RESEARCH ARTICLE | JUNE 26 2018

The experimental study of wet cell HHO generator type with

Ba (OH)2 catalyst on performance and exhaust gaseous
emissions of 4 stroke engine 120 cc 
Hendrik Elvian Gayuh Prasetya  ; Joke Pratilastiarso; Arrad Ghani Safitra; Rif’ah Amalia; Hakimatul Ubudiyah

AIP Conf. Proc. 1977, 060014 (2018)

https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5043026

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05 February 2024 05:08:30

 The Experimental Study of Wet Cell HHO Generator Type
with Ba (OH)2 Catalyst on Performance and Exhaust
Gaseous Emissions of 4 Stroke Engine 120 CC
Hendrik Elvian Gayuh Prasetya1, a), Joke Pratilastiarso1, b), Arrad Ghani Safitra1, c),
Rif’ah Amalia1, d) and Hakimatul Ubudiyah1, e)
1
Power Plant Engineering, Electronic Engineering Polytechnic Institute of Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia
a)
Corresponding author:hendrik@pens.ac.id
b)
joke@pens.ac.id
c)
arradgs@pens.ac.id
d)
rifahamalia@pens.ac.id
e)
hakimatulubudiyah@gmail.com

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Abstract. Along with the increasing number of vehicles, the consumption of fuel oil also increases. It can be seen from the
data that the contribution of fuel oil in 2015 was quite high, that was about 42% of the amount of oil supplied, and the most
fuel oil was used in the transportation sector. The efforts to energy conservation are needed to support the achievement of
sustainable development in the energy field. One solution that can be used is adding H2 gas on four 120 cc stroke engines.
It can be obtained from electrolysis process using Wet Cell HHO Generator Type. The Wet Cell HHO Generator Type is
a device for decomposition of water (H2O) into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) due to an electric current being passed
through the water with electrodes immersed in an electrolyte liquid. Hydrogen gas can be added with gasoline fuel in
combustion process on four 120 cc stroke engines. The size of HHO’s generator reservoir is 20 x 10 x 20 cm, using
Ba(OH)2 catalyst in variation of concentration were 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 g/l and the throttle-opening are 1,2,3,4,5. The effects
of adding hydrogen gas to know performance and exhaust gaseous emissions of four 120 cc stroke engines. The
performance of four 120 cc stroke engines which is measured are torque, effective power, thermal efficiency, and specific
fuel consumption. The content of exhaust gaseous which is measured are concentrations of carbon monoxide, nitrogen
oxide and hydrocarbons. The results of this research shows that the addition of Ba (OH)2 catalyst in HHO’s generator can
improve the performance and reduce exhaust emissions on four 120 cc stroke engines.

INTRODUCTION
Requirements of energy becomes a crucial issue that must be considered. Since the oil reserves are thinning, the
society should use oil and other oil products wisely. The most used oil product is in the transportation sector, which
is about 70% of the amount of oil consumption in Indonesia [1]. In addition, the use of petroleum refined products as
fuels for vehicles has negative impact on air pollution in the environment.
Therefore, an applicative technology is needed to solve the problems of exhaust gaseous emissions and the amount
of oil consumption demand is increasing.
HHO gas is one of the fuel innovation for vehicle which has been patented by Yull Brown (a citizen of Australia)
in 1974. The content of HHO gas are hydrogen gas (H2) and oxygen gas (O2) which are obtained from the results of
decomposition process of water molecules (H2O) by electrolysis method [2].
Electrolysis is the process of using electricity to decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen. This reaction takes
place in a unit called an electrolyzer or the HHO’s generator. HHO’s generator consists of an anode and a cathode
separated by an electrolyte. Based on the chemical reactions, the decomposition reaction of water molecules into
hydrogen and oxygen follows the reaction equation as follows [3]:

Human-Dedicated Sustainable Product and Process Design: Materials, Resources, and Energy
AIP Conf. Proc. 1977, 060014-1–060014-7; https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5043026
Published by AIP Publishing. 978-0-7354-1687-1/$30.00

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 Cathode (-): 4 H2O(l) + 4 e– → 2 H2(g) + 4 OH–(aq)
Anode (+): 2 H2O(l) → O2(g) + 4 H+(aq) + 4 e–
The overall chemical reaction of water electrolysis can be written as follows [3]:
2 H2O(l) → 2 H2(g) + O2(g)
HHO gas generator is classified into 2 types, as follows [4]:

Type Dry (dry type / dry cell)

HHO’s generator where some of the electrodes do not immerse the electrolyte and electrolytes just fill the gap
between the electrodes itself.

FIGURE 1. Dry Cell HHO Generator Type [6]

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Wet Type (wet cell)
HHO generator where all the electrodes submerged electrolyte fluid in a water vessel.

FIGURE 2. Wet Cell HHO Generator Type

Therefore, in this research, variations will be made in various concentrations of catalyst (1, 3, 5, 7, 9 g/L) and the
throttle-opening (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) in order to find out the optimum performance of stroke engine and also can reduce
exhaust gaseous emissions.

METHODOLOGY
This research uses HHO’s generator type wet cell with size is 20 x 10 x 20 cm. In the electrode plates type SS 304
with size 15 x 15 cm and the thickness is about 1 mm, and the 4 stroke engine with 120 cc cylinder volume. Variable
research which is used is concentration of Ba(OH)2 catalyst (1, 3, 5, 7, 9 g/L) and the throttle-opening (1,2,3,4, and
5).

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 The testing system is done in the Thermofluid Laboratory, Power Plant Engineering, Electronic Engineering
Polytechnic Institute of Surabaya.

