Hydrogen Assist

Seeing this refreshes my memory on these systems, I'd debated them somewhere on here long ago...

The proponents of HHO, as they like to call it, often point to studies done a gasoline engines that showed some pretty dramatic increases in economy because the hydrogen allowed ignition of a much leaner mixture than gasoline. There were also other fairly significant modifications done to those engines to get the big gains (I don't recall exactly what, I'll try and find the thread tonight.) None of which transfers to a compression ignition engine. But that's typical of the snake oilers, just enough science to sound good if you don't take the time to study what they claim and use for proof.

And the other main thing; they always talk of how they are increasing the efficiency of the engine. The problem is, they always chase improvements in combustion efficiency, which is already fairly high in modern engines; the big inefficiency in engines is thermal, and the only way to change that is with structural changes to the engine. A bolt on doodad ain't gonna cut the mustard when it comes to major gains in efficiency.

If you want to see a fine example of the methods of a snake oil salesman, go waste some time reading the Ecotaz thread from a year or two ago.

 

That's what I was getting at earlier. You take 5hp from an alternator to produce 2hp worth of hydrogen. That's going to be a loss unless:

a) the hydrogen allows you to burn diesel much more efficiently

or b) the energy used to create the hydrogen would have otherwise been wasted (electric engine brake on grades, or converting wasted exhaust/coolant heat to electricity)


Neither of which is true for current systems. Instead you get (at best) anecdotal reports from people trying to justify their expenditure and who may have altered their driving style after plunking down a bunch of money for fuel economy.

 

Here you go Lepton, feel free to waste some time in here: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...rnative-fuels-forum/44955-hho-fuel-cells.html

 

Don't come here much anymore due to my own group on Facebook called 9+ MPG Club.

 

I experimented with hho in my diesel pickup and when i built a unit that worked the computer adjusted by the next day and erased my gains.
Then bought one of the high dollar setups for my c-12 cat and it did not work. We found out the man making them did not make them correctly on purpose so i took his HHO cell out and bought another from a competitor and used the old electronics from the first one with a few tweaks to make it work. I ended up going from 6.9 to 7.4 on mileage but it was hard to keep the thing from leaking hydrogen it seemed to always have a leak some where and if it leaked i lost gains for that day. Plus i had to add water to it every day or so.

I may have broke even by the time i got tired of it and took it off truck but im not sure. With that said i would not do it again unless they improve the technology and i can see one in a running truck working and making a deference. You can find one that works but there is a lot of people out there just trying to get your money with the HHO devices. Hydrogen garauge is the only ones i trust i think they still take advice from Bod Boyce he is the man that knows how to build them things and he helped me get mine going after the first guy sold me a lemon. I have looked at their new setup but im waiting to see if i can find some one actually using one before i spend the money on it again.

 

It's ok for small vehicles. Big trucks no.

 

I did not notice any power gains at all and as far as cleaner burning i did not know how to check for it at the time. It did not smoked before or after so could not go by that either.
I think it needs more development like you said and maybe it will be worth it.

I can get one now for about $1,700.00 which is a lot cheaper than what i payed for first one but im still waiting to see what the industry does plus with all these computers it makes it hard to see any gains any ways unless they can trick the computer.