Everything you need to know about the hydrogen fuel of the future. We start a conventional internal combustion engine running on hydrogen. Hydrogen power plant for cars.

Today, many automakers are seriously thinking about the transport of the future. If previously everything was focused only on electric cars, today they have a serious competitor - fuel-powered cars.

elements. We decided to find out which hydrogen cars can be purchased today and what their advantages are.

The main advantage of fuel cells is high efficiency(more than 50%). Engineers also note the compactness and relatively light weight of the hydrogen installation, in comparison with gasoline and diesel counterparts.

The disadvantages of hydrogen include the poorly developed infrastructure of filling stations, the explosiveness of the mixture of hydrogen and air, the high cost of maintaining a hydrogen power plant, and the high volatility of hydrogen (the highest among all common gases). So, in 9-10 days about half of a full tank evaporates in a hydrogen car.

5.Toyota FCHV

The crossover was officially presented in 2002 in Japan and the USA. The car was rented for several months and then withdrawn to check the test results. The power of the car's power plant was 90 kW. The car is being improved all the time. So, initially the range on one gas station was 350 km (exclusively on electric power from a charged battery - 50 km). Now these figures are 830 and 100 km, respectively. The car's fuel tank holds 156 liters of hydrogen. The maximum speed of the crossover is about 160 km/h. In California (USA), Toyota FCHVs were tested in taxis as an experiment, but the “crudeness” of the technology has not yet justified the use of hydrogen cars in services with large daily mileages.

4.Mercedes-Benz F-Cell

German engineers created a hydrogen car based on the B-Class urban hatchback in 2010, and later it was slightly modernized. Initially, the car’s maximum mileage on a single charge was only 160 km, and maximum speed did not exceed 132 km/h. Over time, the engine power increased and reached a maximum of 134 hp. s., and on one tank of hydrogen the hatchback could cover 402 km. Mercedes-Benz cars F-Cells were leased to ordinary users completely free of charge for 3 months or six months. In total, from 2002 to 2012, the company produced 69 machines, which are still in use mainly in the USA, Germany, France and Japan.

3.Honda FCX Clarity

The full-size Honda FCX Clarity sedan was officially introduced in 2006. Production started in June 2008. Sales began that same year exclusively in Japan. The car was available to consumers in Europe and America only through leasing at a price of $600 per month of operation. This amount included the car rental itself, the price of fuel, parking and car taxes. From 2008 to 2014, the company leased about 45 cars in the United States alone and 10 each in Europe and Japan. The sedan is equipped with an electric motor with a capacity of 134 hp. With. and a torque of 256 Nm. A full tank of fuel lasts approximately 380 km. In 2014, production of the sedan was curtailed, but top managers of the Japanese automaker said that at the end of the current year we should expect the premiere of a new generation of hydrogen sedan.

2. Hyundai ix35 FCEV

Hydrogen korean crossover The Hyundai ix35 FCEV has gained great popularity in the States. The car was officially presented at the Seoul International Motor Show in 2013. Electric power point power 136 hp With. and with a maximum torque of 300 Nm accelerates the car to 180 km/h. A full tank filled with hydrogen under a pressure of 700 atmospheres will be enough for 600 km. Interestingly, the weight of fuel in a fully filled gas tank is less than 5.5 kg. Production of the car started at the end of 2014. You can buy the hydrogen Hyundai ix35 FCEV in Europe, the USA and some Asian countries. The price of the car in Korea is $144,000, of which $50,000 is reimbursed by the state.

1.Toyota Mirai

We gave first place to the latest and, in our opinion, most far-reaching development - Toyota sedan Mirai. The car was first presented at the Tokyo Motor Show 2013. Initially, the car was called by the abbreviation FCV. Production of the car started in March 2015 in Japan. Power plant with a capacity of 154 hp. With. can accelerate a full-size car to 175 km/h. Under the bottom of the car there are 2 fuel tanks for storing hydrogen. One cylinder is located at the front of the car, and the second is at the rear. The maximum travel range on one fill is 650 kilometers. The base cost of the car is about 70 thousand dollars, thanks to subsidies in Japan the car will cost buyers only 30,000 dollars, in the USA - about 50,000.

Sooner or later, oil reserves around the world will run out. Naturally, this is unlikely to happen tomorrow, but today prices for oil-based fuel have increased significantly. This fact has become a good incentive for developers who are inventing the fuel of the future. Moreover, it should not be just a fuel, but, preferably, a renewable fuel. Many are sure that a hydrogen car is a toy. Let's see if this is true.

Fuel of the future

The famous writer Jules Verne wrote about such fuel a long time ago in his adventure novels. In one of his novels on the topic alternative source energy writer said that the product for energy will be ordinary water. And so it happened. Yes, this is not fiction.

