RET, i.e. plasma conversion of water to hydrogen and oxygen

The many methods of making a plasma (the "4th state of matter") such at the surface of the sun, here on the Earth's surface, are well known (a Google search will find many of them). Plasmas have been used for semiconductor (Integrated Circuit) processing for more than 30 years. The latest and greatest of those methods may be "Electron Cyclotron Resonance" (ECR) plasmas which are often used to break apart molecules to make them into more reactive species (atomic or molecular fragments) which then can remove areas on a semiconductor chip much more effectively (and quickly). However, large amounts of electrical power are required to operate a plasma reactor (and considerable capital costs is required to build one, although they are cheaper ways of making a plasma, including a simple inductive coil). The key question for RET is whether or not this electrical power requirement is less than electrolysis (the other way to make hydrogen from water).

The inventor went to great lengths to stress the need for steam (the energy conversion "cost" to make steam is very high and is a significant contributor to the electrical energy required for electrolysis of liquid water), for his RET (plasma conversion of water to hydrogen and oxygen) process. So it is certainly reasonable that his suggestion that RET (plasma separation of water) could be more efficient than electrolysis. It is also true that hydrogen is MUCH smaller, more mobile and separable from oxygen with relatively simple membranes. So the other key to whether or not this technology is viable is the relative separation efficiency of the resulting hydrogen and oxygen in or very close to the plasma. Given the huge advances in membrane technology in the last few decades (e.g. they use membranes to separate pure water from sea water - "reverse osmosis"), and the fact that hydrogen can penetrate THROUGH solid materials (making it difficult to store), I would be inclined to believe that hydrogen separation could be practical for this application.

Hydrogen has MANY applications other as a fuel for vehicles. It main use today is in the upgrading of heavy oils into the light crude oils that are necessary for refineries (among other myriad petrochemical uses). A cheaper method of making hydrogen from waste heat and a plasma reactor would be a HUGE breakthrough. Of course, plasma chemistry and physics are at least 50 years old and this inventor is building upon the breakthroughs of the past. That doesn't invalidate the importance of this however, it just makes it more likely that it will be successful. ON balance, I suspect that the hype that he is using has made the acceptance of his work less likely but he HAS gained more attention this way. Is this the only way that he CAN get attention (hope not, but worry that it is true).

I say "Good LUCK and keep up the work!!"