DIY hydrogen generator for home heating

Author: Semyon Fedorov

Last updated November 21, 2019

To get the required dose of oxygen, you often have to run to doctors asking for directions

• 1 Oxygen breathing apparatus at home: who needs it and why
• 2 Oxygen produced by the concentrator: effects on body cells
• 3 Oxygen generator for home: design and principle of operation
• 4 Types of oxygen concentrators and their inherent properties
• 5 Which oxygen concentrator is better to buy for home use: expert advice
• 6 Models of concentrators that are the best according to Tehno.guru editors
• 7 The most famous concentrator manufacturers present on the Russian market
• 8 Rules for using an oxygen breathing apparatus at home
• 9 Advantages of a concentrator over an oxygen tank for breathing
• 10 Oxygen concentrator for home use: reviews from owners
• 11 In conclusion

Oxygen breathing apparatus at home: who needs it and why?

Such a device is necessary for people suffering from the following ailments:

• bronchial asthma;
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);
• cystic fibrosis;
• cardiac or respiratory failure;
• pulmonary hypertension.

It is these diseases that prevent the normal saturation of the cells of the human body with oxygen. But even if there are no pulmonary or cardiovascular diseases, a home oxygen concentrator may be useful. In the conditions of gas pollution in modern large cities, a person begins to suffer from oxygen starvation. It is not clearly felt, but the state of the body can be judged by frequent headaches, chronic fatigue, and irritability. In this case, oxygen therapy will not hurt. It will become a source of good mood and a surge of strength. An oxygen installation for your home can help with one more thing: it can be used to prepare delicious and healthy cocktails, but more on that later. First, let's figure out what effect oxygen has on humans.

But such concentrators, in addition to inhalations, can also provide the most useful oxygen cocktails

Oxygen generator for home: device and principle of operation

The design of the device can be called quite simple. These are two cylinders filled with zeolite beads. The principle of operation of an oxygen concentrator is as follows: zeolite separates nitrogen molecules, allowing only pure oxygen to pass into the diffuser. The gas mixture produced by the device contains about 95% oxygen, which is more than enough to saturate the body's cells. In the circuit of such a device, it is necessary to have a compressor that forces air through the cylinders, a dryer, air filters and a humidifier. If you wish, you can assemble an oxygen concentrator with your own hands. You just need to find the zeolite that will fill the cylinders.

This is what the zeolite balls that fill the cylinders in oxygen generators look like

Such devices operate from rechargeable batteries or from the mains. The separated nitrogen is released back by the device, but its amount is so negligible that it cannot cause harm to others.

Having figured out how an oxygen concentrator works, let's try to look at the different types of similar devices and their properties.

Brown's gas and cars

At the moment, Brown gas generators are actively used in the car enthusiast market. We all know that fuel in an internal combustion engine does not burn efficiently. 40% of the fuel burns in a car engine and the remaining 60%, one might say, flies into the air. This system provides a strong increase in engine power, which allows you to save gasoline and also reduces the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere, which has a beneficial effect on our environment. Unfortunately, today hydrogen generators can practically only be used for cars. For the heating system, industrial generators cannot be used. They are still poorly adapted for this and not fully developed. Moreover, the choice in stores is very scarce and small.

Types of oxygen concentrators and their inherent properties

Such devices can be divided into 3 types, each of which has certain properties. Let's list them:

1. Universal or therapeutic oxygen concentrator.
2. Devices for home use.
3. Portable devices.

Let’s try to understand in detail what features each type has and how they differ from each other.

And this is a natural zeolite. Perhaps he will be the one to save someone's life

Medical (therapeutic) oxygen concentrators: purpose, scope of application

Medical devices are quite diverse - for providing first aid in emergencies, long-term pulmonary therapy. There are also devices for permanent installation. These are installed in therapeutic departments of hospitals and produce 5-10 liters of oxygen per minute.

Portable oxygen concentrators: what are they and who are they using?

Ambulances are equipped with portable devices to enable them to respond in emergency situations. Also, such devices are used by people who are prescribed daily inhalations, but at the same time the person leads an active lifestyle - goes to the forest, to the lake, to the river. In this case, a portable generator of much-needed gas will be simply irreplaceable. Even though it produces less than 5 liters of oxygen mixture per minute, in pulse mode this figure can increase to 6-7 liters.

This is what a portable oxygen mixture generator looks like

GOOD TO KNOW!

Pulse – mode of release of oxygen accumulated in a special reservoir, which is released by the device when inhaling.

A universal device: how does it differ from a medical device?

Medium power device (productivity – 5-6l/min). Suitable for both home and therapeutic use. Used in fitness centers and beauty salons.