Water, or more precisely, one of its components - hydrogen - is not only the first chemical element. This is also a source. And imagine, this future is already very close.

Today Japanese companies produce engines that run only on this type of fuel. The hydrogen car from Toyota is the world's first production car equipped with this engine.

The car is a sedan with four doors. It has electric motor with a power of 151 hp. With. You may ask, what does hydrogen have to do with it, since the motor is electric? Let's figure it out.

Toyota Mirai technologies

The electric motor is powered by a special converter. And it already receives energy directly from hydrogen. Gas is contained in car tanks under high pressure. The containers are made from

But the reaction still requires oxygen. Yes, that's true. The car receives oxygen directly from the radiator while driving. One filling of two tanks with hydrogen will be enough to cover up to 480 km by car. Refilling takes only 3 minutes. During this time, 170 liters of gas will be filled into the tanks of the car. On average, consumption will be about 4.7 liters per 100 km.

How does this work?

When hydrogen reacts with oxygen, a violent chemical reaction occurs that produces electrical energy. It is stored in the battery. The car is set in motion synchronous motor AC.

Technical characteristics of the “Japanese”

The maximum speed that a hydrogen-powered car is capable of is 180 km/h. The car can accelerate to 100 km in just 9 seconds.

Besides the fact that you can drive a “Japanese” car without harming the environment, you can also this car can be used at home as a power plant. Engineers and designers who took part in the development of the new product claim that with the help of such a system, current is supplied to the whole house. Thus, you can use it freely for 5 days.

Discounts on fuel for buyers

Those residents of Japan and the United States who purchase a hydrogen car will receive large discounts and free refueling of their cars. The authors of the grandiose project are confident that they will be successful. However, other automakers are not sitting idly by. And soon consumers can get large selection alternative fuel cars.

Great and terrible

The fact that hydrogen can become number 1 in matters of alternative fuel has been talked about for quite some time. Even before the economic crisis back in 2008, the media constantly published reports about how wonderfully the power of hydrogen could be used.

Any car powered by hydrogen was considered a breakthrough, and its creators were elevated almost to the ranks of saints. Untrained readers and car enthusiasts confidently considered this a real breakthrough, but it must be said that this is not so.

150 years ago

The real state of affairs is slightly different from what is written in blogs dedicated to alternative energy. Hydrogen has been used in this capacity for about 150 years. The hydrogen car helped win the war.

The very first engine internal combustion Lenoir built it on this fuel in 1860. Then, in 1942, there was a fairly massive conversion of all automotive equipment to a hydrogen energy source.

This happened in besieged Leningrad. Initially, hydrogen was to be used in air defense systems for balloons. However, the great Russian engineers managed to change the situation.

How was it?

Airbuses were used to protect the city. These flying rubber objects, filled to the brim with hydrogen, did not allow fascist planes to conduct targeted fire at the city.

However, the rubber air protection had one huge disadvantage. Due to the fact that the shell of the Airbus allowed this gas to pass through, the Airbuses descended. Instead of hydrogen, various water vapors and other gases took its place. Therefore, sometimes Airbuses were lowered to the ground, vented and refueled again.

To refuel the airbuses, winches and GAZ AA gasoline trucks were used. And under the blockade, gasoline was very expensive in Leningrad. The war depleted supplies, and Boris Shelits, who was then a military technician, served at the refueling station of these same airbuses. So here it is. There was no gasoline, that is, completely. He tried to use it to lower flying bodies electric winches. However, the electricity soon ran out. Many different alternative energy sources have been tried.

One day, a military technician thought that hydrogen could be used in other ways than simply being released into the sky. After all, the heat that this gas produces during combustion is 4 times higher than that from coal, 3 times higher than that from gasoline and other petroleum products. Schelitz asked for permission to experiment, and it was signed for him. Need I say that this is how a hydrogen car appeared?

Operating principle

The scientist’s scheme boiled down to connecting an Airbus using a hose to the inlet manifold of a car engine. The hydrogen went directly into the cylinders, bypassing the carburetor. The dosage of hydrogen, as well as the air necessary for the reaction, was carried out using throttle valve or the gas pedal.

Shelits conducted his first experiments in the cold. The engine started easily, despite the temperature outside. The motor worked stably and for a long time. True, the balloons exploded, and Shelitsa was shell-shocked. After this, a special protection system was invented. It is based on a water seal, which prevented the mixture from igniting during flashes in the engine manifold. This is how a hydrogen car became safer.

By the way, after one of the engines was disassembled, there were practically no signs of wear on it. There was no carbon deposits in the cylinders, but only water vapor.

Hydrogen saves lives

The hydrogen machine thus invented during the war helped save many lives, withstand the blockade, and Schelitz himself received an award for this development, and even patented it. The developer was awarded the Red Star.

