SeaMonkey

Whether or not the EFIE is needed or is beneficial
is somewhat controversial.

Most who use boosters without the EFIE find that
it takes the automotive computer some amount
of time to adapt to the hydrogen boosting. Once
the computer "learns" how the fuel combustion has
changed it then makes adjustments which result
in increased miles per gallon. It may take a few
weeks for the computer to make those adjustments
since part of their "programming" is to not make any
changes rapidly until the "trend" is fully evaluated.

While we all would like to see instant results with
our hydrogen boosters, often we must exercise some
patience with the electronically controlled systems.

They do respond in time.

HERE is a possible DC to DC Converter for
the project you are working on.

Mouser Electronics carries these units:

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It may. Even small amounts of Hydrogen and
Oxygen will benefit the engine.

For producing large quantities of the gases the
series plate configuration cannot be made small.

A low voltage parallel plate pairs configuration is
more effective and much easier to fabricate.

None-the-less, please keep us informed of your
progress and your experience with hydrogen boosting.

Excellent question!

Yes, it can be somewhat confusing trying to
determine current density in the electrolytic
cells.

In your case each plate is approximately 13
square inches. Each plate is part of a series
connection in the "Smack Booster" configuration
so the Current Density will be based upon the
cross-sectional area of each individual plate.

Therefore, with plates that size (13 square inches)
the ideal current density (150 milliAmperes/sq. in.)
would limit your safe maximum current to
only about 2 Amperes for a power consumption of
approximately 24 Watts.

(13 X 0.15 = 1.95)

In order to operate at 15 Amperes of current the
plate surface area would have to be 100 square
inches to enable a current density of 150 milliAmperes
per square inch.

That is the drawback of the series plate configuration.

If your plate pairs were parallel connected instead
(8 Anodes and 8 Cathodes) then they'd be able to
carry a total current of 15 Amperes.

(8 plate pairs X 13 sq. in. X 0.15 Amperes = 15.6 Amperes)

Parallel connected plate pairs are low voltage (2 ~ 3 Volts)
and therefore require a DC to DC Converter to "transform"
the 12 Volts/4 Amperes down to 3 Volts/15 Amperes at a
power consumption of approximately 45 Watts.

Fortunately, DC to DC Converters which are capable of
doing this are now quite inexpensive and very tiny.

And by all means, please continue to keep us all informed
of your progress with this project. There is much to be
said for the benefits of "hydrogen boosting" of the
automobile engine.

First, you should be congratulated for having the
curiosity and where-with-all to perform such testing!

Rudolf Gunnerman some years ago developed a fuel
for internal combustion engines which was half water
and half benzene (naptha.) It worked very well in
engines which were "modified" to use it.

If you were able to increase the compression ratio of
your small engine to 10:1 or higher your alcohol/water
mix would perform even better. The next thing you
would need to do is put in a "hot" ignition system
(plasma) to better ignite the water based fuel.

You are achieving "water injection" in the best possible
way - putting the water directly into the fuel. With
higher compression and hotter spark you wouldn't need
to make the mixture "rich" by using the choke.

As you've discovered, it is best to pre-warm the engine
before using the water/alcohol fuel mix. Running it for
a few minutes on gasahol (E-85) to get it up to temperature
is a good approach.

Your alcohol/water fuel should be pollution free and very
clean burning according to the research of Rudolf Gunnerman.


Interesting Reading

More Here

Stainless steel contains a percentage of iron
which accounts for the brown deposit or coloration
which has formed on the Anodes. When Oxygen is
liberated at the anode surface by means of electrolysis
it first appears as atomic oxygen which is its most active
form. It will oxidize any readily available substance while
in this state, before it forms into a molecule with another
atom, and the iron of the stainless steel is the most
easily oxidized substance available to it. Iron oxides are
brown as "rust" or red-brown.

Before using stainless steel plates in an electrolytic cell
they must first be "passivated" to remove the iron from
the alloy which is near the surface. This can be done with
Citric Acid or it can be done in a dilute solution of salt water.

If you use salt water for "passivation" apply power to the
plates while immersed; at the anodes chlorine will be
liberated which will preferentially combine with the iron to
for soluble iron chloride. Apply only enough power to get
moderate bubbling and let it "work" for two hours. As
the salt water solution gets "dirty" with coloration, change
it and continue for two hours more. Once done, (4 hours total)
rinse the plates thoroughly in fresh distilled water to remove
all traces of the saline solution and they're ready to be used
in your electrolyzer.

Then the plates must be "conditioned" within the Sodium or
Potassium Hydroxide electrolyte solution. Operate the plates
for about 24 hours with only moderate bubbling during which
time the anodes will become coated with an oxidized catalytic
layer (white) which will greatly enhance their efficiency. Once
conditioned the electrolyzer can be operated at full power
and the electrolyte solution should remain clear and the
plates should not change color.

Cr(vi) compounds are widely used in the chrome plating
business are aren't extremely dangerous when handled
with care. The principal danger from Cr(vi) compounds is
inhalation into the lungs such as in the near vicinity of the
chrome plating bath while it is bubbling vigorously.

You have no reason to be fearful of any Cr(vi) formation
in your electrolyte solution unless you operate the electrolyzer
at very high current levels (in excess of 250 milliAmperes per
square inch of plate area.) At safe current densities the
chromium within the stainless steel alloy remains inert and
the electrode plates are not eroded.

The recommended current density for stainless steel electrode
plates in an electrolyzer is 150 milliAmperes per square inch
maximum. If current is limited to that density then the plates
will last for many, many years.

The biggest mistake made by most experimenters is "overdriving"
their stainless steel plates with excessive current flow which
erodes and destroys them in rather short order.

Whenever you see any "reddish" coloration to the electrolyte
solution you know that the plates are being overdriven and
are eroding. That can be very unsafe.

The "vapor" formed during electrolysis is an "aerosol mist" of the
electrolyte solution. Do not breathe this "vapor!" It must be
removed from the HHO by passing the gases from the
electrolyzer through a bubbler filled with water before the
gases are delivered to the engine intake.