Let's choose a hydrogen generator for heating a private home

Taking into account the rising cost of energy resources, heating a living space requires large material costs. If we take into account an apartment with a small living space, then the cost of heating in the cold season is affordable. However, taking into account the heating system of a cottage or private house with a large area, the question arises of finding alternative heating sources. One such option is hydrogen heating. Scientists have proven that the heat capacity of hydrogen is several times higher than the heat capacity of natural gas, which allows for significant budget savings. What advantages does hydrogen heating have, its features and methods of self-made creation of this type of heating, we will analyze further.

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:

1. The combustion of hydrogen is an environmentally friendly process; no harmful substances are released.
2. Due to chemical activity, the gas does not occur in free form on Earth. But its reserves in water are inexhaustible.
3. 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.
4. Another way to produce hydrogen gas is by electrolysis of water in the presence of catalysts - platinum and other expensive alloys.
5. 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.

How does hydrogen heating work?

This heating method was developed by one of the Italian companies. A hydrogen boiler operates without generating any harmful waste, which is why it is considered the most environmentally friendly and silent way to heat a home. The innovation of the development is that scientists managed to achieve the combustion of hydrogen at a relatively low temperature (about 300? C), and this made it possible to produce similar heating boilers from traditional materials.

Hydrogen fuel cells for home

When operating, the boiler emits only harmless steam, and the only thing that requires costs is electricity. And if you combine this with solar panels (solar system), then these costs can be completely reduced to zero.

Note! Hydrogen boilers are often used to heat underfloor heating systems, which can be easily installed with your own hands. How does it all happen? Oxygen reacts with hydrogen and, as we remember from middle school chemistry lessons, forms water molecules. The reaction is provoked by catalysts, as a result, thermal energy is released, heating the water to approximately 40? C - the ideal temperature for “warm floors”

The reaction is provoked by catalysts, as a result, thermal energy is released, heating the water to approximately 40? C - the ideal temperature for “warm floors”

How does it all happen? Oxygen reacts with hydrogen and, as we remember from middle school chemistry lessons, forms water molecules. The reaction is provoked by catalysts, as a result, thermal energy is released, heating the water to approximately 40? C - the ideal temperature for a “warm floor”.

Adjusting the boiler power allows you to achieve a certain temperature required for heating a room of a given area. It is also worth noting that such boilers are considered modular, since they consist of several channels independent of each other. In each of the channels there is the catalyst mentioned above, as a result, the coolant enters the heat exchanger, which has already reached the required value of 40? C.

Note! A feature of such equipment is that each channel is capable of producing a different temperature. Thus, one of them can be routed to the “warm floor”, the second to the adjacent room, the third to the ceiling, etc.

d.

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).

Why is it still not drowned with water?

Intermolecular water bonds arise and break much more easily than intramolecular ones. Therefore, it was decided to use them in heat transfer processes. Chemists have experimentally found that the energy of intermolecular bonds of water ranges from 0.26 to 0.5 eV (electron volts).

The problem is that to obtain fuel from water, it must be broken down into its components. In simple words, it needs to be decomposed into oxygen and hydrogen, then burn the hydrogen and get water again. Cleavage is achieved by passing an electric current through the liquid.

When boiling, water does not break into individual molecules, but only evaporates. Heating from normal combustion does not cause any other reactions in the liquid. Moreover, this process also requires a lot of energy, which could be used usefully. Eg:

• burning 1 kg of dry wood with a moisture content of no more than 20% gives about 3.9 kW;
• if the wood moisture level rises to 50%, then only 2.2 kW is released from 1 kg.

The decomposition of water to produce actual combustion requires significant energy expenditure. Much more of it is needed than will be released when the recovered elements are used again as fuel. An approximate ratio can be given:

• 100% of energy is for splitting;
• 75% of energy comes from burning recovered components.

It is the fact that the reverse reaction of released hydrogen and oxygen releases less energy that is the reason why water is still not used as a fuel for cars and other things. Economically, this method turned out to be unprofitable. It is more feasible to make fuel from garbage. It can be liquid, gaseous and solid.

Is there a "water" car?

In 2008, in Japan, a “water” car was presented by Genepax at an exhibition in Osaka. The fuel could be a glass of tap or river water, or even regular soda.

The device split the liquid into hydrogen and oxygen molecules, which began to burn and give the car energy to drive. Today it is known that the Genepax company went bankrupt and closed within a year.

