The water fuel cell was a design that did not work for a "perpetual motion machine" created by Stanley Allen Meyer (August 24, 1940 – March 20, 1998). Meyer said that a car modified with the device could run on water instead of gasoline. However, a court in Ohio found in 1996 that Meyer's claims about his "Water Fuel Cell" and the car it powered were untrue.

Purported design

The water fuel cell claimed to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen gas was then burned to change chemical energy into heat energy, which put the water molecules back together. Meyer stated that the device used less energy for splitting water than expected by traditional science. The process was said to involve "Brown's gas," a mix of oxyhydrogen with a 2:1 ratio, the same as in liquid water. This gas was then mixed with air (which contains nitrogen, oxygen, argon, etc.). Burning the hydrogen gas created water molecules again in a different unit than where the water was split. If the device worked as described, it would break the first and second laws of thermodynamics, acting like a perpetual motion machine.

In his patents, Meyer used the terms "fuel cell" or "water fuel cell" to describe the part of his device that used electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This use of the term differs from its usual scientific meaning, where such devices are called "electrolytic cells." Typically, "fuel cell" refers to a device that produces electricity from chemical reactions, but Meyer's device used electricity, as shown in his patents and in the circuit diagram. In a 1990 patent, Meyer described a "water fuel cell assembly" and showed images of his "fuel cell water capacitor." The patent stated that in this case, "the term 'fuel cell' refers to a single unit of the invention containing a water capacitor cell that produces fuel gas according to the method of the invention."

Media coverage

In a news report from an Ohio TV station, Meyer showed a dune buggy that he said was powered by a water fuel cell. He claimed that only 22 US gallons (83 liters) of water would be needed to travel from Los Angeles to New York. Meyer also said he replaced the spark plugs in the engine with "injectors" that added a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen into the engine cylinders. The water was exposed to an electric current that split it into its basic parts. The water fuel cell would separate the water into hydrogen and oxygen gas. These gases would then be burned in a traditional engine to create water vapor, producing more energy than was used in the process.

Philip Ball, who wrote an article in the academic journal Nature, described Meyer's claims as unscientific. He noted that "It's not easy to understand how Meyer's car was supposed to work, except that it involved a fuel cell that could split water using less energy than was released when the elements recombined. People who oppose false science can argue strongly, but in the end, they may have to accept that the idea of using water as a fuel will likely never disappear."

Lawsuit

Stanley Meyer's invention was later called fraudulent after two investors who had bought dealerships from him in Water Fuel Cell technology sued him in 1996. His car was supposed to be tested by Michael Laughton, a professor of electrical engineering at Queen Mary University of London and a member of the Royal Academy of Engineering. However, Meyer gave what Laughton called a "weak excuse" during the scheduled test and prevented the examination from happening. Later, three expert witnesses in court examined Meyer's "water fuel cell" and concluded that it did not use any new or special technology, only standard electrolysis. The court ruled that Meyer had committed "serious fraud" and required him to return $25,000 to the two investors.

Meyer's death

Stanley Meyer died suddenly on March 20, 1998, while eating at a restaurant. His brother said that during a meeting with two Belgian investors, Meyer ran outside and said, "They poisoned me." After an investigation, the Grove City police agreed with the Franklin County coroner's report, which stated that Meyer, who had high blood pressure, died from a cerebral aneurysm. Some people who supported Meyer believe he was killed to stop his inventions. Philippe Vandemoortele, one of the Belgian investors, said he had financially supported Meyer for many years and considered him a personal friend. He also said he does not know where the rumors about his involvement in Meyer's death came from.

Aftermath

Meyer's patents are no longer valid. His inventions are now in the public domain, meaning they can be used freely by anyone without needing to pay fees or ask for permission. No companies that make engines or vehicles have used Meyer's work.