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HHO generator: An approach to increase the fuel economy of the automobile

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Conference Paper · February 2020

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 HHO generator: An approach to increase the fuel
economy of the automobile engine
Mehul P Bambhania (Authour)
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Faculty of Technology & Engineering,
The M.S. University of Baroda,
Vadodara,Gujarat,India
Email: mehul.bambhania-med@msubaroda.ac.in
Shailesh M Patel
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Faculty of Technology & Engineering,
The M.S. University of Baroda,
Vadodara,Gujarat,India
Email: shailesh.patel-med@msubaroda.ac.in
Abstract— Greenhouse gases are the main cause behind the
current climate change and global warming issue. The
transportation sector generate the largest share of the
greenhouse gas emission. To address this issue fuel economy of
the automobile engine is one of the profound way through
which one can attain the solution about fuel scarcity and
carbon emission of the engine. The unique combustion
characteristics of hydrogen helps to reduce the carbon
emission of the engine. In this context, on board hydrogen-
hydrogen-oxygen (HHO) gas generator has been proposed to
increase the fuel economy without major modification in the
existing automobile engine. In this work HHO gas was
produced by electrolysis process in a leak proof multi tubular
type HHO generator, with different two electrolyte NaOH, &
NaCl. The production rate of HHO gas has been investigated
with different parameters, i.e. applied voltage, quality of water,
temperature of water. An efficient HHO generator is supposed
to produce a large amount of HHO gas by using a less amount
of power. This HHO gas can directly use as a supplementary
fuel on demand, in four stroke petrol and diesel engine without
any need of storage. Characteristics of HHO gas helps to
enhanced the combustion which ultimately reduces the engine
emission.
Key word: HHO generator, Hydroxy gas, Hydrogen,
electrolysis, automobile engine
I. INTRODUCTION
Everyday increase in energy demands create scarcity of
fossil fuel, which leads to continuous exploration of new
energy resources [1]. In the process of exploration, it is
found that hydrogen has great potential to replace fossil fuel
used in internal combustion engine [5, 6]. Hydrogen has a
good combustion characteristics with wide flammability
range (5-74%) with high burning velocity and flame speed.
These characteristics allows the engine to work on a very
lean fuel mixture [7]. Hydrogen can identified as a clean
burning fuel which has almost zero carbon footprint. Above
all hydrogen is also renewable fuel. However there are
several ways to generate hydrogen gas, among the all
Dr Nikul K Patel
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Faculty of Technology & Engineering,
The M.S. University of Baroda,
Vadodara,Gujarat,India
Email: n.k.patel-med@msubaroda.ac.in
Dr Mayur D Kevat
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Faculty of Technology & Engineering,
The M.S. University of Baroda,
Vadodara,Gujarat,India
Email: m.d.kevat-med@msubaroda.ac.in
different methods of hydrogen production, water electrolysis
seems to be suitable approach which can be used for internal
combustion engine. However there are still work need to
increase the efficiency of hydrogen generation rate [2].
Hydrogen can be used as a primary fuel in internal
combustion engine, since hydrogen is in gaseous fuel, it
required larger space for storage. When hydrogen stored as a
cryogenic liquid, additional cost of convert the gaseous
hydrogen in to liquid is not economical solution. On board
hydrogen generation through electrolysis process can resolve
this issue. Gas produce through electrolysis is in form of a
hydrogen-oxygen-hydrogen (HHO) mixture. Production of
HHO gas is considered experimental method but still it can
used as a supplemental fuel additive which promotes the
combustion of primary fuels, which result in reduced the
emission. Energy contain by HHO gas can release during
combustion, which leads to increase total engine power
output. It has been recommended from the various
investigation and research that the hydrogen has potential to
be a promising nature friendly fuel. However there is a
misconception about vehicle mileage will increase due to in
board HHO generator. But in reality HHO gas act as a
supplement fuel to the conventional engine fuel system,
which helps to improve the combustion of the internal
