It's certainly not profitable. If you can make it profitable, you will be the greatest scientist of the 21st century! The electrical energy consumed in the water ionization process now belongs to secondary energy. In our opinion, this is a bit of a waste of energy. Under normal circumstances, the heat released when one mole (two grams) of hydrogen is burned is about 286 KJ, and the heat released when burning per kilogram of gasoline is about 46,000 KJ. The density of gasoline is 0.72 to 0.74 g/ml, and the average value is calculated to be 0.73. Then, burning a liter of gasoline releases heat of 0.73*46,000 = 33,580 KJ. The amount of hydrogen required is calculated to be 33,580/286 = 117.4 mol. The mol to volume conversion is 117.4*22.4=2629.76 liters, which is approximately 2.6 cubic meters. Therefore, the complete combustion of a liter of gasoline produces the heat bornnecessary to completely burn 2.6 cubic meters of hydrogen to achieve the same effect. So no matter how you look at it, it is very cost-effective and inconvenient to use!
Since the "water-hydrogen engine" needs to electrolyze water, convert it into oxygen and hydrogen, and then convert it into energy, why not use electricity directly? What to do with rotting water?
Maybe.
But there is a technical problem, namely the storage and transport of hydrogen.
In addition, electricity itself is an energy source with a high utilization rate. If we rely on electrolysis to produce hydrogen and then burn it as fuel, a large amount of energy will be lost in the energy conversion process. It's a big loss problem. It is best to use electricity directly.
Yes, water is a very stable compound, so it's a scam.
Currentnt, there is no stable and cheap catalyst for electrolyzing water. The common commercial catalyst is iridium dioxide, a precious and very expensive metal. Currently available commercially are hydrogen fuel cells, in which hydrogen and oxygen are placed at both ends of the anode and cathode, respectively. Hydrogen protons enter the holes in the proton exchange membrane (PEM) and combine with oxygen molecules, as well as redox. The reaction occurs under the action of the catalyst and the electrons stuck outside the membrane must bypass both ends of the electrode plate, thereby generating current to drive the motor.