How to make hydrogen. Do-it-yourself hydrogen generator drawings. What is hydrogen

Many owners of private houses are interested in a cheap and clean way to heat a room. Hydrogen heating is one possible solution. Such technology can become a worthy alternative to modern systems. Is it possible to assemble and install for heating a private house with your own hands? How does such an installation work? What hardware is used for installation? The answer to such questions can be found in this article.

What is hydrogen?

Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical on our planet. A colorless, toxin-free gas present in almost all compounds. The substance is endowed with unique properties. In the solid and liquid state, hydrogen has practically no mass. The size of its atoms is the smallest in comparison with other chemical elements.

A substance obtained as a result of mixing hydrogen with ambient air can retain its properties for a very long time while in a room, but it can explode from minimal contact with fire. For transportation and storage, special cylinders made of alloy steel are used.

You can get fuel indefinitely. To get it, ordinary water and electricity are enough. released during the interaction of hydrogen with oxygen, is used for heating buildings.

What is a setup?

Oxygen and hydrogen technology is a great alternative to natural gas. The average combustion temperature can be equal to 3000 degrees Celsius. To withstand such a high figure, you will need a special burner to burn hydrogen.

Such a device consists of several elements. A good hydrogen generator for heating a private house, which contributes to the process of dividing water into components, can be assembled independently. Additionally, catalysts are used to optimize chemical reaction. The pipeline from the generator and the burner will be needed to create a flame. An ordinary boiler can be used as a heat exchanger. A burner is located in the furnace, which is responsible for heating in the heating system.

Old equipment can be adapted to process hydrogen fuel. AT financial matter such engineering solutions will be much more acceptable in comparison with the purchase of a new boiler manufactured at the factory. At the same time, a hydrogen generator for heating a private house will require more space.

First samples

For the practical use of the reaction when combining hydrogen with oxygen, the maximum efficiency of such installations was first developed. The maximum efficiency of such installations was 80%. As a result of the hard work of engineers, after numerous improvements, manufacturers were able to launch the first hydrogen plants for domestic use on the market.

To connect, you need to fulfill several conditions. These include providing a connection to a fluid source. Normal plumbing will do. The capacity of the plant will determine the consumption of raw materials. Requires electrical connection for electrolysis. Depending on the model and power of the boiler, the quality of the catalyst is determined. An example quality installation is a hydrogen generator for heating a private house "Star 1000".

The device, unlike solid fuel devices, is much safer to use. This is due to the fact that all processes take place within the installation itself, and users will only need visual control over the readings. In this case, you should always remember that leaks are possible in home-made units. fuel mixture. Be sure to check the tightness of the container before starting the device.

Relevance of the installation

The operational features of such products are of interest to all consumers. You can create a hydrogen generator for heating a private house with your own hands. Photo examples are presented in our article.

Homemade and factory devices differ significantly in efficiency. You need to be prepared for the fact that their actual power will not match the calculations. Exactly because of this reason self-installation hydrogen system must be carried out using proven boilers or factory generators.

Consider positive sides heating appliances powered by hydrogen. The supply of fuel is endless. To refuel such a boiler, you need plain water. A minimum amount of electricity of 0.3 kW / h is sufficient for the normal operation of a device with a power of 27 kW. Carbon monoxide gases that harm the body are completely absent.

When buying a hydrogen generator for home heating, it is recommended to choose a suitable boiler or heat exchange device. Such installations should function normally at elevated temperatures, which are achieved by burning hydrogen fuel.

The resulting mixture as a result of the operation of the generator refers to the Person cannot determine the leak in the room by smell. The ignition temperature is very high. This means that the substance is explosive. It is for this reason that each home-made unit should always be checked.

Flaws

High cost is the main limiting factor when choosing a factory installation. The most popular hydrogen generator for heating a private house is available for 50,000 rubles. The catalyst unit must be replaced once a year. This part is necessary to improve the quality of the boiler, even if it is not a factory setting.

Main features of hydrogen plants

Of course, you must follow the safety rules. We must not forget about possible consequences uncontrolled chemical reaction. To organize the heating of a private house with hydrogen with your own hands, you will need components such as pipes and a boiler.

No installation required additional devices for removal Heat generation occurs as a result of a chemical reaction. Hot steam enters the piping system. Such heating systems are best used for heating ceilings, skirting systems and indoor floors.

What pipes are needed?

Prospects for hydrogen energy

Working methods are being developed to significantly reduce the cost of such installations. These include technologies for obtaining cheap or even free electricity. You can choose better catalysts for a chemical reaction. They have long been known and used in hydrogen fuel blocks for cars. But again, everything depends on the excessively high cost.

Widely known modern welders with integrated fuel cost has no special significance. There is also no need to solve the problem of transporting heavy cylinders. The whole device fits comfortably into a small lightweight box.

Science has advanced a long time ago. The opportunity to improve technology for arranging life is available to mankind today as never before. It's easy enough to find the right information. Not all sources alternative energy brought to mass production today. But these technologies are so elementary and simple that anyone can assemble a hydrogen generator for heating a private house with their own hands in their garage and use it to ensure their own well-being.

Conclusion

So far, one can only speculate about what technologies humanity will use tomorrow. The prospects for hydrogen-based energy are skeptical by many scientists due to the small range of applications. But you can look at this situation from the other side. If a person tends to develop technologies for arranging his own life, interacting with the forces of nature, how can one discard the possibility of obtaining thermal energy as a result of the interaction of electricity and water?

It is foolish to pass up such an opportunity. If you can't find a way to apply this in today's world, maybe it's better to think about what kind of world we are trying to create? A hydrogen generator for heating a private house and other natural technologies must be developed and used.

Content

The development of technology has led to the replacement of classic wood stoves with boiler units. As fuel, in addition to firewood and coal, gas, oil, diesel fuel and even electricity began to be used. AT recent times energy for autonomous heating systems is additionally obtained using solar panels and geothermal installations. Considering that hydrogen is an inexhaustible source of energy, you can try to assemble a hydrogen generator with your own hands to obtain environmentally friendly fuel.

DIY hydrogen generator

The principle of operation of the device

A hydrogen generator for heating is considered a promising development, since it is possible to obtain fuel with a high calorific value from ordinary water. The main task is to obtain pure hydrogen in the simplest and cheapest way possible.