Description:
1. Wet cell HHO generator
type
2. Battery charger
3. Bubbler
4. Gas flow meter
5. Combustion air filter
6. Combustion engine
7. Dynamometer
8. Gas analyser

FIGURE 3. Equipment Tools of HHO Generator

The use of wet cell type HHO generator on 4 stroke engine with 120 cc cylinder volume is started from the
electrolysis process of water on wet cell type HHO generator. This process is supported by a battery charger to supply
electric current of electrolysis. An electric current is passed on electrode to electrolyze the electrolyte liquid. The gas
exits from wet cell HHO Generator type to the bubbler. The gas comes out of the generator towards bubbler. On the
bubbler, H2 gas and O2 gas pass the filtering process, and it is filtered from impurity elements and excess air. In
addition, bubbler also serves to maintain the flow of H2 and O2 so that it does not occur back flow, and the combustion
chamber becomes more secure. Then H2 and O2 pass mixing process together with the combustion air in the air filters.

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The air combustion usually consists of nitrogen, oxygen and other elements. That mixture enters the intake manifold
stroke engine and mixes with fuel. After that the mixture of air and fuel is sprayed on the combustion chamber when
the suction cycle (intake) occurs.
For the process of data recording, it is installed dynamometer to figure out the performance of stroke engine. In
addition to generate energy, combustion also produces the products of combustion known as exhaust gas. The exhaust
gas is expended from the combustion chamber when the cycle of waste (exhaust) occurs. Exhaust gas then pass through
muffler which has installed analyzer probe. In the analyzer probe, we can figure about exhaust emissions like CO,
CO2 and HC.

ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

Performance of engine
In this research, we will discuss about the performance of stroke engine 120 cc that is measured, which are effective
shaft power, torque, specific fuel consumption and thermal efficiency.
Fig.4 shows the relationship of catalyst concentration variation with engine torque. From the figure, it shows that
the greater the addition of the catalyst, the engine torque value is greater too. This is due to the increasing concentration
of catalysts resulting in higher production rates of hydrogen gas. The increasing of hydrogen gas produced can increase
the octane rating of the fuel. Therefore, the compression ratio of the engine will increase and produce combustion,
which is more efficient. This condition can maximize engine torque without causing knocking [7].
Fig.5 shows the relationship of catalyst concentration variations with effective shaft power. From the figure that
shows the increase of the catalyst concentration, it can cause the production rate of hydrogen gas will increase. The
increased gas production rates lead to the increased effective shaft power, this is because the torque on the engine will
increase too.
Fig.6 shows the relationship of catalyst concentration variations with the engine average effective pressure. The
figure shows that the increase of the catalyst concentration is added, then the average effective pressure on engine will
increase too. This is related to the increase torque. If the torque on the engine increases, it indirectly causes increasing
in average effective pressure.

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 FIGURE 4. Torque with variation of concentration of Ba(OH)2 catalyst

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FIGURE 5. Effective shaft power with variation of concentration of Ba(OH)2 catalyst

FIGURE 6. Average effective pressure with variation of concentration of Ba(OH) 2 catalyst

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 FIGURE 7. Thermal engine efficiency with variation of concentration of Ba(OH)2 catalyst

Fig.7 shows the relationship of catalyst concentration variations with thermal efficiency. The figure shows that the
increase of the catalyst concentration causes an increase in the production rate of hydrogen gas produced. Therefore,
it will produce more hydrogen gas into the engine combustion chamber that causes perfect combustion process, which
causes the increase of thermal efficiency. However, the catalyst concentration of 5 and 7 g / L thermal engine
efficiency decreases, this means that in combustion chamber there is incomplete combustion process.

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FIGURE 8. Specific fuel consumption with variation of concentration of Ba(OH)2 catalyst

Fig.8 shows the relationship of catalyst concentration variation with specific fuel consumption. In the figure it is
seen that the specific fuel consumption is increasing and decreasing along with the increase of catalyst concentration.

Exhaust Gaseous Emission

Fig.9 shows that the increasing catalyst concentration of 1-9 g / L causes the CO concentrations to decrease. CO
concentration on combustion products in the combustion chamber show that combustion process is not perfect which
is influenced by the comparison between air and fuel. The appropriate Air - Fuel Ratio (AFR) stoichiometry will
suppress the production of CO emissions in the flue gas [5], [7].
Fig.10 shows that the increasing concentration of Ba (OH) 2 1-9 g / L catalysts leads to the decreased CO2 gas
emissions. This is influenced by lower specific fuel consumption in combustion engine combustion chamber [5,8].

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 FIGURE 9. CO concentration with variation of concentration of Ba(OH)2 catalyst

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FIGURE 10. CO2 concentration with variation of concentration of Ba(OH)2 catalyst

FIGURE 11. Hydrocarbon concentration with variation of concentration of Ba(OH)2 catalyst

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 Fig.11 shows that the increasing catalysts causes hydrocarbon concentration to decrease. Hydrocarbons
concentration are exhaust gases of the combustion product that failure of fuel dissociation in combustion process. The
incident is due to less oxygen combustion or AFR that is too rich or too poor [5] [8].

CONCLUSION
The Experimental study of wet cell HHO generator type with Ba(OH)2 catalyst on performance and exhaust
gaseous emissions of 4 Stroke Engine 120 CC generates the conclusions that:
1. The increasing of catalyst concentration of 1-9 g/L causes the torque, power shaft and the average effective
pressure of stroke engine to increase, whereas the fuel consumption will decrease.
2. Exhaust gaseous of stroke engine like CO, CO2 and HC will progressively decrease along with the increase
of catalyst concentration of 1-9 g/L.

REFERENCES
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