This week I was able to chat with Louis Ventre, Jr. who is the Executive VP and General Counsel for HCE, LLC. HCE has just filed a U. S. patent application for hydrogen nano bubble storage methods based upon the work of the late inventor Udo von Wimmersperg.
The theory behind the patent is that hydrogen bubbles at a nano scale can be dispersed and stored in water. This water in turn can be stored in a container at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperatures. These hydrogen nano bubbles then can be released for use in hydrogen internal combustion engines and fuel cells. So essentially these nano scale water bubbles are filled with hydrogen at very high pressures, up to 43,500 pounds per square inch before being released. This “juiced” water, however, does not have to be stored any differently than a combustible liquid such as gasoline.
According to the HCE, “The method used to release gas from the aqueous dispersion depends on the application. In the case of an internal combustion engine one might choose to inject the dispersion into the inlet manifold and carry the water through the combustion and expansion process. Alternatively, the gas can be separated by weakening the surface tension of the water through raising the temperature of the dispersion. This can be done, for example, by utilizing waste heat. Another method to release hydrogen would be to introduce an additive that lowers surface tension. The rate at which gas separation from liquid can be effected is related to prevention of foaming. In the case of fuel cells, it may be advantageous to introduce the gas in dispersion.”
Once again, according to the company, “The invention of a new liquid fuel consisting of a dispersion of hydrogen nanobubbles in water solves this problem. The hydrogen nanobubble dispersion (HND) can be carried in a normal fuel tank and can be used as a direct replacement of gasoline in conventional engines. The vehicle range per gallon of HND is the same as that for gasoline. In addition there is a saving in weight by a factor two because of the lower density of HND; this aspect is of particular benefit in the case of aircraft fuel.”
Many people will turn up their noses when one mentions running a car on water. There is no evidence that a car has run on water alone to date. But, this juiced water along with leading edge hydrogen nano bubble storage technology may just allow us to rethink the possibilities of how future hydrogen cars will be fueled and what it will take to get us to this point. Many thanks to Louis Ventre, Jr. for his insights and information about this new “outside-the-box” technology.