Green Car Congress: Hydrogen-Enhanced Combustion Engine Could Improve Gasoline Fuel Economy by 20% to 30%

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Hydrogen-Enhanced Combustion Engine Could Improve Gasoline Fuel Economy by 20% to 30%

5 November 2005

An HECE test engine

Work being done by ArvinMeritor, IAV (Ingenieursgesellshaft für Auto und Verkehr) and MIT on enhancing gasoline combustion with a small hydrogen gas stream is pointing toward a potential estimated improvement in gasoline fuel economy of 20% to 30%, depending upon the baseline engine.

Writing in the October issue of MTZ (Motortechnische Zeitschrift), Utz-Jens Beister from IAV and Rudy Smaling from ArvinMeritor describe their progress with the Hydrogen-Enhanced Combustion Engine (HECE) concept, as applied to an SUV-class 3.2-liter V6 test engine.

The premise of HECE, on which the research collaborative has been working for a number of years, is that the addition of a small amount of hydrogen to the cylinder charge can allow homogeneous charge ultra-lean-burn combustion engines to operate much leaner than otherwise possible.

That in itself is not a new discovery. What brings HECE closer to operational reality is the ArvinMeritor/MIT on-board, compact plasma reformer (earlier post) that can take a fraction of the conventional fuel, reform it in real-time and add the resulting hydrogen-rich gas to the remaining fuel-air mixture flowing into the engine.

In the plasma fuel reformer, air is metered into a plasma generator located upstream of a combustor. High voltage is applied to the air stream, forming high-temperature plasma. This high-temperature plasma torch flows into the combustor, initiating vigorous combustion of a rich fuel-air mixture. Within the plasma fuel reformer, partial oxidation reactions occur in the high-temperature gas phase created by the plasma, eliminating the need for a reforming catalyst.

The shift of combustion limits with hydrogen-enhanced combustion.

Adding hydrogen gas to the homogeneous fuel charge improves the ignitability of the mixture, and increases flame speed and combustion stability. In theory, the combination of a lean-burn engine with the plasma reformer could support an ultra-lean and turbocharged engine that would reduce NO_x emissions to the point of not requiring aftertreatment in the exhaust stream.

Researchers at the Sloan Automotive Laboratory at MIT also discovered that both hydrogen and carbon monoxide (both products of the partial oxidation process of the reformer) act as octane enhancers. Adding the reformed fuel gas to the engine thus also supports a substantial increase in compression ratio.

Once an engine is developed that operates ultra-lean, is turbocharged—or super-charged—and is better able to withstand engine knock, engine downsizing while maintaining performance becomes a credible option that can lead to significant additional fuel economy and performance benefits.
—Beister and Smaling

Such an ultra-lean-burn, high compression-ratio, turbocharged HECE could exhibit the following characteristics:

Extremely low engine out NO_x emissions requiring little or no exhaust emissions control
Reduced pumping losses (~5-10% efficiency gain)
Improved thermodynamics (~10-12% efficiency gain)
Reduced friction (downsizing) (~5-8% efficiency gain)

ArvinMeritor is targeting release of the HECE for approximately 2008.

Resources:

November 5, 2005 in Concept Engines, Fuel Efficiency, Fuels, Hydrogen | Permalink | Comments (48) | TrackBack (0)

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So the small amounts of hydrogen used in this system are reformed onboard out of the gasoline fuel? Am I right that this system does not need an external hydrogen fuel supply?

Posted by: Jesse Jenkins | Nov 6, 2005 12:45:30 PM

That’s correct. The on-board reformer takes a little bit of the gasoline and converts it to the hydrogen-rich gas. No external H2 supply is used.

Posted by: Mike | Nov 6, 2005 1:54:03 PM

Thats so cool. Sci-fi stuff, accept without the fiction.

Posted by: Adrian | Nov 6, 2005 5:19:43 PM

20-30% more efficient? Isn't that called a `diesel'?

-mt

Posted by: Marshall | Nov 7, 2005 3:56:33 PM

"Adding hydrogen gas to the homogeneous fuel charge improves the ignitability of the mixture, and increases flame speed and combustion stability."

Correct me if i am wrong, how can H2 improve flame speed when H2 has a slower flame speed then gasoline?

