Heat Generation by Ion Friction in Water under an AC Electric Field

In this study we investigate the theoretical background for the heat generation by ion friction for an electrode boiler by using sodium triphosphate and sodium chloride salt water solutions with different concentrations under AC electric fields. For comparisons, distilled, mineral, tap and sea water were investigated, as well. The input power and conductivity were calculated from the currents and the temperatures measured by applying different AC voltages. We compared the experimentally obtained conductivity data with the theoretical prediction. The energy efficiency was determined by calculating the enthalpy of the input heating power and the output power due to the temperature rise of the water. Applications of this electrode boiler and a heating system with a very high energy efficiency of nearly 100% at the initial stage was also proposed. This work can also be used for physics education, because its subjects are strongly related to undergraduate and graduate courses such as mechanics and electrodynamics.