Just how dangerous is it?

Now that you recognise about the danger of atomic number 1 as a fuel source , should you be terrify by the vista of having a armored combat vehicle full of it in your elevator car ? Not inevitably . Because hydrogen gas is so lightheaded , it disperses rapidly , mixing with the surrounding air and rapidly rising through it . Although stark hydrogen ignites quite easily , in reality , this diluted hydrogen mixture is no more probable to catch fire than petrol is . And because it rises it is n’t likely to remain near the reason , where it ’s most likely to harm people .

The most famous hydrogen flame in history was probably the explosion of the German airshipHindenburgin 1937 . No one is exactly certain how the fire originate – there are a few hypothesis – but the Hindenburg contained a large amount of atomic number 1 , which burst into flame along with the airship ’s tegument . Of the 97 passengers and crewmembers on board the Hindenburg , 35 become flat . This harm the reputation of hydrogen for many decades and most probably slowed its consumption as a fuel ; however , there ’s no grounds that any of the victims were killed by the H fervency itself . Most died when they panicked and jump out of the dirigible . The eternal rest were obliterate when the flame spread to the engines , as outcome of the airship ’s burn pelt . The hydrogen , meanwhile , rose above the rider and crewmembers , keeping the atomic number 1 fire above the havoc happen below .

Because a atomic number 1 fire does n’t radiate as much heat as most fires do , it is less likely to cause petty fire . This does n’t mean that the atomic number 1 fire would n’t glow you if you touch it – it ’s still enough hot – but it ’s less likely to circularize . As for the atomic number 1 being odorless and undetectable , this can be set off to some extent by the addition of odorants to hydrogen fuel , giving the atomic number 1 an artificial yet detectable smell . As the atomic number 1 disperses the odorant wo n’t necessarily travel with it , but you ’ll be able-bodied to determine that a atomic number 1 escape has occurred and take appropriate action .

As for the danger of asphyxiation – this is really only a job in an enclosed space , such as a service department . If a hydrogen leak occurs in the open , the speedy dispersal of hydrogen means that it ’s unlikely that there will be a gravid enough absorption of the accelerator pedal to present a breathing peril .

This does n’t mean that hydrogen should n’t be treated with a levelheaded respect for its dangers , but in recitation , these dangers are unbelievable to be any great than those ofgasoline . In fact , with its speedy dispersal and tendency to rise , hydrogen could pose less of a threat than the fuel we expend now .

For more selective information about hydrogen , fuel cells and other related topics , follow the links below .

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