Do-it-yourself hydrogen generator for heating. Hydrogen generators. Creation of a prototype

Many car owners are looking for ways to save fuel. A hydrogen generator for a car will radically solve this issue. Reviews of those who have installed this device for themselves, allow us to talk about a significant reduction in costs in the operation of transport. So the topic is quite interesting. Below we will talk about how to make a hydrogen generator on your own.

ICE on hydrogen fuel

For several decades, the search has been going on to adapt internal combustion engines for full or hybrid operation on hydrogen fuel. In Great Britain, back in 1841, an engine operating on an air-hydrogen mixture was patented. The Zeppelin concern at the beginning of the 20th century used internal combustion engines running on hydrogen as the propulsion system for its famous airships.

The global energy crisis that erupted in the 1970s also contributed to the development of hydrogen energy. However, with its end, hydrogen generators were quickly forgotten. And this despite a lot of advantages compared to conventional fuel:

perfect flammability fuel mixture based on air and hydrogen, which makes it possible to easily start the engine at any ambient temperature;
a large release of heat during the combustion of gas;
absolute environmental safety - exhaust gases turn into water;
4 times higher combustion rate compared to gasoline mixture;
the ability of the mixture to work without detonation at a high compression ratio.

The main technical reason, which is an insurmountable obstacle in the use of hydrogen as a fuel for cars, was the inability to fit a sufficient amount of gas into vehicle. The size of the fuel tank for hydrogen will be comparable to the parameters of the car itself. The high explosiveness of the gas must exclude the possibility of the slightest leakage. In liquid form, a cryogenic installation is required. This method is also not very feasible on a car.

Brown gas

Today, hydrogen generators are gaining popularity among motorists. However, this is not quite what was discussed above. Through electrolysis, water is converted into the so-called Brown's gas, which is added to the fuel mixture. The main problem that this gas solves is the complete combustion of fuel. This serves to increase power and reduce fuel consumption by a decent percentage. Some mechanics have achieved savings of up to 40%.

The surface area of the electrodes is decisive for the quantitative gas output. Under the action of an electric current, a water molecule begins to decompose into two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen. Such a gas mixture during combustion releases almost 4 times more energy than during the combustion of molecular hydrogen. Therefore, the use of this gas in internal combustion engines leads to more efficient combustion of the fuel mixture, reduces the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere, increases power and reduces the amount of fuel consumed.

Universal scheme of hydrogen generator

For those who do not have the ability to design, a hydrogen generator for a car can be bought from craftsmen who put on stream the assembly and installation of such systems. Today there are many such proposals. The cost of the unit and installation is about 40 thousand rubles.

But you can assemble such a system yourself - there is nothing complicated in it. It consists of several simple elements combined into one:

Plants for electrolysis of water.
Storage tank.
Moisture trap from gas.
Electronic control unit (current modulator).

Below is a diagram by which you can easily assemble a hydrogen generator with your own hands. The drawings for the main plant producing Brown's gas are quite simple and straightforward.

The scheme does not represent any engineering complexity; anyone who knows how to work with a tool can repeat it. For vehicles with a fuel injection system, it is also necessary to install a controller that regulates the level of gas supply to the fuel mixture and is connected to the vehicle's on-board computer.

Reactor

The amount of Brown's gas obtained depends on the area of the electrodes and their material. If copper or iron plates are taken as electrodes, then the reactor will not be able to work for a long time due to the rapid destruction of the plates.

The use of titanium sheets looks ideal. However, their use increases the cost of assembling the unit several times. The use of high-alloy stainless steel plates is considered optimal. This metal is available, it will not be difficult to acquire it. You can also use your spent tank from washing machine. The difficulty will be only cutting the plates of the desired size.

Installation types

To date, a hydrogen generator for a car can be equipped with three electrolyzers that are different in type, nature of work and performance:

The first type of construction is quite sufficient for many carburettor engines. There is no need to install a complex electronic circuit for a gas flow rate regulator, and the assembly of such an electrolyser itself is not difficult.

For more powerful vehicles, the assembly of the second type of reactor is preferable. And for diesel engines and heavy vehicles, a third type of reactor is used.

Required performance

In order to really save fuel, a hydrogen generator for a car must produce gas every minute at the rate of 1 liter per 1000 engine displacement. Based on these requirements, the number of plates for the reactor is selected.

To increase the surface of the electrodes, it is necessary to carry out surface treatment sandpaper in the perpendicular direction. This treatment is extremely important - it will increase the working area and avoid "sticking" of gas bubbles to the surface.

The latter leads to the isolation of the electrode from the liquid and prevents normal electrolysis. Do not forget that for the normal operation of the electrolyzer, the water must be alkaline. Ordinary soda can serve as a catalyst.

current regulator

The hydrogen generator on the car in the process of work increases its productivity. This is due to the release of heat during the electrolysis reaction. The working fluid of the reactor is heated, and the process proceeds much more intensively. A current regulator is used to control the course of the reaction.

If you do not lower it, the water may simply boil, and the reactor will stop producing Brown's gas. A special controller that regulates the operation of the reactor allows you to change the performance with increasing speed.

Carburetor models are equipped with a controller with a conventional switch for two operating modes: "Route" and "City".

