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HHO ("Hybrid Hydrogen Oxygen") is a gas created by a patented electrolysis process from ordinary water, which is claimed to have special properties. There is no commonly accepted scientific evidence that such a gas exists however and the properties claimed for it break the established laws of physics. Aquygen is the trademark for this gas used by Hydrogen Technology Applications, Inc., which sells gas generators for use in welding and cutting torches. HTA also claims that the gas is useful as a "primary fuel source or a fuel additive", enhancing the fuel efficiency of gasoline, diesel and aircraft turbine engines.

The claims that HHO gas has any special properties are not supported by mainstream scientists because independent research adhering to the scientific method is lacking. There are some who believe that this "new" gas may in fact be old technology being touted as new technology.

Properties

HHO gas is odorless, colorless and lighter than air, with many properties identical to oxyhydrogen or Brown's gas. According to HTA and Ruggero Maria Santilli of the Institute for Basic Research there are many unique and unusual properties that distinguish HHO from oxyhydrogen (Brown's gas), water vapor, and other variants.

• Santilli describes the creation of the gaseous and combustible HHO from distilled water at atmospheric temperature and pressure via a process structurally different than evaporation or separation, which suggests the existence of a new form of water. There is no evidence whatsoever that this process is theoretically possible or has been achieved in practice.
• In the production of HHO gas, there is no evaporation process at all, the electric energy used being insufficient for evaporation.
• Its commercial proponents claim that HHO gas exhibits a widely varying energy content, ranging from a relatively cold flame (259°F) in open air to large releases of thermal energy, depending on its use. As all normal fuels have a fixed value of energy content (Santilli measures in BTU/scf) the claims regarding HHO must be dubious and have not been proved.
• It is claimed that HHO gas instantaneously melts tungsten, bricks, and other highly refractive substances. In particular, measurements have established the remarkable capability of combusted Aquygen Gas to instantaneously reach temperatures over 10,000°F, under which virtually all substances on Earth can be sublimated. There is no evidence that this is the case.
• That fact that HHO gas does not follow the fundamental PVT law for gases is another reason to doubt its existence.
• HHO gas is supposed by its believers to demonstrate an anomalous adhesion to gases, liquids and solids. They claim that HHO gas bonds to gaseous fuels (such as natural gas, magnegas fuel, and others) and liquid fuels (such as diesel, gasoline, liquid petroleum, and others). These claims, again, have no basis in fact.

Magnecules

Based on the claims of variable energy content and flames which can "melt instantaneously tungsten and bricks", Santilli concludes in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy that HHO gas has a unique structure with a chemical composition that cannot be described by modern science. He claims that gas chromatography-mass spectrometry experiments show evidence of stable clusters composed of individual H and O atoms, their dimers H–O, and their molecules Template:Hydrogen, Template:Oxygen and H₂O. According to Santilli, these atomic and molecular bonds cannot entirely be of valence type. He proposes, instead, that the gas contains an oxygen-hydrogen hybrid, which he names a "magnecule", in a structure which has yet to be understood. HHO is described to have the structure (H×H)–O where “×” represents Santilli's magnecular bond and “–” the conventional molecular bond. The transition from the conventional H–O–H configuration to the new (H×H)–O species is explained as being a change of the electric polarization of water caused by the electrolyzer. These claims have not yet been verified through multiple independent research studies nor are they endorsed or held by any scientist of repute in the field.

News coverage

The media has done several stories on the HHO gas, being featured on CNN, FOX News, and NBC. Hydrogen Technology Applications Inc. has donated several HHO gas generators to Kentucky universities and technical training centers during its introduction program. The fact that HHO has been the subject of media interest in no way validates any claim of its existence or almost supernatural properties.

See also

• Brown's gas
• Dihydrogen monoxide hoax
• Peer review
• Scientific method

References

1. US patent 7191737, Dennis Klein, "Hydrogen generator for uses in a vehicle fuel system", issued 2007-03-20 
2. "How to get Aquygen". Hydrogen Technology Applications, Inc. 2006. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
3. "Company: Our History". Hydrogen Technology Applications, Inc. 2006. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
4. "Topic: Magical water fuel: A successful hoax? Or, what's the catch?". Snopes forum. May 13, 2006. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
5. "Aquygen: A New Kind of Gas - Key features establishing the novelty of Aquygen Gas". Hydrogen Technology Applications, Inc. 2006. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
6. Santilli, Ruggero Maria (2006). "A new gaseous and combustible form of water" (PDF). International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 31 (9): pp. 1113–1128. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2005.11.006. Retrieved 2007-02-20. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
7. R. M. Santilli, A. K. Aringazin (December 20, 2001). "Structure and Combustion of Magnegases". Hadronic Journal (27): p. 299-330. arXiv:physics/0112066. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
8. Santilli, Ruggero Maria (2006-02-17). "The Novel 'Controlled Intermediate Nuclear Fusion' and its Possible Industrial Realization as Predicted by Hadronic Mechanics and Chemistry". arXiv:physics/0602125. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

   DEFINITION: Santilli’s magnecules are stable clusters consisting of individual atoms (H, C, O, etc.), dimers (OH, CH, etc.) and ordinary molecules (CO, H2O, etc.) bonded together by opposing magnetic polarities originating from toroidal polarizations of the orbitals of atomic electrons. Numerous new substances with magnecular structures have been identified experimentally to date, among which we indicate MagneGas, MagneHydrogen, HHO, and others under industrial development.

9. Linda Potter (Winter 2005). "Gadgets and gizmos" (PDF). Land Air & Water, Kentucky Dept. for Environmental Protection. 16 (1): pg.15. OCLC 20955733. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help)

U.S. patent 6,689,259 U.S. patent 6,866,756

External links

• Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet
• FOX 26 News Report
• Channel 3 News (1)
• Channel 3 News (2)
• Technology Applications Inc. - Press Releases
• Technology Applications Inc. - Science of Aquygen
• water fuel: A successful hoax?Or, what's the catch?

• Hoaxes
• Pseudoscience
• Electrolysis
• Welding