Hydrogen distiller for the car. How to make a hydrogen boiler with your own hands. Industrial generator

A hydrogen generator (electrolyzer) is a device that uses light from two processes: physical and chemical.

During operation, under the influence of electric current, water decomposes into oxygen and hydrogen. This process is called electrolysis. The electrolyzer is quite popular among the most known species hydrogen generators.

How the device works

The electrolyzer consists of several metal plates immersed in a sealed container with distilled water.

The housing itself has terminals to connect the power source and there is a sleeve through which gas is discharged.

The operation of the device can be described as follows: an electric current is passed through distilled water between plates with different fields (one has the anode, the other has the cathode), splitting it into oxygen and hydrogen.

Depending on the area of ​​the plates, the electric current has its strength; if the area is large, then a lot of current passes through the water and more gas is released. The connection diagram of the plates is alternate, first plus, then minus, and so on.

It is recommended to make electrodes from stainless steel, which does not react with water during the electrolysis process. The main thing is to find stainless steel high quality. It is better to make the distance between the electrodes small, but so that gas bubbles can easily move between them. It is better to make fasteners from the same metal as the electrodes.

Please note: Due to the fact that the manufacturing technology is associated with gas, in order to avoid the formation of a spark, it is necessary to make a tight fit of all parts.

In the embodiment under consideration, the device includes 16 plates, they are located within 1 mm of each other.

Due to the fact that the plates have a fairly large surface area and thickness, it will be possible to pass high currents through such a device, but the metal will not heat up. If you measure the capacitance of the electrodes in air, it will be 1nF; this set uses up to 25A in plain tap water.

To assemble a hydrogen generator with your own hands, you can use a food container, since its plastic is heat-resistant. Then you need to lower the electrodes into the container to collect gas with hermetically insulated connectors, a lid and other connections.

If you use a metal container, then to avoid short circuits, the electrodes are attached to plastic. Two connectors are installed on both sides of copper and brass fittings (fitting - mount, assemble) to extract gas. Contact connectors and fittings must be firmly secured using silicone sealant.

Compliance with safety measures

The electrolyzer is a high-risk device.

Therefore, during its manufacture, installation and operation, it is imperative to comply with both general and special measures security.

Special measures include the following:

  • the concentration of the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen should be controlled in order to prevent an explosion;
  • if the liquid level is not visible in the inspection window of the hydrogen generator, then it cannot be used;
  • When performing repairs, you need to make sure that there is no hydrogen at the end point of the system;
  • the use of open fire, electric heating devices and portable lamps with a voltage of more than 12 volts near the electrolyzer is contraindicated;
  • When working with electrolyte, you should protect yourself by using protective equipment (overall clothing, gloves and goggles).

Qualified craftsmen believe that making homemade hydrogen generators for cars at home is a risky endeavor.

They explain this by the fact that an electrolyzer for a car has a complex and unsafe system of devices.

The manufacture of such units requires the use of special materials and reagents.

Please note: In the case of self-installation of an electrolyzer that was made by yourself, it is recommended to strictly exclude the possibility that gas enters the combustion chamber when the engine is turned off. When the engine is turned off, the hydrogen generator must automatically disconnect from the vehicle's electrical power supply.

If you still decide to make a car hydrolyzer yourself, you should definitely equip it with a bubbler - this is a special water valve. Using it will significantly increase safety when driving a car.

Heating the house with Brown gas

Hydrogen is the most common chemical element, so it is economically profitable to use it.

For many owners of houses and cottages, the question often arises of how to obtain “clean” and cheap energy for household needs. The answer can be found in innovations such as a water generator for home heating.

Scientists, thanks to their developments, have allowed many to use such a device to produce gas. The installation is capable of generating hydrogen (Brown gas) and this gas will be used to generate energy.

This compound can be represented by a chemical formula like hho. This gas can be obtained from water using the electrolysis method. There are many examples in life when people want to heat their home with oxyhydrogen. But in order for this type of fuel to gain popularity, you must first learn how to produce it (Brown’s gas) in domestic conditions.

There is not yet a technology for hydrogen heating of a private home that would be sufficiently reliable.

Watch the video in which an experienced user explains how to make a hydrogen generator with your own hands:

Many car owners are looking for ways to save fuel. A hydrogen generator for a car will radically solve this issue. Feedback from those who have installed this device suggests a significant reduction in costs when operating vehicles. 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, there has been a search for the possibility of adapting internal combustion engines for full or hybrid operation on hydrogen fuel. In Great Britain, back in 1841, an engine running on an air-hydrogen mixture was patented. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Zeppelin concern used internal combustion engines running on hydrogen as the propulsion system for its famous airships.

The development of hydrogen energy was also facilitated by the global energy crisis that broke out in the 70s of the last century. However, with its end, hydrogen generators were quickly forgotten. And this despite a lot of advantages compared to conventional fuel:

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

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

Brown's Gas

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

The surface area of ​​the electrodes is of decisive importance in the quantitative gas yield. Under the influence of an electric current, a water molecule begins to decompose into two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen. Such gas mixture upon combustion, it releases almost 4 times more energy than 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 diagram of a hydrogen generator

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

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

  1. Installations for water electrolysis.
  2. Storage tank.
  3. Moisture trap from gas.
  4. Electronic control unit (current modulator).

Below is a diagram according to which you can easily assemble a hydrogen generator with your own hands. The drawings of the main installation producing Brown's gas are quite simple and understandable.

The circuit does not represent any engineering complexity; anyone who knows how to work with the 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 gas produced depends on the area of ​​the electrodes and their material. If copper or iron plates are used as electrodes, the reactor will not be able to operate 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. It is considered optimal to use plates made of high-alloy stainless steel. This metal is available, it will not be difficult to purchase. You can also use a used tank from washing machine. The only difficulty will be cutting out the plates of the required size.