Getting hydrogen

Traditionally, the electrolysis method is used for these purposes. Its essence is as follows: metal plates are placed in water, not far from each other, which are connected to a high voltage source. Water conducts electricity, so when electricity is applied, the water molecule breaks into its components. The release of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom from each molecule makes it possible to obtain the so-called Brown gas with the formula HHO.

The calorific value of Brown's gas is 121 MJ/kg. When burning, no substance is formed harmful substances, and in order to use it as an energy carrier for heating a house, it is enough to slightly upgrade a standard gas boiler. However, when creating a do-it-yourself hydrogen production plant Special attention should be given security measures - when hydrogen is combined with oxygen, an explosive mixture is formed.

Generator design

An electrolyser, a plant for generating Brown's gas by electrolyzing water in large volumes, consists of several cells in which metal plate electrodes are mounted. The greater the total surface area of ​​the electrodes, the more powerful the installation.

The cells are in a sealed container, which is equipped with a pipe for connecting to a water source, a pipe for removing the resulting gas, and terminals for connecting the power supply. Also, the generator is equipped with a water seal that prevents the contact of hydrogen with oxygen, and a protective valve to prevent the back-flame effect - the gas burns only in the burner.

Hydrogen heating

Hydrogen heating of the house requires the use of an installation with a large area of ​​electrodes, otherwise the heating boiler will not be able to effectively heat the coolant. It is unprofitable to use a conventional electrolyzer, having increased its dimensions, since more electricity will be spent on hydrogen production than would be spent on the operation of a heating electric boiler to heat a house of the same area.

More efficient plants are being developed to produce hydrogen fuel without unnecessary energy consumption. There is a well-known story of the American inventor Stanley Meyer, who created a "hydrogen cell" that consumes ten times less electricity than traditional installations. However, the scientist failed to make a revolution in modern technologies- he died suddenly from poisoning, and the installation drawings disappeared.

The creation of a hydrogen generator with attempts to realize Meyer's idea is being worked on both in technical laboratories and in workshops of home craftsmen around the world. The invention of an American scientist was to create a resonance of a swinging water molecule with electrical impulses - in this case, it is split into atoms without using high electrical voltage.

Bright prospects

Hydrogen is an extremely promising energy carrier for a number of reasons.:

1. It is available throughout the Universe, on Earth it ranks tenth in terms of prevalence - an energy resource can be called inexhaustible.
2. The gas is non-toxic and cannot harm living organisms. It is only important to take safety measures to prevent leakage with the formation of an "explosive mixture" of hydrogen and oxygen.
3. The combustion product of hydrogen is ordinary water vapour.
4. The energy carrier has a high heat capacity, the combustion temperature is 3000 ° C.
5. When a gas leaks, it will quickly evaporate without causing any harm, since it is 14 times lighter than air. But there should be no open fire or sparking wiring nearby, otherwise the explosive mixture will explode.
6. A cubic meter of hydrogen has a calorific value of 13,000 J.

Hydrogen as an energy carrier - scope

Hydrogen is highly valued as an energy carrier and is actively used, for example, as a fuel for space rockets. Various methods are used to obtain industrial scale. This is mainly the gasification of coal or oil products, the conversion of methane and its homologues. Such cheap hydrogen cannot be considered as an environmentally friendly fuel, since its production is associated with harmful emissions into the atmosphere. Electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen in large volumes is used only in Norway, where there is an abundance of cheap electricity.

The compact electric gas generator has found application in the field of gas cutting. Hydrogen production equipment is more convenient to use compared to bottled gas - no need to transport heavy cylinders, depend on supplies liquefied gas etc. But for the sake of convenience, savings were brought - the electrolytic process requires a lot of electricity, as a result, the cost of the energy carrier increases significantly. At the same time, the difference in the cost of purchased and produced hydrogen is largely compensated by the absence of costs for its delivery.

Hydrogen heating boilers

On many sites dedicated to heating systems, you can find information that hydrogen is a worthy competitor to natural gas as an energy carrier for a heating boiler. The emphasis is on the fact that by installing a hydrogen generator, you get the opportunity to spend on heating not more funds than for gas, while you do not have to draw up a lot of documents and pay serious sums for connecting the house to the central gas network.

Based on the foregoing, it can be concluded in the article that the cost of hydrogen is low only when it is industrial production. That is, obtaining fuel by electrolysis will obviously cost more, and it makes no sense to focus on enticing figures for the cost of a kilogram of liquefied hydrogen.

Consider the boiler equipment on the market. Is engaged in the production of hydrogen boilers Italian company Giacomini, which specializes in the field of alternative energy. Also, similar units are manufactured by some Chinese companies that have successfully copied the technology.

Giacomini's developments are aimed at creating heating equipment which would be completely safe for the environment.

The hydrogen boiler of this company belongs to this category - its work is associated with the release of water vapor, there are no harmful emissions. Hydrogen is used as an energy carrier, and it is produced by electrolysis.

However, it is worth paying special attention to the principle of operation of this boiler. The hydrogen produced in the system is not burned, it reacts with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst. As a result, thermal energy is released, which is sufficient to heat the heating circuit up to 40 ° C.

That is, hydrogen boilers, which are offered to be purchased at a solid price, are only suitable for use as a heat generator for a water floor circuit, baseboard or ceiling heating.

It can be concluded that the global manufacturers of boiler equipment have not found an acceptable technical solution to create an efficient heating boiler capable of using thermal energy combusted hydrogen. Or calculated that such an option is unprofitable.

Making a generator on your own

On the Internet you can find a lot of instructions on how to make a hydrogen generator. It should be noted that it is quite possible to assemble such an installation for a house with your own hands - the design is quite simple.

But what will you do with the resulting hydrogen? Once again, pay attention to the combustion temperature of this fuel in air. It is 2800-3000°C. If we take into account that metals and other solid materials are cut with the help of burning hydrogen, it becomes clear that it will not work to install the burner in a conventional gas, liquid fuel or solid fuel boiler with a water jacket - it will simply burn out.

Craftsmen on the forums advise laying out the firebox from the inside fireclay bricks. But the melting point the best materials of this type does not exceed 1600 ° C, such a firebox will not last long. The second option is the use of a special burner, which is able to lower the temperature of the torch to acceptable values. Thus, until you find such a burner, you should not start mounting a homemade hydrogen generator.

