Comparative experimental investigation of oxyhydrogen (HHO) production rate using dry and wet cells

Abstract

Hydroxy gas was produced by water electrolysis from dry and wet cells using stainless steel 316L electrode of 136.5 cm2 surface area and 4 mm separation. Electrolytes as NaOH and KOH of different concentrations were used. This study investigates the effect of electrolyte concentration, cell connection, electric current, operating time, electrolyte temperature and voltage on HHO productivity of the cells. Different plate configurations were studied. Increases of applied current, electrolyte temperature, electrolyte concentration and voltage led to the increase of gas production. More gas was produced from wet cell as compared to dry cell for the same design. HHO production for the dry cell reaches its maximum values of 866, 985, 1040 and 1090 ml/min at 5, 10, 15 and 20 g/L of NaOH at currents of 14, 18, 20 and 21.3 A and attains stable after about 30 min but the temperatures were increased till 32, 38, 44 and 52 °C, respectively and remained constant after that. The production peak values for wet cell were 975, 1160, 1325 and 1375 ml/min at 5, 10, 15 and 20 g/L of NaOH and flow currents of 17.8, 23.5, 26 and 27 A and remains constant after 90 min. At 10, 15 and 20 g/L NaOH, the temperatures were increased till constant values of 35, 44, 50 and 58 °C, respectively. HHO productivities from dry and wet cells are 866 and 1160 ml/min with electrolyzer efficiency of 72.1 and 69.3% at 14 and 18 A and (5 and 10 gm NaOH/L), respectively.