FUEL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1928, Page 5

FUEL CONFERENCE

PROFESSOR’S ANNOUNCEMENT. WONDERFUL NEW FUEL. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). (Received this day at noon.) LONDON, September 27. Walter Van Hohenau, a Brazilian scientist, infformed the Fuel Conference that after thirty years research he had discovered a method of using water as a. fuel, at a fraction of the cost of present fuels, replacing coals, which henceforth would be useful only for component chemicals hitherto wasted. Hohenau claims ability by high-frequency electric vibrations to release large volumes of hydrogen from separated oxygen, and the expenditure of energy much less than hydrogen would produce. One horse-power expended by his machine working on low vibrations releases hydrogen generating 265 horse power. In heat units, working at a voltage of ten to> twentysix producing eight hundred thousand six million vibrations per second. High alternating would produce 779 horsepower. but he did not recommend it industrially, because an increase much above five millions decomposes hydrogen and renders the water explosive. The plant occupies a small space. Existing engines and boiler can be retained, owing to adaptability as a gas burner.

Hohenau is informing the Anglo-Ger-man Governments of his discovery and will instal a plant gratis charging consumers half the amount payable for present power costs.