Oxygen concentrator for home use: equipment features

The lowest power of the listed types. Productivity – only 1-3l/min. Suitable for inhalation at home, preparing oxygen cocktails. They are quite compact, the design is modern and aesthetic, and they are quite convenient to use.

Application area

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

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

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A hydrogen generator built using S. Meyer’s “Water Fuel Cell Technology” (that’s what his treatise was called) can be bought - many companies in the USA, China, Bulgaria and others are engaged in their production countries. We propose to make a hydrogen generator yourself.

Which oxygen concentrator is best to buy for home use: expert advice

When choosing a similar device and thinking about which oxygen concentrator is better for home use, you should pay attention to its performance and saturation of the gas flow. It must contain at least 70% oxygen. Otherwise, he is worthless.

The next parameter you should pay attention to is the size of the device. This is important for its correct placement. There is a rule - the concentrator cannot be placed at a distance closer than 30 cm from walls and heating appliances.

Next, let's pay attention to noise. Low-power devices are practically inaudible during operation, but those with a higher power rating are not so convenient in this regard. In any case, you should not purchase a device with a noise level above 35 dB.

Concentrators can be very compact - they are convenient to transport in a car

Oxygen cocktail at home: what is it for and how to make it

An oxygen cocktail can be consumed daily for preventive purposes. It is very suitable for children who find it difficult to sit still during inhalations. The cocktail has almost the same effect on the body's cells. If the concentrator has a function for preparing it, the process will not be difficult at all. Any juice without pulp is poured into the glass up to half, after which the tube of the device is lowered into it. The device turns on, and you don’t need to do anything else: after 3-4 minutes, the oxygenated cocktail is ready.

ICE on hydrogen fuel

For several decades, there has been a search for the possibility of adapting internal combustion engines for full or hybrid operation on hydrogen fuel. In Great Britain, back in 1841, an engine running on an air-hydrogen mixture was patented. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Zeppelin concern used internal combustion engines running on hydrogen as the propulsion system for its famous airships.

The development of hydrogen energy was also facilitated by the global energy crisis that erupted in the 70s of the last century. However, with its end, hydrogen generators were quickly forgotten. And this despite a lot of advantages compared to conventional fuel:

• ideal flammability of the fuel mixture based on air and hydrogen, which makes it possible to easily start the engine at any ambient temperature;
• large heat release during gas combustion;
• absolute environmental safety - exhaust gases turn into water;
• the combustion rate is 4 times higher compared to a gasoline mixture;
• the ability of the mixture to operate without detonation at a high compression ratio.

The main technical reason, which is an insurmountable obstacle to the use of hydrogen as a vehicle fuel, was the inability to fit a sufficient amount of gas on a vehicle. The size of the hydrogen fuel tank will be comparable to the parameters of the car itself. The high explosiveness of the gas should exclude the possibility of the slightest leak. In liquid form, a cryogenic installation is required. This method is also not very feasible in a car.

Universal diagram of a hydrogen generator

For those who do not have the ability to design, a hydrogen generator for a car can be purchased from folk craftsmen who put the assembly and installation of such systems on stream. Today there are many such offers. The cost of the unit and installation is about 40 thousand rubles.

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But you can assemble such a system yourself - there is nothing complicated about it. It consists of several simple elements combined into one whole:

1. Installations for water electrolysis.
2. Storage tank.
3. Moisture trap from gas.
4. Electronic control unit (current modulator).

Below is a diagram according to which you can easily assemble a hydrogen generator with your own hands. The drawings of the main installation producing Brown's gas are quite simple and understandable.

The circuit does not represent any engineering complexity; anyone who knows how to work with the tool can repeat it. For vehicles with a fuel injection system, it is also necessary to install a controller that regulates the level of gas supply to the fuel mixture and is connected to the vehicle’s on-board computer.

Reactor

The amount of Brown gas produced depends on the area of ​​the electrodes and their material. If copper or iron plates are used as electrodes, the reactor will not be able to operate for a long time due to the rapid destruction of the plates.

The use of titanium sheets looks ideal. However, their use increases the cost of assembling the unit several times. It is considered optimal to use plates made of high-alloy stainless steel. This metal is available, it will not be difficult to purchase. You can also use a used washing machine tank. The only difficulty will be cutting out the plates of the required size.

Types of installations

Today, a hydrogen generator for a car can be equipped with three electrolyzers that differ in type, nature of operation and performance:

1. Simple, cylindrical type. Produces 700 milliliters of gas per minute. This performance is sufficient for engines with a displacement of up to 1.4 liters.
2. With cells of separate type. It is the most efficient in terms of design and performance. The gas output exceeds 2 liters per minute. This volume allows it to be used in freight transport.
3. Electrolyzer with open plates. This design provides additional cooling to the system, as a result of which it can be used during long-term operation of the unit. The gas output is controlled by the number of reactor plates.