"High voltage is applied to the air stream, forming high-temperature plasma."

So can a car alternator supply this kind of high voltage?

Posted by: rexis | Nov 7, 2005 4:38:02 PM

This development combined with the very interesting work Honda is doing on HCCI systems could continue to drive serious improvments in the basic ICE.

Were these technologies compatable (HCCI adds say 30% efficiency plus H2 injection adds another 20% efficiency) and soon you're seeing some very impressive numbers even before you add your start-stop and/or hybrid systems.

This could get your average passenger car from 25 mpg to 50 mpg without hybrid, and perhaps beyond 60 mpg with hybrid. Now put it on a diesel...

Posted by: Lance Funston | Nov 7, 2005 6:20:45 PM

Lance: Yes, if all the most efficient technologies were integrated in the same diesel engine, a compact car could easily do 80 + m/gal. This car already (almost)exist, a small super sleek roadster made in Germany, but only a few hundred were produced. It's called the JetCar and you may look it up on the WEB.

Posted by: Harvey D | Nov 8, 2005 5:39:01 AM

I ride to the shops every once in a blue moon on my bike just because its close enough. Otherwise all car.

Never do I see anybody jogging or even walking their dog.
Some dude in a magazine said that the generation before us walked something like 30 times more. Its not like they didn't have cars back then.

Maybe half the problem with the modernised world is people rely too much on automobiles when alternatives are just as good.

In conclusion, a further 10% saving in fuel if you do your daily meager shopping using a backpack and a bicyle.

Posted by: Adrian | Nov 8, 2005 8:19:25 AM

I believe the H2 system is for spark ignition ICE, because they mentioned improving flame speed. With hydrogen rich gas less fuel is needed to make the mixture explode inside the cylinders.

HCCI engines suppose no need to worry about flame speed because the ignition happened almost simultaneously(and here's where the efficiency come from).

H2 system on a HCCI engine. IMHO, will increase the efficiency by having a higher compression ratio. Because with H2 gas maybe the mixture can withstand greater compression before auto ignite.

Now put tat thing on a start stop hybird. And adjust the powerplant to drink diesel.

It can be done, nothing can't. All we need is lots of money and time.

20 years?

Posted by: rexis | Nov 8, 2005 10:08:40 PM

Harvey:

The JetCar is sort of a motorbike with roof. Just like the discontinued VW 1L if i remember correctly.

Posted by: rexis | Nov 9, 2005 4:23:43 PM

rexis:

It is a beautiful, aerodynamic, very light weight 4-wheel, very sleek, 2-passenger roadster with a 800 cc 3-cyl diesel engine, 6-gear transmission, max speed 160 Kmh, trunk space 181 liters, fuel consumption 2.5 liter/100Km, Co2 = 66 g/Km

Posted by: Harvey D | Nov 9, 2005 6:06:00 PM

Hydrogen injection in ICE engines has been around since at least 1920, patented. Many companies produce electrolyzers for vehicles, spark ignition and diesel. Hydrogen Boost offers hydrogen injection and other mileage enhancement devices and procedures. We have achieved 100 mpg on three vehicles. Two are 4-5 passenger cars in mileage competition type driving conditions and the third is a two wheeled enclosed vehicle called a personal transport vehicle seen on the bottom of this page www.hydrogen-boost.com/tech-info.html driving at normal highway speeds.
50-60 mpg in my Hydrogen Boosted Saturn SL1 is common.

Posted by: Fran Giroux | Nov 10, 2005 6:24:15 PM

While I've long argued that the hydrogen fuel cell technology is a waste of time, I haven't argued against hydrogen as a fuel or fuel-enhancer applied to Hybrids. The 'Plug-in' hybrid drive train is still the most practical and advantageous vehicle technology. Vehicles need weight to perfect handling, stability and crash tests. Adding the weight of plug-in batteries is desirable for this vehicle safety factor and creates an invaluable homepower supply. Energy corporations do not wish to have their cash cow gored and so oppose Plug-in Hybrids.

I argue that 'Start-Stop' Hybrids should not be classified as true hybrids. The 'start-stop' feature produces minimal fuel economy and emission reduction. It is the automobile industry's idea for maintaining bumper-to-bumper gridlock.