Installation safety

Many craftsmen place the plates in plastic containers. Don't skimp on this. You need a stainless steel tank. If it is not available, you can use the design with plates open type. In the latter case, it is necessary to use a high-quality current and water insulator for reliable operation of the reactor.

It is known that the combustion temperature of hydrogen is 2800. This is the most explosive gas in nature. Brown's gas is nothing more than an "explosive" mixture of hydrogen. Therefore, hydrogen generators road transport require high-quality assembly of all components of the system and the availability of sensors to monitor the process.

The temperature sensor of the working fluid, pressure and ammeter will not be superfluous in the design of the installation. Particular attention should be paid to the water seal at the outlet of the reactor. It is vital. If the mixture ignites, such a valve will prevent the flame from spreading into the reactor.

Hydrogen generator for heating residential and industrial premises, working on the same principles, differs several times greater productivity reactor. In such installations, the absence of a water seal is a mortal danger. Hydrogen generators on cars, in order to ensure safe and reliable operation of the system, it is also recommended to equip such a check valve.

Until conventional fuel is indispensable

There are several experimental models in the world that run entirely on Brown's gas. However, technical solutions have not yet reached their perfection. Such systems are not available to ordinary inhabitants of the planet. Therefore, while motorists have to be content with "handicraft" developments that make it possible to reduce fuel costs.

A little about trust and naivety

Some enterprising businessmen offer a hydrogen generator for cars for sale. They talk about laser treatment of the surface of electrodes or about the unique secret alloys from which they are made, special water catalysts developed in scientific laboratories around the world.

It all depends on the ability of the thought of such entrepreneurs to fly scientific fantasy. Credulity can make you at your own expense (sometimes not even small ones) the owner of an installation whose contact plates will collapse after two months of operation.

If you have already decided to save money in this way, then it is better to assemble the installation yourself. At least there will be no one to blame later.

One of the most convenient and practical ways to produce hydrogen, and its further, reasonable use is a hydrogen generator, the so-called hydrogen burner. But getting hydrogen at home is a rather dangerous task, so heed the advice described.

Homemade hydrogen generator:

The basis of the hydrogen burner is a hydrogen generator, which is a kind of container with water and stainless steel plates. Construction and detailed description A hydrogen generator can be easily found on other sites, so I won't waste any typed characters on that. I want to convey very important subtleties that will be very useful to you if you are going to make a hydrogen burner with your own hands.

Figure #1 - Structural scheme hydrogen burner

The essence of the hydrogen burner is to produce hydrogen by electrolysis of water. You must understand that in the electrolyzer (a container with water and electrodes) and therefore you cannot pour anything horrible there, I recommend using distilled water, but I read that more is added for more efficient electrolysis caustic soda(I don't know the proportions).

My cell is assembled from stainless plates, rubber gaskets, and two thick Plexiglas plates, and outwardly it all looks like this:

Figure No. 2 - Electrolyzer

The electrolyser must be filled exactly halfway with water to comply with safety regulations, monitor the liquid level, as with its decrease, the electrical parameters and the rate of hydrogen release!

But before you spend a lot of time and materials on assembling the electrolyser, take care of the power supply to it. My electrolyser, for example, consumes about 6A current, at a voltage of 8V.

Metal plates (electrodes) are connected by means of a thick wire soldered to them. copper wire, and thick copper wires (about 4mm section).

Figure No. 3 - How to connect the wires

You must also understand that everything must be hermetically connected and well insulated, short circuiting of the plates and a spark is unacceptable !!!

Figure No. 4 - Insulation of plates

Actually there are a lot different kind so I don't want to focus your attention on it, although it is the most basic and time-consuming part for a hydrogen burner, in itself it is not very important (any design will do for you).

When working with a hydrogen burner, you should:

If you are going to make a hydrogen burner, then be careful! Hydrogen is highly explosive! When assembling and working with a hydrogen torch, there are many vital important subtleties. Pay attention to my advice - I really did it and I know what I'm talking about.

In a homemade hydrogen burner, the hydrogen pressure must be consistent, and protection against reverse explosion, good tightness and insulation!

The fact is that when working with a hydrogen burner, you use a power supply for electrolysis. And while it is on, hydrogen is released with approximately the same intensity (as it works, it can fall, as the water evaporates and the current density between the electrode plates changes), so do not start work without first familiarizing yourself with the burner device.

How to use the hydrogen burner correctly:

First of all, always work in personal protective equipment (be sure to wear a protective shield or goggles on your face), and secondly, follow the rules fire safety. Thirdly, keep an eye on the water level in the electrolyser, and the intensity of the flame burning.

It is not necessary to ignite the flame immediately, let the hydrogen displace the remaining oxygen (it takes about ten minutes for me, depending on the intensity of the release and the volume of the vessels with a water seal and fuse A, B Fig. 1)

Be sure to keep a container of water near you - you will need it to put out the flame of the burner when you finish the job. To do this, you just need to direct the tip of the needle with the flame under the water and thereby block the oxygen from the fire. ALWAYS EXTINGUISH THE FLAME FIRST AND THEN TURN OFF THE POWER TO THE GENERATOR - OTHERWISE THE EXPLOSION WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE.

Water seal and fuse:

Pay your attention to figure No. 1 - there are two containers (I designated them A and B), well, a needle from a disposable syringe (C), all this is connected by tubes from droppers.

