MANATEE — Garage inventors and shade-tree mechanics from around the country will join manufacturers and internationally known engineers this weekend to exchange information on the growing interest in using hydrogen as an alternative fuel.
Local enthusiast Joe Shea, who organized the first HHO Games in November at the Manatee County Fairgrounds in Palmetto, said the success of that event led him to put this event together.
“I was inspired by the advances made as a result of their collaboration and conversations at the November games,” Shea said. “They vastly improved their HHO kids as a result of the cross-pollination of ideas.”
He said since then there have been new innovations to the electrolysis process that splits water, or H2O, into two separate hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, or HHO, and injects the resulting gas into a combustion engine to burn with either gasoline or diesel fuel, reducing the amount of fossil fuel used by as much as 60 percent.
More than 2,500 people attended the November expo, and Shea said he expects an even bigger crowd to the HHO Games being held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the Manatee Technical Institute Bradenton Campus, 5603 34th St. W.
On Saturday and Sunday vendors will set up in booths to demonstrate the various models of HHO kits available to provide hydrogen on demand.
On all three days, several experts will give free seminars and conduct forums on all aspects of the industry, including building a kit from scratch, installation tips for various engines, and information about patents.
One of the panelists at a question-and-answer forum will be Jim Tarantola, owner of HighPerformanceFuelCells.Com.
Tarantola said the industry in the United States is in the beginning stages.
“Germany has been advanced in this industry for years,” he said, “as have other countries.”
He said before the government begins to over-regulate the process, it was important for those interested in HHO to attend the exposition to help establish standards.
Barry Holzsweig, who is possibly the first to establish a storefront business installing HHO systems on vehicles, said he has been very busy.
Since the word has gotten out about the reliability and integrity of the systems, Holzsweig has installed more than 60 units since opening Jan. 16. And it did not hurt that he offers a 60-day money-back guarantee.
“These devices are green devices,” said the electrical engineer. “Because the engines stay below 180 degrees, noxious gases are not produced.”
Because of the fuel savings, Holzsweig said using HHO technology could reduce the use of foreign oil by billions of barrels.
“This is good for the economy, national defense, consumers and the environment,” he said.
On Monday, Shea presented a $1,000 check collected from the vendors of the last HHO Games to Mary Cantrell, director of MTI.
“This process is exciting,” Cantrell said of HHO, “The nation is looking for an alternative fuel and I’m hoping this can benefit America.”
She said by having the HHO Games on the MTI campus it will expose the technology to her students and could possibly be offered as an educational program.
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