Do-it-yourself hydrogen boiler for heating: gas and water, manufacturing

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. Let us characterize the properties of the element, formatting them in the form of theses:

The combustion of hydrogen is an environmentally friendly process; no harmful substances are released.
Due to chemical activity, the gas does not occur in free form on Earth. But its reserves in water are inexhaustible.
The element is extracted in industrial production by a chemical method, for example, in the process of gasification (pyrolysis) of coal. Often a by-product.
Another way to produce hydrogen gas is by electrolysis of water in the presence of catalysts - platinum and other expensive alloys.
A simple mixture of hydrogen + oxygen gases explodes from the slightest spark, instantly releasing a large amount of energy.

From the above, 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:

2H2 + O2 → 2H2O + Q (energy)

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

2H2O → 2H2 + O2 – Q

This is the 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.

Hydrogen boiler - what to do with it...

When burning hydrogen, 3 times more heat is released than when burning natural (ordinary) gas. (!) You can buy a hydrogen cylinder. True, it is quite expensive, if you calculate it, then heating is still not profitable... But hydrogen can be obtained independently, from water, using electricity. Moreover, the voltage required is small. You can get hydrogen immediately using a regular battery...

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is one of the most common chemical elements on Earth. It is part of all organic substances. And also in the composition of the most massive substance - water. Hydrogen is all around us. Together with carbon, it also forms flammable gases, which are extracted from the subsoil, and then we burn them in burners - methane, butane, propane...

But pure hydrogen when burned, i.e. when reacting with oxygen, it releases many times more energy than methane... In this case, water vapor is formed, without clogging the atmosphere with carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide...

Thus, on the planet you can see simply enormous reserves of thermal energy, because hydrogen is everywhere...

Energy in a latent state

The reserves of hydrogen are very large, it is true, but the fact is that this gas on Earth is in a bound state. There is almost no free hydrogen - elusive crumbs in the atmosphere.

Those. In order to use hydrogen for heating, it must be extracted from some other substances. This can be done in a special installation…. Or buy it in a liquefied state in cylinders.

In reality, hydrogen can only be produced using currently known methods at home from water. For this, the method of electrolysis is used.

An electric current flows between electrodes immersed in water (electrolyte). In this case, the water decomposes, hydrogen is released at one electrode, and oxygen at the other.

All that remains is to capture the hydrogen and send it to the combustion chamber to obtain, as it were, “free” heat. Oxygen can be released safely into the atmosphere.

General diagram of a hydrogen boiler

In the diagram above, different numbers indicate different elements, but the gist is the following. A container with electrolyte (salted water) is supplied with a constant voltage of 12 - 24V to two electrodes. The hydrogen released above one electrode is captured and passes through separators - fuses. Then - straight into the boiler furnace. Moreover, the boiler can be homemade, it is so simple.

It is important to ensure the tightness of the container in which gas is released above the electrode. A leak can cause major problems.
It is also important to prevent air or oxygen from entering the container or line from another electrode. Creating detonating gas in the pipeline itself is creating an excellent powerful bomb ready to explode from the slightest spark in your own production (in an apartment, for example).
It is impossible to allow a reverse surge of pressure into the chamber with hydrogen from the boiler - a reverse blow. Then the plasma will cause trouble... Bulbulators-separators are designed for protection.

Who makes hydrogen boilers and how?

Experiments on creating hydrogen boilers have been carried out for a long time, and in general they have been successful. They were dealt with by scientific and technical organizations. It is worth highlighting such success as the development of equipment that feeds a car engine with hydrogen. Moreover, hydrogen was produced directly in a passenger car. The car was literally filled with water and it – “Rided on water” – was an interesting experiment.

Also - the creation of heat generators that burn hydrogen to produce thermal energy. Hydrogen is sometimes released as a by-product in chemical production and can be profitably recovered to produce heat.

Nowadays they even offer to make hydrogen colas and hydrogen cars on their own. When advocating for such an action, the emphasis is on the small required DC voltage and the high energy output of the substance itself….

But at the same time, of course, it is silent that in general this, although feasible, is completely pointless...

To do or not to do?

You can even come across persistent proposals to make a hydrogen boiler, while it is proposed to buy a “secret” drawing, or some parts. Since a hydrogen boiler is very profitable.

Direct deception lies precisely in the word “profitable”. When describing it, they simply “forget” to tell you what the required electrical power is needed to produce hydrogen. And it takes more energy to produce hydrogen than will be obtained by burning it.

Indeed, if this chemical element can be so easily obtained and then combined with oxygen with such enormous energy output, then why is everything around still not heated, does not drive, does not rotate... through the chemical combination of H2 and O2?