It is necessary to pour water into the first container (A), this is a water lock. It is necessary so that the explosion does not reach the electrolyzer (if it explodes, it will be like a fragmentation grenade).

Figure No. 5 - Water lock

Please note that there are two connectors in the lid of the water seal (I adapted all this from a medical dropper), both of them are hermetically glued into the lid with epoxy glue. One tube is long, through which hydrogen from the generator should flow under water, gurgle, and through the second hole go through the tube to the fuse (B).

Figure #6 - Fuse

In a container with a fuse, you can pour both water (for greater reliability) and alcohol (alcohol vapor increases the burning temperature of the flame).

The fuse itself is made like this: You need to make a hole with a diameter of 15 mm in the cover, and holes for the screws.

Figure No. 7 - What the holes in the lid look like

You will also need two thick washers (if necessary, you need to expand the inside diameter of the washer with a round file), two water gaskets and chocolate foil or an ordinary balloon.

Figure No. 8 - Sketch of the protective valve

It is assembled quite simply, you need to drill four coaxial holes in the iron washers of the cover and gaskets. First you need to solder the bolts to the top washer, this can easily be done with a powerful soldering iron and active flux.

Figure No. 9 - Washer with screws

Figure No. 10 - Soldered screws to the washer

After you have soldered the screws, you need to put one rubber gasket on the washer and directly your valve. I used a thin rubber band from a burst balloon (much more convenient than wearing thin foil), although foil also works quite well, at least when I tested my hydrogen torch for explosiveness, it was foil in the valve.

Figure No. 11 - We put on the gasket and protective rubber

Then we put on the second gasket and you can insert the protection into the holes made in the lid.

Figure No. 12 - Finished valve

Figure No. 13 - Security elements

The second washer and nuts are needed to tightly and firmly fix the protection by tightening the nuts (look at figure No. 6).

Understand correctly and take note that safety rules cannot be neglected, especially when working with explosive gases. And such a simple device can save you from unpleasant surprises. Protection works according to the principle “where it is thin - it breaks there”, knocks out with an explosion protective film(foil or rubber band), and the explosive force does not go into the electrolyzer, besides, this is also prevented by a water seal. Take my word for it, if the electrolyzer explodes, it will not seem enough to you :)!!!

Figure #14 - Explosion

It should be understood that emergency situation necessarily inevitable. The fact is that the flame burns at the exit of the nozzle (which is a fairly good needle from a disposable syringe) only because gas pressure is created (pressure is agreed).

Figure No. 15 - Nozzle from a syringe, on a pedestal

For example, you work with your burner and now the light is cut out, believe me! You will not have time to bounce off the burner, the flame will instantly go back through the tube and the explosion of the protective valve will thunder (it is needed to blow it and not the electrolyzer) - this is quite normal when the burner is homemade - be vigilant and careful, stay away from the hydrogen burner and wear personal protective equipment!

Personally, I am not very enthusiastic about the hydrogen burner, and I tried to make it only because I already had a ready-made electrolyzer. Firstly, it is very dangerous, and secondly, it is not very effective (I'm talking about my hydrogen burner and not about burners in general) it was not possible to melt what I wanted with it. And therefore, if you came up with the idea of making this type of burner, ask yourself a completely rational question “is it worth it”, since assembling an electrolyser from scratch is quite a troublesome business, and you also need a powerful power supply that would be enough to match the hydrogen pressure and outlet nozzle diameter. Therefore, “if only it was” I don’t recommend you do it, but only if you really need it.

We are accustomed to consider the most accessible view fuel natural gas. But it turns out he has worthy alternative- Hydrogen obtained from the splitting of water. We receive the initial substance for the production of this fuel free of charge. And if you also make a hydrogen generator with your own hands, the savings will be simply amazing. So right?

For those wishing to build a generator of cheap, but very productive fuel with their own hands, we offer detailed instructions. Here are some tips for proper use. As informative additions that clearly explain the principle of operation, photo applications and videos are used.

High school chemistry classes used to give explanations on how to get hydrogen from ordinary tap water. There is a concept in the chemical field - electrolysis. It is thanks to electrolysis that it is possible to obtain hydrogen.

The simplest hydrogen plant is a kind of container filled with water. Two plate electrodes are placed under the water layer. Electricity is supplied to them. Since water is an excellent conductor electric current, a contact with low resistance is established between the plates.

The current passing through a small water resistance contributes to the formation of a chemical reaction, as a result of which hydrogen is formed.

Scheme of an experimental hydrogen plant, which in the past was studied in the high school curriculum at chemistry lessons. As it turns out, those lessons were not superfluous for the practice of modern everyday needs.

It would seem that everything is simple and there is very little left - to collect the resulting hydrogen in order to use it as an energy source. But chemistry is never complete without subtle details.

So here: if hydrogen combines with oxygen, an explosive mixture is formed at a certain concentration. This moment is one of the critical phenomena that limit the possibilities of building sufficiently powerful home stations.

Hydrogen generator design

To build do-it-yourself hydrogen generators, they usually take the classic Brown installation scheme as the basis. Such an electrolyzer of medium power consists of a group of cells, each of which contains a group of plate electrodes. The power of the installation is determined by the total surface area of the plate electrodes.

The cells are placed inside a container well isolated from the external environment. Branch pipes for connecting a water line, hydrogen output, as well as a contact panel for connecting electricity are displayed on the tank body.

