Homemade Hydrogen fuel cell?

[Magnethos]

I want to make my owm hydrogen fuel cell to get electricity from oxygen and hydrogen. I have read that you need a pem (proton exchange membrane) to obtain that. I have seen also a car kit on the internet that has a reversible fuel cell. But I want to build a homemade fuel cell. Do you know how can I do it? There is any way to obtain a hydrogen fuel cell without using pem?

[Draco Rylos]

Having a PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) is what makes a fuel cell work. I'm no expert myself, but I know a little bit about fuel cells, because I had an idea that involved using a HOD (Hydrogen on Demand) system to provide the hydrogen and oxygen to fuel the fuel cell(s). The fuel cell(s) would then provide the power to the vehicle and the HOD system. The only output of the HOD / Fuel Cell setup would be H₂0. All you would need is a tank of Water instead of a highly dangerous and flammable hydrogen tank. With the pressures involved in the current design of carbon composite tanks, if failure does occur in the case of an accident, highly flammable hydrogen gas will be vented into the atmosphere. The only good thing about hydrogen is its ability to quickly dissipate when released from pressure. But in an accident, a spark could occur anywhere within the vehicle and the flame could possibly lead back into the tank causing a rupture of the tank. I'm know I'm being paranoid, but that could possibly happen. With water, in an accident, all you would is have a bunch of water on the ground like a heavy rain.

[Paul-R]

Having a PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) is what makes a fuel cell work. I'm no expert myself, but I know a little bit about fuel cells, because I had an idea that involved using a HOD (Hydrogen on Demand) system to provide the hydrogen and oxygen to fuel the fuel cell(s). The fuel cell(s) would then provide the power to the vehicle and the HOD system.

If you have a HOD system, maybe like the Boyce system, you might as well push the gas into the cylinders and be done with it.

On the subject of fuel cells, Magnethos, have a look at this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_cell
Paul.

[Draco Rylos]

I'm not sure whether or not I've posted drawings that I made of my idea that is a positive pressure system. I still have to build it, but I will see if i can use positive pressure instead of vacuum to get the hydroxy into the engine.