Scheme of a hydrogen generator for heating. DIY hydrogen burner

For heating a private house use different ways. They differ from each other both in the method of heat transfer and in the type of energy carrier used. When using water heating, several types of boilers are distinguished depending on the type of fuel:

Hydrogen generator for heating a private house

1. Solid fuel - used for work solid fuel which releases heat when burned.
2. Electric - in such boilers, heat is obtained by converting electricity.
3. Gas - heat is released during the combustion of gas.

If we consider gas boilers, then they mainly run on natural gas, although there are models for liquefied gas, and in recent times hydrogen is being used as a fuel, produced from water in special devices - hydrogen generators.

Principle of operation

From the school course of physics it is known that water, when exposed to it electric current decomposes into two components: hydrogen and oxygen. Based on this phenomenon, a so-called hydrogen generator was built. This device is a unit in which an electrochemical reaction takes place to produce hydrogen and oxygen from water. The water electrolysis process is shown in the figure below.

At the output of the generator, it is not pure hydrogen and oxygen that is formed, but the so-called Brown gas, named after the scientist who first received it. It is also called "explosive gas", as it is explosive under certain conditions. Moreover, by burning this gas, you can get almost four times more energy than was spent on its production.

Such a plant for the production of hydrogen is shown in the figure below.

Pros and cons

The advantages of this type of heating are as follows:

1. This is an environmentally friendly type of heating, since when hydrogen is burned in an oxygen environment, water is formed in the form of steam, and there is no more emission of any harmful substances in atmosphere.
2. It is possible to connect the generator to the existing system water heating of a private house.
3. The installation works silently, so it does not require any special room.

Flaws:

1. Hydrogen has a high combustion temperature, which in an oxygen environment can reach 3200 ° C, so a conventional boiler can fail very quickly. AT modern devices scientists have achieved the result of gas combustion at a temperature of 300 ° C, so the problem can be considered practically solved.
2. When working with Brown's gas, you need to be very careful, because it is explosive. This is solved by using various safety valves and automation.
3. Requires the use of distilled water or alkaline water for operation.
4. High cost of equipment. To solve this problem, many are trying to assemble a plant for producing hydrogen with their own hands.

DIY hydrogen generator

The self-made device is schematically a container with water, where electrodes are placed to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen.

In order to make such a device with your own hands, you will need:

1. A sheet of stainless steel with a thickness of 0.5-0.7 mm. Suitable stainless steel brand 12X18H10T.
2. Plexiglas plates.
3. Rubber tubes for water supply and gas removal.
4. Sheet petrol-oil-resistant rubber 3 mm thick.
5. Voltage source - LATR with a diode bridge to obtain direct current. It should provide a current of 5-8 amperes.

First, stainless steel plates are cut into rectangles 200x200mm. The corners on the plates must be cut off in order to then tighten the entire structure with bolts. In each plate we drill a hole with a diameter of 5 mm, at a distance of 3 cm from the bottom of the plates, for water circulation. Also, a wire is soldered to each plate for connection to a power source.

Before assembly, rubber rings are made with an outer diameter of 200 mm and an inner diameter of 190 mm. You also need to prepare two Plexiglas plates 2 cm thick and 200 × 200 mm in size, while you must first make holes in them on four sides for the M8 tightening bolts.

The assembly starts like this: first they put the first plate, then the rubber ring, smeared on both sides with sealant, then the next plate and so on until the last plate. After that, it is necessary to tighten the entire structure from both sides with the help of M8 studs and Plexiglas plates. Holes are drilled in the plates: in one - at the bottom for supplying liquid, in the other - at the top for venting gas. A plug is inserted there. Medical polyvinyl chloride tubes are put on these fittings. The result should be a design, as in the figure below.

In order to prevent gas from getting back into the gas generator, it is necessary to make a water seal on the way from the generator to the burner, or even better, two locks.

The design of the gate is a container with water, into which the tube is lowered into the water from the side of the generator, and the tube that goes to the burner is above the water level. The diagram of a hydrogen generator with gates is shown in the figure below.

In the electrolyzer - a sealed container with water with lowered electrodes, when voltage is applied, gas begins to be released. Through tube 1, it is fed to gate 1. The design of the water seal is arranged in such a way, as can be seen from the figure, that the gas can only move in the direction from the electrolyzer to the burner, and not vice versa. This is hindered different density water to be overcome on the way back. Further along the tube 2, the gas moves to the 2nd shutter, which is designed for greater reliability of the system: if suddenly for some reason the first shutter does not work. After that, gas is supplied to the burner using tube 3. Water locks are very important part devices, because they prevent the movement of gas in the opposite direction.

