A Field Study of the Effects of the Hydrogen Generating System on Power, Fuel Economy and Emissions in Gasoline and Diesel Engines

The fractional addition of hydrogen to air entering the combustion chamber improves combustion and thermal efficiency, reduce gaseous emissions and decrease fuel consumption.  Hydrogen gas enhances the flame properties of the air-fuel mix and catalyzes the combustion of the hydrocarbon fuel.  Since 1993, a system to generate hydrogen and oxygen gases onboard through electrolysis of water has been developed and refined.  The energy for the electrochemical reactions is supplied from the batter/alternator circuit.  Hydrogen and oxygen gases produced by the system are never stored, but delivered to the air intake by a vacuum pump.  An electronic process controller varies energy input to maintain constant flow of gases produced while an electronic safety module ensures the safe operation of the system.  Performance impact has been documented for a full range of engine sizes, ages, fuel and vehicle types.  Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) were observed under loaded conditions on a dynamometer and no-load conditions at time of installation.  Percent opacity, a direct measure of carbon particles emitted in diesel engines, was also investigated.  Detailed fuel logs obtained from users and computer downloads were analyzed.  Power and torque were measured using a number of inertial and hydraulically loaded chassis dynamometers available in Edmonton and Calgary.