Hydrogen boiler - outright deception and quackery

You can create a hydrogen boiler even at home, although with unjustified risks on the topic “Safety precautions”. But there is not the slightest expediency in these actions.

If you purchase liquefied propane in a cylinder, the thermal energy will be many times more expensive than from the same liquefied propane.
If extracted by electrolysis, then the electricity consumption is several times greater than the thermal energy from the combustion of the resulting hydrogen. Those. It is 2-3 times more efficient to simply direct this energy to electric convectors than to mess around with the decomposition of water.

Therefore, hydrogen boilers now exist only in the form of a scientific experiment in serious organizations, or in the form of a home experiment to obtain a perpetual motion machine...

Manufacturing instructions

First stage. To begin, take a sheet of steel and place it on a flat surface. From a sheet of the dimensions indicated above (0.5x0.5 m) you should get 16 rectangles for the future hydrogen burner, cut them out with a grinder.

Second phase. On the back side of the plates we drill holes for the bolt. If we planned to make a “dry” electrolyzer, we would drill holes from the bottom, but in this case this is not necessary. The fact is that the “dry” design is much more complicated, and the useful area of the plates in it would not be used 100%. We will make a “wet” electrolyzer - the plates will be completely immersed in the electrolyte, and their entire area will participate in the reaction.

Water energy

Third stage. The principle of operation of the described burner is based on the following: an electric current passing through the plates immersed in the electrolyte will cause water (it should be part of the electrolyte) to decompose into oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H). Therefore, we must have two plates at the same time - the cathode and the anode.

As the area of these plates increases, the volume of gas increases, so in this case we use eight pieces per cathode and anode, respectively.

Each water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms and one atom

Fourth stage. Next, we have to install the plates in a plastic container so that they alternate: plus, minus, plus, minus, etc. To insulate the plates, we use pieces of transparent tube (we bought a whole 10 m of it, so there is a supply).

We cut small rings from the tube, cut them and get strips approximately 1 mm thick. This is the ideal distance for hydrogen to be generated efficiently in the structure.

Fifth stage. We attach the plates to each other using washers. We do this as follows: we put a washer on the bolt, then a plate, after it three washers, another plate, again three washers, etc. We hang eight pieces on the cathode, eight on the anode.

Next, tighten the nuts and insulate the plates using previously cut strips.

Sixth stage. We look where exactly the bolts rest in the container, and drill holes in that place. If suddenly the bolts do not fit into the container, then we cut them down to the required length. Then we insert the bolts into the holes, put washers on them and tighten them with nuts - for better tightness.

Next, we make a hole in the cover for the fitting, screw in the fitting itself (preferably by covering the joint with silicone sealant). Blow into the fitting to check the tightness of the lid. If air still comes out from under it, then we coat this connection with sealant.

Seventh stage. Upon completion of assembly, we test the finished generator. To do this, connect any source to it, fill the container with water and close the lid. Next, we put a hose on the fitting and lower it into a container of water (to see air bubbles). If the source is not powerful enough, then they will not be in the tank, but they will definitely appear in the electrolyzer.

Next, we need to increase the intensity of gas output by increasing the voltage in the electrolyte. It is worth noting here that water in its pure form is not a conductor - current passes through it due to the impurities and salt present in it. We will dilute a little alkali in water (for example, sodium hydroxide is excellent - it is sold in stores in the form of the “Mole” cleaning agent).

Installation of a hydrogen boiler

The installation of a hydrogen generator is carried out in stages, connecting all the main structural elements:

A boiler, in the form of a heat exchanger, where the hydrogen generation process takes place. It can be made by yourself, and the heat transfer process only requires electricity and water.
The electrolyzer is the main part in the boiler where the process of decomposition of water H2O takes place. Structurally, it is a container of water; electrodes with high electrical conductivity are lowered into it.
Spark burner for heating water.
The burner valve is located at the top of the boiler to collect exclusively H2 and directly transfer it to the burner.
The control unit performs the functions of regulating work processes with demonstration of voltage and current. It has regulators for power and other operating parameters.
After installation of the main equipment, the system is connected with pipelines with a diameter of 24 -32 mm. When installing pipes, the slope is taken into account and the requirements are met: the diameter of the subsequent branch must be smaller than the previous one.
Connect the power source.
Install a flame sensor on the burner, according to system safety requirements.
Temperature sensors and shut-off and control valves are installed in the water circuit.

The warranty period for factory-made hydrogen devices is 15 years, but practically with proper operation they can operate reliably for 20 years or more.

How much does a kilogram of hydrogen cost?

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

Chemical reaction - 700 rubles with the standard method of reagent recovery and 320 - when using nuclear power plant energy.
Electrolysis from an industrial network - 420 rubles. The data is valid for “branded”, balanced electrolysers. For handicraft products, the indicators are obviously lower.
Production from biomass - 350 rubles.
Conversion of hydrocarbons - 200 rubles.
High-temperature electrolysis at nuclear power plants - 130 rubles.