Having solved the issue with the boiler, select the appropriate scheme and instructions on how to make a hydrogen generator for heating a private house.

A homemade device will be effective only if:

• sufficient surface area of ​​plate electrodes;
• correct choice of material for the manufacture of electrodes;
• high quality electrolysis fluid.

What size should be the unit that generates hydrogen in sufficient quantities to heat the house, you will have to determine "by eye" (based on someone else's experience), or by assembling a small installation to begin with. The second option is more practical - it will allow you to understand whether it is worth spending money and time on installing a full-fledged generator.

Rare metals are ideally used as electrodes, but this is too expensive for a home unit. It is recommended to choose stainless steel plates, preferably ferromagnetic.

There are certain requirements for water quality. It should not contain mechanical impurities and heavy metals. The generator works as efficiently as possible on distilled water, but to reduce the cost of construction, you can limit yourself to filters to purify water from unnecessary impurities. In order for the electrical reaction to proceed more intensively, sodium hydroxide is added to the water in the ratio of 1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water.

economic question

Before you begin to understand in detail how to make a hydrogen generator, it is advisable to recall the school physics course. All transformations occur with a loss of energy, that is, the cost of electricity to produce hydrogen will not be compensated by the thermal power when the resulting fuel is burned.

Considering that it is simply impossible to burn hydrogen at the maximum temperature and heat output at home, it becomes clear that real losses will be even higher than those calculated for ideal conditions.

So, using a hydrogen generator made for home heating does not make any sense if you do not have access to free electricity. Installing an electric boiler for home heating and spending electricity directly, without complex transformations, will cost you 2-3 times cheaper. In addition, the electric boiler is completely safe, and the operation of a makeshift installation threatens to explode if the installation and operation rules are not followed.

It is obvious that obtaining cheap hydrogen in an environmentally friendly way, which includes electrolysis, is a matter of the future, which scientists in the advanced countries of the world are working on today.

The time has long passed when the heating of a private country house It was carried out only by burning wood or coal in a furnace. Current heating units use different kinds fuel. But the constant rise in fuel prices forces us to look for cheaper heating options. But literally under our noses lies an inexhaustible source of energy - hydrogen. And in this article we will tell you how ordinary water can be used as a fuel by assembling a hydrogen heating boiler with your own hands.

The design and principle of operation of the hydrogen generator

The use of hydrogen as a fuel for heating a home is a rather tempting idea, because its calorific value is 33.2 kW / m3, while for natural gas it is only 9.3 kW / m3, which is more than 3 times. Theoretically, hydrogen can be extracted from water, in order to burn it later in a boiler, you can use a hydrogen generator to heat a house.

As an energy carrier, nothing can compare with hydrogen, and its reserves are practically endless. As mentioned above, when burned, hydrogen releases a lot of thermal energy, much more than any carbon-containing fuel. Instead of harmful emissions In the atmosphere, which are released when using natural gas, hydrogen, burning, forms ordinary water in the form of steam. There is only one problem, this element does not occur in nature in its pure form, but only in combination with other substances.

One such compound is ordinary water, which is oxidized hydrogen. In order to split it into its constituent elements, many scientists have spent more than one year. And not in vain technical solution on the release of its components from the water, however, was found. This is the so-called chemical reaction of electrolysis, as a result of which water decomposes into oxygen and hydrogen, the resulting mixture was called explosive gas or Brown's gas.

Below you can see a diagram of a hydrogen generator (electrolyzer) that runs on electricity:

The electrolyzers have been put into serial production and are used for gas-flame (welding) operations. A current of a certain frequency and strength is applied to groups of metal plates that are immersed in water. Due to the ongoing electrolysis reaction, oxygen and hydrogen are released mixed with water vapor.

In order to separate gases from steam, everything is passed through a separator, after which it is fed to the burner. To prevent a backlash and explosion, a valve is mounted on the supply, which allows fuel to pass only in one direction.

A home heating hydrogen plant includes the following components: a boiler and pipes with a diameter of 25-32 mm (1-1.25 inches). Pipes can be installed at home with your own hands, but one condition must be met - after each branching, the diameter must decrease.

The diameter is reduced according to the following principle - pipe D32, pipe D25. After branching - D20, and the last pipe D16 is mounted. If this condition is met, the hydrogen burner will work efficiently and efficiently.

In order to monitor the water level and feed the device in a timely manner, the design has a special sensor that gives a command at the right time and water is injected into workspace electrolyzer. In order for the pressure not to jump up to a critical point inside the vessel, the unit is equipped with an emergency switch and relief valve. To maintain the hydrogen generator, you only need to add water from time to time and that's it.

Advantages of hydrogen heating

Hydrogen heating has several serious advantages that affect the prevalence of the system:

1. Environmentally friendly systems. The only by-product that is released into the atmosphere during operation is water in the vapor state. Which in no way harms the environment.
2. Hydrogen in the heating system works without the use of fire. Heat is generated due to the catalytic reaction. When hydrogen combines with oxygen, water is formed. Because of this, there is a large release of heat. The heat flow itself, the temperature of which is about 40 ° C, goes to the heat exchanger. For a warm floor system, this is the ideal temperature regime.
3. Pretty soon, do-it-yourself hydrogen heating will be able to replace traditional systems, thereby freeing humanity from the extraction of other types of fuel - oil, gas, coal and firewood.
4. The minimum service life is 15 years.
5. The efficiency of heating a private house with hydrogen can reach 96%.

Hydrogen extraction is a quite affordable process. All you need is electricity. And when using a heating generator, include a solar battery in the system, then spending on electricity can be minimized. Based on this, we can conclude that this system is the most environmentally friendly and efficient for home heating.

How to assemble a hydrogen generator with your own hands?

Often, a hydrogen-powered boiler is used to heat floors. These systems in our time are found most different power. The power of boilers is very different, ranging from 27W to infinity. You can take one very powerful boiler to heat the whole house at once, or you can take several small ones. They are installed on their own, but how to make a hydrogen generator with your own hands?

Before you start building a fuel cell, you need to have the following tools on hand:

• hacksaw for metal;
• drill with a set of drills;
• set of wrenches;
• flat and slotted screwdrivers;
• angle grinder ("grinder") with a set circle for cutting metal;
• multimeter and flowmeter;
• ruler;
• marker.

