blademaster
I'm moving to Brazil
+2,075|7106
At a time when petrol costs are spiraling, Philip has spent the last six months creating a hydrogen fuel generator which transforms water into a petrol-boosting substance.Inspiration struck when former lecturer Philip, 40, from Leyland, read about an existing type of technology on the internet and realised it could be put to use in cars.He has been holed up in his workshop ever since.

Married father-of-one Philip, who used to teach computing and electronics at Liverpool College, said: "It started as a bit of fun."It takes tap water and splits it into its component parts of hydrogen and oxygen which, when mixed together, makes hydroxy gas."That's fed through to the engine and it enriches the burning process, giving you more miles per gallon.

"The secret to success in producing the hydroxy gas is in how much power you consume."Many people are doing this, companies all over the UK and people all round the world. They are doing exactly the same thing, but they are using a lot of power to do it."The generator is currently boosting Philip's Land Rover mileage from 30 to 45 miles per gallon.Tests reveal the generator is capable of producing up to 100 liters of gas an hour, using the same energy as a 60-watt light bulb.He created a prototype which he posted on the internet – attracting 4,000 hits in the first day and scores of emails.

Philip said: "Something like this, maybe a little more compact in time, could be mounted in a car and you wouldn't have to refuel. You could drive along and produce the gas as you're driving."Nissan is currently developing a car that runs on pure hydrogen, but it would still need to be physically refueled.Philip has spent thousands of pounds developing the generator and has an improved one in the pipeline.

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Lancashire-ma … 4324920.jp
S.Lythberg
Mastermind
+429|6907|Chicago, IL
electrolysis of water consumes far more energy than the hydrogen releases upon burning

and 100 liters of gas would make only a small glass of liquid, gas, especially hydrogen, is very diffuse
Spark
liquid fluoride thorium reactor
+874|7135|Canberra, AUS
So... he uses 20 litres of fuel to save 1 litre.

Anyway, I would NOT want to be driving a hydrogen car, or go near any stored hydrogen. Have you ever seen how fucking powerful that stuff is when it blows up?
The paradox is only a conflict between reality and your feeling what reality ought to be.
~ Richard Feynman
Flaming_Maniac
prince of insufficient light
+2,490|7168|67.222.138.85

Spark wrote:

So... he uses 20 litres of fuel to save 1 litre.

Anyway, I would NOT want to be driving a hydrogen car, or go near any stored hydrogen. Have you ever seen how fucking powerful that stuff is when it blows up?
I've said it before, I'll say it again. Remember you're driving around right now with 15+ gallons of an extremely explosive substance called gasoline without ever thinking about it.
CrazeD
Member
+368|7134|Maine

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

Spark wrote:

So... he uses 20 litres of fuel to save 1 litre.

Anyway, I would NOT want to be driving a hydrogen car, or go near any stored hydrogen. Have you ever seen how fucking powerful that stuff is when it blows up?
I've said it before, I'll say it again. Remember you're driving around right now with 15+ gallons of an extremely explosive substance called gasoline without ever thinking about it.
Flammable, not explosive.

And hydrogen is a lot more energetic than gasoline.
deeznutz1245
Connecticut: our chimps are stealin yo' faces.
+483|6954|Connecticut

CrazeD wrote:

Flammable, not explosive.

And hydrogen is a lot more energetic than gasoline.
A tank of gas is pretty explosive, either way if I was burned to death of blown up to death I am still dead.
Malloy must go
TrollmeaT
Aspiring Objectivist
+492|7133|Colorado
This has already been done to my knowledge using a different process perhaps by a dozen different people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6YYUOx6fBU
Flaming_Maniac
prince of insufficient light
+2,490|7168|67.222.138.85

CrazeD wrote:

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

Spark wrote:

So... he uses 20 litres of fuel to save 1 litre.

Anyway, I would NOT want to be driving a hydrogen car, or go near any stored hydrogen. Have you ever seen how fucking powerful that stuff is when it blows up?
I've said it before, I'll say it again. Remember you're driving around right now with 15+ gallons of an extremely explosive substance called gasoline without ever thinking about it.
Flammable, not explosive.

And hydrogen is a lot more energetic than gasoline.
Flames in a small container over a (short) amount of time = explosion. It's not Hollywood, but it is certainly not harmless stuff we're carrying around. It is treated appropriately however, and with all the safety standards put in place, it isn't that big of a deal. Just as it would be with Hydrogen.