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.

How to make a boiler yourself

Heating generators have a fairly lightweight design. With a certain level of skill, you can assemble the device yourself. At the same time, due to the explosiveness of the hydrogen mixture, such work requires extreme responsibility, knowledge of safety precautions and experience in installing such devices.

If you manufacture the device yourself, you will not be able to get rid of significant financial costs, since it is better to purchase some of the components ready-made. High risk makes you think about factory installations, for which manufacturers provide long-term warranties

The process of making a hydrogen boiler with your own hands can be divided into several stages.

Step No. 1 - execution of the drawing and preparation of materials . First of all, you should find similar projects on the Internet in order to use them to think about a device that would meet all conditions and possibilities.

It is necessary to accurately calculate all the indicators, and above all, the required power, and also decide on the materials that will be used to make the boiler. Ferromagnetic alloys are considered the best option, but a container made of stainless steel is quite suitable.

Although heating hydrogen generators may have different designs, the following details remain unchanged:

• 12-volt power source;
• the tank where the structure will be located;
• PWM controller with a power of at least 30 A;
• several tubes of different diameters made of stainless steel;
• steel sheet;
• hacksaw for metal;
• gas burner - preferably a ready-made one purchased in a store.

Step 2 - Create Electrolytes . To make the plates with which the electrolyzer will be equipped, you need to take a sheet of steel of medium thickness. Using metal scissors, a hacksaw or another tool, it is cut into equal strips of 18 or more pieces (the number must be even).

On the other hand, in each of them it is necessary to drill holes for the bolts that will be needed to hold these elements completely motionless in the electrolyte.

We divide all plates into anodes and cathodes; depending on this division, wires are connected to them, respectively transmitting positive and negative charges.

Using direct current is more efficient than using alternating current. It is best to use a PWM type generator as its source.

Step No. 3 - assembling the electrolyzer . The best material for the manufacture of this element is stainless steel. A reliable rectangular or square-shaped structure is welded from metal, after which water or a mixture of H2O with a catalyst is poured into it, and prepared plates with connected wires are placed.

Step No. 4 - connecting the burner . A burner is mounted at the top of the device - it is better to use a purchased model, which can be purchased at a specialized store.

Step No. 5 - installation and connection of the separator , which is necessary to separate hydrogen gases from the mixture.

Finally, a tube is laid through which H2 will rise to the burner, and elements are also connected that remove heat and distribute it throughout the house.

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).

Technical components of a heating system

The design of a hydrogen heating system is extremely simple and consists of two structural elements:

The boiler is the most important element in which the process of hydrogen production occurs. The boiler includes such structural units as:

• An electrolyzer is a device where the electrolysis reaction actually occurs, as a result of which water breaks down into oxygen and hydrogen. Its cavity is filled with water, in which metal plates with the highest current conductivity are placed. Special wiring is connected to them, through which current is supplied.
• Burner valve - located at the top of the device to make it easier for the resulting gas to overcome the barrier and flow directly into the burner.
• A burner is an element into which a spark is supplied and the resulting gas begins to burn, releasing heat.

Pipes - provide heat through water heating, which allows you to heat the entire house.

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.

What is needed to make a fuel cell at home

When starting to manufacture a hydrogen fuel cell, it is imperative to study the theory of the process of formation of detonating gas. This will give an understanding of what is happening in the generator and will help in setting up and operating the equipment. In addition, you will have to stock up on the necessary materials, most of which will be easy to find in the retail chain. As for the drawings and instructions, we will try to cover these issues in full.

Hydrogen generator design: diagrams and drawings

A homemade installation for producing Brown's gas consists of a reactor with installed electrodes, a PWM generator to power them, a water seal and connecting wires and hoses. Currently, there are several electrolyzer designs using plates or tubes as electrodes. In addition, you can find on the Internet an installation of so-called dry electrolysis. Unlike the traditional design, in such a device the plates are not installed in a container with water, but the liquid is supplied into the gap between the flat electrodes. Refusal of the traditional scheme makes it possible to significantly reduce the dimensions of the fuel cell.

Electrical circuit of the PWM controller

Schematic of a single pair of electrodes used in a Meyer fuel cell

Meyer cell diagram

Electrical circuit of the PWM controller

Fuel cell drawing

Fuel cell drawing

Electrical circuit of the PWM controller

Electrical circuit of the PWM controller

In your work, you can use drawings and diagrams of working electrolyzers, which can be adapted to your own conditions.

