Have seen the story about inventor in Florida and
have read about brown water. Do these systems work or not.
2006-06-28 08:26:50 · 4 answers · asked by ETB 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
It takes more energy to make hydrogen from water than what you will get back burning it in a car (or anywhere else). So while hydrogen may be a clean fuel, it won't be very practical until the overall cost of energy drops.
It's also hard to store a useful amount. Storing enough hydrogen to run a typical car for 300 miles would require a pressurized tank that is much larger than the gas tank in a car. What happens when the car is in a collision and the tank ruptures? Any little spark, and the car starts looking like the Hindenburg.
2006-06-28 08:33:53 · answer #1 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The MythBusters program, on the Discovery Channel aired a segment on the various gas saving, or gas repalcement diveces available through the internet. None of them saved any gas, and, in face, most made the gas mileage worse. If you watch the program, you know these guys really WANT to prove the myths and do whatever they can to make it work.
They did try the one that claimed you could use water to fuel a car. The device, (large and cumbersome) was designed to use electrolysis to separate the water into oxygen and hydrogen.
It did start the separation process, but was only able to produce a minute amout of hydrogen. It could not even produce enough to start the car, much less drive it anywhere. Honestly, I built devices in junior high school that produce almost as much hydrogen on a countertop.
Most of these are a scam, designed to separate money from your wallet. For this function, they work very well.
2006-06-28 08:43:02 · answer #2 · answered by Vince M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mythbusters did a great show on fuel economy myths. The bottom line? It'd be almost impossible for a homemade hydgrogen cell to produce enough fuel to power a car and, even if it could, you still run the risk of explosion.
2006-06-28 08:41:15 · answer #3 · answered by Cale 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hydrogen fuel works because of this equation.
H2 is the fuel, O2 is added when anything involves combustion.
H2 + O2 --> H2O
then balance the equation
2H2 + O2 --> 2H2O
(reactants) (result)
In the proportions of 2 parts H2 and one part O2, the emission result is 2 water molecules.
2006-06-28 08:38:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