combustion engine leads to improve the efficiency.
HHO gas is also referred as Brown gas or hydroxyl gas
or oxy-hydrogen gas. Electrolysis process break water in to
two part contain two moles of hydrogen a one mole of
oxygen. The device called hydrogen generator or HHO
generator used the electrolysis process to split water particle
and extract hydrogen and oxygen. Earlier development for
hydrogen generator were designed to extract hydrogen-
hydrogen-oxygen gas or Browns gas, they were originally
designed for welding and cutting purpose. But it can be used
as a supplemental fuel for internal combustion for both petrol
and diesel engine. Objective of present study is to suggest
optimize parameters which increases the production rate of
HHO gas. Proposed HHO generator can be installed on
petrol engine to improve the combustion characteristics.
A. Fundamental of water Electrolysis
The simplest water electrolysis unit, consisting of an anode
and a cathode connected through an external power supply
and immersed in a conductive electrolyte media. A direct
current (DC) is supplied to the electrode which create
positive charge on anode and negative charge on cathode.
During water electrolysis process hydrogen (H+) ions moves
towards cathode (-ve charge) and hydroxide (OH-) ions
moves towards anode (+ve charge). Hydrogen and oxygen
gases are then collected in to measuring cylinder through
gas receiving plastic pipe. The electrons flow through an
external circuit.
Anode Reaction: 2H2O → O2(g) + 4H+(aq)+ 4e-
Cathode Reaction: 4H+(aq) + 4e- → 2H2(g)
Fig. 1 Basic scheme of a water electrolysis system[4]
B. HHO generator
There are two different approaches for electrolysis
process, based on ambience around the electrodes, wet cell
type and dry cell type. In wet cell all the electrodes are
submerged in the electrolyte solution filled inside closed
vessel. However in the dry cell type, instead of submerging
electrode in to the electrolyte, it is fills in the gap generated
between electrodes placed in series. It is found that HHO gas
produce by HHO generator through this approach is
completely different in chemical composition than the
Brown gas, even though both gases having common features.
Fig. 2 HHO generator setup
A-Two stainless steel cylinders (Electrodes), B-Battery, C-
Anode- Cathode, D-Electrode Housing, E-Measuring
cylinder, F-Plastic pipe, G-Connecting wires
Components of HHO generator:
(a) Electrode housing: Here, the housing used is similar to
vessel used in the water purify system, to provide covering to
the electrode and leak proof arrangement for the electrolysis
process shown in figure 3(b)
(b) Bubbler: the bubbler is a cylindrical vessel, which is
connected with the HHO generator through plastic hose pipe.
It allows the hydrogen to bubble up through the water in the
bubbler cylinder. The water prevent backfire from returning
of hydrogen in to generator and the cap will closed in case of
a backfire.
(c) Air cleaner: A filter that prevents dust and other particles
from entering the air-intake of an internal-combustion
engine.
(d) Electrodes (Anode & Cathode): Two struts are used to
connect anode and cathode respectively to the positive and
negative terminal of the battery. Anode is connected to the
inner cylinder and cathode is connected to the outer cylinder.
Struts are 15 cm long and 8mm in diameter of stainless teel.
Specification of two co-centric cylinder are placed in
electrode housing. Diameter of outer cylinder is 64mm and
inner cylinder is of 50mm. Hollow cylinder thickness is
2.5mm which makes clearance of 3.5mm between two
cylinders.
(e) Measuring Cylinder: Measuring cylinder is used to
measure the amount of hydrogen produced during the
process.
(f) Catalyst: Distilled water has been used as electrolyte in
present study. However to accelerate the electrolysis process
catalyst must be add with the distilled water, to increase the
efficiency of HHO generation. Catalyst act as an ionizer and
increase the conductivity of electrolyte. Commonly used
catalyst in HHO generator are Sodium Chloride (NaCl),
Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) and Potassium Hydroxide
(KOH). In present study NaCl and NaOH has been used for
the HHO generation.
Fig. 3 (a) Electrodes (b) Electrode Housing
Fig. 4 HHO gas measurement method
C. HHO gas measurment methods
HHO gases that are produced during electrolysis are 11

collected and measured through water displacement method NaCl

shown in Fig 4. A measuring cylinder is filled with water and 10 NaOH
Exponential growth (NaCl)
placed upside down in a water bowl. The HHO generator is Polinomial growth (NaOH)