Moreover, if you decide to build a PWM generator yourself, then you will need an oscilloscope and a frequency counter to set it up.

In order to manufacture a hydrogen generator for heating a private house, we consider an absolutely “dry” electrolyzer circuit using electrodes made of stainless steel plates.

The instruction below shows the process of constructing a hydrogen generator:

1. Construction of the fuel cell body. The role of the side walls of the frame is played by hardboard or plexiglass plates, cut to the size of the future generator. It is worth noting that the size of the unit directly depends on its performance, but the cost of obtaining NHO will be much higher. For the construction of a fuel cell, the dimensions from 150×150 mm to 250×250 mm are optimal.
2. Holes are drilled in each of the plates for the inlet and outlet fittings for water. In addition, it is necessary to drill in the side wall for gas outlet and four holes in the corners in order to connect the reactor elements to each other.
3. Using a grinder, electrode plates are cut out of a 316L stainless steel sheet. They should be 10-20 mm smaller than the walls. Moreover, in the manufacture of each part, it is necessary to leave a small contact pad in one of the corners. This is necessary in order to connect the negative and positive electrodes in groups before connecting them to the power supply.
4. To obtain the required amount of HHO, the stainless steel must be treated with fine sandpaper on both sides.
5. Two holes are drilled in each plate: with a drill whose diameter should be 6-7 mm - for supplying water into the space between the electrodes and with a diameter of 8-10 mm - for removing Brown's gas. Drilling points are calculated taking into account the installation locations of the respective inlet and outlet pipes.
6. Start assembling the generator. To do this, fittings are installed in the hardboard walls that serve to supply water and take gas. The places of their connections are carefully sealed with automotive or plumbing sealant.
7. After that, one of the transparent body parts is installed on the studs, after which the electrodes are laid. The laying of the electrodes must begin with the O-ring. Please note: the plane of the electrodes must be absolutely flat, otherwise the elements with opposite charges will touch, which will cause a short circuit!
8. Stainless steel plates are separated from the side surfaces of the reactor using sealing rings made of silicone, paronite or other materials. It is important that it is not thicker than 1 mm. Similar parts are used as spacers between the plates. In the process of laying, make sure that the contact pads of opposite electrodes are grouped according to different sides generator.
9. After the last plate is laid, a sealing ring is installed, after which the generator is closed with a second hardboard wall, and the structure itself is connected using nuts and washers. When doing this work, carefully monitor the uniformity of tightening and the absence of distortions between the plates.
10. Using polyethylene hoses, the generator is connected to a water tank and a bubbler.
11. The contact pads of the electrodes are interconnected by any method, after which the power wires are connected to them.
12. The fuel cell is energized by a PWM generator, after which they begin to set up and adjust the apparatus for the maximum HHO gas output.

To get Brown's gas required quantity which will be sufficient for cooking and heating, install several hydrogen generators that operate in parallel.

1. It is strictly forbidden to upgrade such equipment on your own, even if you have a detailed and professional engineering drawing. This can contribute to the likelihood of leakage of the hydrogen mixture from the generator into open space, which is quite dangerous.
2. It is recommended to mount special temperature sensors inside the heat exchanger, this will make it possible to monitor the probable excess of the water heating temperature level.
3. Shut-off valves can be included in the burner design itself, which will be connected directly to the temperature sensor itself. It is also necessary to provide normalized cooling of the boiler.
4. And finally, what needs to be emphasized is safety. It must be remembered that the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen is not in vain called explosive. NO it's dangerous chemical compound which, if not handled carelessly, may cause an explosion. Follow the safety rules and be extremely careful when experimenting with hydrogen.

With proper handling, a hydrogen boiler can last not 15 years, as is usually expected, but 20 or even 30. However, remember that the greater the boiler power, the greater the power consumption!

It is difficult to find such a person who would not seek to reduce the cost of operating modern heating systems. For this purpose, various kinds of economical devices are widely used, radiators with high rates heat dissipation, as well as reliable piping systems. As an alternative category of energy carrier, many consider efficient hydrogen heating at home with their own hands. More and more consumers are considering installing a hydrogen generator to heat a private house.

What is a hydrogen generator?

It is an ideal alternative to heating with conventional natural gas, as the average temperature can reach 3000 degrees. This requires the installation of a special hydrogen-powered heating burner that can withstand such a fairly high temperature without any problems.

A standard hydrogen generator is made up of certain elements. First of all, it is the most efficient hydrogen-powered generator. He processes the mixture by decomposing ordinary water into certain components. Catalysts are often used to optimize this process. There is also a burner pipeline that leads from the generator - they are required to create an open fire. It is important to have a boiler, which plays the role of a heat exchange device in the design. The burner is located in the furnace and through it the main coolant in the system is heated.

When should you install a hydrogen generator?

For each consumer, special performance and properties are of great importance. modern appliance heating. Factory settings, as well as all types of do-it-yourself hydrogen heating boilers, differ from each other in terms of efficiency.

There are several other reliable schemes that help you effectively assemble and install equipment with your own hands. So that the total calculated power does not differ much from the actual one, so that the efficiency indicator is not reduced, the organization of hydrogen quality heating it is worth doing through the use of reliable boilers, as well as strictly factory-made generators.

It is worth installing a generator if the goals associated with significant savings are achieved. Modern heating appliances Such a plan is able to provide the following benefits:

Professionals are well aware that during the operation of a hydrogen generator intended for heating, the gas obtained in equipment of such a plan can be classified as explosive. It is distinguished by the complete absence of an unpleasant odor and color. The gas is completely harmless, its presence cannot be determined even by special devices.

If the generator is purchased in ready-made, you should ask about the presence of a boiler or a special heat exchange device. It must necessarily be calculated for the influence of high temperature conditions.

The large number of advantages inherent in hydrogen heating boilers and generators will increase competition for all traditional heating systems. Many owners of private houses are attracted by the low cost of equipment, as well as high performance.