From these figures it is clear that the cheapest way to produce hydrogen is at nuclear power plants, where an important resource - high temperature - 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. What about hydrogen home heating based on a compact installation? You need to understand that the law of conservation of energy cannot be circumvented. In order to separate H2 in an electrolyzer, a certain amount of electrical energy will have to be expended. To obtain it, fossil fuels were burned at a thermal power plant or energy was generated by a hydroelectric power station. Electricity was then transmitted through wires. At all stages of the process, inevitable losses occur and the amount of potential thermal energy obtained at the end will be a priori lower than at the beginning.

Advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen heating

Pros:

One of the most obvious advantages is the endless amount of fuel, since it is water. There is no need to mine coal, firewood or other natural resources to generate heat.

Low electrical energy consumption

Low electricity consumption. For example, a device with a power of 40 kW consumes 0.44 kW per hour; a hydrogen boiler is considered the most economical, unlike other heating methods.
High degree of environmental friendliness, there are completely no emissions that harm the environment, since only steam is released during operation.
High efficiency of about 94%; no other type of heating provides such heat transfer.
Low noise level during operation.
Does not require installation of a chimney and its subsequent maintenance.
There is no need for a burning flame.
The requirements for installation and installation location are much lower than for gas equipment.

Flaws:

The disadvantage is that the gas produced has neither color nor odor, and if it leaks, it will be extremely difficult to detect. The temperature at which it ignites is 540 degrees, based on this it is classified as explosive.

Hydrogen release
Quite a high cost.
There are very few specialists who inspect and certify cylinders.
Constant replenishment of the catalyst is required.
The difficulty in finding spare parts is due to low demand in the market.

Factory and homemade installations

profitable - the selection of materials is made at your own discretion;
convenient - you can save on minor elements;
simple - no need to resort to the help of specialists;
reliable - you yourself are responsible for the quality, which gives you the right to choose materials that would satisfy all your needs.

Some users complain that Chinese units, which are more affordable, break down after the heating season. Moreover, their repair in most cases requires large investments. While a homemade installation guarantees that its productivity will be at the highest level, and any breakdowns will be eliminated as easily and quickly as the system itself was assembled.

Scheme of operation of a hydrogen boiler and the advantages of this heating method

The method of heating a home using a hydrogen boiler was invented relatively recently in Italy (and a hydrogen car engine, by the way, dates back to the 1960s). Previously, scientists also thought about using hydrogen as a “home” fuel, however, there was one problem: it was impossible to make a boiler from conventional materials due to the very high combustion temperature of this gas.

Now the situation has changed: hydrogen boilers are made from the same materials as everyone else. Reviews about them are mostly positive, they can be found by going to any thematic forum.

If someone hears the expression “Brown gas,” then there is no need to worry: we are not talking about mustard gas or a mixture for activating a nuclear charge. This is a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, which must be activated using oxygen-hydrogen electrolysis (an electrolyzer is inserted into the device). Most installations operate on this gas.

The process of producing hydrogen using electrolysis

The heating process is extremely simple: in a special installation (boiler) there is a tank with hydrogen. At a temperature of 300C°, the gas begins to interact with oxygen, forming water and steam, which are distributed through the pipeline system inside residential buildings.

The advantages of this type of heating include the following:

hydrogen simply has no combustion products except for water (condensed water enters the heating pipeline - there is no need to maintain any chimneys);
absolute environmental safety;
hydrogen does not ignite, but gives off a large amount of thermal energy when interacting with oxygen (as a result of this catalytic reaction, water is formed);
the actual temperature of the coolant is 40C° (it may seem like a little, but a priori there can be no heat loss with this heating method).

DIY hydrogen heating boiler

The operating principle of the device is so simple that you can assemble it yourself.

DIY boiler installation process:

perform a drawing or download it for the required boiler power from a trusted source on the Internet, it is better if the drawings and diagrams have a video explanation with a demonstration of the unit;
collect all necessary materials according to the list and specifications;
the best equipment for case metal is ferromagnetic alloys, but it would also be a good idea to use a stainless container;
main elements: 12 V current source, PWM DC controller of at least 30 A, factory-made gas burner;
creating an electrolyzer from 18 or more plates, the main number must be even. Cut out plates from a metal sheet using metal scissors and make holes in them for fastening. They are divided in equal proportions into anode and cathode, and then a wiring diagram is assembled;
weld a rectangular container, pour water or a mixture with a catalyst into it, and then place the connected plates;
a valve is installed in the upper part of the boiler and a tube is connected to transport H2 to the burner device.