Production rate (cm3/s)

connected with the measuring cylinder trough plastic tube. 9
As the HHO gas is produced in the generator it is coming out
through this plastic pipe and displaces the water in the 8
measuring cylinder. The HHO flow rate can be measured by
calculating the water displacement per time, as shown in 7
Fig.4. The volume of gas collected in scaled cylinder per unit
time was measured as the HHO production rate in cubic
6
centimeter per second.
5
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

Molarity (moles/liter)

II. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Fig. 5-a Effect of Electrolyte molarity on the HHO gas production
at 12 V, 20⁰ C of Normal tap water
A. Effect of Electrolyte Quality
Acids and bases are known to change the nonconductive
12
nature of pure water. These compounds have a great
reducing effect on the overvoltage value of an electrolyze 11
NaCl
NaOH
because of its improve the ionic conductivity of electrolyte Exponential growth
solution. However there are limitation of the concentration Cubic Polynomial growth
Production Rate (cm3/s)

10
level of alkali and acidic solution due to its highly corrosive
behavior with electrode material. In present study electrodes 9
were made of stainless steel. The generator was powered up
for 25 sec with a different content of NaCl and NaOH, mixed 8

in 1 L of water at room temperature (30⁰ C) at 12 v battery

7
D.C. supply and observed the difference in production rate of
hydrogen.
6

Experiment was conducted for different amount of

electrolyte quantity of NaCl and NaOH, and it dissolved in to
1liter of normal water. Generation of HHO gas was then
measured for different molarity value and results has been
compared for both the electrolyte, shown in Fig 5. Quantity
of Sodium Chloride (NaCl) doesn’t make much effect on
HHO generation rate up to certain molarity of solution
(M<1), then it is observed exponential growth in production
of HHO gas with increases in Molarity of solution. However
polynomial growth observed in HHO production with
Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) solution shown in Fig 5(a) &
(b).
B. Effect of Water Temperature
Electrolysis process is much more efficient at higher
solution temperature. It is due to the thermodynamic
behavior of a water molecule, as its splitting reaction is
accelerate with temperature. Additionally, ionic conductivity
and surface reaction of an electrolyte increases with the
temperature. High temperature water solution required less
energy to reach at any given current density, compared to the
low temperature. To verify this theory, experiment has been
conducted with water with 80⁰ and compared HHO gas
production with atmospheric temperature. It is observed that
the rise of HHO gas is significant at lower molarity and
substantial difference observed with NaOH use as a catalyst,
shown in Fig 6.
5
20 40 60 80
Electrolyte quantity (gram per liter)
Fig. 5-b Effect of Electrolyte quantity on the HHO gas production at
12 V, 20⁰ C of Normal tap water
C. Effect of Applied Voltage
It is found that DC voltage has been used for electrolysis
process to decompose an electrolyte. Current density of
electrolyte govern the decomposition process. Once
resistance of HHO cell is fixed, current density can only
change by applied voltage according to the Ohm’s law.
Previous study has been conducted with 12 volt DC battery.
Additional 4 volt DC battery is connected in series to
increase the applied voltage.
Generation of HHO gas is than compared for both 12 and
16 volt, shown in Fig. 7, indicates marginal improvement in
gas production. However the rise in voltage is not significant,
and that may be the reason of significant rise of production
rate
 12 12

0
20 Water Temperature 12 Volt
0
80 Water Temperature 16 Volt
10 10

Production rate (Cm3/s)

Production Rate (cm3/s)

8 8

6
6

4
4

2
2
20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
20 40 60 80
NaCl (gram)
NaCl (gram)

12
12
12 Volt
16 Volt
200 Water Temperature
0 10
80 Water Temperature
10

Production Rate (cm3/s)

Production Rate (cm3/s)

8
8

6
6

4
4

2
2 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
20 40 60 80
NaOH (gram)
NaOH (gram)
Fig. 7 Effect of Battery voltage on HHO gas Production rate
Fig. 6 Effect of Water temperature on HHO gas Production rate