Types of installations

Today, a hydrogen generator for a car can be equipped with three electrolyzers that differ in type, nature of operation and performance:


The first type of design is quite sufficient for many carburetor engines. There is no need to install a complex electronic circuit for a gas performance regulator, and the assembly of such an electrolyzer itself is not difficult.

For more powerful cars, it is preferable to assemble the second type of reactor. And for engines running on diesel fuel and heavy-duty vehicles, the third type of reactor is used.

Required performance

In order to truly 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 treat the surface with sandpaper in a 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 isolation of the electrode from the liquid and prevents normal electrolysis. Do not also forget that for normal operation of the electrolyzer, the water must be alkaline. Regular soda can serve as a catalyst.

Current regulator

A hydrogen generator on a car increases its productivity during operation. This is due to the release of heat during the electrolysis reaction. The working fluid of the reactor experiences heating, and the process proceeds much more intensely. To control the progress of the reaction, a current regulator is used.

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

Carburetor models are equipped with a controller with regular switch two operating modes: “Highway” and “City”.

Installation safety

Many craftsmen place plates in plastic containers. You shouldn't skimp on this. You need a stainless steel tank. If it is not there, you can use a design with open plates. In the latter case, it is necessary to use a high-quality current and water insulator for reliable operation 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 system components and the presence of sensors to monitor the progress of the process.

A working fluid temperature sensor, pressure sensor 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 production premises, operating on the same principles, is distinguished by several times greater reactor productivity. In such installations, the absence of a water seal represents mortal danger. In order to ensure safe and reliable operation of the system, it is also recommended to equip hydrogen generators on cars with such a check valve.

For now you can’t do without conventional fuel

There are several experimental models in the world that operate entirely on Brown gas. However technical solutions have not yet reached their perfection. Such systems are not available to ordinary inhabitants of the planet. Therefore, for now, car enthusiasts have to be content with “handicraft” developments that make it possible to reduce fuel costs.

A little about gullibility and naivety

Some enterprising businessmen offer for sale a hydrogen generator for cars. They talk about laser processing 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 thoughts of such entrepreneurs to fly scientifically. 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 decide 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.

Long gone are the days when a country house could be heated in only one way - by burning wood or coal in the stove. Modern heating devices use various types fuel and at the same time automatically maintain a comfortable temperature in our homes. Natural gas, diesel or fuel oil, electricity, solar and geothermal heat - this is an incomplete list alternative options. It would seem - live and be happy, but the constant rise in prices for fuel and equipment forces us to continue the search for cheap heating methods. And at the same time, an inexhaustible source of energy - hydrogen, literally lies under our feet. And today we’ll talk about how to use ordinary water as fuel by assembling a hydrogen generator with your own hands.

Design and principle of operation of a hydrogen generator

Use hydrogen as heating fuel country house beneficial not only because of its high calorific value, but also because during its combustion it does not emit harmful substances.
Everyone remembers from a school chemistry course that when two hydrogen atoms (chemical formula H 2 - Hidrogenium) are oxidized by one oxygen atom, a water molecule is formed. This releases three times more heat than combustion natural gas. We can say that hydrogen has no equal among other energy sources, since its reserves on Earth are inexhaustible - 2/3 of the world's oceans consists of the chemical element H2, 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 need to split water into its component 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.

This method of producing volatile gas involves placing two metal plates connected to a high voltage source in water at a short distance from each other. When power is applied high electric potential literally breaks a water molecule into its components, releasing two hydrogen (HH) atoms and one oxygen (O) atom. The released gas was named after the physicist Yu. Brown. Its formula is HHO, and its calorific value is 121 MJ/kg. Brown's gas burns with an open flame and does not produce any harmful substances. The main advantage of this substance is that a regular boiler running on propane or methane is suitable for its use. Let us only note that hydrogen in combination with oxygen forms an explosive mixture, so you will need additional measures precautions.


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 installation is equipped with a safety valve and a water seal. Thanks to them, the possibility of backfire spreading is eliminated. Hydrogen burns only at the exit 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 the flammable 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 a house, then it will be much more profitable than heating a boiler with hydrogen.

The American scientist Stanley Meyer found a way out of this situation. His installation did not use powerful electrical potential, but currents of a certain frequency. The invention of the great physicist consisted in the fact that a water molecule swayed in time with changing electrical impulses and entered into resonance, which reached a force sufficient to split it into its constituent atoms. Such an effect required tens of times less current than when operating a conventional electrolysis machine.

Video: Stanley Meyer Fuel Cell


For his invention, which could free humanity from the bondage of oil magnates, Stanley Meyer was killed, and the works of his many years of research disappeared to God knows where. Nevertheless, some of the scientist’s notes have been preserved, on the basis of which inventors in many countries around the world are trying to build similar installations. And I must say, not without success.

Advantages of Brown's gas as an energy source

  • Water, from which HHO is obtained, is one of the most common substances on our planet.
  • When this type of fuel burns, it produces water vapor, which can be condensed back into liquid and reused as a raw material.
  • During the combustion of detonating gas, no by-products are formed except water. We can say that there is no more environmentally friendly type of fuel than Brown's gas.
  • When operating a hydrogen heating system, water vapor is released in an amount sufficient to maintain the humidity in the room at a comfortable level.

Scope of application

Today, an electrolyzer is as common 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 recent 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 the technology are very wide, since the use of HHO has many advantages.

  • Reducing fuel consumption in vehicles. Existing automotive hydrogen generators allow the use of HHO 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 savings 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 complete or partial replacement traditional fuels Brown's gas.
  • Using 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 S. Meyer’s “Water Fuel Cell Technology” (that’s what his treatise was called) can be bought - many companies in the USA, China, Bulgaria and other countries are engaged in their production. We propose to make a hydrogen generator yourself.