Hydrogen generator - step by step installation instructions

Per the main basis work modern heating on hydrogen, a technique is taken to release a sufficiently large volume of high-quality thermal energy. This is achieved through the interaction of oxygen and hydrogen molecules. For the most practical use of the device, special industrial versions of high-quality and reliable heating boilers were originally developed. When installing a hydrogen generator, it is mandatory to fulfill the following conditions:

1. Providing connection to the main source of liquid. Often this is standard plumbing communication. The water consumption in this case directly depends on the total power of the device.
2. It is important to provide a quality power supply. To support an efficient electrolysis reaction, you will need to connect the device to a standard electrical network.
3. From time to time, the installed catalyst is replaced. The time of use of each directly depends on the model used, as well as on the power of the boiler.

The heating of the burner is able to reach 3000 degrees, therefore it is worth taking care that materials are used that can withstand such loads. The sequence of actions for arranging equipment is as follows:

• It is necessary to attach a special fitting to the lid of the container taken as the basis, which will then remove the gas - a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen;
• The union joins the heat exchanger and a torch;
• It will be necessary to create a spare storage for the finished gas, since the boiler is not able to work in the same way. In addition, this will ensure optimum safety during operation.

Despite a fairly large number of options for home development and hydrogen generator installations, finding a worthwhile sample is quite difficult. Regardless of the type and category of such an installation, the operation of such a heat exchanger requires constant maintenance of the required level of temperature conditions, as well as pressure in the system. If you follow all the instructions and tips presented to your attention, you can install equipment that will be characterized by high stability rates. This will allow you to use them in a constant mode, providing the house with heat.

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Hydrogen home heating and H2 generators - a good choice or a way to the Land of Fools

Hydrogenium (H2), "generating water" - the most common element of the universe. According to scientists, it accounts for almost 90% of all atoms in the universe. Hydrogen, which provides energy to our Sun in the course of a thermonuclear fusion reaction, can serve as an excellent fuel on Earth. This is the only absolutely harmless, environmentally friendly fuel: when gas is burned, it enters into a chemical reaction with oxygen, and distilled water is the product of combustion. Hydrogenium is an ideal fuel in every respect, which is also perfect for home heating. Moreover, a conventional gas heating boiler can be converted to a hydrogen heating boiler by making only minor changes to its design. One problem: despite the prevalence of hydrogen (we ourselves are half of it), it is almost never found in its pure form on our planet. AT open sale this gas is not available, where can one get enough of it? The Internet gives us a clear and precise answer: buy or assemble a hydrogen generator for home heating.

Pure hydrogen production technologies

There are many technologies for producing hydrogen. We will only mention those that are practical use outside the walls of laboratories:

• Chemical reaction of water with metals. The fuel is water, the reagent is an aluminum-gallium alloy. 150 kg of fuel cells are enough to drive 500 km in a "hydrogen car", then the metal must be removed and sent for recovery, which requires exposure to high temperatures.
• Natural gas conversion, coal gasification, wood pyrolysis. By heating above 1000 ºС, pure hydrogen can be obtained from hydrocarbons for home heating.
• Water electrolysis. High temperature electrolysis is more efficient.
• Production of hydrogen from biomass. The raw material can be manure, hay, grass, algae and other agricultural waste. Biogas can contain from 2 to 12% hydrogen.
• "Junk" hydrogen is obtained from household waste, subjecting them to thermal decomposition.

Home hydrogen generators

As can be seen from the previous section, most technological processes for the industrial production of hydrogen are associated with exposure to high temperatures, which is problematic at home. Consider hydrogen heating installations available in the private sector:

Hydrogen from manure

Biogas plants, of which there are many Western Europe are beginning to appear among domestic farmers. Handicraft biogas reactors, which “crazy hands” talk about on the Internet, do not differ in either performance or generation stability. Only rather complex and expensive installations are effective, provided that raw materials are supplied to them steadily. This is unrealistic to implement in a small private courtyard, but it is possible in a strong farming. Hydrogen is only a by-product of biogas production and is usually not separated by burning with methane. But if necessary, H2 can be separated.

circuit diagram biogas plant. In order for the process of generating combustible gases to be intensive, the raw materials are fermented and periodically mixed.

Hydrogen from water

An electrolysis hydrogen plant for home heating is the only solution currently available for a private home. The electrolyser is compact, easy to maintain, it can be installed in small room. Raw materials for fuel production - tap water. There are a number of well-known manufacturers that offer similar home hydrogen generators for home heating and car refueling. For example, since 2003, Honda has been producing the Home Energy Station, today the third generation is already on sale. HES III is equipped with solar panels, can be installed in the garage or on the street.

Home Energy Station is a very expensive plant capable of producing up to 2 m2 of hydrogen per hour from natural gas or water electrolysis. The station consists of a reformer, fuel cells, purification system, compressor and gas storage tank. Electricity can come from the grid or be generated by solar panels

In addition to the "branded" equipment, which, by the way, no one officially supplies to the CIS countries, today H2 generators produced by our friends in the Celestial Empire or Tajik colleagues in domestic garages are widely advertised. The level of quality and performance are different, from none to conditionally acceptable. The sellers of such equipment, unlike the more or less honest Japanese, who do not promise manna from heaven, use "dirty" advertising technologies, frankly deceiving potential buyers about the characteristics of their equipment, which is sold at inflated prices.

Semi-handicraft plant for the production of hydrogen

Do-it-yourself hydrogen heating, which provides for independent production electrolyzer. This is possible and not even very difficult if the home master knows the basics of electrical engineering and his hands grow from where they should be. How effective and safe is a separate question.

Another issue is that getting fuel is only part of the task. It is necessary to ensure its generation in the required volumes, to separate it from oxygen and water vapor, to create a reserve, to ensure a constant pressure when supplied to the heat generator.

Schematic diagram of a complete installation for hydrogen production. As you can see, one "cone with electrodes" is not enough here, we need reservoirs, a condenser, a compressor. If you calculate the cost of all equipment, it turns out to be expensive.

How much is a kilogram of hydrogen

The average cost of 1 kg of hydrogen, depending on the technology of its production, according to the INEEL laboratory, is as follows:

• Chemical reaction - 700 rubles with the standard method of reducing the reagent and 320 - with the use of nuclear power.
• Electrolysis from an industrial network - 420 rubles. The data are valid for "proprietary", balanced electrolyzers. A handicraft product has obviously lower indicators.
• Production from biomass - 350 rubles.
• Conversion of hydrocarbons - 200 rubles.
• High-temperature electrolysis at nuclear power plants - 130 rubles.

