Moose,
I'm not trying to throw cold water on the choice of vehicle. I'm just
basing my personal choice on relevant experience in the industrial plant
world. We used high pressure air for a number of purposes, but it was
limited to 4000 psi, and contained in thick, steel storage tanks, and
very heavy valves, rated for the pressure range.
We also dealt with hydrogen-rich exhaust products from NASA rockets.
Within the plant machinery, we first inerted the system with gaseous
nitrogen, to remove the oxygen, then processed the exhaust products,
which were exhausted to the atmosphere. On one occasion, maintenance
crews left a crane boom parked close to one of the exhaust stacks, and
something ignited the exhausting hydrogen. It sounded like a very large
torch, and blew a labeling sign off of the crane. No real damage done,
but a demonstration of the potential for problems.
I know that composite pressure vessels have come a long way since I
retired over 20 yrs ago, but the idea of hydrogen at 10,000 psi in such
vessels, on a California freeway, in bumper to bumper traffic, does not
thrill me. Neither was I impressed with the "fueling station" image
that showed what appeared to be fill tubes consisting of small stainless
tubing. This does not appear adequate for the pressure level involved.
Old Fogey Nick
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA
On 7/30/2015 2:43 PM, Moose wrote:
On 7/29/2015 5:26 PM, Jim Nichols wrote:
I read the on-line description of the vehicle and the safety measures
that they have taken to make sure the 10k psi H2 tanks don't rupture
in an accident, but, after dealing with hydrogen-rich rocket exhaust
products while supporting altitude testing of NASA rockets, I will
pass on this one. I could not get past the feeling that I was
strapped to a potential bomb. Look closely.
On 7/30/2015 7:46 AM, Jim Nichols wrote:
Hi Chris,
Same engine, same sound. Back in the late 1950s, when these were
available for less than $5000, a few of us considered getting one.
The thing that turned me off was that all of the fuel was carried in
belly tanks, beneath the floor. I could just envision sitting atop a
bonfire in case of any mishap.
Is there a theme here? Fear of Fuel?
BTW, for anyone with the Hindenburg in mind, the hydrogen neither
caused nor contributed to the fire and the highly visible flames in
the video. It merely quietly, almost invisibly, burned up top after
being freed and ignited by the original fire. Both contemporary
research, as shown in a PBS special and the manufacturer's post mortem
research independently came to the same conclusion.
Bad Dope Moose
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