If the gas gets back into the electrolyzer, the device may explode. Therefore, under no circumstances should the device be operated without water seals!

Exploitation

After assembly, you can start testing the device. To do this, a burner from a medical needle is installed at the end of the tube and water is started to be poured. Add KOH or NaOH to water. Water should be distilled or melted as a last resort. A 10% concentration of an alkaline solution is sufficient for the operation of the device. When pouring water, there should be no smudges. It is best to blow the structure with air, pressure up to 1 atm, before pouring. If the hydrogen generator can withstand this pressure, then you can fill in water, if not, you need to eliminate leaks.

After that, LATR with a diode bridge is connected to the electrodes according to the scheme. An ammeter and a voltmeter are installed in the circuit to monitor operation. Start with a minimum voltage and then constantly increase, observing the gas evolution.

Preliminary work is best done outdoors outside the home. Since the installation is explosive, all work should be carried out with extreme caution.

During testing, monitor the operation of the device. If there is a small burner flame, then there may be either low gas production in the generator, or there may be a gas leak somewhere. If the solution is cloudy, dirty, it must be replaced. It is also necessary to ensure that the device does not overheat, and the water does not boil. To do this, regulate the voltage at the current source. And one more thing - when heated, the plates are slightly deformed and can stick one to one. To eliminate this, you need to make rubber gaskets. Water spitting may also be observed - to eliminate this, you need to reduce the water level.

Generator in the heating system

After the tests have been carried out, you can connect the installation to gas boiler at home. To do this, the boiler needs to be slightly redone, namely, with your own hands, make a jet with a hole of a smaller diameter than the factory one, designed for natural gas. The assembled generator is shown in the figure below.

Water must be filled into the heating system of a private house. The flame of the burner can melt the cauldron if there is no water there.

After that, they regulate the water supply to the device and begin to eliminate plugs in the heating system of the house. Then, by adjusting the water supply and supply voltage, the operation of the boiler is adjusted.

During operation of the plant for heating season conduct a final test, during which several questions are solved:

1. Is there enough gas to heat the house? If it is not enough, then you can do the installation of greater productivity with your own hands.
2. How well a hydrogen boiler works, that is, how long the boiler will last.
3. The cost of such heating - for this you can start a log in which to keep calculations of heating costs and temperatures in the house and on the street during the operation of the boiler. Based on these data, it can then be concluded how profitable it is to heat a house with hydrogen.

Based on these data, it is possible to prepare more thoroughly for the next heating season. During operation, you can see what needs to be improved, maybe some part of the device needs to be redone. Perhaps the boiler itself needs to be reworked and modernized so that it does not quickly fail. Also, if you plan to use the device in the future, maybe it makes sense to purchase a water distiller?

Video about the generator

How to make a hydrogen generator with your own hands without electricity, you can learn from this video.

The main question that interests many is how expensive or cheap is such heating? You can find out if you keep statistics during the heating season. Moreover, it is necessary to beat all the costs, such as the cost of distilled water, the cost of alkali, the cost of electricity, the repair of the boiler and the manufacture of the installation. Based on this, you can decide whether this type of heating is suitable for the house or not.

In contact with

Many owners of private houses are interested in a cheap and clean way to heat a room. Hydrogen heating is one of the possible solutions. Such technology could be worthy alternative 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 common Chemical substance on our planet. A colorless, toxin-free gas present in almost all compounds. Substance endowed unique properties. in 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 natural gas. Average combustion temperature can be equal to 3000 degrees Celsius. To withstand such high rate, 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 the chemical reaction. The pipeline from the generator and the burner will be needed to create a flame. As heat exchange device you can use an ordinary boiler. 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. In financial terms, similar 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 practical use reactions when combining hydrogen with oxygen were 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 of a high-quality installation is the Star 1000 hydrogen generator for heating a private house.

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 of the fuel mixture are possible in home-made units. 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 working on hydrogen. The supply of fuel is endless. To refuel such a boiler, you need plain water. A minimum amount of electricity of 0.3 kWh is sufficient for normal operation devices with a power of 27 kW. carbon monoxide that cause harm to 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 on 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 homemade unit always needs to 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.

Installations do not require additional devices for removal Heat generation occurs as a result of a chemical reaction. Enters the piping system hot steam. Such heating systems are best used for heating ceilings, skirting systems and floors in the room.

What pipes are needed?

Prospects for hydrogen energy

Are being developed operating methods a significant reduction in 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 does not really matter. 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 today mass production. 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 it in modern 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.

