Hydrogen Generators

The question of finding a means to reduce fuel consumption, decrease emissions and boost savings is one that all drivers have experienced recently.

 
The sheer number of "miracle" cures for fuel consumption is staggering. You'll find fuel vortex devices on the market and even "special" magnets that are supposed to boost fuel economy.

However, few of these devices work in the way described. Hydrogen generators have been around for several hundred years and they seem to offer benefits for the price-weary consumer.

These devices promise to reduce the amount of fuel your vehicle consumes while driving and even promise to reduce emissions. Do they work?

• How do hydrogen generators operate?
  The simplest method of operation for hydrogen generators is to use electrolysis. Several types of hydrogen sources can be used, including water. 
   
  In general principle, you simply must pass an electric current through the water or other medium, via two electrodes. The electric current causes water molecules to break down into hydrogen (H2) and water (O). The hydrogen thus produced can be harnessed and sent to the fuel injector or manifold. Once there, the hydrogen reduces the amount of fuel being sprayed into the engine, thus reducing the amount used by the vehicle during operation. 
   
  Because hydrogen is a clean burning fuel, the emissions are reduced significantly. Does this actually work?  
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  Are hydrogen generators actually a worthwhile investment?  
   
  That question is difficult to answer with surety. The problem lies with the efficiency of the generator system. 

Most hydrogen generators are less than 100% efficient, meaning that they actually require more energy input than they put out through hydrogen production.

Some hydrogen generators come closer to 100% efficiency than do others, but all types suffer from this problem. Because there is more energy put into the system, you actually increase fuel consumption in many cases due to increased strain on the engine.

The electric current passed through the source medium usually comes from the alternator, which produces electricity through mechanical motion (spinning). The spinning motion comes from the turning of the engine, which requires fuel.

Of course, there are other ways to get the hydrogen needed. One of the most promising is from using algae. When algae are deprived of sulfur in their growth environment, it begins producing hydrogen, rather than oxygen.

This type of system can be implemented in storage tanks, with the hydrogen gas being siphoned off and stored for consumption. These hydrogen generators are also closely related to those that utilize bacteria to produce hydrogen; however, neither type has been developed for use on automobiles.

In theory, these devices could be used in a home to produce hydrogen, though the problem of transferring the hydrogen to a storage tank on the automobile remains perplexing. 

However, hydrogen generators are becoming more efficient all the time.

With the promise of this alternative fuel source, hydrogen generators could soon become a fact of life for many consumers and help to reduce the rate of global warming, reduce the need for fossil fuels and much more.