Posted by: Wells | Nov 14, 2005 12:57:27 PM

As I presently own a gasoline powered vehicle, to utilize the hydrogen fuel cell technology, would necessitate the purchase of a new vehicle, which I am not prepared to do.
For this reason, I have been searching for an alternative and practical way to use hydrogen as a fuel. A Canadian company has developed an on board hydrogen generator to inject a hydrogen additive to the fuel line and enhance the mileage by as much as 20-25%, using only water in a holding tank. This has been the closest anyone has come, so far,to what I am looking for, however, I would like to cut the gasoline out of the equation altogether. Everyone seems to be plunging into developing a better fuel cell- why is no one looking at a way to develop an on board system to efficiently produce only the hydrogen necessary to fuel an internal combustion vehicle as it runs. No hydrogen storage tanks-liquid or compressed-just water tanks. I read about a car an Israeli company is developing but the changing of a large coil at regular short intervals seems to be required and seems quite cumbersome. It involves service stops to vacuum out metabolic waste as well. Perhaps if someone was to use a voltage inverter on one of these mileage enhancing devices he may come closer to my dream.

Posted by: Carl Dunphy | Nov 18, 2005 6:40:38 PM

"Produce the hydrogen required to fuel the vehicle on board; just water tanks" So what do you plan to use as a power source? Or would this be a highly advanced perpetuummobile?

Posted by: paul | Nov 20, 2005 7:50:13 AM

Yes, from water and using power from the existing generator. Such a small amount of hydrogen is needed that this is possible. See this post at The Energ Blog about the hydrogen fuel injection(HFI)system.

Posted by: Jacque | Nov 20, 2005 2:53:30 PM

I work for a company that installs HFI units on diesel trucks and on the right engine it works brilliantly however older Cat engines do not seem to be taking to this system that well! Interesting to see a company like Arvin-Meritor developing hydrogen fuel systems for use in gasoline applications!

Posted by: jp | Nov 26, 2005 4:44:37 PM

i did not catch it ... how can h2 being produced on-board ????

Posted by: musa | Dec 17, 2005 10:35:48 AM

I wonder if the high pressure burn will burn valves/cylenders etc.

Posted by: scott | Dec 28, 2005 9:14:48 PM

Wow! I just read most of what is blogged here and... wow. We the people are Not the brightest bulbs on the shelf, are we? Most of what has been written here is true, as I know it first hand. However the inf. here is fragmented in each comment posted. Put it all together, do a little research, spend about 3 years of your life experimenting, experimenting and designing, and designing, and you too can have this device for your vehicle that will not only reduce emmissions, but also increase your mileage as well. Look forward to hearing about it hopefully this year.. 2006 IF we, the small guy, don't get shut down by the EXXONs of the world! 25 billion dollar profit in the last quarter!! Damn!

Posted by: Ron | Feb 3, 2006 3:01:27 AM

I have personally experimented whith hydrogen for ten years now, and finally, It looks as if the govt is gonna back us little guys for a change.

Well here goes. I have a kit perfected, you can expect an increase of 20 to 40% in your milage and reduce your toxic exaust way below Cal. Standards I am seeking investors or a grant to mass produce my kit. It should cost less than 500 per vehicle and will not burn vales, it will clean your internal combustion engine (I.C.E.) and make your fuel burn better, a cleaner engine that is stronger and envirionmentally friendlier too.
jerrymaulden@peoplepc.com

Posted by: jerry Maulden | Feb 10, 2006 2:19:57 PM

I have followed links all over the internet and read posts by yea- and nay-sayers. Here's the skinny. It takes more fuel to create the hydrogen than the energy released by its burn. However, its presence in the fuel mix changes the dynamics of the combustion in the cylinder, causing it to complete more rapidly, and therefore creating high pressure for a greater percentage of the power stroke. This accounts for the increase in HP and overall energy efficiency.

These conclusions are well documented by tests at JPL and numerous universities around the world.

Nuf said?