Home hydrogen generators

As can be seen from the previous section, most technological processes for the industrial production of hydrogen involve exposure to high temperatures, which is problematic at home. Let's consider hydrogen heating installations available in private households:

Hydrogen from manure

Biogas plants, of which there are many in Western Europe, are beginning to appear among domestic farmers. The homemade biogas reactors that “crazy hands” talk about on the Internet are not distinguished by either productivity or stability of generation. Only rather complex and expensive installations are effective, provided there is a stable supply of raw materials. This is impossible to do on a small private farmstead, but it is possible on a strong farm. Hydrogen is only a by-product in the production of biogas and, as a rule, it is not separated by burning it along with methane. But if necessary, H2 can be separated.

Schematic diagram of a biogas plant. To ensure that the process of producing flammable gases is intense, the raw materials are fermented and stirred periodically

Hydrogen from water

An electrolysis hydrogen installation for heating a home is the only solution currently available for a private home. The electrolyzer is compact, easy to maintain, and can be installed in a small room. The raw material for fuel production is 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 Home Energy Station, and today the third generation is already on sale. HES III is equipped with solar panels and can be installed in a garage or outdoors.

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

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

Semi-makeshift hydrogen production plant

Do-it-yourself hydrogen heating, which involves making an electrolyzer yourself, is widely discussed on construction-related online forums. This is possible and not even very difficult if the home master knows the basics of electrical engineering and his hands grow where they should. How effective and safe is a separate question.

The author of the video talks in detail about the design of a fuel cell for producing hydrogen, mounted in the housing of a conventional filter for water purification. The installation actually works.

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

Schematic diagram of a complete installation for producing hydrogen. As you can see, one “flask with electrodes” is not enough here; you need reservoirs, a capacitor, and a compressor. If you calculate the cost of all the equipment, it’s not cheap.

Hydrogen heating boiler

Brief theoretical part

The combustion of hydrogen is an environmentally friendly process; no harmful substances are released.
Due to chemical activity, the gas does not occur in free form on Earth. But its reserves in water are inexhaustible.
The element is extracted in industrial production by a chemical method, for example, in the process of gasification (pyrolysis) of coal. Often a by-product.
Another way to produce hydrogen gas is by electrolysis of water in the presence of catalysts - platinum and other expensive alloys.
A simple mixture of hydrogen + oxygen gases explodes from the slightest spark, instantly releasing a large amount of energy.

2H2 + O2 → 2H2O + Q (energy)

2H2O → 2H2 + O2 – Q

Manufacturing instructions

Water energy

As the area of these plates increases, the volume of gas increases, so in this case we use eight pieces per cathode and anode, respectively.

Each water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms and one atom

We cut small rings from the tube, cut them and get strips approximately 1 mm thick. This is the ideal distance for hydrogen to be generated efficiently in the structure.

Next, tighten the nuts and insulate the plates using previously cut strips.

How much does a kilogram of hydrogen cost?

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

Chemical reaction - 700 rubles with the standard method of reagent recovery and 320 - when using nuclear power plant energy.
Electrolysis from an industrial network - 420 rubles. The data is valid for “branded”, balanced electrolysers. For handicraft products, the indicators are obviously lower.
Production from biomass - 350 rubles.
Conversion of hydrocarbons - 200 rubles.
High-temperature electrolysis at nuclear power plants - 130 rubles.

Factory and homemade installations

profitable - the selection of materials is made at your own discretion;
convenient - you can save on minor elements;
simple - no need to resort to the help of specialists;
reliable - you yourself are responsible for the quality, which gives you the right to choose materials that would satisfy all your needs.

Scheme of operation of a hydrogen boiler and the advantages of this heating method

Now the situation has changed: hydrogen boilers are made from the same materials as everyone else. Reviews about them are mostly positive, they can be found by going to any thematic forum.

The process of producing hydrogen using electrolysis

The advantages of this type of heating include the following:

hydrogen simply has no combustion products except for water (condensed water enters the heating pipeline - there is no need to maintain any chimneys);
absolute environmental safety;
hydrogen does not ignite, but gives off a large amount of thermal energy when interacting with oxygen (as a result of this catalytic reaction, water is formed);
the actual temperature of the coolant is 40C° (it may seem like a little, but a priori there can be no heat loss with this heating method).

