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Thread: How do you keep the electrolyte solution from freezing in winter?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Shokan, NY
    Posts
    6

    How do you keep the electrolyte solution from freezing in winter?

    I live in the NE US, and even though winters aren't as cold as they used to be, we still get frosts, below zero freezes, and you still need to use antifreeze in the car radiator. What additive do you use to keep the electrolyte solution from freezing?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Dallas, TX
    Posts
    490
    For the bubbler:

    I have used methanol in the past as well as rubbing alcohol. Salt supposedly works too but I've yet to try it. http://www.ehow.com/how_6969578_add-...ing-point.html

    I would go with isopropyl.

    For the reservoir:

    I found this to be helpful if using KOH as the electrolyte
    https://koh.olinchloralkali.com/Tech...seDiagram.aspx

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Dallas, TX
    Posts
    490
    To follow up on this, this morning it is 24*F in the trunk and my bubbler (water only) is frozen solid

    I was lazy and didn't add anything to it, so that's my fault.

    My reactor, however, contains a 4% solution of KOH (by weight) and only the very top layer of the liquid has partially begun to freeze over. Liquid temp was 24*F.

    Based on the diagram, it appears as though it takes approximately a 15% (by weight) solution to prevent freezing down to 0*F/-17*C. Temperatures rarely get that low here in TX, so I will most likely never personally go higher than that. I can imagine using the maximum 28% if living in the northern U.S. or Canada. Perhaps you should start at 15% (by weight) and see how works based on outside temps.

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