Video: How to properly install hydrogen heating

What is needed to make a fuel cell at home

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

Hydrogen generator design: diagrams and drawings

A homemade 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 electrolyzer designs using plates or tubes as electrodes. In addition, you can find on the Internet an installation of so-called dry electrolysis. Unlike the traditional design, in such a device the plates are not installed in a container with water, but the liquid is supplied into the gap between the flat electrodes. Refusal traditional scheme allows to significantly reduce the dimensions of the fuel cell.

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

Selection of materials for the construction of a hydrogen generator

To manufacture a fuel cell, virtually no specific materials are required. The only thing that may be difficult is the electrodes. So, what do you need to prepare before starting work?

  1. If the design you choose is a “wet” type generator, then you will need a sealed water container, which will also serve as the reactor 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 filter for water purification will also be suitable. The most the best option The generator housing will be manufactured from stainless steel, for example, grade 304 SSL.

    When choosing a “dry” fuel cell, you will need a sheet of plexiglass or other transparent plastic up to 10 mm thick and sealing rings made of technical silicone.

  2. Stainless steel tubes or plates. Of course, you can take ordinary “ferrous” metal, but during the operation of the electrolyzer, simple carbon iron quickly corrodes and the electrodes will have to be changed frequently. The use of high-carbon metal alloyed with chromium will enable the generator to operate for a long time. The craftsmen involved in the manufacture of fuel cells spent a long time selecting material for the electrodes 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 one. In any case, it must provide a gap between these elements equal to 0.67 mm.

  3. PWM generator. Properly assembled electrical diagram will allow you to regulate the frequency of the current within the required 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 you can make the electrical part yourself. Otherwise, you can contact a familiar electronics engineer or order the production of a switching power supply at an electronic device repair shop.

    A switching power supply designed for connection to a fuel cell can be purchased online. They are manufactured by small private companies in our country and abroad.

  4. Electrical wires for connection. Conductors with a cross section of 2 square meters will be sufficient. mm.
  5. Bubbler. The craftsmen gave this fancy name to the most common water seal. You can use any sealed container for it. Ideally, it should be equipped with a tight-fitting lid, which will be instantly torn off if the gas inside ignites. In addition, it is recommended to install a cut-off device between the electrolyzer and the bubbler, which will prevent HHO from returning to the cell.
  6. Hoses and fittings. To connect the HHO generator you will need a clear plastic tube, inlet and outlet fittings and clamps.
  7. Nuts, bolts and studs. They will be needed to attach the parts of the electrolyzer to each other.
  8. Reaction catalyst. In order for the process of HHO formation to proceed more intensively, potassium hydroxide KOH is added to the reactor. This substance can be easily purchased online. For the first time, no more than 1 kg of powder will be enough.
  9. Automotive silicone or other sealant.

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

Tools that will be required during the work process

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

  • hacksaw for metal;
  • drill with a set of drills;
  • set of wrenches;
  • flat and slotted screwdrivers;
  • an angle grinder (“grinder”) with a mounted circle for cutting metal;
  • multimeter and flow meter;
  • ruler;
  • marker.

In addition, if you build a PWM generator yourself, you will need an oscilloscope and a frequency meter 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 specialists on specialized forums.

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

To manufacture a fuel cell, we will take the most advanced “dry” electrolyzer circuit 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 is better to follow the order of actions.

  1. Manufacturing of the fuel cell body. The side walls of the frame are plates of hardboard or plexiglass, cut to the size of the future generator. You need to understand that the size of the device directly affects its performance, however, the costs of obtaining HHO will be higher. For the manufacture of a fuel cell, the optimal dimensions of the device will be from 150x150 mm to 250x250 mm.
  2. 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 gas outlet and four holes in the corners to connect the reactor elements to each other.
  3. Taking advantage of the corner grinder, electrode plates are cut from 316L stainless steel sheet. Their dimensions should be 10–20 mm smaller than the dimensions of the side walls. In addition, when manufacturing 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 into groups before connecting them to the supply voltage.
  4. In order to obtain a sufficient amount of HHO, the stainless steel must be treated with fine sandpaper on both sides.
  5. Two holes are drilled in each of the plates: with a drill with a diameter of 6 - 7 mm - to supply water into the space between the electrodes and with a thickness of 8 - 10 mm - to remove Brown's gas. Drilling points are calculated taking into account the installation locations of the corresponding inlet and outlet pipes.
  6. They begin assembling the generator. To do this, water supply and gas outlet fittings are installed in the hardboard walls. The places where they are connected are carefully sealed using automotive or plumbing sealant.
  7. After this, pins are installed in one of the transparent body parts, after which the laying of the electrodes begins.

    Please note: the plane of the plate electrodes must be flat, otherwise elements with opposite charges will touch, causing a short circuit!

  8. The stainless steel plates are separated from the side surfaces of the reactor using 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 installation process, make sure that the contact pads of the negative and positive electrodes are grouped on different sides of the generator.
  9. 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 ensure that the tightening is uniform and that there are no distortions between the plates.
  10. Using polyethylene hoses, the generator is connected to a container of water and a bubbler.
  11. The contact pads of the electrodes are connected to each other in any way, after which the power wires are connected to them.
  12. The fuel cell is supplied with voltage from a PWM generator, after which the device is configured and adjusted to the maximum HHO gas output.

To produce Brown gas in quantities sufficient for heating or cooking, several hydrogen generators are installed, operating in parallel.

Video: Assembling the device

Video: Operation of a “dry” type structure

Selected points of use

First of all, I would like to note that traditional method burning natural gas or propane is not suitable in our case, since the combustion temperature of HHO is more than three times higher than that of hydrocarbons. As you yourself understand, structural steel will not withstand this temperature for long. Stanley Meyer himself recommended using a burner of an unusual design, the diagram of which is given below.

The whole trick of this device is 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. Under the hood 40, a certain amount of combustion products (water vapor) is retained, 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 heavy metal salts. Ideal option is a distillate that can be purchased at any auto store or pharmacy. For successful work Potassium hydroxide KOH is added to the electrolyzer water at the rate of approximately one tablespoon of powder per bucket of water.

