Another way to deal with Hydrogen

[Stroam]

I've done some light digging on how the ISS handles it's oxygen and it's plans for the future. In the near future they plan to use hydrolysis to produce oxygen just like you do in the game. But then you are left with hydrogen as a by product. In the game you can use hydrogen for energy but then it just disappears. Instead a Sabatier machine should be using the Sabatier reaction. 
CO2 + 4 H2 → CH4 + 2 H2O + energy
The hydrogen generator should be taking in CO2 as well then using it to generate methane, water, and energy. As everyone knows methane is combustible. So by gathering the methane and adding oxygen and some activation energy it can then become carbon dioxide, water, and energy. 
CH4 + 2 O2 → CO2 + 2 H2O + energy
This would add a new dynamics to the game, add another engine, help prevent matter destruction, and create a way to recover water that isn't super easy to get. Players short on water can decide to use their precious oxygen to burn the methane or like the ISS, simply vent it.

[Crimeo]

You wouldn't be able to realistically burn the methane in a way that makes sense to set up, because the whole reason for electrolysis in this game is O2 generation. And there's only one O2 for every 2xH2. Thus only one O2 for every 2xmethane by the Sabatier reaction.

Since each methane requires two oxygen
CH4 + 2*O2 ==> 2*H2O + CO2

That means that even if you used up all your oxygen that you just created (which would already defeat the purpose), you'd still only be able to burn 1/4 of the methane you produce. So you're sort of taking one step forward, three steps back by doing that.

I believe in the ISS they simply vent the hydrogen into space, for this reason. Which we can't do here. But you could pump it into a high pressure storage cave, or you could make metal hydrides to store it compactly.

[MarkusReese]

There is one other option to dealing with hydrogen in a mass conservation approach, but it is a little broken at the moment.  Sometimes it can glitch.  Should water byproduct become a thing with the power generation, and by association, oxygen required, then storage becomes viable alternative to dealing with hydrogen.

Reason for storage is entropy dictates that it would take more energy to separate the water, then you get by recombining.  Judging by the consumption rate of hydrogen, this is probably already factored in.  Also doesnt do any good to consume the oxygen you created by running it though a power generator.

[Stroam]

You are absolutely right on that turning the hydrogen into water is not very helpful since you used the water to make the oxygen and therefor need it. But you don't need hydrogen and Carbon dioxide so this is a way to get rid of two things you don't want for 1 thing you do plus one you don't. The power generation would also have to be less than the power gained by hydrolysis so not a whole lot of help there. The pros to the game is a way to manage the hydrogen and carbon dioxide in a way that generates a little power and water ,another gas to play around with, and a the user might learn something.. 

[Crimeo]

5 hours ago, Stroam said:

this is a way to get rid of two things you don't want for 1 thing you do plus one you don't. 

But you're creating about a much new stuff that you ALSO don't want: 75% of the methane you create, that you can't burn because you needed the oxygen in the first place. Trading hydrogen and CO2 for almost the same mass of methane doesn't necessarily seem helpful.

If you need methane for something, though, then sure.

[Teila]

mini Hindenburg?