I tried some other plate configurations. I connected the plates so that they form three 10-plate sections. This gave me 2.14 LPM at 20.2V and 20A. The efficiency - 74.8%
Here is a video about how the foam climbs up the plates and flows over to other cells.
YouTube - Foam problem
After this I replaced the electrolyte with fresh distilled water and 20% KOH. This time I filled the electrolyzer so that there is plenty of space till the vent holes. The electrolyte was already warm from the KOH + water reaction. When I turned the power ON, foam appeared and started to climb up, it did overflow to other cells for a short time and then it settled below the vent holes. This time I could get 20A at 11.73V with five 6-cell plate arrangement. But the efficiency remained the same - about 80%. So even if the foam is not traveling through the cells, the efficiency is still strangely low. After this I raised the electrolyte level a bit and this resulted in continuous foam overflowing through the cells, and I could get 1L of gas only in 55 seconds instead of 45 seconds as when the foam was not overflowing. I will give this design another chance with 4mm or 5mm thick vinyl spacers, will see how this performs.
Edit: Another observation, I noticed that if I disconnect the power supply from the cell and then connect the cell wires to different configurations, a small spark often occurs when Connecting the wires. Its like the cell has a charge of its own. Is this normal?
Thanks,
Jetijs
Here is a video about how the foam climbs up the plates and flows over to other cells.
YouTube - Foam problem
After this I replaced the electrolyte with fresh distilled water and 20% KOH. This time I filled the electrolyzer so that there is plenty of space till the vent holes. The electrolyte was already warm from the KOH + water reaction. When I turned the power ON, foam appeared and started to climb up, it did overflow to other cells for a short time and then it settled below the vent holes. This time I could get 20A at 11.73V with five 6-cell plate arrangement. But the efficiency remained the same - about 80%. So even if the foam is not traveling through the cells, the efficiency is still strangely low. After this I raised the electrolyte level a bit and this resulted in continuous foam overflowing through the cells, and I could get 1L of gas only in 55 seconds instead of 45 seconds as when the foam was not overflowing. I will give this design another chance with 4mm or 5mm thick vinyl spacers, will see how this performs.
Edit: Another observation, I noticed that if I disconnect the power supply from the cell and then connect the cell wires to different configurations, a small spark often occurs when Connecting the wires. Its like the cell has a charge of its own. Is this normal?
Thanks,
Jetijs
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