Hydrogen Generators?

[Texas10]

Hydrogen as a fuel for reciprocating engines is problematic. It tends to blow typical engines to bits due to its very high energy potential. Diesel engines, designed to run on the carbon-oxygen cycle will sometimes convert to the hydrogen-oxygen cycle if leaned out enough. This conversion announces itself with a loud explosion under the hood, as happened to a friend driving a brand new Ford F-250. Took his foot off the gas pedal to exit a freeway and BOOM! No more engine.

Back in the 1940's guy by the name of Bourke living in Petaluma CA, developed a type of engine that did not employ the usual connecting rod to crank shaft design. His piston and rods moved in a straight line without articulation, different than as virtually all present designs do, and this is what allowed him to use the hydrogen present in low grade petroleum fuels available at the time.

By adjusting his carburetor to run extremely lean, his engine, once warm, would convert to the hydrogen oxygen cycle producing about one horsepower per cubic inch displacement.

He demonstrated that the hydrogen available in motor fuels is quite sufficient in quantity to run internal combustion engines. No hydrogen generators necessary.

His fuel of choice, as formulated by a Shell Chemist was a combination of Stove oil, Brown distillate (commonly available motor fuel of the time) and kerosene, IIRC. In case anyone is interested, I do have a copy of his notes stashed somewhere which I got from his Widow back in the 80's.

Bourkes engine died with him. Some say an effort by big business and the war dept. made sure his invention never went far. He did produce 50 engines called the Silver Eagle. It was a 50 cu inch design producing 50 hp.

IMHOP, the bottom line here is that in my experience, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that a properly designed engine fueled with commonly available diesel fuel could be used to power an electric generator to run a hybrid car quite efficiently using the hydrogen-oxygen cycle. But it will take the efforts of a very large company with a lot of political clout to fend off the market forces that will want to quash any design that greatly reduces reliance on the established petroleum industry.