[Stoves] Hydrogen gas from radio waves and salt water ?

[IPC]

Sadly, even catalysis can't offer much.  The absolute energy required to
split water into its constituents is known very exactly.  The energy
required to electrolyse water is known fairly precisely, and it is quite
close to the absolute energy.  It is different from the absolute energy
because of the overvoltage at the anode and cathode, both of which can be
(and are) reduced by special coatings in industrial practice, and the
resistance of the electrolyte. The coatings lower the overvoltage.  The
spacing between the electrodes is reduced as much as possible to lower the
resistance. The net result is that the efficiency (actual energy/absolute
energy)is around 94%. 

I'm not certain of the efficiency of coupling radio waves to water -
observations of microwave performance suggest it is quite high - but
conversion of electricity into radio isn't perfect.  I can only conclude
that radio + salt should be taken with a pinch.

Regards

(Dr)Philip Lloyd
Energy Research Centre
University of Cape Town
Private Bag Rondebosch 7701
South Africa
Tel +27 (0)21 650 3896
Fax +27 (0)21 650 2830
 

-----Original Message-----
From: stoves-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:stoves-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Robert Taylor
Sent: 15 December 2007 01:56
To: Discussion of biomass cooking stoves
Subject: Re: [Stoves] Hydrogen gas from radio waves and salt water ?

If the electromagnetic waves are ripping apart the molecular bonds by "brute
force", then it would seem to be of no more value than conventional
electrolysis. But if there is some kind of catalytic effect in the presence
of sodium and/or chloride ions, it would be a different story. It should be
easy enough to tell, by watching how fast the electricity meter spins while
the device is switched on.

Robert Taylor