I am going to make the presumption that you want to make a device to get Hydrogen and Oxygen gas from water...
First thing to decide how you want to do it?
Two answers are possible: Conventional or Experimental
Conventional:
If you are going with a conventional electrolyser, then you are going to use DC current and be bound by Faradays Laws. They say that, as long as your voltage is high enough (and there is argument about what that voltage actually is!), the output of your cell is proportional to the number of electrons or amperage you put in. More amps equals more product formed on the electrodes. Simple and easy. It helps if there is an electrolyte in solution - somethng to facilitate the movement of the charge.
To make this kind of device, just put plates in water with a tad of either Sodium Hydroxide (Lye), Acetic Acid (Viegar), or Sulfuric Acid ( Battery Acid). How much to put in is a subject of considerable debate. Put some electroder in the solution (generally stainless steel, sometimes Platinum) hook up a DC power source (battery chargers are a common choice) and BINGO! you will have the evolution of gas. Watch the power meter turn...
I have what is called a Hoffman Apparatus. Funny looking thing. Two tall glass tubes with graduation markings on them that have valves at the top of each column and a piece of glass that joins them near the bottom. Think of an H with the crossmember down at the bottom. The bottom of each tube is sealed with a cork that has a small square of platinum film attached to a wire that goes inside a bit of glass that goes through the rubber stopper. There is also anothter glass tube in the center that joins in the center of the cross member that can be used to keep water in the system. Hook up a source of power and bubbles begin to come off. One side has twice the volume of production of the other side. Concrete demonstration that it is H2O... Works a lot faster if there is some acid in the water. Example of straight Faraday electrolysys
Experimental:
Here is gets really FUN!
Funnest place to look is the patents databases (US, Australia, UK,...).
You can also just surf the net. Lots of fun stuff out there. Some good, some bad. Some right, some wrong. Pay attention to those things that people say they have made and actually worked.
Having something that actually works is not required to get a patent, many patents do NOT work. Take things with a grain of salt before you spend a lot of time and money... (I should take that advice myself..)
Many people have claimed to be able to do Mr. Faraday one better.
Some claim that magnetic fields help the molecules line up and thus lessen the energy needed to make the water molecule come apart.
Some claim that strong electromagentic fields will do the same thing.
Most say that nickel or Platinum on your electrodes will help - this is reasonable since they are in the same family on the Periodic Table and both are known for catalytic action (especially Platinum - that is why it is the active ingredient in a Catalytic Converter). One claims that his mix of metals liberates gas that burns after the stuff is in the water for a while...
Some say to use pulsed DC, others say to use AC. Frequency and voltages are at issue. Some say use this charge carrier, others say use no charge carriers.
Some say there is a resonant frequency. Find it and BOOM!
Do you get the idea that there are a lot of ideas out there? and that they sometimes confilct with each other?
Pick your poison and what you want to try.
Cautions:
Most every method WILL make Hydrogen and Oxygen from Water.
YOU CAN KILL YOURSELF AND OTHERS IF YOU SCREW UP!
A little balloon filled with the proper mix ( 2:1), combined with a spark make a LOUD explosion that can damage your hearing.
Hydrogen burns in an almost invisible flame if the supply is constant and it is HOT! Good way to get 3rd degree burns. OUCH!
Oxygen enhanaces the combustion properties of just about anything - Remember with a moment of reverence the Apollo capsule that burned everything and everybody inside with just one spark. Three lives lost because of Oxygen and lots of velcro glued everywhere.
Hydrogen is not the easiest thing to store. Use it NOW or don't generate it.
Hopefully this has educatee and amused you a bit.
Ogre
Former Chemistry Teacher.
Tinkerer and GeekStatistics: Posted by OgreOwner — Thu Dec 29, 2005 11:43 pm
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