How to Convert Water Into Fuel by Building a DIY Oxyhydrogen Generator

Intro: How to Convert Water Into Fuel by Building a DIY Oxyhydrogen Generator

Here's how to build a sexy looking generator that uses electricity to convert water into an extremely powerful fuel!  In this project, you'll learn how to build an OxyHydrogen generator from scratch.

STEP 1: What Is an OxyHydrogen Generator?

An oxyhydrogen generator, like this one, uses electricity from your car battery to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gasses.  (Electricity + 2H20 --> 2H2 + O2)  Together, these make a fuel that is much more powerful than gasoline, and the only emission released is—water!

Of course, to be a completely clean fuel, the electricity used to generate the gas needs to be from a clean source.  Solar, wind, or water power could be a few examples.  

This video shows step-by-step how to make one.  

NOTE: The amount of electrical energy required to make the gas is more than the energy you can obtain from it.  This is NOT an energy generator so much as it is an energy converter.  

STEP 2: Getting Metal for the Generator Plates

For this project, you're going to need some stainless steel and some ABS pipe fittings. I visited a local fabrication company, and not only did they have plenty of scrap metal to choose from, they were even willing to help me cut it to custom sizes. A job that would have taken me hours with a pair of tin snips and a hacksaw took only a matter of minutes with their equipment.

I used 20 gauge stainless steel, and with the help of their hydraulic punch, cut precise holes in the tops and bottoms of the plates. When finished, I had 12 plates measuring 3" x 6", 4 plates at 1-1/2" x 6", and three 1" connector bands that were 6", 4-1/2", and 3 1/4". A belt sander was used for smoothing down the jagged edges around the hole.

STEP 3: Increasing the Plates Surface Area

Next I used 100 grit sandpaper to sand each of the plates diagonally. You can see the "X" pattern I sanded into both sides of the plates. This increases the surface area of the plate, and will assist in producing more gas.

STEP 4: Configuring the Plate Assembly

The plates are joined in a configuration so that the 2 inner plates are connected to one electrical terminal, and the 2 outer plates connected to the other terminal.  Plastic rods, plastic washers, and stainless steel nuts help to form the proper electrical connections.

The generator plates are assembled in the order of plate, plastic washers, plate, stainless steel jam nuts until 8 plates have been connected.

To see a step-by-step of the generator plate assembly, watch that specific portion of the video here.

When the plates are assembled, a 4" ABS clean out plug is attached at the top with some stainless steel bolts.

STEP 5: Making the Generator Body

The body is made from two 4" ABS clean out adapters, with a 4" plug inverted and cemented into the bottom. A 4" tube of acrylic or ABS makes the body, and the generator plates and cap screw down into the top.

A water bubbler is made in a similar fashion out of 2" clear acrylic tubing, but needs a way to clip onto the side.

STEP 6: Making Clips for the Bubbler

Clips can be made from scrap acrylic or ABS tubing, and glued to the side of the body.

To make these clips, I cut 3/4" off the 2" tubing I used to make the bubbler, then cut the top 1/3" off to form a claw.  These were then cemented to acrylic rods, and attached to the side of the generator body.  

STEP 7: Adding a Check Valve

Some poly tube, and a one-way check valve is added to the top elbow, making sure the valve will let gas out, but nothing back in.

STEP 8: Making the Electrolyte

The electrolyte is distilled water and about 2-4 teaspoons of KOH (potassium hydroxide). Salt or baking soda could also be used, but may dirty and corrode the plates over time.

I stirred the KOH flakes into the water, then used a coffee filter to strain the solution into the generator casing (after it had been cleaned thoroughly).  

Note: Potassium Hydroxide is caustic and can burn the skin.  Avoid direct contact!  

STEP 9: Finishing Touches

Water is added to the bubbler, then the cap is put back on, and the poly tubes are hooked up.

I tested it out with a 12 volt car battery and some jumper cables. The gas formed is collected it in a small water bottle, and ignited with a flame.

On 12 volts, this produces about 1.5 LPM.  I also hooked it to 2 car batteries in series, and on this higher 24 voltage, the system produced over 5 LPM and filled up a gallon milk jug in 38 seconds!  

Note:  Higher voltages allow more current to flow through the system, and it heats up quickly over time.  If allowed to continue, there is a risk the plastic casing will melt from prolonged exposure to high temperatures.  

STEP 10: How Powerful Is the Gas?

This system was not designed for use in a vehicle, but more as a device to demonstrate the electrolysis of water and what the gas can do.

To see some experiments where the gas was ignited, and some useful features of the generator, check out the video.