Home hydrogen generators

Hydrogen from manure

Schematic diagram of a biogas plant. To ensure that the process of producing flammable gases is intense, the raw materials are fermented and stirred periodically

Hydrogen from water

Semi-makeshift hydrogen production plant

Pros and cons of heating

Absolutely environmentally friendly - water breakdown products (hydrogen, oxygen and steam) do not affect health even during combustion.
The maximum efficiency level, reaching 96%, is much higher than the same coal, diesel or natural gas.
The use of hydrogen as an alternative source of energy resources can significantly save reserves of exhaustible natural resources, reducing their production several times.
Low cost - for heating residential buildings, the cost of the system is insignificant, and the simplicity of operation, based on the primitive chemical reaction of electrolysis, allows you to assemble the system yourself.

Pros and cons of heating

Absolutely environmentally friendly - water breakdown products (hydrogen, oxygen and steam) do not affect health even during combustion.
The maximum efficiency level, reaching 96%, is much higher than the same coal, diesel or natural gas.
The use of hydrogen as an alternative source of energy resources can significantly save reserves of exhaustible natural resources, reducing their production several times.
Low cost - for heating residential buildings, the cost of the system is insignificant, and the simplicity of operation, based on the primitive chemical reaction of electrolysis, allows you to assemble the system yourself.

What is a hydrogen generator and how it works

The device has another name - an electrolyzer; it functions through physical and chemical processes. A hydrogen generator for home heating looks like several metal plates that are immersed in a container filled with distilled water. Despite the simplicity of the circuit, the electrolyzer is capable of generating large amounts of energy.

The process is as follows: an electric current passes through water between metal plates of different polarities (anode-cathode), this leads to the splitting of the distilled liquid into molecules of hydrogen and oxygen. If the area of the metal elements is large, a lot of electric current passes and the volume of gas increases. The housing where the plates are immersed must be equipped with terminals for connecting a power source - electric current, as well as a sleeve where the generated gas is directed.

Some good advice

Next, let's talk about other components of the hydrogen burner - the filter for the washing machine and the valve. Both are for protection. The valve will not allow ignited hydrogen to penetrate back into the structure and explode the gas accumulated under the lid of the electrolyzer (even if there is only a little of it there). If we do not install the valve, the container will be damaged and the alkali will leak out.

A filter will be required to make a water seal, which will act as a barrier preventing an explosion. Craftsmen who are familiar firsthand with the design of a homemade hydrogen burner call this valve a “bulbulator.” Indeed, it essentially only creates air bubbles in the water. For the burner itself we use the same transparent hose. That's it, the hydrogen burner is ready!

All that remains is to connect it to the input of the “warm floor” system, seal the connection and begin direct operation.

Materials used

The heating system usually uses distilled water, to which sodium hydroxide is added in a proportion of 10 liters of liquid per 1 tbsp. l substances. If it is unavailable or difficult to obtain the required amount of distillate, the use of ordinary tap water is also permitted, but only if it does not contain heavy metals.

As the metals from which hydrogen boilers are made, it is permissible to use any type of stainless steel - ferrimagnetic steel, to which excess particles are not attracted, would be an excellent option. Although the main criterion for choosing a material should still be resistance to corrosion and rust.

To assemble the apparatus, tubes with a diameter of 1 or 1.25 inches are usually used. The burner can be purchased at the appropriate store or online service.

If you choose the right materials and carefully study the heating circuit, manufacturing the installation and connecting it to the boiler is not difficult.

Making a generator in-house

On the Internet you can find many instructions on how to make a hydrogen generator. It should be noted that it is quite possible to assemble such an installation for your home yourself - the design is quite simple.

DIY hydrogen generator components for heating in a private home

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

Craftsmen on the forums advise lining the inside of the firebox with fireclay bricks. But the melting point of even the best materials of this type does not exceed 1600°C; such a firebox will not last long. The second option is to use a special burner that can reduce the flame temperature to acceptable values. Thus, until you find such a burner, you should not start installing a homemade hydrogen generator.

Tips for assembling and operating a generator

Having solved the issue with the boiler, choose a suitable diagram 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 the plate electrodes;
correct choice of material for the manufacture of electrodes;
high quality liquid for electrolysis.

What size should be the unit that generates hydrogen in sufficient quantities to heat a house will have to be determined “by eye” (based on other people’s experience), or by first assembling a small installation. 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.

Hydrogen generator design

There are certain requirements for water quality. It should not contain mechanical impurities and heavy metals. The generator operates most efficiently on distilled water, but to reduce the cost of design, you can limit yourself to filters to purify water from unnecessary impurities. To make the electrical reaction more intense, sodium hydroxide is added to the water in a ratio of 1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water.

Advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen as a fuel

Actually, hydrogen has many advantages. As noted above, this is one of the most common gases on the planet (the most common in the Universe), an affordable and environmentally friendly type of fuel.

In general, the advantages include the following:

ubiquitous (usually it is placed in cylinders - like liquefied gas);
The hydrogen heating system essentially forms a closed cycle that does not require human intervention;
relative cheapness of fuel;
when using hydrogen, the average device emits 121 MJ/kg of energy, and the same figure for the same popular propane is 40 MJ/kg.