We also develop and manufacture installations for operation as part of condominiums. It's already over powerful designs(5-7 kW), the purpose of which is not only the energy of heating systems, but also the generation of electricity. This combined version is rapidly gaining popularity in Western countries and in Japan.

Combined hydrogen generators are characterized as systems with high efficiency and low carbon dioxide emissions.

An example of a really operating industrially manufactured station with a power of up to 5 kW. In the future, similar installations are planned to be made for equipping cottages and condominiums.

Russian industry has also begun to engage in this promising type of fuel production. In particular, Norilsk Nickel is mastering production technologies hydrogen plants, including household ones.

It is planned to use the most different types fuel cells in the development and production process:

proton-exchange membrane;
phosphoric acid;
proton-exchange methanol;
alkaline;
solid oxide.

Meanwhile, the electrolysis process is reversible. This fact suggests that it is possible to obtain already heated water without burning hydrogen.

It seems that this is another idea, seizing on which you can start a new round of passions associated with the free extraction of fuel for a home boiler.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Experimenting at home with homemade models, you need to prepare for the most unexpected results, but a negative experience is also an experience:

Do-it-yourself hydrogen generators for the home are still a project that exists at the level of one idea. There are no practically implemented projects of do-it-yourself hydrogen generators, and those that are positioned on the network are the imaginations of their authors or purely theoretical options.

So it remains only to rely on an expensive industrial product that promises to appear in the near future.

Long gone are the days when Vacation home could be heated in only one way - by burning wood or coal in the stove. Modern heaters use different kinds fuel and at the same time automatically maintain comfortable temperature in our homes. Natural gas, diesel or fuel oil, electricity, solar and - this is not an exhaustive list alternatives. It would seem - live and rejoice, but only the constant rise in prices for fuel and equipment forces us to continue searching for cheap ways of heating. And at the same time, an inexhaustible source of energy - hydrogen, literally lies under our feet. And today we will talk about how to use ordinary water as fuel by assembling a hydrogen generator with our own hands.

The device and principle of operation of the hydrogen generator

The factory hydrogen generator is an impressive unit

Use hydrogen as fuel for heating country house beneficial not only because of the high calorific value, but also because no harmful substances. As everyone remembers from the school chemistry course, when two hydrogen atoms (chemical formula H 2 - Hidrogenium) are oxidized with one oxygen atom, a water molecule is formed. In this case, three times more heat is released than when natural gas is burned. It can be said that hydrogen has no equal among other energy sources, since its reserves on Earth are inexhaustible - the world ocean consists of the chemical element H 2 by 2/3, and in the entire Universe this gas, along with helium, is the main "building material". There's just one problem - to get pure H 2 you have to split water into its constituent parts, and this is not easy to do. Scientists have been looking for a way to extract hydrogen for many years and settled on electrolysis.

Scheme of operation of a laboratory electrolyzer

This method of obtaining volatile gas consists in the fact that two metal plates connected to a high voltage source are placed in water at a short distance from each other. When power is applied, the high electrical potential literally breaks the water molecule apart, releasing two hydrogen atoms (HH) and one oxygen (O). The escaping gas was named after the physicist Y. Brown. Its formula is HHO and its calorific value is 121 MJ/kg. Brown's gas burns with an open flame and does not form any harmful substances. The main advantage of this substance is that an ordinary boiler running on propane or methane is suitable for its use. We only note that hydrogen in combination with oxygen forms explosive mixture so extra precautions are required.

Scheme of the installation for obtaining Brown's gas

The generator, designed to produce Brown's gas in large quantities, contains several cells, each of which contains many pairs of electrode plates. They are installed in a sealed container, which is equipped with a gas outlet, terminals for connecting power and a neck for filling water. In addition, the unit is equipped with a safety valve and a water seal. Thanks to them, the possibility of backfire propagation is eliminated. Hydrogen burns only at the outlet of the burner, and does not ignite in all directions. A multiple increase in the usable area of the installation makes it possible to extract a combustible substance in quantities sufficient for various purposes, including heating residential premises. But doing this using a traditional electrolyzer will be unprofitable. Simply put, if the electricity spent on hydrogen production is directly used to heat the house, then it will be much more profitable than heating the boiler with hydrogen.

Stanley Meyer hydrogen fuel cell

The American scientist Stanley Meyer found a way out of this situation. His installation did not use a powerful electrical potential, but currents of a certain frequency. The invention of the great physicist consisted in the fact that the water molecule swayed to the beat of changing electrical impulses and entered into resonance, which reached a strength sufficient for its splitting into its constituent atoms. For such an impact, currents were required ten times smaller than during the operation of a conventional electrolysis machine.

Video: Stanley Meyer Fuel Cell

For his invention, which could free mankind from the bondage of oil magnates, Stanley Meyer was killed, and the works of his many years of research disappeared to no one knows where. Nevertheless, separate records of the scientist have been preserved, on the basis of which the inventors of many countries of the world are trying to build such installations. And I must say, not without success.

Benefits of Brown's gas as an energy source

The water from which HHO is obtained is one of the most common substances on our planet.
When this type of fuel is burned, water vapor is formed, which can be condensed back into a liquid and reused as a feedstock.
During the combustion of detonating gas, no by-products are formed, except for water. It can be said that there is no more environmentally friendly fuel than Brown's gas.
When operating a hydrogen heating installation water vapor is released in an amount sufficient to maintain the humidity in the room at a comfortable level.

