To say that I am reluctant to post this would be an enormungous
understatement. If I could solve this puzle (theoreticaly) myself I'd not
risk abject humiliation. However, I can't, so I will.
Whilest reading the musings of a (retired I think) physicist a single
sentence caught my attention. It was so outrageous that I paid little
attention to it at first, but then I couldn't get it out of my head. He
stated outright that no current was required whatsoever to disassociate
water molecules, only potential, and unfortunately that was all he said
about it
Some years ago I studied Stan Meyers capacitor type device and realized
that
it was actualy using electrolysis It ramped up the voltage between the
circular plates untill the moment of dlelectric breakdown. A novel
approach
perhaps
but I couldn't see how it could possibly approach the claimed efficiency.
After thinking about it for some time I began to wonder if in fact a water
molecule could actualy be stretched to breaking point in an electric
field.
If one were to take two closely spaced, insulated plates, with water
between them and apply enough potential I can actualy imagine this
happening. If the potential was switched cyclically the gas molecules
should not adhere to the plates.
However, obviously there is an energy problem. The sepperated molecules
will need to aquire electrons/energy from somewhere to achieve sepperation
and I can
see only one reasonable source, the process would have to be endothermic.
If sepperation could be achieved via the above method, and it proved to be
endothermic, I beleive such a system wouldn't even challenge conservation
laws. Recombination should return the same amount of energy that was
scavenged from the bulk water. Not having the math skills to check this
however it is of course simply speculation.
I would be very interested in others learned opinions/analysis of this.
Vince


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