These figures show that the cheapest way to produce hydrogen is at nuclear power plants, where an important resource is heat, is a by-product of the main production. Hydrogen energy from renewable sources also does not pay for itself due to the high cost of equipment. But what about hydrogen heating at home based on a compact installation? You need to understand that the law of conservation of energy cannot be bypassed. In order to isolate H2 in the electrolyzer, you will have to spend a certain amount electrical energy. To get it, fossil fuels were burned at the thermal power plant or the energy was generated by the hydroelectric power station. The electricity was then transferred through wires. At all stages of the process, inevitable losses occur and the amount of potential thermal energy received at the end will be a priori lower than at the beginning.

Is it profitable to heat a house with hydrogen

Sellers of compact hydrogen generators convince buyers of the extraordinary cheapness of heating a house with hydrogen. Allegedly, it is even more profitable than heating with gas. They say that the water that is poured into the installation costs nothing, they are silent about the rest of the costs. Such promises have a magical effect on some of our fellow citizens who love freebies. But let's not be like Pinocchio and, before stepping into the Land of Fools, let's find out how much hydrogen heating at home actually costs.

The average selling price of natural gas for the population for heating needs and for power generation is 4.76 rubles/m3. 1 m3 contains 0.712 kg. Accordingly, 1 kg of natural gas costs 6.68 rubles. The average calorific value of natural gas is 50,000 kJ/kg. Hydrogen is much higher, 140,000 kJ/kg. That is, in order to obtain an amount of thermal energy equal to that generated by the combustion of 1 kg of hydrogen, 2.8 kg of natural gas will be required. Its cost is 13.32 rubles. Now let's compare the cost of thermal energy obtained from the combustion of 1 kg of hydrogen obtained in a good factory electrolyzer and from 2.8 kg of natural gas: 420 rubles against 13.32. The difference is truly monstrous, 31.5 times! Even compared to the most expensive traditional species heating - electric, hydrogen cannot even compete close, it costs 4 times more! The electricity that will be spent on the operation of the electrolyzer is best used for the operation of heating electrical appliances, it will be more useless than an example.

As for the prospects for hydrogen energy, they are, but success is associated with promising industrial technologies that have not yet been invented. Household hydrogen generators and hydrogen cars are clearly unprofitable for at least the coming decades. Their very limited use in some countries is possible only thanks to serious government subsidies in the framework of experimental environmental programs.

Memento mori - a few words about safety

Hydrogen is a flammable explosive gas. At the same time, it is odorless, it is impossible to determine its leakage without special equipment. handling so dangerous view fuel requires special measures security. It is necessary to periodically check the tightness of pipelines, storage tanks, serviceability of valves. The h3 generator is not as simple a device as it may seem from short videos. This is a potential bomb that could blow your house apart. Converting a gas heating boiler to a hydrogen heating boiler with your own hands is also dangerous.

A home-made hydrogen heating boiler, somehow converted from an old wood-burning one and a hydrogen generator for heating a house, assembled on the knee and unsafe. The authors of the video talk about the extraordinary efficiency of the installation, without naming any numbers and offering to order a similar one at a reasonable price from them.

Debunking the myths about the efficiency of hydrogen boilers

If the economic calculations did not convince you, and you still decide to experiment with the topic of hydrogen heating at a loss, we strongly recommend that you do not engage in amateur activities, but invite specialists with experience in this field of activity. By the way, there are very few of them in our country.

teploguru.ru

How to make a hydrogen generator at home

The rise in energy prices stimulates the search for more efficient and cheaper types of fuel, including at the household level. Most of all craftsmen - enthusiasts are attracted by hydrogen, whose calorific value is three times higher than methane (38.8 kW versus 13.8 per 1 kg of substance). The method of extraction at home, it would seem, is known - the splitting of water by electrolysis. In reality, the problem is much more complex. Our article has 2 goals:

• disassemble the question of how to make a hydrogen generator with minimal cost;
• consider the possibility of using the installation for heating a private house, refueling a car and as a welding machine.

Brief theoretical part

Hydrogen, also known as hydrogen, - the first element of the periodic table - is the lightest gaseous substance with high chemical activity. During oxidation (that is, combustion), it releases a huge amount of heat, forming ordinary water. We characterize the properties of the element, arranging them in the form of theses:

For reference. The scientists who first separated the water molecule into hydrogen and oxygen called the mixture explosive gas because of its propensity to explode. Subsequently, it was called Brown's gas (after the name of the inventor) and began to be denoted by the hypothetical formula HNO.

From the foregoing, the following conclusion suggests itself: 2 hydrogen atoms easily combine with 1 oxygen atom, but they part very reluctantly. The chemical oxidation reaction proceeds with the direct release of thermal energy in accordance with the formula:

2h3 + O2 → 2h3O + Q (energy)

Here lies an important point that will be useful to us in further debriefing: hydrogen reacts spontaneously from ignition, and heat is released directly. To separate a water molecule, energy will have to be expended:

2h3O → 2h3 + O2 - Q

This is a formula for an electrolytic reaction that characterizes the process of splitting water by supplying electricity. How to implement this in practice and make a hydrogen generator with your own hands, we will consider further.

Creation of a prototype

In order for you to understand what you are dealing with, to begin with, we propose to assemble the simplest generator for the production of hydrogen at minimal cost. The design of a home-made installation is shown in the diagram.

What does a primitive electrolyzer consist of:

• reactor - a glass or plastic container with thick walls;
• metal electrodes immersed in a reactor with water and connected to a power source;
• the second tank plays the role of a water seal;
• tubes for HHO gas outlet.

An important point. The electrolytic hydrogen plant operates only on direct current. Therefore, use a wall adapter, car charger or battery as a power source. The alternator will not work.

The principle of operation of the electrolyzer is as follows:

To make the generator design shown in the diagram with your own hands, you will need 2 glass bottles with wide necks and lids, a medical dropper and 2 dozen self-tapping screws. A complete set of materials is shown in the photo.

From special tools would need glue gun for sealing plastic caps. The manufacturing process is simple:

To start the hydrogen generator, pour salted water into the reactor and turn on the power source. The beginning of the reaction will be marked by the appearance of gas bubbles in both containers. Adjust the voltage to the optimum value and ignite Brown's gas coming out of the dropper needle.