Hydrogen taxi

After the war, when hydrogen was no longer available anywhere, they began to forget about it. However, some people still remember how in Ukraine, in Kharkov, there was a taxi, but not a regular one, but a hydrogen one.

Save with Brown's Gas

In most even the most modern automobile ICE fuel burns far from optimally. About 60% of the mixture of air and fuel is simply lost in the depths of the exhaust manifold. In the collector, the mixture does not burn completely, and at the same time it also forms quite toxic exhaust gases.

Upgrading the generator

To improve the hydrogen production system, add another tank to this system. It should be slightly higher than the first one. They can be connected using tubes. This way you can use the system more efficiently.

Electronic unit

You can also assemble this part of the generator yourself, especially if you have knowledge of electronics. If you do not have such knowledge and skills, then it is better to turn to specialists in these areas. The control unit must automatic mode change the current supplied to the plates based on motor speed.

Power can only be determined experimentally. idle speed motor and also under load. Electronic unit must receive information from sensors automotive system management.

After installing this generator, you need to once again make sure that all connections of this structure are tight and reliable. A leak is dangerous not only because of the possibility of an explosion, but such a machine will lead to the As a result, the effect will be extremely negative. But in general, such a hydrogen machine, made with your own hands, allows you to save from 25% to 40% of fuel.

Similar equipment and such methods of saving fuel have been successfully used all over the world for a long time. Famous actor Arnold Schwarzenegger has long been driving a combination car that runs on gasoline and hydrogen. The car cost the movie star 150 thousand dollars. Fuel consumption on this combined engine is 5.8 liters per 100 km.

Today, such a hydrogen-powered car in Russia could also be very relevant.

So, we have found out all the features and principle of operation of cars using this environmentally friendly type of fuel. As you can see, this is a very real alternative to today's gasoline. And there are hopes that in the coming decades humanity will move to a new stage of development, where cars powered by hydrogen will drive on the streets.

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. Size fuel tank for hydrogen 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 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. When burned, such a gas mixture 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 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 injection system fuel supply, it is also necessary to install a controller that regulates the level of gas supply to the fuel mixture and is associated with on-board computer car.

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 construction is quite sufficient for many carburetor engines. There is no need for complex installation electronic circuit 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 use the third type of reactor.

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. It should also not be forgotten that for normal operation The water in the electrolyser 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 a conventional switch for 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 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 system components and the presence of sensors to monitor the progress of the process.

Temperature sensor working fluid, pressure and ammeter will not be superfluous in the design of the installation. Special attention It is worth paying attention 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 poses a 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 run 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.

After natural oil reserves are depleted, people will have to rely entirely on alternative forms of energy production. A hydrogen engine, as a replacement for internal combustion engines running on black gold, is one of the prospects for future decades.

Power plants of this type have greater efficiency and less toxicity exhaust gases. However, the main advantage of engines running on hydrogen is an unlimited supply of raw materials for fuel production. Water can become the basis of the fuel of the future.

Interest in the use of hydrogen arose during the fuel crisis of the 70s, but the first hydrogen engine was invented only in early XIX centuries. The technology was actually used during the siege of Leningrad, when the winches of balloons and vehicles were fueled with hydrogen.

Despite the obvious advantages of knowing how to produce hydrogen and using it to operate an internal combustion engine, there are several significant “buts” that slow down the implementation of this progressive technology.

Features of hydrogen as fuel for internal combustion engines

• after combustion, only water vapor remains;
• the reaction occurs much faster than in the case of gasoline or diesel;
• detonation resistance allows you to increase the compression ratio;
• due to its volatility, hydrogen is able to penetrate into the smallest cavities, gaps between parts (only special alloys of increased strength are able to withstand the destructive effects of hydrogen on the metal structure);
• the heat transfer of hydrogen combustion is 2.5 times greater than that of a gasoline mixture;
• wide range of response. The minimum proportion of hydrogen sufficient to react with oxygen is only 4%. This feature allows you to adjust engine operating modes by dosing the consistency of the mixture;
• Hydrogen is stored in a compressed or liquid aggregate state. When the tank breaks down, the gas under pressure evaporates.

In view of the above features, the use of hydrogen as a clean fuel for internal combustion engines is impossible without introducing design changes power unit, as well as attachments.

Design and principle of operation

The main difference between hydrogen engines and the gasoline or diesel analogues we are now familiar with is the method of supplying and igniting the working mixture. The principle of converting the reciprocating movements of the crankshaft into useful work remains unchanged. Due to the fact that petroleum-based fuel burns slowly, the combustion chamber is filled with the fuel-air mixture a little before the piston rises to its highest position (TDC). The lightning-fast reaction speed of hydrogen makes it possible to shift the injection time to the moment when the piston begins its return movement to BDC. At the same time, the pressure in fuel system does not have to be high (4 atm is enough).