Hydrogen fuel also has its disadvantages:

the likelihood of a boiler explosion if the rated pressure in the boiler is exceeded;
If we take Russian conditions, then it is not always possible to find hydrogen cylinders within walking distance (this is not natural gas propane after all);
sometimes the temperature released during a catalytic reaction can be so high that a separate chimney needs to be made to allow steam and water to escape (however, this is only true if we are talking about old installations - in modern ones, steam and water immediately enter the pipeline, acting as a coolant);
high noise level;
high water consumption.
Diagram of the hydrogen boiler control unit

Application of hydrogen in heating system

For those who like to do everything with their own hands, it is possible to create a heating system for your home yourself. One such system is hydrogen heating. With the help of such a heating system, large rooms can be heated efficiently. Since hydrogen heating has high power.

For the first time such heating was produced by an Italian company. Hydrogen heating does not produce harmful substances or emissions. It has a positive effect on people’s health, and heats the house quickly, efficiently and without noise.

Since this heating can burn hydrogen at a temperature of 300°, it is possible to use conventional boilers made of standard materials.

Due to the fact that hydrogen heating does not emit harmful substances into the atmosphere, there is no need to use special boilers with a combustion product exhaust system. In such a heating system, only steam is released, which does not cause any harm. In order to get hydrogen, you only have to spend money on electricity. If you live in warm regions, you can use solar panels. In this case, you can at least slightly reduce your energy costs.

Components that are included in a hydrogen heating system: pipes with a diameter of 25 to 32 mm and a boiler. You can install the pipes yourself, taking into account some requirements: the diameter of the pipe should be smaller after each branch. If this rule is followed, the burner will work efficiently.

Also, a hydrogen-powered boiler can be used to heat floors. This system is used quite often. Installing such a system yourself is not difficult. And you can purchase this heating system with different capacities.

Where does pure hydrogen come from?

Note to the owner

“To attract attention to their products, some hydrogen boiler manufacturers make references to some kind of “secret catalyst” or to the use of “Brown gas” in their devices.” For example, you can extract hydrogen from methane gas, where there are as many as 4 atoms of hydrogen! But why? Methane itself is a flammable gas, so why waste additional energy to produce pure hydrogen? Where is the energy efficiency? Therefore, hydrogen is most often extracted from water, which, as everyone knows, cannot burn, using the electrolysis method. In its most general form, this method can be described as the splitting of water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen under the influence of electricity

For example, you can extract hydrogen from methane gas, where there are as many as 4 atoms of hydrogen! But why? Methane itself is a flammable gas, so why waste additional energy to produce pure hydrogen? Where is the energy efficiency? Therefore, hydrogen is most often extracted from water, which, as everyone knows, cannot burn, using the electrolysis method. In its most general form, this method can be described as the splitting of water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen under the influence of electricity.

Electrolysis has long been known and widely used to produce pure hydrogen. In practice, not a single industrial hydrogen boiler, at least for now, can do without an electrolysis installation or electrolyzer. Everything would be fine, but this installation requires electricity. So, a hydrogen boiler must necessarily consume energy. The question is, what are these energy costs?

All the talk about the “heat of combustion” of hydrogen takes us a little away from this issue, and yet it is the most important. So, a hydrogen boiler can be beneficial in the only case - the thermal energy it produces must be higher than that expended on the operation of the boiler.

Is it possible to create a hydrogen generator yourself?

It’s better not to take risks, because such a process is associated not only with the need to know the intricacies of technology and chemistry, but also requires proper compliance with safety rules. But installing the equipment yourself is possible. To do this, it is enough to follow the instructions and avoid amateur activities.

Heating of any home should ensure not only comfortable human living, but also the ecological cleanliness of the environment. This is achieved due to the fact that after the combustion of hydrogen no harmful compounds are formed.

In Western countries, heating using hydrogen generators has gained widespread acceptance and economic justification. If a similar method takes root in Russia, it will significantly increase heating efficiency with minimal resource costs.

Features of Electrolytic Hydrogen Generator

A hydrogen generator based on the principle of electrolysis is most often produced in a container version. A prerequisite for purchasing such a heating device is the presence of the following documents: permission from Rostechnadzor, certificates (compliance with GOSTR and hygienic).

The electrolytic generator consists of the following elements:

a block that includes a transformer, a rectifier, distribution boxes and devices, a water replenishment and demineralization unit;
devices for separate production of hydrogen and oxygen - electrolyzer;
gas analysis systems;
liquid cooling systems;
a system aimed at detecting a possible hydrogen leak;
control panel and automatic control system.

