From www.taylor.edu - Taylor University, integrating faith and learning

HIFE - Hydrogen Injection to Improve Fuel Efficiency

HIFE is a student research project which is joined with a local business in an effort to develop a hydrogen injection cell that is capable of giving increased fuel economy to both diesel and standard engines. The purpose of this endeavor is to help decrease harmful gas emissions as well as our dependence on foreign oil while increasing fuel efficiency so consumers and corporations alike can save money. We believe that it is our responsibility to keep exploring viable energy alternatives in an effort to serve our planet in a Godly manner. 

The Project 

Several Taylor University student researchers have been working with a local entrepreneur and his company since April on engine performance enhancements using hydrogen injection. The researchers are creating electrolysis power using electricity off the alternator and regular electrical system of the truck to produce
explosive gas. This gas is actually HHO or Oxyhydrogen which is a combination of
hydrogen and oxygen in their gaseous forms. The ratio of hydrogen to oxygen is 2:1.
The gas produces a hot burn and once in the combustion chamber causes a complete flash
of the diesel fuel. This complete combustion has been shown to increase power and thus
increase fuel economy. It also consumes much of the harmful emissions in the exhaust of
an engine, especially hydrocarbons. The entire electrolysis process is fairly simple, but in
our application all of the involved systems need to be carefully controlled.

Because Hydrogen injection into engines is so promising, students are readily pursuing alternative means of gathering hydrogen. They are conducting tests in order to find the most efficient means of harnessing and utilizing the hydrogen which will net increased gas mileage for the vehicle.  

Each week the student researchers work to modify and develope new plans for the hydrogen cell. Once the plans are developed, the researchers send them to a team of mechanics who work for the business Taylor is partnered with. The mechanics then build a prototype which the student researchers later test and gather data with.  

Thus far student researchers have confirmed that the smaller the engine being tested, the better fuel economy the hydrogen injection will provide. One test completed recently yielded 66% better fuel economy with the hydrogen injection. However consistent results of this magnitude do not yet exist. The Students are currently conducting research to determine the optimum injection amounts that various engines necessitate. While testing is now only being conducted on diesel engines, the hydrogen fuel cell will eventually be applied to standard automotive engines. 

A control system for the hydrogen injection is also being developed. Depending on various conditions, the engine will need varying amounts of hydrogen injected at specific times. This control system will help to facilitate the necessary amounts of injection at all times.