Selection of materials for the construction of a hydrogen generator

To manufacture a fuel cell, virtually no specific materials are required. The only thing that may be difficult is the electrodes. So, what do you need to prepare before starting work?

1. If the design you choose is a “wet” type generator, then you will need a sealed water container, which will also serve as the reactor vessel. You can take any suitable container, the main requirement is sufficient strength and gas tightness. Of course, when using metal plates as electrodes, it is better to use a rectangular structure, for example, a carefully sealed case from an old-style car battery (black). If tubes are used to obtain HHO, then a capacious container from a household filter for water purification will also be suitable. The best option would be to make the generator housing from stainless steel, for example, grade 304 SSL.

   Electrode assembly for a “wet” type hydrogen generator

   When choosing a “dry” fuel cell, you will need a sheet of plexiglass or other transparent plastic up to 10 mm thick and sealing rings made of technical silicone.

2. Stainless steel tubes or plates. Of course, you can take ordinary “ferrous” metal, but during the operation of the electrolyzer, simple carbon iron quickly corrodes and the electrodes will have to be changed frequently. The use of high-carbon metal alloyed with chromium will enable the generator to operate for a long time. The craftsmen involved in the manufacture of fuel cells spent a long time selecting material for the electrodes and settled on 316 L stainless steel. By the way, if tubes from this alloy are used in the design, then their diameter must be selected in such a way that when installing one part in the other there was a gap of no more than 1 mm between them. For perfectionists, we give the exact dimensions: - outer tube diameter - 25.317 mm; — the diameter of the inner tube depends on the thickness of the outer one. In any case, it must provide a gap between these elements equal to 0.67 mm.

   Its performance depends on how accurately the parameters of the hydrogen generator parts are selected.

3. PWM generator. A correctly assembled electrical circuit will allow you to regulate the frequency of the current within the required limits, and this is directly related to the occurrence of resonant phenomena. In other words, in order for hydrogen evolution to begin, it will be necessary to select the parameters of the supply voltage, so special attention is paid to the assembly of the PWM generator. If you are familiar with a soldering iron and can distinguish a transistor from a diode, then you can make the electrical part yourself. Otherwise, you can contact a familiar electronics engineer or order the production of a switching power supply at an electronic device repair shop.
   

   A switching power supply designed for connection to a fuel cell can be purchased online. They are manufactured by small private companies in our country and abroad.

4. Electrical wires for connection. Conductors with a cross section of 2 square meters will be sufficient. mm.
5. Bubbler. The craftsmen gave this fancy name to the most common water seal. You can use any sealed container for it. Ideally, it should be equipped with a tight-fitting lid, which will be instantly torn off if the gas inside ignites. In addition, it is recommended to install a cut-off device between the electrolyzer and the bubbler, which will prevent HHO from returning to the cell.

   Bubbler design

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6. Hoses and fittings. To connect the HHO generator you will need a clear plastic tube, inlet and outlet fittings and clamps.
7. Nuts, bolts and studs. They will be needed to attach the parts of the electrolyzer to each other.
8. Reaction catalyst. In order for the process of HHO formation to proceed more intensively, potassium hydroxide KOH is added to the reactor. This substance can be easily purchased online. For the first time, no more than 1 kg of powder will be enough.
9. Automotive silicone or other sealant.

Please note that polished tubes are not recommended. On the contrary, experts recommend treating the parts with sandpaper to obtain a matte surface. In the future, this will help increase the productivity of the installation.

Tools that will be required during the work process

Before you begin building a fuel cell, prepare the following tools:

• hacksaw for metal;
• drill with a set of drills;
• set of wrenches;
• flat and slotted screwdrivers;
• an angle grinder (“grinder”) with a mounted circle for cutting metal;
• multimeter and flow meter;
• ruler;
• marker.

In addition, if you build a PWM generator yourself, you will need an oscilloscope and a frequency meter to set it up. Within the framework of this article, we will not raise this issue, since the manufacture and configuration of a switching power supply is best considered by specialists on specialized forums.

