Evening all,
I am new to this forum and new to the idea of using hydrogen as an alternate energy source. For quite a few days I have been searching high and low through out the internet then I found this forum. Great forum by the way.
I am sick and tired of the gas pricing going up and up. Our troops in all essance attempting to protect the oil interest, Saudi's dominate control over the oil reserves is getting a bit out of control.
I read in a national paper this afternoon (at a paper stand) that around thanksgiving this year (2005) the maximum production world wide will be at its peak. After that watch out as the prices will begin to rise faster than ever.
I am not one to beleve every thing I read but in this case I can. They had also metioned it will not be long when a barrel of oil will double within a short few months if not sooner From what I saw will be in excess of $110.00 a barrel. Not in years but months. Right now it cost me around $30-$35.00 a week to fill up and thats only drivig to work and back. So I am expected to pay over $60.00 by this time next year? Winter is around the corner so a motor cycle is out of the question. riding a bike at my age over 15miles on ice is not a good idea, there is no local mass transportation, there are no cabs so what is one to do?
Think the employers will be generious and increase our pay to match the increase? NO. They are cutting health benifits as it is, or just cutting it totally to save on the rising cost.
OK-Enough of my blabber mouthing. Instead of complaining I figure I should do some thing my self. So here I am learning from you guys.
OK, Now I have taken what I have been able to pick up on from this forum and modeled a simple electrolysis system with a 12v battery, a half a teaspoon of soduim hydrozide (Hard to find pure in this area) and distilled water using a simple 2 stainless steel bolts in a plastic container.
It was great. I was able to fill a 16oz plastic soda bottle with hydrogen within 3 mins.
Also was cool but I think was a dumb thing was thinking I had only a small amount of hydrogen at best. And then put a flame under the plastic bottle, and then there was a KaBoom........ Bottle flew up and slambed into the ceiling tiles (12' up), hit the wall, then bounced of and hit the work bench and finally bounced off into the floor. All within what was microseconds. My partner and I was shocked and speachless for a moment tryig to register in our minds wat just happened.
No flames at all and it was fast. But I will rethink a beter way to test for hydrogen on the next test. Any suggestions for a safe test method?
My next question is how can I use the hydrogen gas created through electrolysis and convert into electric? (At an amature level to begin the learning process) Maybe to run a small electic 6-9v miniture motor for testing.
For now instead of going big to run a car, lawn tractor, motor cycles or boats I figure on keeping it on a small scale and improve it to maximum operation then work towards a meaning ful solution.
Being to most individuales are working towards running a combustion engine, I will try and produce electric to run a small electric motor for develoment. Attach a small prop on the front to create a load.
I performed a search for fuel cells on this forum but I seem to always get links to only obtaining electrolosis but nothing on a fuel cell development at a back yard expermental needs.
Any one with suggestions out there?
If I can get a working model I have my own server and have the ability to setup a live cam to let the experment run until it quit's. If it runs 2 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 3 days a week a month or what ever it will be live on the internet for you all to track its progress.
Exampl I have another hobby where I have established my own weather station and a live weather cam. I have at live camera set up so I can keep watch on the weather at home from work. (Really to keep tabs on my wife while I am at work LOL) Check out my persoal weather site from . You can get to the web cam from which is my main personal web site.
I am also open to any suggestion any one may have. I am open to any new thought or ideas.