From standard conversion charts, 1 Kg of hydrogen has very nearly the
same fuel value as one gallon of gasoline (1.04 gal). For most valved
gasoline engines, fuel consumption is about 1/2 pound per horsepower per
hour. So, to run the electrolysis cell for one hour, even with better
engine fuel efficiencies than at idle, the total amount of gasoline used
would be about 1.25 pounds, or about 0.2 gallons of gasoline. In return,
the electrolysis cell has produced (3.6 x 10^3) x (1 x 10^(-3) ) grams
of H2, or 3.6 grams of H2, or about 0.0036 Kg of hydrogen gas, for a net
conversion efficiency of (1.04 x 0.0036) / 0.2 = 1.9%.
This means that one is expending 50 times the fuel energy in gasoline
that one receives in output of hydrogen. The reasons for this are
fairly obvious--gasoline fuel must be burned to form combustion gases
and to heat the inlet air. Then there are mechanical losses in the
engine in turning the crankshaft. Then there are mechanical and
electrical losses in the production of electricity to run the
electrolysis cell. Then there are the fixed characteristics of the cell
itself in terms of how much gas can be produced for a given voltage and
current.
Cheers.
--
Michael Porter
Roswell, NM
Never let anyone drive you crazy when you know it's within walking distance....
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