During operation of the installation, it is important not to overheat the generator. When the temperature rises to 65 degrees Celsius or more, the electrodes of the device will become contaminated with reaction byproducts, which will reduce the productivity of the electrolyzer. If this does happen, then the hydrogen cell will have to be disassembled and the deposits removed using sandpaper.

And the third thing we place special emphasis on is safety. Remember that it was not by chance that the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen was called explosive. HHO is dangerous chemical compound which, if handled carelessly, can lead to 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 you found this article a source of inspiration to roll up your sleeves and get started building 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 your installation will become the cornerstone, thanks to which the redistribution of energy markets will end, and cheap and environmentally friendly heat will enter every home.

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Brief theoretical part

Hydrogen, also known as hydrogen, the first element of the periodic table, is the lightest gaseous substance with high chemical activity. During oxidation (that is, combustion), it releases a huge amount of heat, forming ordinary water. Let us characterize the properties of the element, formatting them in the form of theses:

For reference. Scientists who first separated the water molecule into hydrogen and oxygen called the mixture an explosive gas due to its tendency to explode. Subsequently, it received the name Brown's gas (after the name of the inventor) and began to be designated by the hypothetical formula NHO.


Previously, airship cylinders were filled with hydrogen, which often exploded

From the above, the following conclusion suggests itself: 2 hydrogen atoms easily combine with 1 oxygen atom, but they part very reluctantly. Chemical reaction oxidation proceeds with the direct release of thermal energy in accordance with the formula:

2H 2 + O 2 → 2H 2 O + Q (energy)

Here lies important point, which will be useful to us in further debriefing: hydrogen reacts spontaneously from combustion, and heat is released directly. To split a water molecule, energy will have to be expended:

2H 2 O → 2H 2 + O 2 - Q

This is the formula for an electrolytic reaction that characterizes the process of splitting water by supplying electricity. How to implement this in practice and make a hydrogen generator with your own hands, we will consider further.

Creation of a prototype

So that you understand what you are dealing with, first we suggest collecting simple generator for hydrogen production with minimal costs. The design of a homemade installation is shown in the diagram.

What does a primitive electrolyzer consist of:

  • reactor – glass or plastic container with thick walls;
  • metal electrodes immersed in a reactor with water and connected to a power source;
  • the second tank plays the role of a water seal;
  • tubes for removing HHO gas.

Important point. The electrolytic hydrogen plant operates only on DC. Therefore, use as a power source network adapter, car charger or battery. An AC generator will not work.

The operating principle of the electrolyzer is as follows:

To make the generator design shown in the diagram with your own hands, you will need 2 glass bottles with wide necks and lids, a medical dropper and 2 dozen screws. The full set of materials is shown in the photo.

Special tools will require a glue gun for sealing plastic caps. The manufacturing procedure is simple:


To start the hydrogen generator, pour salted water into the reactor and turn on the power source. The beginning of the reaction will be marked by the appearance of gas bubbles in both containers. Adjust the voltage to optimal value and ignite the Brown gas coming out of the IV needle.

Second important point. It is impossible to apply too high a voltage - the electrolyte, heated to 65 ° C or more, will begin to evaporate intensively. Due to the large amount of water vapor, it will not be possible to light the burner. For details on assembling and launching an improvised hydrogen generator, watch the video:

About the Meyer hydrogen cell

If you have made and tested the design described above, then you probably noticed from the burning of the flame at the end of the needle that the performance of the installation is extremely low. To get more detonating gas, you need to make a more serious device, called the Stanley Meyer cell in honor of the inventor.

The principle of operation of the cell is also based on electrolysis, only the anode and cathode are made in the form of tubes inserted into one another. Voltage is supplied from the pulse generator through two resonant coils, which reduces current consumption and increases the productivity of the hydrogen generator. The electronic circuit of the device is shown in the figure:

Note. The operation of the circuit is described in detail on the resource http://www.meanders.ru/meiers8.shtml.

To make a Meyer cell you will need:

  • a cylindrical body made of plastic or plexiglass; craftsmen often use a water filter with a lid and pipes;
  • stainless steel tubes with a diameter of 15 and 20 mm, a length of 97 mm;
  • wires, insulators.

Stainless steel tubes are attached to a dielectric base, and wires connected to the generator are soldered to them. The cell consists of 9 or 11 tubes placed in a plastic or plexiglass case, as shown in the photo.

The elements are connected according to a scheme well known on the Internet, which includes an electronic unit, a Meyer cell and a water seal (technical name - bubbler). For safety reasons, the system is equipped with critical pressure and water level sensors. According to reviews from home craftsmen, such a hydrogen installation consumes a current of about 1 ampere at a voltage of 12 V and has sufficient performance, although exact figures are not available.


Schematic diagram turning on the electrolyzer

Plate reactor

High performance hydrogen generator capable of powering gas burner, made of stainless steel plates measuring 15 x 10 cm, quantity - from 30 to 70 pcs. Holes are drilled in them for the tightening pins, and a terminal for connecting the wire is cut out in the corner.

In addition to sheet stainless steel grade 316, you will need to buy:

  • rubber 4 mm thick, resistant to alkali;
  • end plates made of plexiglass or PCB;
  • tie rods M10-14;
  • check valve for gas welding machine;
  • water filter for water seal;
  • connecting pipes made of corrugated stainless steel;
  • potassium hydroxide in powder form.

The plates must be assembled into a single block, isolated from each other with rubber gaskets with a cut out middle, as shown in the drawing. Tie the resulting reactor tightly with pins and connect it to the pipes with the electrolyte. The latter comes from a separate container equipped with a lid and shut-off valves.

Note. We tell you how to make a flow-through (dry) type electrolyzer. It is easier to make a reactor with submersible plates - there is no need to install rubber gaskets, and the assembled unit is lowered into a sealed container with electrolyte.


