Any Experience With HHO as a Combustion Enhancer?

[erichans]

OK, Frank---same wavelength now!

[Air-Hybrid]

Originally Posted by erichans

There's the opinion that there are other fringe benefits. Eg., that there is a drastic reduction in CO2 emissions (NOx, too) and a cleaning effect of the carbon in the engine. Just wondered if that alone is sufficient justification for installing a system---leave out the controversial MPG gains!

If the MPG gains are controversial - then so are the CO2 emissions (in pretty much all cases).
Case 1: You 'make' the H2 on-board via electrical (& ultimately mechanical) load on the alternator. Even if this helps stabilise the burn for some HCCI configurations, the energy gains of the 'stabilisation' are outweighed by the 50%+ loss incurred through extra mechanical load on the engine.
Case 2: A large tank of H2 is stored onboard. The H2 is generated via - most probably - NG or some other FF. Still plenty of CO2 involved here.
Case 3: Like case 2, but H2 is from renewable electricity. The electricity is 'clean' yes, but electricity is highly valuable in it's own right.

In all three scenarios the amount of CO2 offset by any renewables in the entire system (including the demand for non-transport electricity) is lessened compared with the renewable electricity being used directly.

[gone-ot]

+1 on Homogenious-Charge Compression-Ignition HCCI, which is basically an ICE, using Direct Injection, being operated under both ICE and DIESEL conditions...and switching back and forth between the two states as load conditions dictate by controlling "timing" of both fuel-injection timing (diesel) and ICE-ignition timing.

[erichans]

Thanks to you and Frank too for the expansion! Lots of stuff on 'search'.

[Floordford]

Ive also pondered about hydrogen generation on the fly to be used as a fuel additive. To me, I know energy will be lost in the transfer but that doesn't necessarily make it useless just because it looses energy. We have drivetrain losses, superchargers take energy to make energy, and even turbos loose energy while making energy. With all three we honestly dont get the energy out that is put in. Its interesting to see those who are such heavy nay sayers on that principle alone. Superchargers are known for their inefficiencies because of heat and the fact that it takes alot of horsepower to turn the belt to make it useful. So for some superchargers to add 100hp it might take away 35-45hp. The same thing might be happening with hydrogen generators. It may take 3hp with alternator load but it might make 5hp. So at the end of the day the gain is worth the loss.

A great many other things also need to be put into consideration too. Like the design, the solution mix, hose placement. Really, general efficiency of the added components.

[erichans]

Hi Floordford,
Thanks for your response. Never has a truer word been spoken!

You have certainly put some thought into this rather than rejecting the concept out of hand. Your analogy to supercharging is a case in point. That the gain may be worth the loss--IOW you come out positive, no matter how small the resultant gain.

>>A great many other things also need to be put into consideration too. Like the design, the solution mix, hose >>placement. Really, general efficiency of the added components.

Oh, absolutely! To take just a single point I'm focussing on---a point of loss, as pointed out by many---My PWM will be linked with throttle opening so that in the 80deg of throttle opening the current drawn by the electrolyser will vary hypothetically from 3A at slow running, to 15A at WOT, and will be adjustable to vary this range as well.

Not much time to be a yea- or naysayer. I am doing my best, as I understand it. I shall just go by what I see.

Regards,

Erich.

[dcb]

one good test is worth more than a million opinions.

[Floordford]

Originally Posted by dcb

one good test is worth more than a million opinions.

Ive been wanting to get my feet wet in this area to achieve my own results for a while now. The time in research alone is more than id like to admit. My goal right now is to find a descent output very, efficient version. Which I think might be dry cell. It does need to stay low in cost so it can pay for itself sooner. My thoughts also go to the fact that their are varying degrees of designs that range from low output, amp sippers and high output energy hogs. I think finding that happy medium to compliment engine size is the real trick. I can't believe there is a one size fits all or even a "this one for 4 and 6 cylinder. This one for V8s" type of scenario. The "amp draw vs. engine load from that draw vs. benefits from hydrogen output" have to be super fine tuned.

[UFO]

Originally Posted by Floordford

Ive also pondered about hydrogen generation on the fly to be used as a fuel additive. To me, I know energy will be lost in the transfer but that doesn't necessarily make it useless just because it looses energy. We have drivetrain losses, superchargers take energy to make energy, and even turbos loose energy while making energy. With all three we honestly dont get the energy out that is put in. Its interesting to see those who are such heavy nay sayers on that principle alone. Superchargers are known for their inefficiencies because of heat and the fact that it takes alot of horsepower to turn the belt to make it useful. So for some superchargers to add 100hp it might take away 35-45hp. The same thing might be happening with hydrogen generators. It may take 3hp with alternator load but it might make 5hp. So at the end of the day the gain is worth the loss.

A great many other things also need to be put into consideration too. Like the design, the solution mix, hose placement. Really, general efficiency of the added components.

Considering the goal of adding hydrogen has always been to save fuel, why else would one do it when it doesn't? What benefit is there?

[UFO]

Originally Posted by erichans

Hi Floordford,
Thanks for your response. Never has a truer word been spoken!

You have certainly put some thought into this rather than rejecting the concept out of hand. Your analogy to supercharging is a case in point. That the gain may be worth the loss--IOW you come out positive, no matter how small the resultant gain.

Huh? The analogy makes no sense. Supercharging makes more power and consumes more fuel. What does adding hydrogen to the engine do besides consume more fuel?