Under ideal conditions, a hydrogen engine can have a closed-type power supply system. The mixture formation process occurs without the participation of atmospheric air. After the compression stroke, water remains in the combustion chamber in the form of steam, which, passing through the radiator, condenses and turns back into H2O. This type of equipment is possible if an electrolyzer is installed on the car, which will separate hydrogen from the resulting water for repeated reaction with oxygen.

In practice, this type of system is still difficult to implement. To ensure proper operation and reduce friction, engines use oil, the evaporation of which is part of the exhaust gases. On modern stage development of technologies, stable operation and trouble-free starting of an engine running on detonating gas without the use of atmospheric air is not feasible.

Hybrid models and possible modifications

Due to the great interest in the use of hydrogen as fuel for internal combustion engines, internal combustion hydraulic engines have various modifications and types of execution.

Diagram of a hybrid hydrogen engine

Motor developed by V.S. Kashcheev, has a different device. In addition to the inlet valve (6) for supplying air, the outlet valve for removing exhaust gases (7), the cylinder head has a separate valve for supplying hydrogen (9) and a spark plug (10), which are located in the pre-chamber (8). The latter is located in the cylinder head above the piston level in the BDC position.

After the piston overcomes BDC, hydrogen is supplied to the combustion chamber and ignited (the piston first draws air through intake valves). At the same time, the exhaust valves open. Due to the difference in atmospheric pressure, exhaust gases rush into the exhaust manifold, creating a vacuum behind them, which moves the piston to TDC and, due to the impulse, back to the lowest position. As you can see, the principle is slightly different, but the essence remains the same.

The technology of hybrid power plants is an intermediate step between the beginning of the use of hydrogen as fuel and the complete abandonment of the use of petroleum products. Cars with engines of this type can run on both gasoline and hydrogen.

The use of hydrogen as a component of the fuel-air mixture has become even more widespread. For internal combustion engine operation Regular fuel and a small portion of detonating gas are used. This allows you to increase the compression ratio and reduce the toxicity of exhaust gases.

One of the possible ways to develop hydrogen engines is the use of power plants with fuel cells. During chemical reaction Hydrogen and oxygen release energy, which is used to power the car's electric motors.

Difficulties in operating hydrogen internal combustion engines

The main obstacle to the implementation of the technology is the cost of producing hydrogen (H2), as well as components for its storage and transportation. For example, to maintain a liquefied state, you need to maintain a stable temperature of -253º C. The most accessible way to obtain H2 is the electrolysis of water. Industrial supply of hydrogen requires large energy costs. This process can be made profitable by nuclear energy, for which they are also trying to find a rational alternative. Transportation and storage of gas require the use of expensive materials and high-quality mechanisms. Other disadvantages of hydrogen fuel include:

• explosion hazard. In a confined space, a concentration of detonating gas sufficient for a reaction can provoke an explosion. Can make the situation worse high temperature air. Due to the high degree of diffusion of hydrogen, there is a risk of H2 entering the exhaust manifold, where reaction with hot exhaust gases will cause the mixture to ignite. The rotary engine, due to its layout, is more preferable for a hydrogen car;
• storing hydrogen requires a large capacity container, as well as special systems that prevent the volatilization of H2 and provide protection from mechanical deformation. If for buses, trucks or water transport This feature does not play a big role, then cars they lose valuable cubic meters of luggage space;
• under high-temperature load conditions, hydrogen can provoke a destructive effect on parts of the cylinder-piston group and motor oil. Use of appropriate alloys and lubricants leads to an increase in the cost of production and operation of hydrogen-powered engines.

Development prospects

The automotive industry is far from the only area where hydrogen engines can be used. Water, railway transport, aviation, as well as various auxiliary special equipment can use power plants of this type.

Both subsidiaries and large automakers (BMW, Volskwagen, Toyota, GM, Daimler AG and others) are showing interest in introducing hydrogen engine technology. Already now on the roads you can find not only prototypes, but also full-fledged representatives model range, driven by hydrogen. The BMW 750i Hydrogen, Honda FSX, Toyota Mirai and many other models performed well during road tests. Unfortunately, high cost hydrogen, the lack of infrastructure of gas stations, as well as a sufficient number of qualified employees, equipment for repair and maintenance do not allow launching such cars into mass production. Optimization of the entire cycle of use of detonating gas is the initial task of the development of hydrogen energy.

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 on a 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. When burned, such a gas mixture 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 washing machine tank. 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 a conventional switch for 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 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 in 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.

A hydrogen generator for heating residential and industrial premises, operating on the same principles, is distinguished by several times greater reactor productivity. In such installations, the absence of a water seal poses a 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 run 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.