Wet type generator circuit

The subsequent assembly of the generator producing hydrogen is carried out according to the same scheme, but with differences:

  1. A reservoir for preparing electrolyte is attached to the body of the device. The latter is a 7-15% solution of potassium hydroxide in water.
  2. Instead of water, a so-called deoxidizing agent is poured into the “bubbler” - acetone or an inorganic solvent.
  3. A check valve must be installed in front of the burner, otherwise when the hydrogen burner is turned off smoothly, the backlash will rupture the hoses and the bubbler.

To power the reactor, the easiest way is to use welding inverter, there is no need to assemble electronic circuits. He will tell you how Brown's homemade gas generator works home handyman in his video:

Is it profitable to produce hydrogen at home?

The answer to this question depends on the scope of application of the oxygen-hydrogen mixture. All drawings and diagrams published by various Internet resources are designed for the release of HHO gas for the following purposes:

  • use hydrogen as fuel for cars;
  • smokeless combustion of hydrogen in heating boilers and furnaces;
  • used for gas welding work.

The main problem that negates all the advantages of hydrogen fuel: the cost of electricity to release the pure substance exceeds the amount of energy obtained from its combustion. Whatever adherents of utopian theories may claim, the maximum efficiency of the electrolyzer reaches 50%. This means that for 1 kW of heat received, 2 kW of electricity is consumed. The benefit is zero, even negative.

Let's remember what we wrote in the first section. Hydrogen is a very active element and reacts with oxygen on its own, releasing a lot of heat. When trying to split a stable water molecule, we cannot apply energy directly to the atoms. The splitting is carried out using electricity, half of which is dissipated to heat the electrodes, water, transformer windings, and so on.

Important background information. The specific heat of combustion of hydrogen is three times higher than that of methane, but by mass. If we compare them by volume, then when burning 1 m³ of hydrogen, only 3.6 kW of thermal energy will be released versus 11 kW for methane. After all, hydrogen is the lightest chemical element.

Now let's consider detonating gas obtained by electrolysis in a homemade hydrogen generator as fuel for the above needs:


For reference. To burn hydrogen in a heating boiler, the design will have to be thoroughly redesigned, since hydrogen torch capable of melting any steel.

Conclusion

Hydrogen in NHO gas, obtained from homemade generator, is useful for two purposes: experiments and gas welding. Even if we ignore the low efficiency of the electrolyser and the costs of its assembly along with the electricity consumed, there is simply not enough productivity to heat the building. This also applies to the gasoline engine of a passenger car.

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Simple homemade circuits

If you do not take into account sophisticated units that are difficult to reproduce at home, but limit yourself to improvised means and materials that can be found without leaving home, then it turns out that making a compact but effective hydrogen generator with your own hands is not an insurmountable task. One of the simplest schemes includes components available to almost everyone. Here are these things that could easily be lying around your home:

  • power supply (12 V, 1–2 A);
  • glass jar with a screw-on metal lid (~0.5 l);
  • plastic bottle (~1.0 l);
  • rectangular plastic ruler (10–15 cm);
  • razor blades (plate blades, these come in rectangular cassettes of 10 pcs.);
  • a pair of medical IV systems;
  • connecting wires (made of copper, small cross-section);
  • water and table salt.

To make a hydrogen generator from this set of items with your own hands, you will need a simple tool, such as a stationery knife, sandpaper, a soldering iron with the appropriate soldering materials, and a refilled glue gun. You should start by preparing the blades, which consists of one-sided stripping them along non-sharp edges (2–3 mm) and tinning them. Then it is necessary to apply notches and grooves evenly (every 3–4 mm) to the ruler. The blades will be placed in them.

It should be borne in mind that increasing the distance between the slots will entail greater current consumption and, accordingly, a more powerful power source will be required.

Each blade should be perpendicular to the main plane of the ruler. They are fixed to it with glue so that electrical contact is excluded. Visually, the result is a kind of ribbed heating battery in miniature. After the glue has dried, it is necessary to supplement the resulting structure with wire connections. Simply put, you need to connect all the odd-numbered blades to one wire, and all the even-numbered blades to the other (similar to what is done with the plates inside batteries).

Next, in metal lid holes should be made for this pair of supply wires, and another, larger one, for the hydrogen outlet (the diameter is specified according to the size of the dropper filter, which will be mounted in the lid). A ruler with blades can be secured here, on the free inner plane of the lid. All holes made after passing wires and droppers through them must be filled with glue, fixing these elements. So that the lid, after screwing, closes the volume of the jar completely airtight.

The plastic bottle must be equipped so that it serves as a bubbler-hydraulic seal (there may be more than one). The hose from the glass jar, passed through the lid, should almost reach the bottom of the bottle. Accordingly, the second hose for hydrogen removal is located in the upper part. The connector passage in the cover must also be sealed.

Now you need to pour water into the bottle (not to the very top) and the jar, pour a few tablespoons of salt into the last one and stir. After this, all that remains is to tightly close the lids and begin testing this mini-generator you created yourself. Soon after turning on the power source, you will be able to observe the process of hydrolysis and the release of hydrogen. It should be enough so that when you bring a lit lighter to the tip of the needle located on the outlet hose, the flame is picked up by this small burner. Of course, this is just a prototype demonstrating the fundamental possibility of creating such a device at home.

For serious purposes such as heating a house or gas cutting metal, you will, of course, need to scale it up. Instead of blades, take larger, full-fledged plates, instead of a can with a bottle, use corresponding containers, etc. Other popular schemes, which can also be made with your own hands at home (at least in a garage), are all similar in principle to the one described. Containers of different shapes can be taken from various materials, compounds of metals, alkalis and acids, etc. can act as reagents. In short, there is plenty of room for experimentation.

Where to send

Depending on what goals you set for yourself, how subtly and deeply you master the schemes proposed by craftsmen to implement with your own hands, how far you go in your experiments, depends on how and where you can apply the results of your work. In general, there are several main directions:

  • gas cutting of metal;
  • enrichment of fuel in a car;
  • heating in the house.