Posted by: Richard E Reed | May 10, 2006 8:20:41 AM

Adding only hydrogen to a conventional I.C.E. will destroy the engine because of its differences with gasoline. It will however make a good additive to the combustion equation.
My question is will adding hydrogen into the air intake manifold of the I.C.E. be acceptable or will the high heat from the cylinder head valve inlet ignite the hydrogen upon combustion chamber entry. I am worried this will cause a backdraft into the hydrogen feed source. it is one of the final details i am working on for my fuel cell design.

PS Jerry Mauldin email me and we'll trade design notes

Posted by: Viking | May 12, 2006 2:23:08 AM

Hello All,

Yes.Hydrogen generated ONBOARD from the engine fuels and added in small quantities to both diesel and gasoline fuels
greatly change the FLAME SPEED and also the COMBUSTION KINETICS.This calls for advanced injection timing and spark advance to take advantage of higher thermal efficiencies.The CLEAN BURN reduces almost all emission components including 25% reduction in NOx from the diesels with much improved power,smoother engine.The fuel economy greatly improves from minimum 10% to maximum 30% depending upon base engine condition.Generally advanced fuel injection timing create knock problems and also increase NOx level .Hence the modern trend is to add Exhaust Gas Recirculation with Turbo Charger and retard injection timing to reduce NOx.This results in fuel penalty and the EGR reduces the engine life such as valves etc.The CLEAN COMBUSTION greatly reduces the EMISSION LOAD on the exhaust catalytic convertors,diesel soot traps,diesel soot oxidising catalyst and prolongs the regeneration cycle.Also with the size of the exhaust gas treatment system can be reduced due to clean combustion and the engine back pressure is improved.Costlier NOx adsorber catalysts that necessarily require Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel can be dispensed with and we can conviniently use diesel with 300 ppm sulfur level.

Over thousands of units manufactured by HYDRODRIVE in INDIA are now retrofitted to cars,SUVs,Buses,Trucks,Ship Engines,Diesel Power Generators.Known as " HYDRODRIVE ELECTRONIC CATALYTIC CONVERTOR cum ONBOARD FUEL SYNTHESIZER" having U.K Patent Grant,Indian Patent Grant with rights recorded in the USA,CANADA,JAPAN,CHINA,PHILIPPINES and in other countries it is also working with many vehicles and engines in India,Philippines,China and in few sian Countries.

It just costs onlt Euro 150 only and is retrofitted after the diesel fuel filter and before the fuel pump intake.The vehicle's existing battery power is just sufficient to PLASMA CATALYSE the fuels.

This REVOLUTIONARY TECHNOLOGY still puzzles the world fuel system leaders and fuel system manufacturers like BOSCH,DENSO,LUCAS,DELPHI who have introduced CRDI TECHNOLOGY recently.

While CRDI technology changes the FUEL'S MOLECULAR LAYER due to HIGHER PRESSURE,the PLASMA CATALYSIS of fuel generates EXCITED SPECIES and HYDROGEN IN MINUTE QUANTITIES altogether CHANGE FUEL PROPERTIES and the COMBUSTION KINETICS.

MORE DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE AT:

http://www.hydrodrive.8k.com/Electronic Catalytic Convertor.htm
http://www.freewebs.com/newcombustionkinetics/index.html

http://www.hydrodrive.8k.com/toc.htm

http://www.freewebs.com/hydrodriverevealations/index.html

The ONBOARD HYDROGEN generation and ADDITION TO THE FUELS by PLASMA CATALYSIS will be MUCH ECONOMICAL and PRACTICAL SOLUTION for the SEVERAL BILLIONS OF CARS for improving their FUEL ECONOMY and EMISSION REDUCTIONS.

When HYDROGEN is generated from HYDROCARBON FUELS,only as on date it is immaterial HOW HYDROGEN is used for CLEAN COMBUSTION as this technique does not require hydrogen storage and the cost of hybrid components.

Posted by: GOPALAKRISHNAN | Jun 25, 2006 1:02:58 AM

I have one more question. I want to install LPG kit in my car.
I suppose that hydrogen additive to lpgas increase mileage too. I'm right or no?

Posted by: Bridge | Jul 1, 2006 3:39:03 AM

What amount of electricity is needed to seperate the hydrogen in the water?

