Hydrogen fuel cell?

[colinc]

I think what you are thinking of is sort of snake oil, however, down south Shell is advertising "Oxygenated fuels".

Fuel Cells vary but typically take oxygen and hydrogen and put them together to make electricity and water. Electrolyzers kind of reverse the process. You can use solar or wind energy with an electrolyzer to make hydrogen gas which you can use to power an automobile. This is the "renewable fuel" process you hear about. However, large fuel cells and/or electrolyzers are VERY expensive and take lots of gas to operate given their inefficiencys. Hopefully, somebody can find a more efficient way to make them.

Just to clarify, the original use of "hydrogen fuel cell" in this thread is incorrect; Kyle's description is accurate. The device mentioned by the original poster is an electrolyzer that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. The hydrogen gas in the intake air stream supposedly improves the efficiency of the diesel combustion process. Until I see the results of a properly designed study proving otherwise, I will maintain my position that the whole claim is a big, steamy pile of bullsh*t.

Incidentally, oxygenated fuels are usually those to which alcohols (ethanol or methanol, for example) and/or ethers (e.g., MTBE) have been added, and have nothing to do with oxygen gas that we breathe.

-Colin

 

[BobRip]

I second that motion.

You are giving it too much credit

 

[Monster5601]

Greetings, Has anyone tried one of the fuel cells that adds hydrogen to your fuel?
I watched a few videos, they use a quart of water with a little Bicarb, the cell has electrically charged plates. Thanks

Richard

If this was a valid solution, Detroit would be all over it. The auto makers are under pressure to produce more fuel efficient vehicles and they would gladly use a system like this, if it worked.

I don't see Detroit using it.

 

[kf4uda]

I think everyone is looking at the problem from the wrong end. Someone just needs to invent an engine that runs on snake oil....problem solved

 

[ToadHill]

Crash: Actually they used water injection to boost the power in WWII fighters for a few seconds when they needed a few extra horses.

 

[crash325]

Crash: Actually they used water injection to boost the power in WWII fighters for a few seconds when they needed a few extra horses.

ADI ( Alcohol & Water, direct Injection ) Injection was used long after WW11. I spent 5 years working on the big round engines and in the air crew of P5M-1's. Most of my work was on R3350's and a little R2800's & R1830's. ADI was used only on take off and very briefly even then. It was hard on the engine, but gave you an extra kick when needed. When really loaded we also had 4 JATO bottles, rated at 600 HP each. ON smooth water & loaded to the max, with all that, sometimes wondered if we would ever get out of the water.

In the mid 60's when working at Service Station Supply a company came but to see if we would sell their "water injection system.) A bottle under the hood and a pump to spray a mist of water into the carb. We didn't buy. :laughing:

 

[Jerry/MT]

ADI ( Alcohol & Water, direct Injection ) Injection was used long after WW11. I spent 5 years working on the big round engines and in the air crew of P5M-1's. Most of my work was on R3350's and a little R2800's & R1830's. ADI was used only on take off and very briefly even then. It was hard on the engine, but gave you an extra kick when needed. When really loaded we also had 4 JATO bottles, rated at 600 HP each. ON smooth water & loaded to the max, with all that, sometimes wondered if we would ever get out of the water.

In the mid 60's when working at Service Station Supply a company came but to see if we would sell their "water injection system.) A bottle under the hood and a pump to spray a mist of water into the carb. We didn't buy. :laughing:

Alchohol/water injection in a spark ignition engine is an anti-detonant. I believe there was a version of the Olds Cutlass that had a supercharger that was electrically driven and rather than use low compression heads to eliminate detonation during boost operation, (that would cause a reduction in fuel mileage when the boost was turned off), they chose to spray water/methanol into the engine when the suprcharger was operating. I think it was only offered for one year.

Alchohol/water injection in a gas turbine compressor is both a mass flow increaser and a evaporative coolant to reduce compressor outlet temperature.

Both allow their respective engines to develop additional power generally for short time periods (usually limited to 5 minutes at take off rating).

 

[colinc]

In case anyone is confused, I would like to point out that water injection to boost compression is not the same concept as adding small quantities of hydrogen gas to the intake air.

 

[irvingj]

Nice pic, crash! Looking at the tree....That wouldn't be Japan, would it? (Just a WAG ) Does seem like the 50's. Nice photo.

Yep, I'm an airplane freak.

 

[deereman75]

I think what you are thinking of is sort of snake oil, however, down south Shell is advertising "Oxygenated fuels".

up north here shell is advertising ''nitrogen enriched'' fuel... Claiming it reduces carbon and gunk build up...