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Hydrogen in Vacuum

This document summarizes research into the explosive nature of hydrogen gas in atmospheric and vacuum conditions. Key findings include: - Hydrogen mixtures can ignite with as little as 0.02mJ of energy at atmospheric pressure. Lower pressures require more energy for ignition. - Inert gases like argon and nitrogen can lower the flammability of hydrogen mixtures but only slightly. Mixtures below 2% hydrogen will not burn in air. - Experiments tested the minimum ignition points of hydrogen-air mixtures under different pressures and energy sources. Safety precautions for working with hydrogen in vacuum systems are provided. Future experiments are proposed to further understand hydrogen combustion properties.

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Siva Subramaniyan
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186 views27 pages

Hydrogen in Vacuum

This document summarizes research into the explosive nature of hydrogen gas in atmospheric and vacuum conditions. Key findings include: - Hydrogen mixtures can ignite with as little as 0.02mJ of energy at atmospheric pressure. Lower pressures require more energy for ignition. - Inert gases like argon and nitrogen can lower the flammability of hydrogen mixtures but only slightly. Mixtures below 2% hydrogen will not burn in air. - Experiments tested the minimum ignition points of hydrogen-air mixtures under different pressures and energy sources. Safety precautions for working with hydrogen in vacuum systems are provided. Future experiments are proposed to further understand hydrogen combustion properties.

Uploaded by

Siva Subramaniyan
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Explosive Nature of

Hydrogen in a Partial
Pressure Vacuum
Trevor Jones
Project Engineer
Solar Atmospheres Inc.
Souderton, PA
www.solaratm.com & www.solarmfg.com

Hydrogen Consumption:
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in
the universe
Worldwide consumption of hydrogen is
around 103 million kg per day (44 billion
scfd)
United states consumes 20% of worldwide
supply
More hydrogen gas is consumed than
natural gas by the commercial sector
(ref. 1)

History on Hydrogen
Applications:
Fuel Cells
Food
Chemical processing
Pharmaceuticals
Aerospace

History on Hydrogen
Applications (continued)

Electronics
Petroleum Recovery and Refinery
Power Generation
Metal production and fabrication
Heat Treating

Vacuum Furnaces

Hydrogens Role in a Vacuum Furnace


Partial Pressure:
Hydride / De-Hydride of tantalum,
titanium, and other metals
Dilutant in Vacuum Carburizing
Reducing gas for oxide reduction
Formed from dissociated ammonia gas in
the gas nitriding process

Characteristics of Hydrogen
Higher Heating Value

141.90 Mj/kg
11.89 Mj/m

Lower Heating Value

119.90Mj/kg
10.505 Mj/m

Stoichiometric Mixture in Air

29.53 (vol.%)

LEL % by Volume

UEL % by Volume

74.2

Ft. Air Required to Burn 1 Ft. of Gas

2.5

Minimum Self-ignition Temperature of Stoichiometric Mixture


Adiabatic Flame Temperature in Air
Minimum Ignition Energy of Stoichiometric Mixture (mj)

1085F
3712.73F
0.02

(ref. 1 & 2)

(ref. 2)

Project Goals
Understand the explosive nature of hydrogen gas
at atmospheric pressure and in near vacuum
conditions
Determine minimal levels of energy to ignite
hydrogen / air mixtures
Determine if Nitrogen or Argon gas will act as a
dilutant for hydrogen / air reactions
Develop recommendations for the safe use of
hydrogen in vacuum systems

Solars Hydrogen / Air Reaction Chamber

Energy Sources
Atmosphere

Vacuum

Procedure for Conducting Tests:


1. Pump down vessel to 0.1 Torr
2. Backfill vessel with air to desired pressure
3. Backfill vessel with H2 to obtain final
test pressure and gas ratio
4. Ignite mixture with either spark or heater element

Experimental Results:
Minimum Ignition Points

Pressure (torr)

5000 Voltage Spark 1/16" Gap


750
700
650
600
550
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0

Experimental
Theoretical

10

20

30

40

% Hydrogen in air

50

60

70

Experimental Results:
Minimum Ignition Points

Pressure (torr)