To achieve the most efficient electrical conduction process, drops of lye are used. The reservoir with it is replenished as needed, but most often this happens about once a year. Any electrolytic generators of industrial type are manufactured based on European environmental and safety standards.

It has been experimentally proven that purchasing a hydrogen electrolytic generator is much more profitable than regularly purchasing gas. Thus, to produce 1 cubic meter of gas from hydrogen and oxygen, only about 3.5 kW of electrical energy is required, as well as half a liter of demineralized water.

How to use a hydrogen generator for heating

Unfortunately, it is not possible to answer this question. But if this is interesting, then the proposed diagram of a hydrogen generator for heating a house, shown in the photo, may be able to clarify this issue for you. You can also watch the video.

The only thing that really deserves attention are fuel cells. The English scientist W. Grove in 1839 discovered the reversibility of electrolysis: the combination of hydrogen and oxygen molecules into water. This reaction occurs with the release of heat. The Englishman's discovery did not receive any continuation for a hundred years. In the twentieth century, research was carried out on the manufacture of fuel cells. The first developments were massive and required high temperatures and pressure to operate. In the Soviet Union, fuel cells were produced as part of the lunar program. Later they tried to introduce the elements into the automotive industry: some prototypes were produced, including at VAZ. Norilsk Nickel was interested in hydrogen energy, but later liquidated its subsidiary, which was involved in this issue, as unprofitable and non-core.

Fuel cells based on various substances (carbonates, phosphoric acid, etc.) are produced and used.

Prospects for hydrogen in the heating industry

Many scientists call hydrogen the most promising fuel, and this is only confirmed by the following facts:

Hydrogen is the most abundant fuel element in the Universe, and the tenth most abundant of all chemical elements on our planet. To put it simply, there will definitely be no problems with hydrogen reserves;

Despite the fact that it is a gas, it is absolutely harmless and non-toxic, so people, animals and even plants will not feel any harmful effects;
In heating equipment that runs on hydrogen, the combustion product is ordinary water, so there is no point in talking about harmful emissions;
The combustion degree of hydrogen is 6000, this confirms the high heat capacity of this chemical element;
By weight, this fuel is even lighter than air (14 times), so in the event of a leak, the fuel choice will evaporate on its own and very quickly;
A kilogram of hydrogen today costs only 2-7 US dollars. But a kilogram is a lot, because the density of the substance is only 0.008987 kg/m3;
The calorific value of 1 cubic meter of hydrogen is 13,000 kJ. Of course, this figure is approximately three times lower than that of natural gas, but the price of hydrogen is tens of times lower.

From this we can conclude that heating houses with hydrogen will cost no more than using conventional gas boilers. Also, the owner of such unique equipment will not pay crazy markups into the pockets of the owners of oil and gas companies; there is no need to equip an expensive gas pipeline. At the same time, the owner will also save himself from going through tedious and lengthy bureaucratic procedures for approving various projects.

In general, hydrogen can truly be considered the most promising fuel. All the benefits of this element have already been experienced by employees of aerospace enterprises that use hydrogen as rocket fuel.

Design and principle of operation of a hydrogen generator

The factory hydrogen generator is an impressive unit

Using hydrogen as a fuel for heating a country house is beneficial not only because of its high calorific value, but also because no harmful substances are released during its combustion. As everyone remembers from a school chemistry course, when two hydrogen atoms (chemical formula H2 - Hidrogenium) are oxidized by one oxygen atom, a water molecule is formed. This produces three times more heat than the combustion of natural gas. We can say that hydrogen has no equal among other energy sources, since its reserves on Earth are inexhaustible - 2/3 of the world’s oceans consists of the chemical element H2, and in the entire Universe this gas, along with helium, is the main “building material”. There's just one problem - to get pure H2 you need to split water into its component parts, and this is not easy to do. Scientists have been looking for a way to extract hydrogen for many years and settled on electrolysis.

Laboratory electrolyzer operation diagram

This method of producing volatile gas involves placing two metal plates connected to a high voltage source in water at a short distance from each other. When power is applied, the high electrical potential literally tears the water molecule apart, releasing two hydrogen (HH) atoms and one oxygen (O) atom. The released gas was named after the physicist Yu. Brown. Its formula is HHO, and its calorific value is 121 MJ/kg. Brown's gas burns with an open flame and does not produce any harmful substances. The main advantage of this substance is that a regular boiler running on propane or methane is suitable for its use. Let us only note that hydrogen in combination with oxygen forms an explosive mixture, so additional precautions will be required.