You may also be interested in the material on how to build your own gas generator:

Application area

Today, an electrolyser is as familiar a device as an acetylene generator or a plasma cutter. Initially, hydrogen generators were used by welders, since carrying a unit weighing only a few kilograms was much easier than moving huge oxygen and acetylene cylinders. At the same time, the high energy intensity of the units was not of decisive importance - everything was determined by convenience and practicality. IN last years the use of Brown's gas went beyond the usual concepts of hydrogen as a fuel for gas welding machines. In the future, the possibilities of technology are very wide, since the use of HHO has a lot of advantages.

Reducing fuel consumption in vehicles. Existing automotive hydrogen generators allow HHO to be used as an additive to traditional gasoline, diesel or gas. Due to more complete combustion of the fuel mixture, a 20–25% reduction in hydrocarbon consumption can be achieved.
Fuel economy at thermal power plants using gas, coal or fuel oil.
Reducing toxicity and increasing the efficiency of old boiler houses.
Multiple reduction in the cost of heating residential buildings due to full or partial replacement traditional types fuel with Brown's gas.
The use of portable HHO production units for household needs - cooking, receiving warm water etc.
Development of fundamentally new, powerful and environmentally friendly power plants.

A hydrogen generator built using the “Technology of Water Fuel Cells” by S. Meyer (namely, that was the name of his treatise) can be bought - many companies in the USA, China, Bulgaria and other countries are engaged in their manufacture. We offer to make a hydrogen generator yourself.

Video: How to properly equip hydrogen heating

What is needed to make a fuel cell at home

Starting to manufacture a hydrogen fuel cell, it is necessary to study the theory of the process of formation of detonating gas. This will give an understanding of what is happening in the generator, will help in setting up and operating the equipment. In addition, you will need to stock up necessary materials, most of which will not be difficult to find in the distribution network. As for the drawings and instructions, we will try to cover these issues in full.

Designing a hydrogen generator: diagrams and drawings

A home-made installation for producing Brown's gas consists of a reactor with installed electrodes, a PWM generator to power them, a water seal and connecting wires and hoses. Currently, there are several schemes of electrolyzers using plates or tubes as electrodes. In addition, the installation of the so-called dry electrolysis can be found on the Web. Unlike the traditional design, in such an apparatus, not the plates are installed in a container with water, but the liquid is fed into the gap between the flat electrodes. The rejection of the traditional scheme allows to significantly reduce the dimensions of the fuel cell.

Wiring diagram of the PWM controller Schematic diagram of a single pair of electrodes used in the Meyer fuel cell Schematic diagram of the Meyer cell Schematic diagram of the PWM controller Drawing of the fuel cell
Drawing of the fuel cell Wiring diagram of the PWM controller Wiring diagram of the PWM controller

In the work, you can use drawings and diagrams of working electrolyzers, which can be adapted to your own conditions.

The choice of materials for the construction of a hydrogen generator

For the manufacture of a fuel cell, practically no specific materials are required. The only thing that can be difficult is the electrodes. So, what you need to prepare before starting work.

If the design you choose is a wet type generator, then you will need a sealed water tank, which will also serve as the reactor pressure vessel. You can take any suitable container, the main requirement is sufficient strength and gas tightness. Of course, when using metal plates as electrodes, it is better to use a rectangular structure, for example, a carefully sealed case from an old-style car battery (black). If tubes are used to obtain HHO, then a capacious container from a household water filter will also do. by the very the best option there will be a manufacture of the generator case from stainless steel, for example, grade 304 SSL.
Electrode Assembly for Wet Type Hydrogen Generator
When choosing a “dry” fuel cell, you will need a sheet of plexiglass or other transparent plastic up to 10 mm thick and technical silicone o-rings.
Tubes or plates made of "stainless steel". Of course, you can also take the usual “ferrous” metal, however, during the operation of the electrolyzer, simple carbonaceous iron quickly corrodes and the electrodes will often have to be changed. The use of high-carbon metal alloyed with chromium will enable the generator to work long time. Craftsmen involved in the manufacture of fuel cells have been selecting material for electrodes for a long time and settled on 316 L stainless steel. By the way, if tubes from this alloy are used in the design, then their diameter must be selected in such a way that when installing one part in the other there was a gap of no more than 1 mm between them. For perfectionists, here are the exact dimensions:
- outer tube diameter - 25.317 mm;
- the diameter of the inner tube depends on the thickness of the outer tube. In any case, it should provide a gap between these elements equal to 0.67 mm.
Its performance depends on how accurately the parameters of the parts of the hydrogen generator are selected.
PWM generator. Properly assembled circuit diagram will allow to regulate the frequency of the current within the necessary limits, and this is directly related to the occurrence of resonant phenomena. In other words, in order for hydrogen evolution to begin, it will be necessary to select the parameters of the supply voltage, so the assembly of the PWM generator is given Special attention. If you are familiar with a soldering iron and can distinguish a transistor from a diode, then the electrical part can be made independently. Otherwise, you can contact a familiar electronics engineer or order the manufacture of a switching power supply in an electronic device repair shop.
A switching power supply designed to connect to a fuel cell can be bought online. Small private companies in our country and abroad are engaged in their manufacture.
Electrical wires for connection. It will be enough conductors with a cross section of 2 square meters. mm.
Bubbler. With this fancy name, the craftsmen called the most common water seal. For it, you can use any sealed container. Ideally, it should be equipped with a tight-fitting lid, which, if the gas inside ignites, will be instantly torn off. In addition, it is recommended to install a cut-off between the electrolyzer and the bubbler, which will prevent the HHO from returning to the cell.
Bubbler design
Hoses and fittings. To connect the HHO generator, you will need a transparent plastic tube, inlet and outlet fittings and clamps.
Nuts, bolts and studs. They will be needed to attach the parts of the electrolyzer to each other.
reaction catalyst. In order for the HHO formation process to proceed more intensively, potassium hydroxide KOH is added to the reactor. This substance can be easily bought online. For the first time, no more than 1 kg of powder will be enough.
Automotive silicone or other sealant.