Pay attention to the article, which shows other sources of energy that can be used to heat your home:

Pros and cons of heating

1. Absolutely environmentally friendly - water breakdown products (hydrogen, oxygen and steam) do not affect health even during combustion.
2. The maximum efficiency level, reaching 96%, is much higher than the same coal, diesel or natural gas.
3. The use of hydrogen as an alternative source of energy resources can significantly save reserves of exhaustible natural resources, reducing their production several times.
4. 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 hydrogen?

Hydrogen is a light gas that, when burned, produces heat several times greater than that of gas.
Its main advantage when used in a heating system is its relatively low combustion temperature (only 300°C). This allows the use of gas in a boiler made of traditional inexpensive types of metal.

The gas itself is colorless and odorless, and when combined with other chemical components, it does not form dangerous toxins harmful to human health. Therefore, its use in everyday life is extremely safe. The only danger is its increased level of explosiveness.

A story about heating a house with hydrogen

If gas is used incorrectly or comes into contact with an open source of fire,
an explosion may occur .

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.

Water seal and fuse

Pay your attention to figure No. 1 - there are two containers (I labeled them A and B), and a needle from a disposable syringe (B), all of this is connected by tubes from droppers. You need to pour water into the first container (A), this is a water seal

It is necessary so that the explosion does not reach the electrolyzer (if it explodes, it will be like a fragmentation grenade)

You need to pour water into the first container (A), this is a water seal. It is necessary so that the explosion does not reach the electrolyzer (if it explodes, it will be like a fragmentation grenade).

Figure No. 5 – Water seal

Please note that there are two connectors in the water seal cover (I adapted all this from a medical dropper), both of them are hermetically glued into the cover using epoxy glue. One tube is long, through which hydrogen from the generator should flow under the water, gurgle, and through the second hole go along the tube to the fuse (B)

Figure No. 6 – Fuse

You can pour both water (for greater reliability) and alcohol (alcohol vapor increases the combustion temperature of the flame) into a container with a fuse.

The fuse itself is made like this: You need to make a hole in the lid with a diameter of 15 mm, and holes for the screws.

Figure No. 7 - What the holes in the lid look like

You will also need two thick washers (if necessary, you need to expand the inner diameter of the washer using a round file), two plumbing gaskets and chocolate foil or an ordinary balloon.

Figure No. 8 – Sketch of a safety valve

It is assembled quite simply; you need to drill four coaxial holes in the iron washers, lid and gaskets. First you need to solder the bolts to the top washer; this can easily be done using a powerful soldering iron and active flux.

Figure No. 9 – Washer with screws

Figure No. 10 – Screws soldered to the washer

After you have soldered the screws, you need to put one rubber gasket on the washer and your valve itself. I used a thin elastic band from a burst balloon (this is much more convenient than putting on thin foil), although foil also fits quite well, at least when I tested my hydrogen torch for explosiveness, there was foil in the valve.

Figure No. 11 – Putting on the gasket and protective elastic band

Then we put on the second gasket and you can insert the protection into the holes made in the cover.

Figure No. 12 – Finished valve

Figure No. 13 – Protection elements

The second washer and nuts are needed to tightly and firmly fix the protection by tightening the nuts (look at Figure No. 6).

Please understand and take note that safety rules must not be neglected, especially when working with explosive gases. And such a simple device can save you from unpleasant surprises. The protection works according to the principle “where it’s thin, it breaks”; an explosion knocks out the protective film (foil or rubber band), and the explosive force does not go into the electrolyzer; moreover, the water seal also prevents this. Take my word for it, if the electrolyzer explodes, you won’t think it’s enough :)!!!

Figure No. 14 – Explosion

It should be understood that an emergency situation is inevitable. The fact is that the flame burns at the outlet of the nozzle (for which a needle from a disposable syringe is quite suitable) only because gas pressure is created (the pressure is agreed upon).

Figure No. 15 – Nozzle from a syringe, on a pedestal

For example, you are working with your burner and the light goes out, believe me! You will not have time to jump away from the burner, the flame will instantly go back through the tube and the explosion of the protective valve will thunder (it is needed so that it explodes and not the electrolyzer) - this is quite normal when the burner is homemade - be vigilant and careful, stay away from the hydrogen burner and wear personal protective equipment!