Installation diagram for producing Brown's gas

The generator, designed to produce Brown's gas in large quantities, contains several cells, each of which contains many pairs of electrode plates. They are installed in a sealed container, which is equipped with a gas outlet, terminals for connecting power and a neck for filling water. In addition, the installation is equipped with a safety valve and a water seal. Thanks to them, the possibility of backfire spreading is eliminated. Hydrogen burns only at the exit of the burner, and does not ignite in all directions. A multiple increase in the usable area of the installation makes it possible to extract the flammable substance in quantities sufficient for various purposes, including heating residential premises. But doing this using a traditional electrolyzer will be unprofitable. Simply put, if the electricity spent on hydrogen production is directly used to heat a house, then it will be much more profitable than heating a boiler with hydrogen.

Stanley Meyer hydrogen fuel cell

The American scientist Stanley Meyer found a way out of this situation. His installation did not use powerful electrical potential, but currents of a certain frequency. The invention of the great physicist consisted in the fact that a water molecule swayed in time with changing electrical impulses and entered into resonance, which reached a force sufficient to split it into its constituent atoms. Such an effect required tens of times less current than when operating a conventional electrolysis machine.

Video: Stanley Meyer Fuel Cell

For his invention, which could free humanity from the bondage of oil magnates, Stanley Meyer was killed, and the works of his many years of research disappeared to God knows where. Nevertheless, some of the scientist’s notes have been preserved, on the basis of which inventors in many countries around the world are trying to build similar installations. And I must say, not without success.

Advantages of Brown's gas as an energy source

Water, from which HHO is obtained, is one of the most common substances on our planet.
When this type of fuel burns, it produces water vapor, which can be condensed back into liquid and reused as a raw material.
During the combustion of detonating gas, no by-products are formed except water. We can say that there is no more environmentally friendly type of fuel than Brown's gas.
When operating a hydrogen heating system, water vapor is released in an amount sufficient to maintain the humidity in the room at a comfortable level.

Application area

Today, an electrolyzer is as common a device as an acetylene generator or a plasma cutter. Initially, hydrogen generators were used by welders, since carrying a unit weighing only a few kilograms was much easier than moving huge oxygen and acetylene cylinders. At the same time, the high energy intensity of the units was not of decisive importance - everything was determined by convenience and practicality. In recent years, the use of Brown's gas has gone beyond the usual concepts of hydrogen as a fuel for gas welding machines. In the future, the possibilities of the technology are very wide, since the use of HHO has many advantages.

Reducing fuel consumption in vehicles. Existing automotive hydrogen generators allow the use of HHO as an additive to traditional gasoline, diesel or gas. Due to more complete combustion of the fuel mixture, a 20–25% reduction in hydrocarbon consumption can be achieved.
Fuel savings at thermal power plants using gas, coal or fuel oil.
Reducing toxicity and increasing the efficiency of old boiler houses.
Multiple reductions in the cost of heating residential buildings due to the complete or partial replacement of traditional fuels with Brown gas.
Using portable HHO production units for domestic needs - cooking, obtaining warm water, etc.
Development of fundamentally new, powerful and environmentally friendly power plants.

Negative aspects of generators

True, there are certain disadvantages of using such generators. The technology for extracting heat from hydrogen is currently at the development stage, so some disadvantages cannot be avoided. First of all, it is difficult to access; not every store has generators. Accordingly, even if it breaks, you will have to search carefully for a replacement part.

Cylinders with this substance are not very convenient to transport; it should also be noted that at room temperature hydrogen is a light volatile gas and is difficult to work with. It is not easy to buy such an alternative fuel in Russia today, and not everyone can handle the construction of electrolysis with their own hands. Also, when using homemade structures, one must take into account that they may be unsafe, because it is impossible to guarantee complete control of the reaction.

But all these disadvantages will only exist for a while; soon scientists will find a way to quickly produce and conveniently transport hydrogen, and then it can be used to heat a house on an ongoing basis. The popularity of generators of this type is constantly growing, and they are moving from the category of exotic devices to “innovative”.

Is it profitable to heat a house with hydrogen?

Sellers of compact hydrogen generators convince buyers that heating a home with hydrogen is incredibly cheap. Supposedly this is even more profitable than heating with gas. They say that the water that is poured into the installation costs nothing, and they are silent about other 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 setting foot in 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 and electricity 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. For hydrogen it 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 burning 1 kg of hydrogen obtained in a good factory electrolyzer and from 2.8 kg of natural gas: 420 rubles versus 13.32. The difference is truly monstrous, 31.5 times! Even compared to the most expensive of traditional types of heating - electric, hydrogen cannot even come close to competing, it costs 4 times more! The electricity that will be spent on the operation of the electrolyzer is better used to operate heating electrical appliances; there will be much more benefit.

It is precisely these advertising technologies and methods of persuasion that sellers of installations for heating a home with hydrogen use in order to sell their useless goods at exorbitant prices.

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