5000 Voltage Spark 1/4" Gap


750
700
650
600
550
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0

Experimental
Theoretical

10

20

30
40
50
60
% Hydrogen in Air

70

80

90

Experimental Results:
Minimum Ignition Points

Pressure (torr)

Heated Element Wire


750
700
650
600
550
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0

Experimental
Theoretical

10

20

30

40

% Hydrogen in air

50

60

70

Temperature vs. H2 Concentration


Ignition Points
1150

Temperature (F)

1100
1050
1000
950
900
850
0

10

20

30

40

% Hydrogen in Air

50

60

70

Experimental Results:

Pressure (torr)

Minimum Ignition Points - Comparing All Three Tests


750
700
650
600
550
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0

1/4" High Voltage Spark


Heated Wire
1/16" Gap Spark

10

20

30

40

50

% Hydrogen in Air

60

70

80

90

Visuals of Explosions at
Different Pressures
Atmospheric

Sub-Atmospheric

Minimum Ignition Energy vs. % Hydrogen in Air

M inimum Ignition energy, mJoules

10

Pressure 0.2 atm


Pressure 0.33 atm
Pressure 0.5 atm
Pressure 1.0 atm
1

0.1

0.01
0

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Hydrogen in air, percent by volume

50

55

60

65

70

(ref. 3)

Quenching Distance vs. % Hydrogen in Air at Various Pressures

Distance (between parallel plates) cm

0.1

Pressure 0.2 atm


Pressure 0.33 atm
Pressure 0.5 atm
Pressure 1.0 atm

0.01
0

10

20

30

40

Hydrogen in air, percent by volume

50

60

70

(ref. 3)

Contained Reactions
Ignitions under 150 torr
300

Pressure (torr)

250
200
150
100

50

Initial Pressure

Final Pressure

0
0

0.5

1.5
Time (sec)

2.5

Inert Gas as a Dilutant for


Hydrogen / Air Burning

Experimental Results
Inert Gas as a Dilutant for Hydrogen / Air Burning
Hydrogen alone will easily burn if vented out of a pipe into open air
and ignited with an energy source
Extremely lean hydrogen mixtures (<5%) will not burn in open air
if diluted with inert gas
Lean H2 mixtures (5-25%) mixed with inert gas will burn, however
will not support a flame once energy source is taken away (Forming Gas)
25-100% hydrogen in inert gas will burn and sustain a flame once
energy source is taken away
Argon showed slightly better flammable suppression compared to
nitrogen

Conclusions
0.02 mJ is all the energy required to ignite a stoichiometric
mixture of hydrogen & air at atmospheric pressure (ref. 3)
As the pressure of the hydrogen & air mixture decreases, the
amount of energy required to ignite the mixture increases more
than an order of magnitude (ref. 3)
Lower pressures than 0.2 atm (150 torr) can be ignited with a
larger diameter vessel and increased energy source (ref. 3)
Larger spark gaps result in wider flammability limits
As hydrogen is increased in concentration, a higher temperature
is required to ignite the mixtures
The use of inert gas as a dilutant does lower the flammability
limit of hydrogen however only slightly

Safety Precautions
Stay below 1/2 the LEL of hydrogen (2% or 15 torr)
Pump down to 0.1 torr, then backfill with inert gas to atmospheric
pressure prior to exposure to air
Perform a leak test on the vacuum chamber and be sure the leak up
rate is less than 0.015 torr per hour
Design intrinsically safe & redundant safety controls when using
hydrogen
Oxygen probe to detect an air leak in the vacuum system. If oxygen
is present then perform 5 volume change purge with argon
Use an inert diluting gas to lower the flammability limit

Future Experiments

References:
Ref. 1 - Bose Tapan; Hay, Rober; and Ohi Jim:

Sourcebook for Hydrogen


Applications. Hydrogen Research Institute and National Renewable Energy
Laboratory., 1998

Ref. 2 - Barbir, Frano:

Safety Issues of Hydrogen Vehicles. Energy partners.,


2001; http://iahe.org/hydrogen

Ref. 3 - Drell Isadore; Belles Frank:

Report 1383 Survey of Hydrogen


Combustion Properties. Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory, National Advisory
Committee for Aeronautics., Cleveland, Ohio: April 1957

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