Re: [GMCnet] Hydrogen Generator/ hinderburg/ HHO safety [message #165319] |
Wed, 04 April 2012 11:37 |
Gary Casey
Messages: 448 Registered: September 2009
Karma:
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Rob,
Yes, helium could be used for generator cooling, as a stirling engine working fluid, or in dirigibles. However, hydrogen has about half the molecular weight, so it is twice as "good" as a coolant. Half the windage loss in the generator. On the other hand it is only a little bit better than helium in a dirigible. Helium is twice as heavy as hydrogen, but hydrogen is only a little bit lighter than helium :-). Air has a molecular weight of 30, helium 4 and hydrogen 2. So the buoyancy(the difference between air and the gas in the balloon) of helium is 26 and that of hydrogen is 28. I read that Germany wanted to buy helium from us, but since we were mad at them we wouldn't sell it; that forced them to use hydrogen. Wouldn't have helped the Hindenberg as it would have burned anyway, but there would have been fewer people on board - or maybe no piano. As I understand it, most of the world's helium still comes from the U.S.
Gary
from Rob:
Gary,
Any idea why Helium wasn't used?
Regards,
Rob M.
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