The practice of desperate motorists shows that these devices, including those made by hand, can be very effective both in terms of fuel economy and in reducing the level of harmful substances in exhaust emissions. And recently, on blogs and forums, a fairly new application for such products - in heating systems - has been hotly discussed. This is implemented mainly as an addition to the main devices.

For example, warm floors or walls. When creating a device such as a hydrogen generator with your own hands at home, take the trouble to take care of basic safety rules. If it is intended for a heating system, it must be designed for round-the-clock operation. This is especially true if you decide to use harmless chemical compounds as reagents.

Perhaps you will be interested in making a Brown gas generator with your own hands?

Even the medieval scientist Paracelsus, during one of his experiments, noticed that when sulfuric acid comes into contact with ferrum, air bubbles are formed. In fact, it was hydrogen (but not air, as the scientist believed) - a light, colorless, odorless gas, which under certain conditions becomes explosive.

At the present timeDIY hydrogen heating - a very common thing. Indeed, hydrogen can be produced in almost unlimited quantities, the main thing is that there is water and electricity.

This heating method was developed by one of the Italian companies. A hydrogen boiler operates without generating any harmful waste, which is why it is considered the most environmentally friendly and silent way to heat a home. The innovation of the development is that scientists managed to achieve the combustion of hydrogen at a relatively low temperature (about 300ᵒC), and this made it possible to produce similar heating boilers from traditional materials.

During operation, the boiler emits only harmless steam, and the only thing that requires costs is electricity. And if you combine this with solar panels(solar system), then these costs can be completely reduced to zero.

Pay attention! Hydrogen boilers are often used to heat underfloor heating systems, which can be easily installed with your own hands.

How does it all happen? Oxygen reacts with hydrogen and, as we remember from middle school chemistry lessons, forms water molecules. The reaction is provoked by catalysts, resulting in the release of thermal energy, heating the water to approximately 40ᵒC - the ideal temperature for a “warm floor”.

Adjusting the boiler power allows you to achieve a certain temperature required for heating a room of a given area. It is also worth noting that such boilers are considered modular, since they consist of several channels independent of each other. In each of the channels there is the catalyst mentioned above, as a result, the coolant enters the heat exchanger, which has already reached the required value of 40ᵒC.

Pay attention! A feature of such equipment is that each channel is capable of producing a different temperature. Thus, one of them can be led to the “warm floor”, the second to next room, third to the ceiling, etc.

The main advantages of hydrogen heating

This method of heating a house has several significant advantages, which are responsible for the growing popularity of the system.

  1. Impressive efficiency, often reaching 96%.
  2. Environmental friendliness. The only by-product released into the atmosphere is water vapor, which is not capable of harm environment in principle.
  3. Hydrogen heating is gradually replacing traditional systems, freeing people from the need to extract natural resources - oil, gas, coal.
  4. Hydrogen acts without fire; thermal energy is generated through a catalytic reaction.

Is it possible to make hydrogen heating yourself?

In principle, this is possible. Main element systems - a boiler - can be created on the basis of an NNO generator, that is, a conventional electrolyzer. We all remember school experiences when we stuck them in a container of water. exposed wires connected to the outlet via a rectifier. So, to build a boiler you will need to repeat this experiment, but on a larger scale.

Pay attention! A hydrogen boiler is used with a “warm floor”, as we have already discussed. But the arrangement of such a system is a topic for another article, so we will rely on the fact that the “warm floor” is already installed and ready for use.

Construction of a hydrogen burner

Let's start creating a water burner. Traditionally, we will start with preparation necessary tools and materials.

What will be required at work?

  1. Stainless steel sheet.
  2. Check valve.
  3. Two bolts 6x150, nuts and washers for them.
  4. Flow-through filter (from a washing machine).
  5. Transparent tube. A water level is ideal for this - in building materials stores it is sold for 350 rubles per 10 m.
  6. Plastic sealed food container with a capacity of 1.5 liters. Approximate cost: 150 rubles.
  7. Herringbone fittings ø8 mm (these are perfect for a hose).
  8. Grinder for sawing metal.

Now let’s figure out what kind of stainless steel to use. Ideally, you should take steel 03Х16Н1 for this. But buying a whole sheet of “stainless steel” is sometimes very expensive, because a product 2 mm thick costs more than 5,500 rubles, and besides, it needs to be delivered somehow. Therefore, if you have a small piece of such steel lying around somewhere (0.5 x 0.5 m is enough), then you can get by with it.

We will use stainless steel, because ordinary steel, as you know, begins to rust in water. Moreover, in our design we intend to use alkali instead of water, that is, the environment is more than aggressive, and ordinary steel will not last long under the influence of electric current.

Video - Brown gas generator simple cell model of 16 stainless steel plates

Manufacturing instructions

First stage. To begin, take a sheet of steel and place it on a flat surface. From a sheet of the dimensions indicated above (0.5x0.5 m) you should get 16 rectangles for the future hydrogen burner, cut them out with a grinder.

Pay attention! We saw off one of the four corners of each plate. This is necessary in order to connect the plates in the future.

Second stage. On the back side of the plates we drill holes for the bolt. If we planned to make a “dry” electrolyzer, we would drill holes from the bottom, but in this case this is not necessary. The fact is that the “dry” design is much more complicated, and the useful area of ​​the plates in it would not be used 100%. We will make a “wet” electrolyzer - the plates will be completely immersed in the electrolyte, and their entire area will participate in the reaction.

Third stage. The operating principle of the described burner is based on the following: an electric current passing through plates immersed in the electrolyte will cause water (it should be part of the electrolyte) to decompose into oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H). Therefore, we must have two plates at the same time - the cathode and the anode.

As the area of ​​these plates increases, the volume of gas increases, so in this case we use eight pieces per cathode and anode, respectively.