The first type of design is quite sufficient for many carburetor engines. There is no need to install a complex electronic circuit for a gas performance regulator, and the assembly of such an electrolyzer itself is not difficult.

For more powerful cars, it is preferable to assemble the second type of reactor. And for engines running on diesel fuel and heavy-duty vehicles, a third type of reactor is used.

Required performance

In order to truly save fuel, a hydrogen generator for a car must produce gas every minute at the rate of 1 liter per 1000 engine displacement. Based on these requirements, the number of plates for the reactor is selected.

To increase the surface of the electrodes, it is necessary to treat the surface with sandpaper in a perpendicular direction. This treatment is extremely important - it will increase the working area and avoid “sticking” of gas bubbles to the surface.

The latter leads to isolation of the electrode from the liquid and prevents normal electrolysis. Do not also forget that for normal operation of the electrolyzer, the water must be alkaline. Regular soda can serve as a catalyst.

Current regulator

A hydrogen generator on a car increases its productivity during operation. This is due to the release of heat during the electrolysis reaction. The working fluid of the reactor experiences heating, and the process proceeds much more intensely. To control the progress of the reaction, a current regulator is used.

If you do not lower it, the water may simply boil and the reactor will stop producing Brown gas. A special controller that regulates the operation of the reactor allows you to change productivity with increasing speed.

Carburetor models are equipped with a controller with a conventional switch for two operating modes: “Highway” and “City”.

The best concentrator models according to Tehno.guru editors

After reading many reviews on the Internet and considering the technical characteristics of many models, the Tehno.guru editorial team selected several of the best models. This should help our dear reader make the right choice without unnecessary hassle and hours of scouring the Internet in search of a good device.

"ARMED 7F-3L" - an oxygen concentrator with good functionality

This is what one of the best devices looks like - “ARMED 7F-3L”
“ARMED 7F-3L” is recommended not only for home use, but also for use in kindergarten, school, and fitness center. The productivity of the device is up to 3 l/min at an oxygen concentration of 93%. Device dimensions 480 × 280 × 560 mm, weight – 26.5 kg. Suitable for preparing oxygen cocktails. Here are some of its characteristics.

A little noisy, but overall a pretty decent unit. Here's what netizens say about him.

ARMED 7F-3L

"OXYbar Auto" - a product from the very famous brand "Atmung"

“OXYbar Auto” is one of the quietest and most compact devices.
A very quiet, lightweight and compact device. The kit includes an adapter for connecting in a car, which is very important for many on long trips. Weight only 5.2 kg. Today there are no such lightweight devices on the Russian market. The manufacturer claims that the device can operate around the clock. The maximum productivity of the unit is 6 l/min, but the oxygen concentration will be only 30%, which is not encouraging. With a performance setting of 1 l/min, the concentration is acceptable - 90%. Let's look at the characteristics of the device.

Thus, the device can be called not only the smallest, but also one of the quietest.

Atmung OXYbar Auto

"BITMOS OXY-6000" is a device with fairly good performance

"BITMOS OXY-6000" has good characteristics

"BITMOS OXY-6000" is the brainchild of German manufacturers. And, like any German technology, it is made of very high quality. It has a very convenient shape - it is a “suitcase” on wheels, which is very convenient with a weight of 19.8 kg. The dimensions of the device are 520 × 203 × 535 mm. There is a function for preparing oxygen phyto-cocktails. When the temperature rises, the flow rate drops, the oxygen concentration drops, the network turns off and microprocessor errors, the device sounds an audible signal. At a productivity of 1-4 l/min, the oxygen concentration reaches 95%. What about the characteristics?

BITMOS OXY-6000

HELPFUL INFORMATION!

The cost of such devices is quite high and not everyone can afford it. That is why today you can find many companies offering oxygen concentrators for home use for rent at very reasonable prices.

DIY hydrogen generator: instructions

We'll tell you how you can make a homemade generator to produce a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen (HNO). Its power is not enough to heat a house, but for a gas burner for cutting metal, the amount of gas produced will be sufficient.

Rice.
8. Gas burner diagram Designations:

• a – burner nozzle;
• b – tubes;
• c – water seals;
• d – water;
• e – electrodes;
• f – sealed housing.

First of all, we make an electrolyzer; for this we need a sealed container and electrodes. As the latter, we use steel plates (their size is chosen arbitrarily, depending on the desired performance), attached to a dielectric base. We connect all the plates of each electrode to each other.

