Hydrogen

S

stevebpuffin

Registered
So i heard through the grape vine that my buddy got his hydrogen powered car working and running. I have yet to talk to him to get specifics, but I was wondering if you guys know anything about this. I understand the theory but would like to hear some feedback on this topic. Im not sure what kind of car he put it in..(not a linc). From what i have read so far sounds like a good source of energy.
 
From looking at this as a bystander, the "problem" with the Hydrogen car is the fuel tank. The high pressure method is heavy and it hurts when a "T" cylinder holding 3000 PSI hydrogen is involved in an accident. The preferred method is a solid/rock component that adsorbs and releases hydrogen when some form of heat is applied. This is a low pressure method of storage that is very safe (if the tank is ruptured in an accident it can't explode. It will burn, though). The low pressure method has volume problems. The volume density is too low to be practical over cost.
 
Very interested in this theory. Please post more info.

Is he doing it by electrolysis of water? I've seen videos of lawn mowers, and small generators run this way.

The biggest drawback I've heard about the electrolysis method on a internal combustion engine is it can rust it out, especially the exhaust system. I believe there could be high tech coatings that could eliminate that.

One day I hope to get my Starfire to run this way...;)
 
Here is what happend to the last hydrogen powered vehicle :D

hindenburg-burning.jpg
 
Using electrolysis generates hydrogen and oxygen. However, the conversion efficiency is the pits -- I've heard on the order of like 15-17%. What the means to you and me is you have to spend $100 of electricity to get $15 to $17 worth of hydrogen!

I guess that's why the gas industry pulls hydrogen from the ground (a byproduct of natural gas, I think.)

Another interesting thing about hydrogen -- it burn so clean that the hydrogen flame is invisible. Industrial wielders learn this fact real fast. The procedure for moving hydrogen tanks around is to first flick water (spits works) on the valve. If it sizzles, it's on fire and boiling hot. if it don't, it's OK to touch.
 
TO touch on what HOTLNC said most Hydrogen is form splitting methane. and dumping the leftover methane into the air. This is not a clean proccess . As also stated storage is a problem hydrogen is not energy dense. it takes a multi thousand pound tank to compare to a simple tank of gasoline range wise.
 
As also stated storage is a problem hydrogen is not energy dense. it takes a multi thousand pound tank to compare to a simple tank of gasoline range wise.
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That is one of the considerations of making this happen (long way down the road) on the Starfire motorhome. As it sits, it has a fluid capacity of over 300 gallons. It could even carry more if needed. I'd only want about a 300 mile range out of it. It could be "refueled" using campground water. Not looking for serious performance out of it, just enough that it can cruise safely.
 
TimKustom said:
That is one of the considerations of making this happen (long way down the road) on the Starfire motorhome. As it sits, it has a fluid capacity of over 300 gallons. It could even carry more if needed. I'd only want about a 300 mile range out of it. It could be "refueled" using campground water. Not looking for serious performance out of it, just enough that it can cruise safely.
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you could in theory anyway recycle the exhaust gas. how are you getting it up to injection pressure
 
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