If you liked this project, perhaps you'll like some of my others.  Check them out at www.thekingofrandom.com

Comments

[hoganjconnor]

your note at the beginning says that you put in more than you get out. how much more electricity are you putting in than you get out? and is it worth it to try to use solar panels to make it clean, or is it more effective to go all electric?

[Rustler]

I don't think that it would be efficient to use solar power to power a hydrogen generator. It may be clean, but it would be a waste. Assuming solar and hydrogen are the only power suppliers you might have a situation such as this: If you wanted to collect 15 units of power from your hydrogen generator, it would require your solar panels to supply about 20 units. That is because of the second law of thermodynamics. There is an inherent loss of energy in any system (Friction, waste, escaping gas, and others). In other words, it would be easier, cheaper, and more efficient to simply generate 15 units of power with your solar panels than to power a hydrogen generator. Like the author stated in the beginning "This is NOT an energy generator so much as it is an energy converter." A hydrogen generator is good if you want to create an explosive substance that leaves no harmful emissions (think cars). It also translates electricity into a fuel that could be used for a torch (think jewelers torch).

Hope this helps! :)

[Rustler]

Great 'Ible! Well written. I do have a few questions though... 1. How long can the generator continuously run on your 12v setup? 2. How much hydrogen gas could be stored in the system total? Is there a limit? 3. Could you possibly add a few links to supplies and materials?

Thanks!

[david.roseman]

Do NOT USE SALT. Because guess what gets created when split? Flammable and deadly gas. Salt is Sodium CHLORIDE. Chlorine gas is deadly.

[drmattys]

The ingenuity of this project and the handiness of the people making this item are really impressive. I would maybe caution thought that producing 5L/min of a mix of highly flammable H2 + O2 is explosively flammable and while impressive the device described doesn't appear in any way safe and demonstrations of this effect can be done a bit more safety consciously.

Could I suggest this system might be superior for demonstrative purposes, I agree it's less impressive and it's far from totally safe but it's not like going to kill you and burn you're neighborhood down if you make a small error, whereas the system described above absolutely can kill you, maybe some bystanders and leave you legally liable for destroying you're neighbor's house if you like, make a small miscalculation or are careless for a moment.

[moodleymurray868]

Excellent. I didn't get the part, how to connect to power " positive/ negative

[DemonC]

specs for the batteries you used?

[YogeshP]

Can we run a car with 5 liter per minutes hho gas generator

[DemonC]

well according to google search .97L of H is all you need per L of engine so 4.8L could run on this exact model. you would need larger volume of solution to provide you long enough without overheating.

there’s the tuning and extra 24v electrical system to be added :)

[YogeshP]

How much current will take this HHO hydrogen fuel cell on 12V and 24 V DC power supply. Also can you tell me how stainly Mayer use Resonance frequency circuit to Genrate High Quntity HHO gas. As per my student he was use steel pipe and distilled water.... which is inserted Each other with 1mm gap around 9 units, each big one is positive and small one is negative ...but he was use resonance frequency circuit to Genrate High quantity HHO gas....

[KrityatirthaP]

I am confused with the reaction plate arrangement. your system has 16 plates exclusive of the connector plates; but according to the washer and bolt setup you show in the video only 2 plates get positive and 2 plates get negative connection from the battery. Is it supposed to be like that? What is the use of the remaining plates? Are they just to increase the surface area for the system?

[Happy_Mad_Scientist]

I think that their called floater plates. They act like resistors or something and helps with the production of the gas.

[jtancrede]

That makes no sense. "Resistor plates" would hamper the production of gas.

[Happy_Mad_Scientist]

All I'm doing is repeating what I've heard. In my generator, just as much gas comes from the "floater" plates as the plates that are electrically connected. I made my own version of this generator and used 20 non-connected plates and it produces enough gas to fill a 1-gallon milk jug in ten seconds. My other HHO generator with no floater plates produces a lot less. (1gal. = 2-5 min.) So the extra plates make a huge difference.

[yrralguthrie]

HHO...what is that?

[Happy_Mad_Scientist]

HHO is just short for oxyhydrogen gas -- a.k.a. hydroxy gas (Hydrogen/Oxygen mix)

[yrralguthrie]

There is no such thing as hydroxy gas. When hydrogen and oxygen mix water is formed.

[Happy_Mad_Scientist]

Hydroxy gas is just a nickname. Water is only formed when you burn the mix of the two gasses.

[yrralguthrie]

Well, if it isn't a gas, then what is it? Has to be either a solid or a liquid. There's not but the three choices. LOL

Oh, I know, it is a figment of the imagination of some uninformed folks who believe in magic.

[finnduino]

HHO is a mixture of 2:1 ratio of hydrogen to oxygen. They exist in a
gas state until heat is applied then the oxygen bonds to the to
hydrogen molecules and forms H2O. Have you thought about using your brain before commenting?