Note that polished tubes are not recommended. On the contrary, experts recommend sanding the parts to obtain a matte surface. In the future, this will help increase the productivity of the installation.

Tools that will be required in the process of work

Before you start building a fuel cell, prepare the following tools:

hacksaw for metal;
drill with a set of drills;
set of wrenches;
flat and slotted screwdrivers;
angle grinder ("grinder") with a set circle for cutting metal;
multimeter and flowmeter;
ruler;
marker.

In addition, if you build a PWM generator yourself, you will need an oscilloscope and a frequency counter to set it up. Within the framework of this article, we will not raise this issue, since the manufacture and configuration of a switching power supply is best considered by experts in specialized forums.

Pay attention to the article, which shows other sources of energy that can be used to equip home heating:

Instructions: how to make a hydrogen generator with your own hands

For the manufacture of a fuel cell, we take the most advanced "dry" scheme of the electrolyzer using electrodes in the form of stainless steel plates. The instructions below demonstrate the process of creating a hydrogen generator from "A" to "Z", so it's best to stick to the sequence of actions.

Scheme of the fuel cell "dry" type

Manufacturing of the fuel cell body. The side walls of the frame are hardboard or plexiglass plates, cut to the size of the future generator. It must be understood that the size of the apparatus directly affects its performance, however, the cost of obtaining HHO will be higher. For the manufacture of a fuel cell, the dimensions of the device from 150x150 mm to 250x250 mm will be optimal.
A hole is drilled in each of the plates for the inlet (outlet) fitting for water. In addition, drilling will be required in the side wall for the gas to escape and four holes in the corners to connect the reactor elements to each other.
Manufacturing of side walls
Taking advantage of the corner grinder, 316L stainless steel sheet cut electrode plates. Their dimensions should be less than the dimensions of the side walls by 10 - 20 mm. In addition, when making each part, it is necessary to leave a small contact pad in one of the corners. This will be needed to connect the negative and positive electrodes in groups before connecting them to the supply voltage.
In order to obtain a sufficient amount of HHO, stainless steel must be treated with fine sandpaper on both sides.
Two holes are drilled in each of the plates: with a drill with a diameter of 6 - 7 mm - for supplying water into the space between the electrodes and with a thickness of 8 - 10 mm - for removing Brown's gas. Drilling points are calculated taking into account the installation locations of the respective inlet and outlet pipes.
Here is a set of parts you need to prepare before assembling the fuel cell
Start assembling the generator. To do this, fittings for water supply and gas extraction are installed in the hardboard walls. Their connections are carefully sealed with automotive or plumbing sealant.
After that, studs are installed in one of the transparent body parts, after which the laying of the electrodes begins.
Start laying electrodes with a sealing ring
Please note: the plane of the plate electrodes must be even, otherwise elements with opposite charges will touch, causing a short circuit!
The stainless steel plates are separated from the sides of the reactor by O-rings, which can be made of silicone, paronite, or other material. It is only important that its thickness does not exceed 1 mm. The same parts are used as spacers between the plates. During the laying process, make sure that the contact pads of the negative and positive electrodes are grouped on different sides of the generator.
When assembling the plates, it is important to correctly orient the exit holes.
After laying the last plate, a sealing ring is installed, after which the generator is closed with a second hardboard wall, and the structure itself is fastened with washers and nuts. When performing this work, be sure to monitor the uniformity of tightening and the absence of distortions between the plates.
During the final tightening, the parallelism of the side walls must be controlled. This will avoid distortion
With the help of polyethylene hoses, the generator is connected to a container with water and a bubbler.
The contact pads of the electrodes are connected to each other in any way, after which the power wires are connected to them.
By assembling several fuel cells and turning them on in parallel, you can get a sufficient amount of Brown's gas
The fuel cell is supplied with voltage from a PWM generator, after which the device is tuned and adjusted according to maximum output HHO gas.

To obtain Brown's gas in an amount sufficient for heating or cooking, several hydrogen generators are installed, operating in parallel.

Video: Assembling the device

Video: The operation of the "dry" type structure

Selected points of use

First of all, I would like to note that the traditional method of burning natural gas or propane is not suitable in our case, since the combustion temperature of HHO exceeds that of hydrocarbons by three seconds. once again. As you understand, structural steel will not withstand such a temperature for a long time. Stanley Meyer himself recommended using a burner of an unusual design, the diagram of which we present below.