Second important point. Too much high voltage it is impossible to apply - the electrolyte, heated to 65 ° C or more, will begin to evaporate intensively. Due to the large amount of water vapor, it will not be possible to ignite the burner. For details on assembling and launching an impromptu hydrogen generator, see the video:

About Meyer's hydrogen cell

If you have made and tested the above construction, then by the burning of the flame at the end of the needle you have probably noticed that the performance of the installation is extremely low. To get more explosive gas, you need to make a more serious device called the Stanley Meyer cell in honor of the inventor.

The principle of operation of the cell is also based on electrolysis, only the anode and cathode are made in the form of tubes inserted one into the other. Voltage is supplied from the pulse generator through two resonant coils, which reduces the current consumption and increases the performance of the hydrogen generator. The electronic circuit of the device is shown in the figure:

Note. Details about the operation of the scheme are described on the resource https://www.meanders.ru/meiers8.shtml.

To make a Meyer cell, you will need:

• a cylindrical body made of plastic or plexiglass, craftsmen often use a water filter with a lid and nozzles;
• stainless steel tubes with a diameter of 15 and 20 mm, 97 mm long;
• wires, insulators.

Stainless tubes are attached to the dielectric base, wires connected to the generator are soldered to them. The cell consists of 9 or 11 tubes placed in a plastic or plexiglass case, as shown in the photo.

The elements are connected according to the scheme known on the Internet, which includes an electronic unit, a Meyer cell and a water seal (the technical name is a bubbler). For safety reasons, the system is equipped with critical pressure and water level sensors. According to home craftsmen, such a hydrogen installation consumes a current of the order of 1 ampere at a voltage of 12 V and has sufficient performance, although exact numbers missing.

plate reactor

A high performance hydrogen generator capable of running gas burner, made of stainless steel plates measuring 15 x 10 cm, quantity - from 30 to 70 pcs. Holes are drilled in them for tightening studs, and a terminal is cut in the corner for connecting the wire.

In addition to sheet stainless steel grade 316, you will need to buy:

• 4 mm rubber, resistant to alkali;
• end plates made of plexiglass or textolite;
• tie rods M10-14;
• check valve for a gas welding machine;
• water filter for water seal;
• connecting pipes made of corrugated stainless steel;
• potassium hydroxide powder.

The plates must be assembled into a single block, insulated from each other with rubber gaskets with a cut out middle, as shown in the drawing. Pull the resulting reactor tightly with pins and connect it to the nozzles with electrolyte. The latter comes from a separate container, equipped with a lid and valves.

Note. We tell you how to make a flow-through (dry) type electrolyzer. It is easier to make a reactor with immersed plates - rubber gaskets it is not necessary to install, and the assembled block is lowered into a sealed container with electrolyte.

The subsequent assembly of the generator producing hydrogen is carried out according to the same scheme, but with differences:

1. A tank for electrolyte preparation is attached to the body of the apparatus. The latter is a 7-15% solution of potassium hydroxide in water.
2. Instead of water, the so-called deoxidizer is poured into the "bubbler" - acetone or an inorganic solvent.
3. A check valve must be placed in front of the burner, otherwise, when the hydrogen burner is smoothly turned off, the reverse blow will break the hoses and the bubbler.

To power the reactor, it is easiest to use a welding inverter; electronic circuits do not need to be assembled. How Brown's homemade gas generator works, the home master will tell in his video:

Is it profitable to get hydrogen at home

Answer to this question depends on the scope of the oxygen-hydrogen mixture. All drawings and diagrams published by various Internet resources are calculated for the release of HHO gas for the following purposes:

• use hydrogen as a fuel for cars;
• smokeless combustion of hydrogen in heating boilers and furnaces;
• be used for gas welding.

The main problem that crosses out all the advantages of hydrogen fuel: the cost of electricity for the release of a pure substance exceeds the amount of energy obtained from its combustion. Whatever adherents of utopian theories claim, the maximum efficiency of the electrolyzer reaches 50%. This means that for 1 kW of heat received, 2 kW of electricity is consumed. The benefit is zero, even negative.

Recall what we wrote in the first section. Hydrogen is a very active element and reacts with oxygen on its own, releasing a lot of heat. In trying to split a stable water molecule, we cannot apply energy directly to the atoms. The splitting is carried out by electricity, half of which is dissipated in the heating of electrodes, water, transformer windings, and so on.

Important reference Information. Specific heat combustion of hydrogen is three times higher than that of methane, but in terms of mass. If we compare them by volume, then when burning 1 m³ of hydrogen, only 3.6 kW of thermal energy will be released compared to 11 kW for methane. After all, hydrogen is the lightest chemical element.

Now consider the explosive gas obtained by electrolysis in a homemade hydrogen generator as a fuel for the above needs:

For reference. To burn hydrogen in heating boiler, the design will have to be thoroughly reworked, since a hydrogen burner is capable of melting any steel.

Conclusion

Hydrogen in the composition of HHO gas obtained from homemade generator, useful for two purposes: experiments and gas welding. Even if we discard the low efficiency of the cell and the cost of assembling it, along with the electricity consumed, there is simply not enough performance to heat the building. This also applies to gasoline engines. passenger car.

ovent.com

We make a hydrogen generator for heating the house with our own hands. Press!

A hydrogen generator (electrolyzer) is a device that works for the light of two processes: physical and chemical.

During operation, under the influence of electric current, water decomposes into oxygen and hydrogen. This process is called electrolysis. The electrolyser is quite popular among the most famous types of hydrogen generators.

How the device works

The electrolyzer consists of several metal plates immersed in a sealed container with distilled water.

The case itself has terminals to connect the power source and there is a sleeve through which gas is discharged.

The operation of the device can be described as follows: an electric current is passed through distilled water between plates with different fields (one has an anode, the other has a cathode), splits it into oxygen and hydrogen.

Depending on the area of ​​the plates, the electric current has its strength, if the area is large, then a lot of current passes through the water and more gas is released. The plate connection scheme is alternate, first plus, then minus, and so on.

Electrodes are recommended to be made of stainless steel, which does not react with water during electrolysis. The main thing is to find high quality stainless steel. It is better to make the distance between the electrodes small, but so that the gas bubbles move easily between them. Fasteners are best made from the appropriate metal as the electrodes.

Please note: due to the fact that the manufacturing technology is associated with gas, in order to avoid the formation of a spark, it is necessary to make a snug fit of all parts.