Pay attention! The burner we are looking at is a parallel design, which, to be honest, is not the most efficient. But it is easier to implement.

Fourth stage. Next we have to install the plates in plastic container so that they alternate: plus, minus, plus, minus, etc. To insulate the plates we use pieces of transparent tube (we bought a whole 10 m of it, so there is a supply).

We cut small rings from the tube, cut them and get strips approximately 1 mm thick. This is the ideal distance for hydrogen to be generated efficiently in the structure.

Fifth stage. We attach the plates to each other using washers. We do it as follows: we put a washer on the bolt, then a plate, after it three washers, another plate, again three washers, etc. We hang eight pieces on the cathode, eight on the anode.

Pay attention! This needs to be done in a mirror manner, that is, we rotate the anode 180ᵒ. So the “plus” will go into the gaps between the “minus” plates.

Sixth stage. We look where exactly the bolts rest in the container, and drill holes in that place. If suddenly the bolts do not fit into the container, then we cut them down to the required length. Then we insert the bolts into the holes, put washers on them and tighten them with nuts - for better tightness.

Next, we make a hole in the cover for the fitting, screw in the fitting itself (preferably by coating the junction silicone sealant). Blow into the fitting to check the tightness of the lid. If air still comes out from under it, then we coat this connection with sealant.

Seventh stage. Upon completion of assembly, we test the finished generator. To do this, connect any source to it, fill the container with water and close the lid. Next, we put a hose on the fitting and lower it into a container of water (to see air bubbles). If the source is not powerful enough, then they will not be in the tank, but they will definitely appear in the electrolyzer.

Next, we need to increase the intensity of gas output by increasing the voltage in the electrolyte. It is worth noting here that water in its pure form is not a conductor - current passes through it due to the impurities and salts it contains. We will dilute a little alkali in water (for example, sodium hydroxide is excellent - it is sold in stores in the form of the “Mole” cleaning agent).

Pay attention! At this stage, we must adequately assess the capabilities of the power source, so before injecting the alkali, we connect an ammeter to the electrolyzer - this way we can monitor the increase in current.

Video - Heating with hydrogen. Hydrogen cell batteries

Next, let's talk about other components of the hydrogen burner - the filter for the washing machine and the valve. Both are for protection. The valve will not allow ignited hydrogen to penetrate back into the structure and explode the gas accumulated under the lid of the electrolyzer (even if there is only a little of it there). If we do not install the valve, the container will be damaged and the alkali will leak out.

A filter will be required to make a water seal, which will act as a barrier preventing an explosion. Craftsmen who are familiar with the design firsthand homemade burner on hydrogen, this valve is called a “bulbulator”. Indeed, it essentially only creates air bubbles in the water. For the burner itself we use the same transparent hose. That's it, the hydrogen burner is ready!

All that remains is to connect it to the input of the “warm floor” system, seal the connection and begin direct operation.

As a conclusion. Alternative

An alternative, albeit highly controversial, is Brown's gas, a chemical compound that consists of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms. The combustion of such a gas is accompanied by the formation of thermal energy (moreover, four times more powerful than in the design described above).

Electrolyzers are also used to heat a house with Brown gas, because this method of producing heat is also based on electrolysis. Special boilers are created in which, under the influence of alternating current, molecules chemical elements separate, forming Brown's coveted gas.

Video – Enriched Brown gas

It is quite possible that innovative energy resources, the reserve of which is practically unlimited, will soon displace non-renewable natural resources, freeing us from the need for permanent mining. This course of events will have a positive impact not only on the environment, but also on the ecology of the planet as a whole.

Also read our article - do-it-yourself steam heating.

Video - Hydrogen heating

Hydrogenium (H2), “generating water”, is the most common element of the universe. According to scientists, it accounts for almost 90% of all atoms in the Universe. Hydrogen, which provides energy to our Sun during the thermonuclear fusion reaction, can serve as an excellent fuel on Earth. This is the only absolutely harmless, environmentally friendly fuel: when gas is burned, it enters into a chemical reaction with oxygen, and the combustion product is distilled water. Hydrogenium is an ideal fuel in all respects, which is also perfect for heating a home. Moreover, a conventional gas heating boiler can be converted into a hydrogen heating boiler, making only minor changes to its design. One problem: despite the prevalence of hydrogen (we ourselves are half made of it), it is almost never found on our planet in its pure form. This gas is not publicly available for sale, so where can we get it in sufficient quantities? The Internet gives us a clear and precise answer: buy or assemble a hydrogen generator for home heating.

Technologies for producing pure hydrogen

There are many technologies for producing hydrogen. We will mention only those that find practical application outside the walls of laboratories:

  • Chemical reaction of water with metals. The fuel is water, the reagent is an aluminum-gallium alloy. 150 kg of fuel cells are enough to travel 500 km in a “hydrogen car”, then the metal has to be removed and sent for recovery, which requires exposure to high temperatures.
  • Natural gas conversion, coal gasification, wood pyrolysis. By heating above 1000 ºС, pure hydrogen can be obtained from hydrocarbons for home heating.
  • Electrolysis of water. High-temperature electrolysis is more effective.
  • Producing hydrogen from biomass. The raw materials can be manure, hay, grass, algae and other agricultural waste. Biogas can contain from 2 to 12% hydrogen.
  • “Garbage” hydrogen is obtained from household waste by subjecting it to thermal decomposition.

Home hydrogen generators

As can be seen from the previous section, the majority technological processes industrial hydrogen production involves exposure to high temperatures, which is problematic at home. Let's consider hydrogen heating installations available in private households:

Hydrogen from manure

Biogas plants, of which there are many in Western Europe, are beginning to appear among domestic farmers. The homemade biogas reactors that “crazy hands” talk about on the Internet are not distinguished by either productivity or stability of generation. Only rather complex and expensive installations are effective, provided there is a stable supply of raw materials. This is impossible to do on a small private farmstead, but it is possible on a strong farm. Hydrogen is only a by-product in the production of biogas and, as a rule, it is not separated by burning it along with methane. But if necessary, H2 can be separated.