Thanks,

Yours truely Jory

Posted by: Jory | Jul 2, 2006 7:22:30 PM

To all you piston heads, think about this. If hydrogen does its work in just 2% of the crank stroke and hydro boost and gas mix dose its work in 12 to 14% of the power stroke why not design a new cam to open up the exaust valve at say 20% of the stroke or 36 degrees so as not to cause a negative air pressure and allowing exhaust gasses to inter that cylinder and perhaps make even cleaner exhaust. Not only that but hydrogen is not so perticular to air fuel mixture as gas is, it will burn quite nicely on a 33:1 air fuel mixture. Also on the compression stroke, again hydrogen doesnt need as much air to explode and you loose a lot of power on the compression stroke, so open the exhaust valve again for minimum compression, and you have a more echonomical engine. Food for thought. Nathan

Posted by: Nathan | Jul 24, 2006 12:34:56 PM

OK, I work for a Hydrogen company. We sell after-market units that simply strap onto a truck or car and inject the hydrogen into the intake/pre-turbo. Look, here's the truth... It takes a lot of power to convert the water to hydrogen, that comes off your alternator.. and so the power needed to make the gas does not equal the output, a little more power.. maybe a better clean air. I have been doing this 4 years..! Check out the sites, where is the Legal proof of these savings.. look at the small print.. it's all inside testing, www.hy-drive.com/main/default.asp or www.dynamicfuel.com

Posted by: Mike | Aug 24, 2006 11:22:18 PM

Wouldnt the water produced from burning Hydrogen cause corosion, shorting the life of the engine a great deal?

Posted by: Chris | Feb 9, 2007 7:43:44 PM

New patented technology of high performing and efficient hydrogen production by plasma assisted electrolysis of water or ethenol(or any hydro-carbon) water mix will be on the way to increase the chance of hydrogen incorporation to whatever type of combustion engine. It is expected that it will particularly useful for heavy vehicals, marine engine, diesel generator. The only problem is find a water storage tank space for small vehicals.

Posted by: Thomas Chang | Mar 20, 2007 9:05:08 PM

What I’d really love to see is a diesel prius with the great device above (which should be on every combustion engine in the country) and solar panels.

I bet it’d easily win the megabuck for a commercially viable 100 MPG car.

BTW, how much work is it to install this device as an aftermarket item for a commercially available car? If I bought a prius and installed this, would I be able to easily remove it when the car needed servicing? (I don't want to void the warranty, so want to keep it unknown to the dealer.)

Thanks.

Posted by: Misanthropic Scott | Apr 24, 2007 11:45:11 AM

I was looking to see if there is a Hydrogen fuel cell kit for a 2005 Ford Explorer.

Posted by: Martin | Jun 5, 2007 8:16:18 AM

Guys, a well known Japanese inventor, Yoshiro Nakamatsu, invented hydrogen injection 30 years ago.
It was patented and called Enerex.

Info is available on the web.

Posted by: Chad Kincham | Jul 3, 2007 5:40:25 PM

I've started investigating the use of hydrogen-enhanced combustion. Is it just for the use in diesel engines? Can this be added to the intake on a regular gasoline engine? I think this could greatly improve the fuel economy on all the vehicles that are in production today.

Posted by: Clifford Tornow | Jul 14, 2007 4:48:36 PM

how come no one talks about daniel dingle's car thats
been running on water for years let's just find his
device .

Posted by: charles | Aug 25, 2007 1:18:55 PM

I designed a 3liter inline 6 twin turbocharged intercooled HYDROInjection, with no throttle, 12 injectors, and 425 hp. NO PETROL. ALL HYDROGEN. patent pending.

it uses 2 CT20 Ceramic Turbochargers designed by toyota
12 750CC injectors that are programmed with a homemade ECU
The TPS (throttle position sensor) was relocated to the pedal, injectors are placed on intake runner. There are 4 alternators placed on the DRIVESHAFT, and located in in trunk running off of the drive shaft. The hydroinjection is used right after the exhaust stroke to decrease cylinder temperature and predetination substantially. I installed a 54mm choke that only turns on <55degree ambient temp. Hydrogen production is less that satisfactory if vehicle is driven for short distance (Can fill a 10 kilo tank in about 2 1/2 hours. The engine was sleeved, never blown a cylinder.

o, and the base engine block I used was a 2jz-GTTE twin turbo from Toyota.

