Salt water energy
Salt water energy is a claimed, but not yet proven, method of extracting energy from salt water. According to a September 9 article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, John Kanzius, of Erie, Pennsylvania, was able to extract hydrogen from salt water by using radio frequencies. According to the article, Rustum Roy, a Penn State University chemist, verified the process. However, professor Roy is not sure if the reaction releases a net amount of energy or not. [1]
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So the experiment was inconclusive as to the net energy. Maybe I can help with a non-scientific but very practical approach. If the micro wave supply is rated at 1kW and the flame size indicates around 100W, that would amount to minus 90% profit in the given configuration. This addresses only the given configuration of course.
Assuming that we're watching Electrolysisin a fairly roundabout way, we can improve efficiency. Using a DC supply of 50W, and adjusting the selinity and spacing of electrodes to 8A, I believe we can get the same flame size and thus improve the net gain to minus 75%. The best part is that while reducing the source energy requirement with 60%, it also reduces the setup cost to a fraction.
Now we're on our way to free energy. All we need is a steady supply of free electricity or free microwave energy, then we can convert it to a small flame, suitable for driving a steam engine.
We can do even better: Just stick a 300W light bulb in front of your micro wave source, keeping enough distance so we don't exceed 300W. Now we've improved output by 200%, increasing the microwave to heat conversion process to a net gain of minus 70%. And the bulb will be quite a sight, if we slip it closer to the source and eventually burn it out in a great flash around 600W.
(Insert pictures please, somebody with strong lab skills)
(Please verify calculations, somebody with strong chemistry knowledge)