I have learned that will help you. [e-mail] Let me know, Tom

[gilbert2048]

out of curiosity how much energy do you have for other things

[ajparag]

Hats of u!!! Its gr8 to hear that many of us do consider abt fuel problems seriously.....I will suggest u to let this idea out to the world as i have done it...... u can watch my instructable on HHO generator....I have made it available to all.... Best of luck with ur system!

[the man gadget]

I have been doing some more research and the air/HHO mix mathematically is around 36 to 38:1 however research done in California suggests that an 80:1 mixture is more stable with an ice for petroleum. anyway I have completed my HHO cell and will be testing it on a 150CC engine. I am a qualified mechanical engineer and will be running tests for temperature, mixture, timing/ overall engine stability. Ford already have hydrogen cars as I have been reading today..

[fenixtx999]

there will be problems not only with thermodynamics, but also because of the fact that hydrogen gas combusts at a much lower compression rate than gasoline so if you run a normal car engine on hydrogen gas/air with no actual gasoline, it will precombust, causeing the engine to knock and ping.