Posted by: logan henthorn | Sep 5, 2007 7:27:41 AM

Some people are users, some are tinkerers, some are invertors, and the rest just want it to work and improve cost per mile of what ever the fuel is in our engine.
Some year back I came up by accidentally to a new fluoropolymer product that could be structured in a way to make air filters or auxillary separation filters that will take ambient air and with electrical current applied, separate air into O2 and N2(with all of the other minute gases). Two issue were presented. Sufficient surface and flow, and sufficient current to charge the large surface area required to generate a supplement O2 that would bring the combustion air volume O2 ratio from 19.5% up to 28%. The exhaust NOX stuff will diminish. 36% is possible but extensive re-engineering of the I.C.E. it is applied to would be required to keep from component heat degradation.
Fuel combustion efficiency will increase. Engine temps will increase slightly as the heat generated will be increased but the power produced to move a defned vehicle weight is achieved with less fuel volume and engine rpm. Adding Hydrogem will do similar positive and negative things to the engine and associated processes. Combine these two technologies and the power derived at a stated rpm will increase thus requiring a lower rpm to achieve the power needed to move a defined weight vehicle. Best of all the emissions will be reduced in the exhaust. The one other area that has to be addressed is the heat recovery from the exhaust to aid in the efficient burn cycle. That has some aftermarket technolgies available also.
To achive the best integrated retorfit to the I.C.E. we all have in our cars, we need to have these technologies in the design applied. Collaboration?????

Posted by: Lance | Nov 2, 2007 6:48:50 AM

It amazes me the available technologies for greater fuel efficiency, which are not being applied. Here's an article about a better engine:

http://www.wafreepress.org/73/gasEngineUseDiesel.htm

Posted by: James Bauernschmidt | Nov 26, 2007 11:17:01 AM

here is a question that no one seems to be addressing. the water in the vehicle will freeze at 32*F. how can this system work then?

Posted by: don | Dec 29, 2007 9:23:13 AM

Adding pure ammonia NH3 to the water in the winter will keep the system from freezing and actually enhance hydrogen production. That's three hydrogens per nitrogen and releases just as easily under electrolysis. Make sure you don't use ammonia with additives though.

Posted by: Pangonlin | Jan 2, 2008 2:58:42 PM

Could the water used to produce the Brown's gas be recovered from the steam in the exhaust? And could the steam heat be used to heat the fuel pre-injector to levels above engine coolant temperature?

If the steam were to be removed pre-catalyst, wouldn't that also improve(decrease) the NOx levels by getting the steam out of the way of NOx to catalyst contact? This would bring the technology to a user-friendly marketing status that vested interests could no longer suppress.

Sure the government would lose tax revenues from fuel sales, "Big Oil" would lose sales revenue, and the auto parts industry would later lose revenue from replacing worn engine parts due to carbon buildup and oil consumption from exhaust heat valvetrain stress. Even they couldn't countermarket the immediate cost and long term ecological benefits of a hands-off user friendly "Green" aftermarket upgrade to your current vehicle!

If most any local mechanic could install this system and the user did nothing but fill up the gas tank, I'm sure we would see an explosion in interest across all consumer income levels. Maybe gas prices would also drop due to the economic law of (increased)supply and (decreased)demand. This would greatly assist low income families struggling to survive in a war stressed gas-high economy. It would be awesome if someone could use the money I don't have to implement and test such a system.

I can almost hear my local mechanic's advertisement on the radio - " Bring me your car and I will make it Green for you. You will never have to lift your hood. Just put gas in it and go." Sounds too good to be true.

I'd still check it out.

Posted by: Steven Beard | Jan 4, 2008 8:39:21 PM

20-30% more efficient? Isn't that called a `diesel'?

-mt
=================================
In gas mileage yes, but not in performance.

Posted by: Techie | Feb 29, 2008 7:08:25 PM

There's an argument going on at another website that I'm on.

We're three years on from the original article, and the question is very simple: "Does this concept work".

I think I know what the answer is, but I need someone else to confirm my suspicion.