The use of hydrogen as an energy source for heating a house is a very tempting idea, because its calorific value (33.2 kW / m3) is more than 3 times higher than that of natural gas (9.3 kW / m3). Theoretically, in order to extract combustible gas from water and then burn it in a boiler, a hydrogen generator can be used for heating. What can come of this and how to make such a device with your own hands will be described in this article.

The principle of operation of the generator

As an energy carrier, hydrogen really has no equal, and its reserves are practically inexhaustible. As we have already said, when burned, it releases a huge amount of thermal energy, incomparably more than any hydrocarbon fuel. Instead of harmful compounds emitted into the atmosphere when using natural gas, the combustion of hydrogen produces ordinary water in the form of steam. One problem: given chemical element does not occur in nature in a free form, only in combination with other substances.

One of these compounds is ordinary water, which is completely oxidized hydrogen. Over her splitting into constituent elements many scientists worked during years. It cannot be said that it is ineffective, because technical solution on the separation of water, however, was found. Its essence lies in the chemical reaction of electrolysis, as a result of which water is split into oxygen and hydrogen, the resulting mixture was called explosive gas or Brown's gas. The diagram below is shown hydrogen generator(electrolyzer) powered by electricity:

Electrolyzers are mass-produced and designed for gas-flame (welding) work. A current of a certain strength and frequency is applied to groups of metal plates immersed in water. As a result of the ongoing electrolysis reaction, oxygen and hydrogen are released mixed with water vapor. To separate it, the gases are passed through the separator, after which they are fed to the burner. In order to avoid a kickback and explosion, a valve is installed at the supply that allows fuel to pass only in one direction.

To control the water level and timely recharge, the design provides a special sensor, on the signal of which water is injected into workspace electrolyzer. Overpressure inside the vessel is monitored by an emergency switch and a relief valve. The maintenance of the hydrogen generator is to periodically add water, and that's it.

Hydrogen heating: myth or reality?

Welding generator is this moment the only thing practical use electrolytic splitting of water. It is not advisable to use it for heating a house, and here's why. Energy costs during gas-flame work are not so important, the main thing is that the welder does not need to carry heavy cylinders and fiddle with hoses. Another thing is home heating, where every penny counts. And here hydrogen loses to all currently existing types of fuel.

Important. The cost of electricity for the separation of fuel from water by electrolysis will be much higher than the explosive gas can be released during combustion.

Mass-produced welding generators cost a lot of money because they use catalysts for the electrolysis process, which include platinum. You can make a hydrogen generator with your own hands, but its efficiency will be even lower than that of a factory one. You will definitely succeed in getting combustible gas, but it is unlikely that it will be enough to heat at least one big room, not like the whole house. And if enough, you will have to pay fabulous electricity bills.

Rather than spending time and effort on getting free fuel, which does not exist a priori, it is easier to make a simple electrode boiler with your own hands. You can be sure that in this way you will use much less energy with greater benefit. However, home masters - enthusiasts can always try their hand and assemble an electrolyzer at home in order to conduct experiments and see for themselves everything. One of these experiments is shown in the video:

How to make a generator

The mass of Internet resources publish the most different schemes and drawings of a generator to produce hydrogen, but they all operate on the same principle. We will provide you with a drawing. simple device, taken from popular science literature:

Here, the electrolyzer is a group of metal plates bolted together. Insulating spacers are installed between them, the extreme thick plates are also made of a dielectric. From the fitting, mounted in one of the plates, there is a tube for supplying gas to a vessel with water, and from it to the second. The task of the tanks is to separate the steam component and accumulate a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen in order to supply it under pressure.

Advice. Electrolytic plates for the generator must be made of stainless steel alloyed with titanium. It will serve as an additional catalyst for the splitting reaction.

The plates that serve as electrodes can be of any size. But we must understand that the performance of the apparatus depends on their surface area. How more electrodes will be able to engage in the process, the better. But at the same time, the current consumption will be higher, this should be taken into account. Wires leading to a source of electricity are soldered to the ends of the plates. Here, too, there is a field for experiments: you can apply different voltages to the electrolyzer using an adjustable power supply.

Can be used as an electrolytic Plastic container from the water filter by placing electrodes made of stainless tubes into it. The product is convenient in that it is easy to seal from environment, leading the tube and wires through the holes in the cover. Another thing is that this homemade hydrogen generator has a low performance due to the small area of ​​the electrodes.

Conclusion

At present, there is no reliable and efficient technology, allowing to realize hydrogen heating of a private house. Those generators that are commercially available can be successfully used for metal processing, but not for the production of fuel for the boiler. Attempts to organize such heating will lead to an overrun of electricity, not counting the cost of equipment.

