There is a theory that if electrolysis of water occurs at a certain sawtooth-like pulsating high current (increasing voltage, very low amperage) the water molecules can be pried apart, so to speak. This process would produce more energy than it costs.
Could this theory still be correct despite the Law of Conservation of Energy because, for example, it uses intermolecular properties so that there would no longer be an ‘isolated system’?
Answer
Dear Bass,
This theory comes from Stanley Meyer, who was convicted of this as a fraud. Moreover, to date no scientist has been able to replicate the results.
What has already been shown is that electrolysis of water sometimes works better in a field of microwaves, but the improvement is not spectacular.
If you ever come across a system that seems to break the law of conservation of energy, it is indeed smart to look at external influences. I don’t know what exactly you mean by ‘intermolecular properties’, but energy can come from all kinds of sources: ambient heat, light, chemical energy (fuels)… Moreover, a microwave oven itself also consumes energy and e.g. energy lost in the conversion from direct current to alternating current.
However, we can put these external influences to good use: light and heat from the sun can be used to produce hydrogen from water in a sustainable manner.
Answered by
Dr. ir. Jan Ronge
Bio-engineer. Electrocatalysis and renewable hydrogen production
Old Market 13 3000 Leuven
https://www.kuleuven.be/
.