Scheme of a hydrogen burner designed by S. Meyer

The whole trick of this device lies in the fact that HHO (indicated by the number 72 in the diagram) passes into the combustion chamber through valve 35. The burning hydrogen mixture rises through channel 63 and simultaneously carries out the ejection process, entraining outside air through adjustable holes 13 and 70. A certain amount of combustion products (water vapor) is retained under the cap 40, which enters the combustion column through channel 45 and mixes with the burning gas. This allows you to reduce the combustion temperature several times.

The second point that I would like to draw your attention to is the liquid that should be poured into the installation. It is best to use prepared water that does not contain salts of heavy metals. The ideal option is a distillate that can be purchased at any auto shop or pharmacy. For the successful operation of the electrolyser, potassium hydroxide KOH is added to the water, at the rate of about one tablespoon of the powder per bucket of water.

During the operation of the unit, it is important not to overheat the generator. When the temperature rises to 65 degrees Celsius or more, the electrodes of the apparatus will become contaminated with reaction by-products, due to which the performance of the electrolyzer will decrease. If this did happen, then the hydrogen cell will have to be disassembled and the plaque removed with sandpaper.

And the third thing we put special emphasis on is safety. Remember that the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen is not accidentally called explosive. HHO is a hazardous chemical compound which, if handled carelessly, can cause an explosion. Follow safety rules and be especially careful when experimenting with hydrogen. Only in this case, the “brick” that our Universe consists of will bring warmth and comfort to your home.

We hope the article has become a source of inspiration for you, and you, having rolled up your sleeves, start manufacturing a hydrogen fuel cell. Of course, all our calculations are not the ultimate truth, however, they can be used to create a working model of a hydrogen generator. If you want to completely switch to this type of heating, then the issue will have to be studied in more detail. Perhaps it is your installation that will become the cornerstone, thanks to which the redistribution of energy markets will end, and cheap and environmentally friendly heat will enter every home.

Science knows only one absolutely pure fuel - hydrogen, which is used in the space industry. In the process of burning hydrogen, compounds with oxygen are formed, that is, water. The reserves of this fuel are inexhaustible, since it, along with helium, is the main "building material" in the Universe.

Today we will talk about hydrogen generators, which acquire in Lately increasing popularity due to affordable cost and environmental friendliness.

Distinctive features of hydrogen heating

This type of heating is based on the production of a huge amount of thermal energy as a result of the contact of oxygen and hydrogen molecules. Tellingly, the only by-product in this case is distilled water. And in order to put this principle into practice, many developments were carried out to create a hydrogen heating boiler (we are talking about industrial models).

Such devices differed in overall dimensions and, therefore, a lot of space was required for installation. And the efficiency of such boilers was not the highest - about 80 percent. But since then, the device has been improved many times and as a result we got a boiler for home heating working on this principle. For its normal operation, only a few important conditions must be observed.

Availability of permanent power supply. Generators are based on the electrolysis reaction, which, as you know, is impossible without electricity.
Permanent connection to a water source. Often, water supply is used for this, although the specific consumption of the device depends, of course, on its power.
The catalyst needs to be replaced regularly. The frequency of this replacement depends, like the previous indicator, on the power, as well as on the features of a particular model.

And if we compare hydrogen equipment, for example, with gas equipment, then it is less demanding in terms of safety. And the thing is that reactions are formed and occur exclusively inside the generator. From a person, as from a user, only visual control over the main indicators is needed.

Hydrogen generator device

And now let's take a closer look at the hydrogen option for heating a house. And its essence, as already noted, is to produce H2O, this option deserves to be considered an alternative to natural gas. Tellingly, the average combustion temperature in this case can reach 3 thousand degrees, so you will need to use a special hydrogen burner in the heating system. This is explained by the fact that only such a burner is able to withstand such significant heating.

There are several components that make up hydrogen-type heating, let's get acquainted with them.

burner mentioned above. It is necessary for one simple purpose - to create an open flame.
Hydrogen generator - it will process the mixture by breaking down water into molecular constituents. And in order to optimize a chemical reaction, catalysts can be used in its process.
Actually, the boiler. Here it serves as a kind of heat exchanger. The burner itself is installed in the combustion chamber, due to which the heat carrier in the system is heated to the required temperature.

Note! For those who plan to make hydrogen generators, we remind you that for this they will have to improve the existing equipment according to the scheme indicated earlier. But such homemade equipment more economical than its "shop counterparts" bought for a lot of money.

Strengths of hydrogen heating

The positive qualities that heating with hydrogen has are numerous. This is what explains such a significant popularity of the system.

The excellent efficiency with which it is characterized can reach 96 percent.
Environmental friendliness. This is explained by the fact that the only by-product, waste, so to speak, is pure water produced in the gaseous state. And water vapor, as you know, does not negative impact on the environment.
No flame is required to function in a hydrogen system. Thermal energy appears due to catalytic chemical reactions. Combining with air, hydrogen forms water, which is accompanied by the appearance a large number energy. The flow of heat (and its temperature reaches 40 degrees) is fed into the heat exchanger. It is clear that this is the most best option for the underfloor heating system.

Weak sides

Having become acquainted with the advantages, we proceed to the disadvantages of hydrogen heating.