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 into the atmosphere, which are released when using natural gas, hydrogen, when burned, 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, a technical solution for the separation of its components from the water was nevertheless 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 by 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 the working space of the 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

At hydrogen heating There are 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, turn on the system also solar battery energy costs can be kept to a minimum. 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 sized less walls by 10-20 mm. 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, stainless steel must be processed with fine sandpaper from two 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 on opposite sides of the generator.
9. After the last plate is laid, an o-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 sensors temperature regime inside the heat exchanger, this will make it possible to monitor the probable excess of the water heating temperature level.
3. In the design of the burner itself, you can include stop valves, 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. HHO is a dangerous chemical compound that, if handled carelessly, can 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!

Science knows only one absolutely pure fuel - hydrogen, which is used in the space industry. In the process of burning hydrogen, compounds with oxygen are formed, that is, water. The reserves of this fuel are inexhaustible, since it, along with helium, is the main "building material" in the Universe.

Today we will talk about hydrogen generators, which have recently become increasingly popular due to their affordable cost and environmental friendliness.

Distinctive features of hydrogen heating

This type of heating is based on the production of a huge amount of thermal energy as a result of the contact of oxygen and hydrogen molecules. Tellingly, the only by-product in this case is distilled water. And in order to put this principle into practice, many developments were carried out to create a hydrogen heating boiler (we are talking about industrial models).

Such devices differed in overall dimensions and, therefore, a lot of space was required for installation. And the efficiency of such boilers was not the highest - about 80 percent. But since then, the device has been improved many times and as a result we got a boiler for home heating working on this principle. For its normal operation, only a few important conditions must be observed.

• Availability of permanent power supply. Generators are based on the electrolysis reaction, which, as you know, is impossible without electricity.
• Permanent connection to a water source. Often, water supply is used for this, although the specific consumption of the device depends, of course, on its power.
• The catalyst needs to be replaced regularly. The frequency of this replacement depends, like the previous indicator, on the power, as well as on the features of a particular model.

And if we compare hydrogen equipment, for example, with gas equipment, then it is less demanding in terms of safety. And the thing is that reactions are formed and occur exclusively inside the generator. From a person, as from a user, only visual control over the main indicators is needed.

Hydrogen generator device

And now let's take a closer look at the hydrogen option for heating a house. And its essence, as already noted, is to produce H2O, this option deserves to be considered an alternative to natural gas. Tellingly, the average combustion temperature in this case can reach 3 thousand degrees, so you will need to use a special hydrogen burner in the heating system. This is explained by the fact that only such a burner is able to withstand such significant heating.

There are several components that make up hydrogen-type heating, let's get acquainted with them.

• burner mentioned above. It is necessary for one simple purpose - to create an open flame.
• Hydrogen generator - it will process the mixture by breaking down water into molecular constituents. And in order to optimize a chemical reaction, catalysts can be used in its process.
• Actually, the boiler. Here it serves as a kind of heat exchanger. The burner itself is installed in the combustion chamber, due to which the heat carrier in the system is heated to the required temperature.

Note! For those who have planned to manufacture hydrogen generators, we remind you that for this they will have to improve the existing equipment according to the scheme indicated earlier. But on the other hand, such home-made equipment is more economical than its "shop counterparts" bought for a lot of money.

Strengths of hydrogen heating

The positive qualities that heating with hydrogen has are numerous. This is what explains such a significant popularity of the system.

• The excellent efficiency with which it is characterized can reach 96 percent.
• Environmental friendliness. This is explained by the fact that the only by-product, waste, so to speak, is pure water produced in the gaseous state. And water vapor, as you know, does not negative impact on the environment.
• No flame is required to function in a hydrogen system. Thermal energy appears due to catalytic chemical reactions. Combining with air, hydrogen forms water, which is accompanied by the appearance a large number energy. The flow of heat (and its temperature reaches 40 degrees) is fed into the heat exchanger. It is clear that this is the most best option for the underfloor heating system.

Weak sides

Having become acquainted with the advantages, we proceed to the disadvantages of hydrogen heating.

• Despite the fact that in more advanced countries this method of heating is extremely popular, in our country it has not yet been given the necessary attention. That is why the acquisition and installation of this equipment is so problematic and fraught with a number of difficulties.
• The average room temperature leads to the fact that hydrogen acquires a gaseous state. Moreover, this substance is explosive, and therefore transport it, especially on long distances, very difficult.
• Cylinders containing hydrogen must be certified by the relevant specialists, whose training takes a lot of time.

How to install a hydrogen boiler?

At the moment, many people prefer to independently produce hydrogen generators for their heating systems. And this is not surprising, because the "store" counterparts are not only very expensive, but also do not have too much high efficiency. But if this device is made by hand, then its efficiency will be an order of magnitude higher.