When the electrodes are ready, they must be secured in the container so that the connection points for the power wires are above the expected water level. The wires from the electrodes go to a 12-volt power supply or car battery.

We make a hole in the lid of the container for the gas outlet tube. Ordinary 1-liter glass jars can be used as water seals. We fill them 2/3 with water and connect them to the electrolyzer and burner, as shown in Figure 8.

It is better to take a ready-made burner, since not every material can withstand the combustion temperature of Brown gas. We connect it to the output of the last water valve.

We fill the electrolyzer with water to which ordinary kitchen salt has been added.

Apply voltage to the electrodes and check the operation of the device.

The process starts with the creation of a hydrogen production cell. In terms of dimensions, it should be slightly less than the internal parameters of the length and width of the generator housing. In height it is 2/3 of the height of the main building. The cell is made of PCB or plexiglass (wall thickness 5-7 mm). To do this, 5 plates are cut to size, from which a rectangle is glued, and its lower part is not covered with anything.

Using a grinder, electrode plates are cut out of a stainless steel sheet. They should be 10 - 20 mm smaller in size than the side walls.

It is necessary to drill 2 holes in each plate: to supply water into the space between the electrodes and to remove Brown's gas.

Water supply and gas outlet fittings are inserted into the hardboard walls. The joints where they were connected are carefully treated with sealant. Studs are installed in one of the transparent body parts, and then they begin laying the electrodes.

The plates are secured from the sides of the reactor using O-rings, which can be made of silicone, paronite, or other material. Having laid the last plate, install the sealing ring, after which the generator is closed with a second hardboard wall. The resulting structure is fastened with washers and nuts.

The generator is connected to a container of water and a bubbler using polyethylene hoses. The contact pads of the electrodes are connected to each other, after which power is connected to them. The cell is supplied with voltage from a PWM generator.

Rules for using an oxygen breathing apparatus at home

The rules for using the device are quite simple. Let's try to consider the algorithm of actions.

1. Pour water into the humidifier (special container). Where it is located can be easily found out from the technical passport.
2. We attach a special mask or nasal cannulas to the device.
3. Turn on the device and put on the mask.
4. We regulate the oxygen flow according to the doctor’s indications.
5. We breathe for the required time.

HELPFUL INFORMATION!

If for the prevention of diseases a duration of inhalations of 20-30 minutes a day is sufficient, then in severe forms of COPD patients should be in an oxygen mask for up to 15 hours a day.

Advantages of a concentrator over an oxygen breathing tank

In fact, the can and the concentrator perform one function - replenishing the lack of oxygen. However, the canister has one very big drawback - the limited gas mixture, while the concentrator is capable of performing more fundamental treatment tasks. However, we must pay tribute to the spray can - sometimes, in certain situations, it can be a great help, and its compactness allows you to take it with you anywhere.

An oxygen cartridge will not replace a concentrator, but it can help out in an emergency

Hydrogen Generator Application Area

H2 is a modern energy carrier that is actively used in many industrial areas. Here are just a few:

• production of hydrogen chloride (‎HC)l;
• production of fuel for rocket launchers;
• ammonia production;
• metal processing and cutting;
• development of fertilizers for summer cottages;
• synthesis of nitric acid;
• creation of methyl alcohol;
• food industry;
• production of hydrochloric acid;
• creation of "warm floor" systems.

In addition, HHO has become very useful in everyday life, although with reservations. First of all, it is used for autonomous heating systems. In addition, Brown's gas is added to gasoline in an attempt to trick the engine and save on fuel.

Both cases have their own characteristics. So, when organizing home heating, you need to take into account that the combustion temperature of HHO is an order of magnitude higher than that of methane. In this regard, it is necessary to purchase a special, expensive boiler with a heat-resistant nozzle. Otherwise, the owner and his house will be in considerable danger.

As for using a generator in a car, sometimes the system can work - if it is designed correctly. But it is almost impossible to find ideal parameters or power increase coefficient. In addition, it is not entirely clear how much the service life of the engine will decrease, and replacing it will cost a pretty penny.

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Oxygen concentrator for home use: reviews from owners

It may seem that all reviews of oxygen concentrators for home use from well-known brands are ideal. In order not to mislead the dear reader, in this section the editors of Tehno.guru will provide not only laudatory, but also negative reviews. Believe them or not - it's up to you.

Oxymed F7-1

The problem is that the cost of devices of this type is quite high. This is precisely the reason for so few reviews about oxygen concentrators on the Internet.

Transport wheels on the device help you move it anywhere