Despite the fact that in more advanced countries this method of heating is extremely popular, in our country it has not yet been given the necessary attention. That is why the acquisition and installation of this equipment is so problematic and fraught with a number of difficulties.
Medium room temperature leads to the fact that hydrogen acquires a gaseous state. Moreover, this substance is explosive, and therefore it is very difficult to transport it, especially over long distances.
Cylinders containing hydrogen must be certified by the relevant specialists, whose training takes a lot of time.

How to install a hydrogen boiler?

On this moment many people prefer to produce their own hydrogen generators for their heating systems. And this is not surprising, because the "shop" analogues are not only very expensive, but also do not have a very high efficiency. But if this device is made by hand, then its efficiency will be an order of magnitude higher.

There are several options for how to assemble a generator that runs on hydrogen. But in any case, to make it at home, you will need the following Consumables.

12 volt power supply.
Several tubes made of stainless steel and having different diameters.
The tank in which the structure will be located.
PWM controller. It is important that its power is at least 30 amperes.

These are the main components that homemade hydrogen generators usually consist of. In addition, do not forget about the tank for distilled water - its presence is also required. Water must be supplied to a sealed structure with a dialectic inside. In the same design there will be a set made of stainless steel plates adjacent to one another by means of insulating material. It is important that the 12-volt voltage is applied to these plates. If everything is done correctly, then when voltage is applied, the water will decompose into 2 gaseous elements.

Note! More effective in this regard is the use of direct current (it must have a specific frequency) produced by a PWM type generator. In this case, the pulsed current (or alternating) will be replaced by a constant one. As a result, the efficiency of the equipment will increase significantly.

What kind of water to use - distilled or tap?

There is nothing complicated here. Tap fluid can be used, but only if it does not contain heavy metal impurities. But in order for the equipment to work more efficiently, it is still better to use distilled water, adding a small amount of sodium hydroxide to it. The ratio in this case should be as follows: a tablespoon of hydroxide for every ten liters of water.

What kind of metal should be used?

This question is debatable. So, in many - including very authoritative - sources, it is said that only rare metals should be used for hydrogen heating. In reality, this is not entirely true, since it is quite possible to use stainless steel, which we have already discussed above. Although ideally it should be ferrimagnetic steel. It differs in that it does not attract particles of unnecessary debris. We also note that when choosing a metal, it is better to focus on the “stainless steel”, which is not subject to the oxidation process.

As you can see, building a hydrogen boiler is not as difficult as it seems. It is only necessary to choose the right consumables and carefully study the scheme of this type of heating system. Having installed everything necessary equipment, check to make sure that it is really of high quality and effective enough.

Video - Making a hydrogen generator

On the law of conservation of energy

This law says that everything in the world is interconnected: if it left somewhere, then it will definitely arrive somewhere. And so that by electrolysis it was possible to obtain a gas, a certain amount electrical energy still have to spend. And energy, as you know, is obtained mainly as a result of the creation of heat during the combustion of other types of fuel. And even if we take the clean energy needed to generate electricity, and the one that gives hydrogen after combustion, then the losses will be double (at least!) even at the very modern equipment. It turns out that 1/2 of the funds are simply thrown to the wind. Moreover, these are only operating costs, and the cost of equipment, which, as noted, is not cheap, is not taken into account. Consider, for example, hydrogen generators.

If you believe the research conducted in America, then the price of one kilogram of hydrogen (or rather, the cost of its creation) is equal to:

$6.5 when using an industrial electrical network;
9 dollars for the operation of wind generators;
20 dollars in case of using solar appliances;
$2.2 when using solid fuel;
$5.5 if the substance is produced from biomass;
2.3 dollars if we are talking about electrolysis with high temperature carried out at a nuclear power plant (the most cheap way, but the furthest away from normal domestic use).

Note! Even the most advanced household-type generator will be significantly inferior in all respects to a similar industrial device. Therefore, in view of the described prices, it is impossible to say that hydrogen can seriously compete with natural gas. The same applies to electricity, diesel and even heat pumps.

Prospects for Energy Using Hydrogen

And now let's try to find out whether there really are chances to reduce the cost of pure hydrogen. Immediately make a reservation that there are all chances for this. First of all, this includes the technology of obtaining inexpensive electricity using renewable sources. In addition, cheaper chemical catalysts can be used in the catalytic process. By the way, these have existed for a long time and are used in hydrogen cells for fuel (we are talking about cars). Although here, again, we came across their too high cost.

But technology is constantly improving, science does not stand still. At one fine moment, the oil will still run out, and people will have to switch to some other, alternative energy source. But at the moment and, perhaps, for the coming decades, we can say with confidence: energy using hydrogen in itself is still unprofitable. Exceptions include only those cases where hydrogen is a by-product of any other technical processes. Of course, various programs to support and develop hydrogen energy are also possible, but this requires the help of large corporations and, of course, the state.

As a conclusion

It is difficult to say what kind of energy will become the main one in the future - hydrogen, nuclear fusion, the use of gravity, and so on. But experts assure that the first electrolysis reactors capable of competing with modern nuclear ones will appear at least in twenty to thirty years. Some are generally skeptical about this. But real professionals believe that hydrogen generators will soon be the subject of high technology, and not homemade from improvised means, which we described above. That's all, warm winters to you!