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Atmospheric electricity as a fuel for electrolysis

Much as the title implies, collecting static electricity from the atmosphere to power an electrolysis rig.

terry-danielsTerry Daniels
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We're going to create a large antenna/lightning rod to collect static to power an electrolysis rig, the results of which (Brown's gas) can be used to power small motors and such.

We all know static build up in clouds is pretty powerful, but we haven't really found a way to harness this power. Lightning rods work by harmlessly discharging the atmospheric electricity (and occasionally lightning) into the ground. I propose we add an electrolysis rig (sitting in water) to a lightning rod to turn some of this electricity into browns gas, which can be used to run a plethora of things such as a backup generator, small engines, or just a heater warm up the place. Since all of this runs off of browns gas, the only exhaust will be water vapor.

  • 1 × Electrolysis rig Used to turn water into browns gas
  • 1 × "Lightning rod" Used to collect the atmospheric electricity
  • 1 × Solar/mechanical gas compressor Compresses the gas for storage
  • 1 × Development team It ain't gonna build itself
  • 1 × Large, high voltage capacitor Helps smooth power delivery

  • High Voltage Capacitors

    Terry Daniels • 04/27/2016 at 16:19 • 0 comments

    So, in order to provide more smooth and reliable power delivery for the electrolysis rig, I've been working on various ideas for capacitors. What I've mostly settled on is sheets of stainless steel (Should already have some from the rig) in a Tupperware container full of mineral oil. (will upload pictures and hand drawn schematics when I can)

  • Work officially begins

    Terry Daniels • 04/02/2016 at 16:54 • 0 comments

    Due to school and other life things occupying my time, as well as a lack of funding I haven't really had much time to work on the project. Over the next few days, I'll be working on a high voltage power supply/ionizer to test the feasibility of the project on the small scale.

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RandyKC wrote 04/02/2016 at 18:52 • point

Compressing Brown's gas for storage would not be even remotely safe. There was a write-up about a Florida explosion that involved someone compressing a similar mixture with the intent of selling it to restaurants.

Edit: Found the article:

http://www.fireengineering.com/articles/print/volume-167/issue-11/features/the-dangers-of-hydrogen-based-experimental-fuels-p1.html

  Are you sure? yes | no

Terry Daniels wrote 04/03/2016 at 21:21 • point

Thanks for the advice, I'll have to see if I can find documentation of someone doing it perfectly safely, and if I can't, I'll leave that step up to anyone else who tries out the project.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Terry Daniels wrote 03/16/2016 at 03:18 • point

I would absolutely love the help with developing this project, it was the idea of one of my good friends, and we have many hurdles to climb with it. Thank you so much for your input.

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MECHANICUS wrote 03/15/2016 at 18:52 • point

Graphene is patented as an ion collector, but graphene nano-ribbons which are fundamentally different are not.  I was going to toss this project up too with the GNR to keep some prick from patenting it. 

You should do it, I could collaborate with you or you can just go to my project to find out how to make them.  https://hackaday.io/project/9678-unzipping-of-mwcnt-into-graphene-nanoribbons

  Are you sure? yes | no

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