There are several options for how to assemble a generator that runs on hydrogen. But in any case, to make it at home, you will need the following expendable materials.

• 12 volt power supply.
• Several tubes made of stainless steel and having different diameters.
• The tank in which the structure will be located.
• PWM controller. It is important that its power is at least 30 amperes.

These are the main components that homemade hydrogen generators usually consist of. In addition, do not forget about the tank for distilled water - its presence is also required. Water must be supplied to a sealed structure with a dialectic inside. In the same design there will be a set made of stainless steel plates adjacent to one another by means of an insulating material. It is important that the 12-volt voltage is applied to these plates. If everything is done correctly, then when voltage is applied, the water will decompose into 2 gaseous elements.

Note! More effective in this regard is the use of direct current (it must have a specific frequency) produced by a PWM type generator. In this case, the pulsed current (or alternating) will be replaced by a constant one. As a result, the efficiency of the equipment will increase significantly.

What kind of water to use - distilled or tap?

There is nothing complicated here. Tap fluid can be used, but only if it does not contain impurities. heavy metals. But in order for the equipment to work more efficiently, it is better to use distilled water, adding to it a small amount of sodium hydroxide. The ratio in this case should be as follows: a tablespoon of hydroxide for every ten liters of water.

What kind of metal should be used?

This question is debatable. So, in many - including very authoritative - sources, it is said that only rare metals should be used for hydrogen heating. In fact, this is not entirely true, since it is quite possible to use and stainless steel, which we have already discussed above. Although ideally it should be ferrimagnetic steel. It differs in that it does not attract particles of unnecessary debris. We also note that when choosing a metal, it is better to focus on the “stainless steel”, which is not subject to the oxidation process.

As you can see, building a hydrogen boiler is not as difficult as it seems. It is only necessary to choose the right consumables and carefully study the scheme heating system of this type. Having installed everything necessary equipment, check to make sure that it is really of high quality and effective enough.

Video - Making a hydrogen generator

On the law of conservation of energy

This law says that everything in the world is interconnected: if it left somewhere, then it will definitely arrive somewhere. And so that gas can be obtained by electrolysis, a certain amount of electrical energy still have to spend. And energy, as you know, is obtained mainly as a result of the creation of heat during the combustion of other types of fuel. And even if we take the clean energy needed to generate electricity, and the one that gives hydrogen after combustion, the losses will be double (at least!) Even on the most modern equipment. It turns out that 1/2 of the funds are simply thrown to the wind. Moreover, these are only operating costs, and the cost of equipment, which, as noted, is not cheap, is not taken into account. Consider, for example, hydrogen generators.

If you believe the research conducted in America, then the price of one kilogram of hydrogen (or rather, the cost of its creation) is equal to:

• $6.5 when using an industrial electrical network;
• 9 dollars for the operation of wind generators;
• 20 dollars in case of using solar appliances;
• $2.2 when using solid fuel;
• $5.5 if the substance is produced from biomass;
• 2.3 dollars if we are talking about electrolysis with high temperature carried out at a nuclear power plant (the most cheap way, but the furthest away from normal domestic use).

Note! Even the most advanced generator household type will be significantly inferior in all respects to a similar industrial device. Therefore, in view of the described prices, it is impossible to say that hydrogen can seriously compete with natural gas. The same applies to electricity, diesel and even heat pumps.

Prospects for Energy Using Hydrogen

And now let's try to find out whether there really are chances to reduce the cost of pure hydrogen. Immediately make a reservation that there are all chances for this. First of all, this includes the technology of obtaining inexpensive electricity using renewable sources. In addition, cheaper chemical catalysts can be used in the catalytic process. By the way, these have existed for a long time and are used in hydrogen cells for fuel (we are talking about cars). Although here, again, we came across their too high cost.

But technology is constantly improving, science does not stand still. At one fine moment, the oil will still run out, and people will have to switch to some other, alternative energy source. But at the moment and, perhaps, for the coming decades, we can say with confidence: energy using hydrogen in itself is still unprofitable. Exceptions include only those cases where hydrogen is a by-product of any other technical processes. Of course, various programs to support and develop hydrogen energy are possible, but this requires help. large corporations and, of course, states.

As a conclusion

It is difficult to say what kind of energy will become the main one in the future - hydrogen, nuclear fusion, the use of gravity, and so on. But experts assure that the first electrolysis reactors capable of competing with modern nuclear ones will appear at least in twenty to thirty years. Some are generally skeptical about this. But real professionals believe that hydrogen generators will soon be the subject of high technology, and not homemade from improvised means, which we described above. That's all, warm winters to you!