Schematic diagram of a biogas plant. To ensure that the process of producing flammable gases is intense, the raw materials are fermented and stirred periodically

Hydrogen from water

An electrolysis hydrogen installation for home heating is the only solution currently available for a private home. The electrolyzer is compact, easy to maintain, and can be installed in a small room. Raw materials for fuel production - tap water. There are a number of well-known manufacturers that offer similar home hydrogen generators for home heating and car refueling. For example, since 2003, Honda has been producing Home Energy Station, and today the third generation is already on sale. HES III is equipped with solar panels and can be installed in a garage or outdoors.

Home Energy Station is a very expensive installation capable of producing up to 2 m2 of hydrogen per hour from natural gas or by electrolysis of water. The station includes a reformer, fuel cells, a cleaning system, a compressor and a gas storage tank. Electricity can come from the grid or be generated by solar panels

In addition to “branded” equipment, which, by the way, no one officially supplies to the CIS countries, today H2 generators produced by our friends in the Middle Kingdom or Tajik colleagues in domestic garages are widely advertised. The level of quality and productivity varies, from none to conditionally acceptable. Sellers of such equipment, unlike the more or less honest Japanese who do not promise manna from heaven, use “dirty” advertising technologies, openly deceiving potential buyers about the characteristics of their equipment, which is sold at inflated prices.

Semi-makeshift hydrogen production plant

Do-it-yourself hydrogen heating, which involves making an electrolyzer yourself, is widely discussed on online construction forums. This is possible and not even very difficult if the home master knows the basics of electrical engineering and his hands grow where they should. How effective and safe is a separate question.

Another question is that getting fuel is only part of the problem. It is necessary to ensure its generation in required volumes, separate from oxygen and water vapor, create a reserve, ensure constant pressure when supplied to the heat generator.

How much does a kilogram of hydrogen cost?

The average cost of 1 kg of hydrogen, depending on the technology for its production, according to the INEEL laboratory, is as follows:

  • Chemical reaction - 700 rubles with the standard method of reagent recovery and 320 - when using nuclear power plant energy.
  • Electrolysis from an industrial network - 420 rubles. The data is valid for “branded”, balanced electrolysers. For handicraft products, the indicators are obviously lower.
  • Production from biomass - 350 rubles.
  • Conversion of hydrocarbons - 200 rubles.
  • High-temperature electrolysis at nuclear power plants - 130 rubles.

From these figures it is clear that the cheapest way to produce hydrogen is at nuclear power plants, where an important resource - high temperature - is a by-product of the main production. Hydrogen energy from renewable sources also does not pay for itself due to the high cost of equipment. What about hydrogen home heating based on a compact installation? You need to understand that the law of conservation of energy cannot be circumvented. In order to release H2 in the electrolyzer, you will have to spend a certain amount electrical energy. To obtain it, fossil fuels were burned at a thermal power plant or energy was generated by a hydroelectric power station. Electricity was then transmitted through wires. At all stages of the process, inevitable losses occur and the amount of potential thermal energy obtained at the end will be a priori lower than at the beginning.

Is it profitable to heat a house with hydrogen?

Sellers compact generators hydrogen convince buyers of the extraordinary low cost of heating a home with hydrogen. Supposedly this is even more profitable than heating with gas. They say that the water that is poured into the installation costs nothing, and they are silent about other costs. Such promises have a magical effect on some of our fellow citizens who love freebies. But let’s not be like Pinocchio and, before setting foot in the Land of Fools, let’s find out how much hydrogen heating at home actually costs.

The average selling price of natural gas for the population for heating and electricity generation is 4.76 rubles/m3. 1 m3 contains 0.712 kg. Accordingly, 1 kg of natural gas costs 6.68 rubles. The average calorific value of natural gas is 50,000 kJ/kg. For hydrogen it is much higher, 140,000 kJ/kg. That is, in order to obtain an amount of thermal energy equal to that generated by the combustion of 1 kg of hydrogen, 2.8 kg of natural gas will be required. Its cost is 13.32 rubles. Now let’s compare the cost of thermal energy obtained from burning 1 kg of hydrogen obtained in a good factory electrolyzer and from 2.8 kg of natural gas: 420 rubles versus 13.32. The difference is truly monstrous, 31.5 times! Even compared to the most expensive of traditional types of heating - electric, hydrogen cannot even come close to competing, it costs 4 times more! The electricity that will be spent on the operation of the electrolyzer is better used to operate heating electrical appliances; there will be much more benefit.

As for the prospects for hydrogen energy, they exist, but success is associated with promising industrial technologies, which have not yet been invented. Household hydrogen generators and hydrogen vehicles are definitely unprofitable at least for the next decades. Their very limited use in some countries is only possible thanks to significant government subsidies as part of experimental environmental programs.

Memento mori - a few words about safety precautions

Hydrogen is a flammable, explosive gas. At the same time, it is odorless and can be used to detect its leakage without special equipment impossible. Handling such a dangerous type of fuel requires special safety measures. It is necessary to periodically check the tightness of pipelines, storage tanks, and the serviceability of shut-off valves. The H2 generator is not as simple a device as it might seem from the short videos. This is a potential bomb that could blow your house apart. Converting a gas heating boiler to a hydrogen one with your own hands is also dangerous.

A homemade hydrogen heating boiler, somehow converted from an old wood-burning one, and a hydrogen generator for heating the house, assembled on the knee and unsafe. The authors of the video talk about the extraordinary efficiency of the installation, without giving any numbers and offering to order a similar one from them at a reasonable price

Debunking myths about the efficiency of hydrogen boilers

If the economic calculations do not convince you, and you still decide to experiment with the topic of hydrogen heating at a loss, we strongly recommend that you do not engage in amateur activities, but invite specialists with experience in this field of activity. By the way, there are very few of them in our country.