D. Quality of Water
If any impurities exist in to electrolyte causes unwanted 10
side reaction in the HHO cell. Calcium, magnesium an
chloride are the few common impurity found in water. Normal Water
Distilled Water
Contaminated water can block the electrode plate, in result 9
Production rate (cm3/s)

electrolysis process will slower down. Previous study carried

out with the use of normal tap water without any 8
contamination. Furthure study is extended for distilled water
in which, the generator was powered up for 25 sec with a
different content of NaCl and NaOH mixed in 1 L distilled 7

water at room temperature at 12 v DC supply and observed

the differences in the production rate of HHO gas. It is
6
observed that production rate is decrease with distilled water.
This is due to inaccessibility of electron carrier in distilled
water ultimately slower down the HHO production rate. Fig 5
30 40 50 60 70 80 90
8 (a) & (b) shows drop in production with distilled water.
NaCl (gram)

Fig. 8 –a Effect of water quality on production rate of HHO gas

with NaCl
 REFERENCES
11 [1] Silva, L.D.; Bergel, A.; Feron, D.; Basseguy, R.: Hydrogen
production by electrolysis of a phosphate solution on a stainless steel
Normal Water
Distilled Water cathode. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 35(16), 8561–
10
8568 (2010)
Production Rate (cm3/s)

[2] Schulte, I.; Hart, D.; Vorst, V.: Issues affecting the acceptance of
9 hydrogen fuel. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 29(7), 677–685 (2004)
[3] Ahmed Rashad, Ali Elmaihy, “Theoretical and Experimental
8 Performance of Oxy-hydrogen Generators”, Arab J Sci Eng 43:1279–
1289, (2018)
7
[4] Diogo M. F. Santos,Cesar A. C. SequeiraI, Jose L. Figueiredo,
“Hydrogen production by alkaline water electrolysis” Quim Nova
vol.36 no.8 (2013)
6
[5] A.A. Al-Rousan, Reduction of fuel consumption in gasoline engines
by introducing HHO gas into intake manifold, Int. J. Hydrogen
5 Energy 35 (2010) 12930–12935.
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 [6] A.C. Yilmaz, E. Uludamar, K. Aydin, Effect of hydroxy (HHO) gas
NaOH (gram) addition on performance and exhaust emissions in compression
ignition engines, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 35 (2010) 11366–11372.
Fig. 8 Effect of water quality on production rate of HHO gas with [7] C. Ji, S. Wang, B. Zhang, Effect of spark timing on the performance
NaOH of a hybrid hydrogen–gasoline engine at lean conditions, Int. J.
Hydrogen Energy 35 (2010) 2203–2212.
CONCLUSIONS [8] Mohamed M. EL-Kassaby, Yehia A. Eldrainy, Mohamed E. Khidr,
Kareem I. Khidr, “Effect of hydroxy (HHO) gas addition on gasoline
In this work various experiment have been performed to engine performance and emissions” Alexandria Engineering Journal
optimize the HHO production rate. Major focus is to Volume 55, Issue 1, March 2016, Pages 243-251
identify suitable catalyst for electrolysis, and it is firmly
observed that NaOH have advantages over NaCl to increase
the HHO production rate. Other concludind remarks
observed as follow:
 Production rate of HHO has been increase rapidly
when molarity of electrolyte solution is greater
than unity.
 At lower molarity, the effect of rise of solution
temperature is notable, but at higher molarity,
production rate remain unchanged with
temperature rise.
 The effect of voltage rise on production rate is also
negligible.
 Tap water have more potential of HHO gas
production than the distilled water.
Present study proposed parametric conditions of HHO
generator in which it can be used 70 gm of NaOH
mixed in to normal tap water at room temperature with
12 volt of battery, generate more than 10 cm3/s of HHO
gas. This device can generate onboard HHO gas which
will feed in to intake manifold of the petrol engine to
improve the petrol combustion, which is proposed as a
future work shown in Fig.9.

Fig 9 Proposed installation layout of HHO generator

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