The Great War of Rhodesia

32. Hydrogen & Air Vessels

A month and a half has passed since the introduction of new weapons and uniforms. Now the production of medical equipment and medicines has really begun. Simultaneously, the Ration-making project held by Edward and assisted by Lumire relatives had also begun to bear fruit.

Now the task of Aksa and the craftsmen is to complete the manufacture of Air Vessels. While Nata deals with warrior training and other issues outside of warfare.

.

"In two days we will begin to install the Water Electrolysis device on the edge of the Great Gorge. At once began to assemble his Airship in that place." Aksa spoke from across the table in front of Nata. "Because besides it will be more practical to float the ship on the water when it is finished being assembled, also so as not to cause too much commotion when people see it float," he continued later.

"Are you still going to use Hydrogen, Aks?" Nata asked.

This time they were alone in the tent. Rafa, Luque, and Lily who were in regular attendance still had not returned from their jobs in the eastern region.

"What do you want me to use? The hellium? You do realize that the element named after the sun god is a rare element? At least on a planet similar to Earth like this." Aksa answered ketus. "Yes, unless you find a natural gas source from a pile of fossil uranium. That also does not guarantee there will always be, because actually we still do not know how to reproduce Hellium," he later.

"Yes I know that. I just want to make sure of it." Nata raised his hand.

"Oh. Otherwise, we can harvest it from the nearest gas planet in the solar system." Aksa still seems upset.

"No sarcasm needed either. I'm just worried because Hydrogen is so flammable. And this world has fire magic that can be shot higher than an arrow." Nata.

"I think the only way is to make a balloon coating from the skin of fire-resistant mystical animals. I talked about it with Mr. Selene a few days ago." Aksa provides solutions.

"But how long and how much for just one Airship? The cost of production is too high." Nata.

"Yes then we can only hope that no magician can shoot fire magic high enough to hit the balloon" replied Aksa sarcas. "Also Hydrogen is the first order in the periodic table. That means he's the best element" he chirped later.

"It has nothing to do with it."

"We can start making Hydrogen Cell powered machines in the future." Aksa said again. "Like the steam engine of the locomotive. When do you think you will continue to use wood fuel? We have enough water now" he continued.

"Yes I think you're right. We can start green energy right from the start." Nata seemed to nod considering his best friend's proposal. "Keep, when are you going to make the drone? Soon the training of those soldiers will be completed. I want to show you a photo of the aerial map while discussing the plan with Lucia and the military people" he added.

"Propsy. I still have to supervise the work on this Water Electrolysis first before I can really stay. Because I don't want to be bothered when I'm making something." Aksa answered. "No need to worry. I'll finish in less than a week. Relax," he added, giving guarantees.

"Alright then," Nata quickly replied without doubting Aksa's words.

"O you guys, we're home!" Suddenly appearing with a shout, Luque was with Rafa and Lily from the front door of the tent. "Today is tired. I'll take a warm bath before I go to bed."

...***...

Two days later on the west bank of the Great Gorge. Not far from Lucia's house. The workers and some of the witches involved had already started doing their work of making an anvil and erecting pulleys to install a device called Aksa with Water Electrolysis.

The tool is quite large. The size of two electric generators like the one in Bukit Reservoir. Shaped box with several iron plates attached to each other in it.

On one side of the box is a pipe to fill the water. And on the other side is attached copper cable to flow electricity.

Then at the top there are two pipes that lead to two different metal tubes. One tube is not too big with the top looks hollow. It has a large 'O' on the body of the tube. And the other one was twice the size of the first tube. With a pressure gauge attached on it. There is a large 'H' in the body of the tube.

"Does this Great Gorge have a canal to drain water?" Aksa narrowed his eyes to look at the western end of the river flow in the Great Gorge while raising his hands in front of the temple like he was covering his eyes and nose from the sun.

"There's a tunnel-like gap that leads to a cliff on the coast to the southwest of there." Matyas who was also present as the leader of the craftsmen replied.

"Why did the water rise? Although as narrow as any gap, if water can pass through it, the surface should not rise. At the beginning of the water volume is not this much, right?"

"Is it big enough?"

"Maybe the size of an adult male. It's just that the mouth of the crack lies beneath the surface of the sea."

"so." Aksa nodded small.

Just below the place to install the Electrolysis of Water that the workers and witches were working on, craftsmen assisted by shipbuilders from West City are busy making a new Shipyard on the riverbank at the bottom of the Great Gorge.

And because the bottom of the ravine is quite deep from the surface, then made an elevator similar to the one in the North City. It's just that this one's a little bigger. To bring down the parts of the Ship made in the southern region.

Aksa, who is in charge of the installation of Water Electrolysis, can only observe it from above with other project leaders.

"So what was that hydrogen called?" Couran asked after he finished going around observing the situation of the region. Then sit on a folding chair next to Aksa facing the Great Ravine.

"Basically hydrogen is the lightest gas in the world. It consists of only 1 proton without a neutron. And because it includes Diatomic gas, so it is easy to explode," replied Aksa still has not shifted his eyes from the work at the bottom of the abyss.

"Excoded? Like gunpowder?" Not only Couran, Matyas and the few people who heard Aksa's words looked surprised.

"Yes, I think the explosion is still more powerful gunpowder," replied Aksa who this time looked at Couran. "Hydrogen's flame tongue is quickly rich in Flash" he added in words that no one else could understand.

"Wouldn't it be anything to use a gas that explodes like that? How about it explode when it's in the sun's heat?" Matyas looks worried.

"No need to worry. Hydrogen will self-explosive at 500 °C. So only sparks that could potentially ignite the explosion while in the balloon later. You can rest easy, because I've learned of the Hindenburg case for anticipation." Aksa tried to calm down with an incomprehensible explanation.

"And how do we make hydrogen? Is it the same way to make gunpowder?" Couran looks curious. "Is the device the same as a cooling tank for biogas?"

"Not the same Mr. Couran. We don't make hydrogen. But separate it from the water" replied Aksa.

"Water?"

"really. The water compound is composed of one oxygen and two hydrogen. Actually it can also be from Hydrocarbons such as Methane gas which has one carbon and four Hydrogen. But the most abundant and easiest source we have today is Water. Yes so, we use water only," explained Aksa lightly. While others seem confused to hear it.

"And how did you separate those things from the water?" matyas asked with a face like wishing Aksa was just joking.

"True, how do you put the Oxygen and Hydrogen aside? Splitting water? Or heat it up and turn it into a gas? Then how can you sort out the oxygen and hydrogen from that gas?" Couran tried to think of various ways that remained impossible to do.

"Yes not set aside in a literal sense, Mr. Couran. Uh, literally, but not in the general way we do." Aksa answered.

"Then?"

"There is a way called electrolysis. In simple terms, we flow electricity to a substance to separate the electron content in the substance. With the help of Electrodes. As we used on the incandescent lamp and the Audion tube yesterday." Aksa tried to explain.

"So at the cathode, two water molecules react by capturing two electrons, reduced to H2 gas and a hydroxide ion or OH-. Meanwhile at the anode, two other water molecules break down into oxygen gas, releasing four H+ ions as well as passing electrons to the cathode. The H+ and OH-Ions neutralize and re-form some water molecules..."

"That's it, enough." Couran cut Aksa's explanation. "You're making me dizzy, Aks. I think I'll reread your writing on Chemical Reaction Energy yesterday. Maybe after that I'll ask you again about this method of putting hydrogen aside." It looks like the middle-aged man is massaging his temples slowly.

"Anytime, Mr. Couran," Aksa replied quickly.

.