Personally, I’m not very enthusiastic about the hydrogen burner, I tried to make it only because I already had a ready-made electrolyzer. Firstly, it is very dangerous, and secondly, it is not very effective (I’m talking about my hydrogen burner and not about burners in general) and it was not possible to melt what I wanted with it. And therefore, if you came up with the idea of ​​​​making this type of burner, ask yourself a completely rational question, “is it worth it,” since assembling an electrolyzer from scratch is quite a troublesome task, and you also need a powerful power supply so that it is enough to match the hydrogen pressure and diameter of the outlet nozzle. Therefore, “if only it was”, I don’t recommend you do it, but only if you really need it.

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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.

Construction portal No. 1

A hydrogen boiler is a home heating device that uses hydrogen gas as fuel. Since this gas does not occur in nature in its pure form, hydrogen boilers are equipped with a special device for producing hydrogen from distilled water .

A hydrogen boiler for heating a private home is one of those solutions that is attracting a lot of attention today. On the Internet you can find many offers that promise enormous benefits to owners of such equipment, for example, a radical reduction in “heating bills.” Is this really so, and what a modern household hydrogen boiler can and cannot do, read our review.

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

Feasibility of the technique

The reason for installing a hydrogen heating system in a private home may be the lack of natural gas and the availability of electricity. At the same time, the costs of providing the building with heat are lower compared to the use of electric heating devices.

In addition, there is no need for pipes to remove combustion products. It turns out that a hydrogen installation can be used in country houses as an independent or additional heating equipment.

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.

Tips for using the boiler

To improve the functionality of the unit, it is important to follow the included instructions. You can improve the operation of the device by adding additional parts (you must strictly follow safety rules).

A flame sensor installed on the burner increases the safety of the system. When the fire goes out, the device automatically shuts off the flow of flammable gas into the burner, thereby preventing it from entering the room

You can install special sensors into the inside of the heat exchanger to monitor the increase in water heating rates, as well as supplement the burner design with shut-off valves.

It is enough to connect it directly to the temperature sensor so that the boiler automatically turns off as soon as the heating reaches the set value.

It is also useful to install a device for normalized boiler cooling.

Hydrogen devices can be used not only as the only heating equipment in the house, but also in combination with other heating systems. In this case, the main heating units can operate in low-temperature mode.

If operating standards are observed, a hydrogen-powered unit will serve for decades. Although the warranty period for such devices is 15 years, in practice they can work efficiently for 20-30 years.

Repairing such devices will not be difficult for an experienced technician, since the basic design of a hydrogen boiler is not too different from analogues operating on other types of fuel.

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.

Independent construction

Due to the fact that there is currently no mass production of such units, purchasing them is not an easy process. Most likely, you will have to place an individual order or negotiate the supply of equipment from Italy, where such devices were first developed and put into operation.

But not all consumers can afford such a solution to the problem. In this case, it is worth considering the possibility of building a boiler with your own hands.

How does a homemade hydrogen heating boiler work?

The hydrogen heating system consists of a generator, burner and boiler.

At the moment, no source can provide accurate and success-guaranteing instructions for constructing a hydrogen boiler. But according to the skills and experience of practicing chemists and technicians, such a unit should consist of the following components:

1. Heat exchanger.
2. Electrolyzer.
3. The combustion chamber.
4. Safety block protecting against “return” (with 2 stages).
5. Container with electrolyte and produced hydrogen. It should be made of alloy or stainless steel, and also be equipped with a valve with which you can relieve pressure in the system.

Operating principle of the boiler

Hydrogen begins to be produced after the electrolytic solution enters the electrolyzer. Under the influence of a catalyst with O2, the element is divided into heat and water. The resulting heat, which has a temperature of about 40 degrees, goes into the heating system, first passing through a heat exchanger. Very often, this temperature is enough to fully heat the house using heated floors.

The water released as a result of the chemical reaction enters the tank (with the electrolyte), and then a certain part of the solution undergoes spontaneous ignition due to the recirculation process.

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.

Types of electrolyzers

Let's briefly look at the design features of the main types of water splitting devices.

Dry

The design of a device of this type was shown in Figure 2; its peculiarity is that by manipulating the number of cells, it is possible to power the device from a source with a voltage significantly exceeding the minimum electrode potential.

Flow-through

A simplified design of devices of this type can be found in Figure 5. As you can see, the design includes a bath with electrodes “A”, completely filled with solution and a tank “D”.

Figure 5. Design of a flow electrolyzer

The operating principle of the device is as follows:

• at the entrance of the electrochemical process, the gas together with the electrolyte is squeezed into container “D” through pipe “B”;
• in tank “D” gas is separated from the electrolyte solution, which is discharged through the outlet valve “C”;
• the electrolyte returns to the hydrolysis bath through pipe “E”.