Posted by: Brian P | Mar 2, 2008 2:50:18 PM

Brian P what's the other web site? There is no net gain from generating H2 using the alternator. It will be lost as soon as you charge your battery. There is some dispute about the plasma theory. It is possible that the fuel burns more efficiently when small amounts of H2 are added in combination with the plasma chamber. To get these benefits you would need a whole new electronic engine management system, so as a DIY project it may not be very easy.

Posted by: soft2 | Mar 3, 2008 1:14:24 PM

I've been reading front and back on this, looking up sellers and different types of systems.

So far, and after questioning some of the sellers about the "Long Term Effect of HHO in the Engine" their responses have all been positive...cleaner inside and out.

A real shame this is not widely known.

I would still like to hear from someone who is currently using the system, and has been for at least a couple of years...how is the engine running now?

Is the timing affected in any way, how about the plugs?

I'm seriously considering buying one of the books on how to do it yourself, and test it out!

I know there is plenty of research, but non that I have found talks about the long term effect?

I'll keep on reading!

Posted by: clash | Mar 10, 2008 4:43:17 PM

I just ran across this site and in the hopes of getting others to convert I want to post some of my experience. I have modified a 91 Toyota Previa to the point that it is giving me almost 40MPG (from about 21 MPG prior to mods). I have done numerous mods with the goal of doubling mileage. Here is a quick summary of the mods:

1) I used an MVP voltage stabiler/grounding system to improve electrical conditions ($200)
2) I used performance spark cables and Platinum +4 plugs ($200)
3) I added a RAM cold air intake ($50)
4) I added some vortex control wings to improve aerodynamics (based on an australian design)
5) I added an EFIE controller, a wideband O2 sensor and digital Air/fuel monitor to control the ECUs interpretation of exhaust gas ($360)
6) I added a damp air bubbler (home made) to the air intake (cools engine and improves combustion) ($30)

--
Just using these mods and after learning to play with the EFIE I gained about 4 MPG. These mods were all prep for using a hydrogen electrolyzer. After researching for a long time (about a year) I designed a multi cell, single plate system based on the boyce concept combined with some ideas from others. I experimented with various designs before mounting something on the engine as for me this has been a major learning process.

7) Added a home made 6 cell, single plate hydrogen system delivering HHO to air intake. ($240 - seamless SS is expensive)

The addition of the hydrogen system was amazing. It has taken me a while (it's been running for about 7 months) to understand how it works and learn to adjust the EFIE correctly but now that I have it down I'm excited about the possibilities. I'm still learning and suspect that perhaps adjusting the timing a bit will give me even better mileage but I haven't done this yet.

My next experiment is going to be to get a cheap used car to convert it to running 100% on HHO. I have a few designs and have been studying other experiences.

Eventually I'll put all this out on the web somewhere to help others. The point is that for those of you that are skeptical this stuff really works. If we all get on the bandwagon and start doing these things we will kill the monster (the oil companies and auto industry). The cool thing is that in theory every single car on the market can be modified to work this way NOW. Think of the possibilities!

Posted by: John B | Apr 25, 2008 6:57:30 AM

Now, I also have a spreadsheet that compares the net financial result between never refinancing, refinancing every 5 years and keeping a target of paying all loans off in 360 months from the time you bought, and refinancing every 5 years but making the minimum payment. In the majority of cases, the last situation comes out better, largely due to the effects of leverage , but leverage is always a two- edged sword. If things go the way you want, it makes them even better. If things don't go the way you want,...

Posted by: lease option | Apr 26, 2008 12:04:37 PM

"Adding hydrogen gas to the homogeneous fuel charge improves the ignitability of the mixture, and increases flame speed and combustion stability."

Correct me if i am wrong, how can H2 improve flame speed when H2 has a slower flame speed then gasoline?

"High voltage is applied to the air stream, forming high-temperature plasma."

So can a car alternator supply this kind of high voltage?
===================================
O.k., I'll correct you. H2 is not the only thing in the air, it is H2 and oxygen and on top of that, some gas. The burn speed is many times faster than gas.

Make a ziplock baggie of HHO gas and ignite it in your garage. It will or almost will blow the windows out of your garage door.

That simple experiment will prove that out real quick. ;-)

Posted by: Ray | Apr 30, 2008 7:19:00 AM