I'm not sure what you mean by "energetic", but the energy density of gasoline in practical applications is much higher than that of hydrogen. That's the biggest problem with hydrogen vehicles, packing enough hydrogen into a tank to make it worth the effort.
Ender2309
has joined the GOP
+470|7032|USA
you can't ignite gasoline in an automobile fast enough, or with enough pressure to create an explosion. the tank would melt too quickly for an explosion.
weerdfoo1
Banned
+26|6625|California

Spark wrote:

So... he uses 20 litres of fuel to save 1 litre.

Anyway, I would NOT want to be driving a hydrogen car, or go near any stored hydrogen. Have you ever seen how fucking powerful that stuff is when it blows up?
Yes but when hydrogen burns in a reaction with oxygen it burns less hot than that fuel in your car.
Ever heard of the Hindenburg, yeah apparently people who stayed in it while it was falling and burning survived because the burning hydrogen was hardly enough to kill them.
Blehm98
conservative hatemonger
+150|6924|meh-land
i don't know what hte hydrogen would do, but the oxygen acts as an oxidizer, so it would increase the power of the engine...

i wish they'd show the plans or something, instead of just talking big about it and not saying anything about how it works
Flaming_Maniac
prince of insufficient light
+2,490|7168|67.222.138.85

Ender2309 wrote:

you can't ignite gasoline in an automobile fast enough, or with enough pressure to create an explosion. the tank would melt too quickly for an explosion.
similarly, why would a hydrogen tank be made so that it would explode in any but very specific circumstances?

I contend that there will always be a chance of an explosion when dealing with gasoline, not a high one but one none the less. You can get a tree to explode for christ sake. I also contend that there is a lot of engineering that goes into automotive safety, and I wouldn't worry about a hydrogen tank anymore than the gas tank you have right now.
Ender2309
has joined the GOP
+470|7032|USA

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

Ender2309 wrote:

you can't ignite gasoline in an automobile fast enough, or with enough pressure to create an explosion. the tank would melt too quickly for an explosion.
similarly, why would a hydrogen tank be made so that it would explode in any but very specific circumstances?

I contend that there will always be a chance of an explosion when dealing with gasoline, not a high one but one none the less. You can get a tree to explode for christ sake. I also contend that there is a lot of engineering that goes into automotive safety, and I wouldn't worry about a hydrogen tank anymore than the gas tank you have right now.
hydrogen burns much faster than gasoline. that gives it a greater chance of exploding, but like you said, i doubt it would. look at the Hindenburg. it just ignited.
deeznutz1245
Connecticut: our chimps are stealin yo' faces.
+483|6954|Connecticut
I suspect that automobile manufacturers would be held to a safety standard, if or when we get to that point. Besides, I am willing to gamble blowing up versus my bi weekly fiscal ass fisting at the pump.
Malloy must go
Flaming_Maniac
prince of insufficient light
+2,490|7168|67.222.138.85

Ender2309 wrote:

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

Ender2309 wrote:

you can't ignite gasoline in an automobile fast enough, or with enough pressure to create an explosion. the tank would melt too quickly for an explosion.
similarly, why would a hydrogen tank be made so that it would explode in any but very specific circumstances?

I contend that there will always be a chance of an explosion when dealing with gasoline, not a high one but one none the less. You can get a tree to explode for christ sake. I also contend that there is a lot of engineering that goes into automotive safety, and I wouldn't worry about a hydrogen tank anymore than the gas tank you have right now.
hydrogen burns much faster than gasoline. that gives it a greater chance of exploding, but like you said, i doubt it would. look at the Hindenburg. it just ignited.
Ignited and went poof, not boom. It's hard to make an explosion out of flash paper.

Gasoline doesn't explode so much because the fumes are the flammable stuff, not the liquid form, so you have to get enough of the fumes in a tight place for an actual explosion. Hydrogen on the other hand, you have to keep enough of the fuel intact and get the heat to the main source before burning too much up. Probably a bigger chance of getting a decent size hole and a big ol' pop from a hydrogen tank rather than a small enough leak to make a situation for an explosion.
Blehm98
conservative hatemonger
+150|6924|meh-land
ummm


tbh, this fuel would function the same as nitro added to gasoline, stored in a separate metal tank and added to the gas before combustion
so the danger would be minimal

the engines would prolly start dying younger

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