Please critique this design...be nice...

[fixaze]

The constraints:

* will use (4) 1 qt mason jars with metal lids

* will use 20 gauge 304 ss...cause that's what I have

Thinking of setting all 4 up as a series...using around 2.5" x 2.5" plates spaced 1/4" apart....and using 1 neutral plate between the 2 active plates.

The 2.5" x 2.5" plates will be maybe 1/2" off the bottom of the jars...will be using cheap insulated ss strap to bring the current down and to hold them in place.

Will probably being using manifold vac and allowing air to be run down into the bottom of all jars.

The 1/4" spacing is to allow easier evacuation of bubbles..and will require more NaOH than 1/8" spacing.

Should have somewhere north of 1.5 V between plates...considering the inefficiencies of open plate designs and actual running voltage.

Run thru a bubbler.

Expected to run at around 15 to 20 amps on a 2.4L throttle body EFI engine.

Is this design likely to work? Efficient? Any improvements?

How about the expected amps per plate area...somewhere in the ballpark?

[chemelec]

It Will run HOT!

[FlashBang]

[cwaugs]

[AlaskaStar]

[FlashBang]

[fixaze]

That's why I'm asking for advice...to maybe avoid some mistakes.

I've have a pair of jars running in series at 6V between plates...11 square " per jar reactive surface (3 active plates)....22 square " total both jars. When hot it is running at around 9 A and 130F. 1/8" spacing. Starts at 5.5 A cold.

Seems to run pretty stable. So at 9 A hot I consider it a success....was supposedly designed for up to 12 A.

I've noticed that most reaction occurs on the upper surfaces of the plates at around 6 A or lower...get up into 20 A and the reaction fully covers the plates.

http://oupower.com/index.php?dir=_Other ... cts/fixaze

With 2Xs the NaOH it was running 138F and up to 18-20 A ...when the fuse blew. With a larger fuse and more NaOH it was running up to 25 A or so till the fuse went.

I was thinking I'd get away with 1/4" spacing since voltage would be much lower....but maybe not.

So maybe 1/8" spacing and 3.5" x 2.5" plates...(+ n -). Total of 70 square " reactive surface? Save the plates!

I don't spend a lot of time running the jars and watching them work...and I use a bubbler...but I guess it only takes one mistake. I might use a bubbler AND a flash arrestor.

I keep thinking of plastic melting and losing shape....especially next to a radiator at 200F....not to mention sealing issues.

* reactive surface = square " surface area of one plate of each pair

Appreciate the advice....keep on testing...

[FlashBang]

Looking In...

Please remove that duplicate post. I was working on my Treo755 and some how it sent the post twice.

Thanks

FlashBang!

[Looking In]

[fixaze]

[Looking In]

fixaze,
As I don't enjoy glass very much. Please just be very careful. I'm looking forward to updates on your new cell and construction