In the considered embodiment, the device includes 16 plates, they are located from each other within 1 mm.

Due to the fact that the plates have a fairly large surface area and thickness, it will be possible to pass high currents through such a device, but the metal will not heat up. If you measure the capacitance of the electrodes in air, then it will be 1nF, this set uses up to 25A in plain water from the tap.

To collect a hydrogen generator with your own hands, you can use a food container, since its plastic is heat-resistant. Then you need to lower the electrodes into the container to collect the gas with hermetically insulated connectors, a lid and other connections.

If you use a metal container, then in order to avoid a short circuit, the electrodes are attached to the plastic. On both sides of the copper and brass fittings, two connectors are installed (fitting - mount, assemble) to extract the gas. Contact connectors and fittings must be firmly fixed using silicone sealant.

Compliance with security measures

The electrolyser is a device of increased danger.

Therefore, during its manufacture, installation and operation, it is imperative to comply with both general and special safety measures.

Special measures include the following items:

• the concentration of the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen should be controlled in order to prevent an explosion;
• if the liquid level is not visible in the viewing window of the hydrogen generator, then it cannot be used;
• during the repair, you need to make sure that there is no hydrogen at the end point of the system;
• the use of open flames, electric heaters and portable lamps with a voltage of more than 12 volts near the electrolyzer is contraindicated;
• while working with electrolyte, you should protect yourself by using protective equipment (overalls, gloves and goggles).

Skilled craftsmen believe that making homemade hydrogen generators for cars at home is a risky business.

They explain this by the fact that the electrolyzer for cars has a complex and unsafe system of devices.

It is necessary to engage in the manufacture of such units using special materials and reagents.

Please note: in the case of self-installation of an electrolyzer that was made by oneself, it is recommended to strictly exclude the possibility that gas enters the combustion chamber with the engine turned off. When the engine is turned off, the hydrogen generator must be automatically disconnected from the vehicle's electrical power supply.

If you nevertheless decide to make an automobile hydrolyzer on your own, then you should definitely equip it with a bubbler - this is a special water valve. When using it, the safety of driving a car will increase significantly.

Heating the house with Brown's gas

Scheme of the hydrogen generator. (Click to enlarge)

Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element so it is economical to use it.

For many owners of houses and summer cottages, the question often arises of how to get “clean” and cheap energy for household needs. The answer can be found in innovations such as a water generator for home heating.

Scientists, thanks to their developments, have allowed many to use such a device to produce gas. The plant is capable of generating hydrogen (Brown's gas) and this gas will be used to generate energy.

Can you imagine this connection? chemical formula, like hho. This gas can be obtained from water using the electrolysis method. There are many examples in life when people want to heat their homes with oxyhydrogen. But in order for this type of fuel to gain popularity, you must first learn how to get it (Brown's gas) at home.

So far, there is no technology for hydrogen heating of a private house that would be sufficiently reliable.

Watch the video in which an experienced user explains how to make a hydrogen generator with his own hands:

We are accustomed to consider the most accessible view fuel natural gas. But it turns out that it has a worthy alternative - hydrogen, obtained by splitting water. We receive the initial substance for the production of this fuel free of charge. And if you also make a hydrogen generator with your own hands, the savings will be simply amazing. So right?

For those wishing to build a generator of cheap, but very productive fuel with their own hands, we offer detailed instructions. Here are some tips for proper use. As informative additions that clearly explain the principle of operation, photo applications and videos are used.

In chemistry class high school once explanations were given on how to get hydrogen from ordinary tap water. There is a concept in the chemical field - electrolysis. It is thanks to electrolysis that it is possible to obtain hydrogen.

The simplest hydrogen plant is a kind of container filled with water. Two plate electrodes are placed under the water layer. Electricity is supplied to them. Since water is an excellent conductor electric current, a contact with low resistance is established between the plates.

The current passing through a small water resistance contributes to the formation of a chemical reaction, as a result of which hydrogen is formed.

Scheme of an experimental hydrogen plant, which in the past was studied in the high school curriculum at chemistry lessons. As it turns out, those lessons were not superfluous for the practice of modern everyday needs.

It would seem that everything is simple and there is very little left - to collect the resulting hydrogen in order to use it as an energy source. But chemistry is never complete without subtle details.

So here: if hydrogen combines with oxygen, an explosive mixture is formed at a certain concentration. This moment is one of the critical phenomena that limit the possibilities of building sufficiently powerful home stations.

Hydrogen generator design

To build do-it-yourself hydrogen generators, they usually take the classic Brown installation scheme as the basis. Such an electrolyzer of medium power consists of a group of cells, each of which contains a group of plate electrodes. The power of the installation is determined by the total surface area of ​​the plate electrodes.

The cells are placed inside a container well insulated from external environment. Branch pipes for connecting a water line, hydrogen output, as well as a contact panel for connecting electricity are displayed on the tank body.

We also develop and manufacture installations for operation as part of condominiums. These are already more powerful structures (5-7 kW), the purpose of which is not only the energy of heating systems, but also the generation of electricity. Such combined option rapidly gaining popularity in Western countries and in Japan.

Combined hydrogen generators are characterized as systems with high efficiency and little carbon dioxide emissions.

An example of a really operating industrially manufactured station with a power of up to 5 kW. In the future, similar installations are planned to be made for equipping cottages and condominiums.

Russian industry has also begun to engage in this promising type of fuel production. In particular, Norilsk Nickel is mastering technologies for the production of hydrogen plants, including household ones.

It is planned to use a variety of types of fuel cells in the development and production process:

• proton-exchange membrane;
• phosphoric acid;
• proton-exchange methanol;
• alkaline;
• solid oxide.

Meanwhile, the electrolysis process is reversible. This fact suggests that it is possible to obtain already heated water without burning hydrogen.

It seems that this is another idea, seizing on which you can start a new round of passions associated with the free extraction of fuel for a home boiler.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Experimenting at home with homemade models, you need to prepare for the most unexpected results, but a negative experience is also an experience:

Do-it-yourself hydrogen generators for the home are still a project that exists at the level of one idea. Practically completed projects there are no do-it-yourself hydrogen generators, and those that are positioned on the network are the imaginations of their authors or purely theoretical options.

So it remains only to rely on an expensive industrial product that promises to appear in the near future.