(03-01-2009 05:55 AM)mtnhillsman Wrote: (02-28-2009 07:51 PM)colchiro Wrote: Staggering is the preferred method.
If your water doesn't go above the top hole, do you need to stagger that too?
I guess not, I was thinking the same thing. it is hard to say where the water level will be though since you can't see it. I'd think that the water from below fed from the bottom hole will rise as much as possible and would only fall just enough to let the gas escape. if that is true then you'd still have a current leak for whatever portion of the upper hole is submerged. does that sound right??
what about the hole size?? is 1/4" ok or could I go smaller??
thanks...
As well as a second separate bubbler, I use a combined bubbler/reservoir system. i.e. HHO from the generator is fed into the bubbler/reservoir unit at about the midpoint of the level of electrolyte in the bubbler. Return from the bottom of this combined unit goes to the bottom of the generator and maintains the electrolyte level in the generator.
What I have found is that the difference in height between the HHO outlet of the generator and the level of the electrolyte in the bubbler, head height, can make a huge difference in the way that the generator operates.
With a large difference in height, large head, the generator tends to throw a fair amount of electrolyte out with the HHO, sometimes as foam. With a small difference in height, small head, there is less pressure difference due to level, and the electrolyte level in the generator drops to a point where little electrolyte is expelled, with the HHO gas, from the generator. Bonus - no foam. i.e. the greater the head of electrolyte, the greater the flow of electrolyte to the generator, and the greater the volume of electrolyte expelled with the HHO.
From observation, having tried various outlet hole diameters, it would seem to make little difference what size the top holes in your plates are. Once the gas has driven the electrolyte to a level lower than the gas outlet holes, you should have practically no current loss across these. Staggering these outlet holes also appears to make little or no difference.
Note that, as well as reservoir head height, the volume of HHO generated also appears to make a difference. With higher HHO production rates, there is slightly lower electrolyte level in the generator, and less electrolyte expelled from the generator.
If you can set up for a reasonable balance between reservoir head height, plate outlet hole size, and HHO production rate, you should have few problems.
Also aim to have the outlet holes as near the top of your plates as possible to maximise plate usage. Stick to near one corner of the plates. That way you can also experiment with using your generator in 'diamond' configuration. (ie tilted 45 degrees)
As for the bottom holes, if used, these only need to be of sufficient size to allow for electrolyte replenishment during normal operation, and, since these will be submerged, then, as Colchiro says, it is definitely recommended that these holes should be staggered.