Membrane

The main feature of devices of this type is the use of a solid electrolyte (membrane) on a polymer basis. The design of devices of this type can be found in Figure 6.

Figure 6. Membrane-type electrolyzer

The main feature of such devices is the dual purpose of the membrane: it not only transfers protons and ions, but also physically separates both the electrodes and the products of the electrochemical process.

Diaphragm

In cases where diffusion of electrolysis products between the electrode chambers is not permissible, a porous diaphragm is used (which gives such devices their name). The material for it can be ceramics, asbestos or glass. In some cases, polymer fibers or glass wool can be used to create such a diaphragm. Figure 7 shows the simplest version of a diaphragm device for electrochemical processes.

Design of a diaphragm electrolyser

Explanation:

1. Oxygen outlet.
2. U-shaped flask.
3. Hydrogen outlet.
4. Anode.
5. Cathode.
6. Diaphragm.

Alkaline

The electrochemical process is impossible in distilled water; a concentrated alkali solution is used as a catalyst (the use of salt is undesirable, since this releases chlorine). Based on this, most electrochemical devices for splitting water can be called alkaline.

On thematic forums, it is advised to use sodium hydroxide (NaOH), which, unlike baking soda (NaHCO3), does not corrode the electrode. Note that the latter has two significant advantages:

1. Iron electrodes can be used.
2. No harmful substances are released.

But one significant drawback negates all the benefits of baking soda as a catalyst. Its concentration in water is no more than 80 grams per liter. This reduces the frost resistance of the electrolyte and its current conductivity. If the first can still be tolerated in the warm season, then the second requires an increase in the area of ​​the electrode plates, which in turn increases the size of the structure.

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.

Review of manufacturers

There is no fundamental difference among hydrogen generators for heating. The only criterion on the basis of which they can be differentiated is the power indicator of devices made from different materials.

Hydrogen boiler STAR-3.0

As an example, consider the characteristics of two similar American-made boilers, “HHO” and “Star 1000”:

1. In one hour, such a generator consumes 1.5-3 kW.
2. Water consumption - 5.5 liters per 24 hours.
3. Generates from 1.2 to 2 liters of fuel during the day.
4. Can be used to heat air in buildings with an area of ​​up to 250 square meters.
5. The minimum operational service life is 15 years.
6. The approximate cost on the domestic market is 3000-3500 USD.

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”.

Principle of operation

Hydrogen can be used to heat homes or as fuel for vehicles. In the first case, good efficiency can be achieved due to the high thermal conductivity of the substance. During the oxidation reaction, one oxygen atom combines with two hydrogen atoms, resulting in the formation of water. At the same time, approximately 3 times more heat is released compared to burning natural gas.

Among all the energy sources known to science today, this particular substance should be considered the most promising - two-thirds of the planet’s ocean floor consists of this substance, and in the Universe, in terms of distribution, only helium can compete with hydrogen. thus, an engine running on this fuel can be considered the best.

However, there is a rather serious problem - to obtain pure hydrogen, it is necessary to split water, and this is not the easiest process. Today, scientists believe that the easiest way to split water molecules is to use electrolysis. This process is known to every person from a school physics course: voltage with a high electrical potential literally breaks water molecules into their constituent elements.

As a result, a gas is formed with the formula HHO with a calorific value of 121 MJ/kg. It was named after the physicist Yu. Brown and does not emit any harmful substances when burned. The peculiarity of the substance is that for its use you can use the same containers that are used today as boilers for methane or propane. However, additional safety measures must be taken, since Brown's gas is a highly explosive mixture.

A hydrogen generator for a car consists of two main elements:

• electrolyzer
• rezeevuara.

The sealed container of the device contains pairs of electrode plates, and it itself is equipped with a gas outlet pipe, terminals, a safety valve, a water seal and a neck for filling water. This design makes it possible to eliminate the process of propagation of reverse combustion of Brown gas and achieve hydrogen combustion only at the outlet of the burner.

But the use of a classic hydrolyzer is unprofitable, since it involves significant consumption of electrical energy. However, a way out of this situation was found - currents of a certain frequency. As a result, water molecules come into resonance with electrical impulses and are split into components. Having assembled such a device, you can obtain fuel from water with your own hands.

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.