Introduction

• Hydrogen is the simplest, lightest element in the Universe. It is made up of one proton & one electron.
• It is light as it scatters immediately upward in the air.
• It is non polluting.
• It is a energy carrier It is not energy it self, but requires energy to produce it.
• It has more energy per weight, but less energy per volume than any other fuel.
• It is normal gaseous state it is colourless, odourless, tasteless & non toxic.

Sources

• Natural gas (Methane) is the primary source for producing hydrogen by SMR (Steam Methane Reformation)
• There are other Renewable and Sustainable Hydrogen Production methods through live stock waste, land fill biomas, waste water sludge, chemical reactions and electricity from solar, wind and water power, fossil fuel.
• It can also be prepared from water through Electrolysis Process
• Plasma Technologies and Process ; Gasification and Waste to Energy
• Hydrogen can also be produced and collected from Green Refining and as a purified bi-product from  the Carbon Capture process

• In preparation of Ammonia (NHY), Methanol, gasoline, heating oil, energy storage, mobility / aviation and rocket fuel.
• Used to make fertilizers, glam, refined metals, vitamins, cosmetics, semi conductors, circuits, soaps, lubricants, cleaners & even margraine and peanut butter

Although any fuel in use is flammable & dangerous; the advantages are that hydrogen is non toxic, and one of the lightest gases so it scatters immediately upward when there is a leak, rather than pooling about polluting ground water and soaking in to our clothes like other fuels. So if handled with care, hydrogen is safer than fuels in standard use.

Negative aspects

Storage : Since Hydrogen is light, it is difficult to store a lot of it in a small tank.
Distribution : There is not a wide spread distribution channel like other channels for other fuels. New infra structure is needed to put in place.
Cost : Hydrogen is much more expensive than gasoline since other resources are reaching there peak, the gases will come at par.
Danger : Like most fuels It is flammable & even explosives under certain conditions.

Safety : Gaseous Hydrogen

Hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, highly flammable gas. It is also the lightest-weight gas. Since hydrogen is noncorrosive, special materials of construction are not usually required. However, embrittlement occurs in some metals at elevated temperatures and pressures.

Gaseous hydrogen may be supplied in tube trailers and cylinders. Hydrogen is usually compressed into gas cylinders by oil-lubricated compressors. The amount of gas in a cylinder is determined by the pressure, temperature, cylinder size, and cylinder pressure rating.

The molecular symbol for hydrogen is H2.

Hydrogen gas is odorless and nontoxic but may induce suffocation by diluting the concentration of oxygen in air below levels necessary to support life.

The amount of hydrogen gas necessary to produce oxygen-deficient atmospheres is well within the flammable range, making fire and explosion the primary hazards associated with hydrogen and air atmospheres.

The wide flammability range, 4% to 74% in air, and the small amount of energy required for ignition necessitate special handling to prevent the inadvertent mixing of hydrogen with air. Care should be taken to eliminate sources of ignition such as sparks from electrical equipment, static electricity sparks, open flames, or any extremely hot objects

Hydrogen and air mixtures, within the flammable range, can explode and may burn with a pale blue, almost invisible flame.

Hydrogen is produced by the steam reforming of natural gas, the electrolysis of water, the dissociation of ammonia, and as a by-product of petroleum distillation and chlorine manufacture, with the primary method for on-purpose generation being the steam reforming of natural gas. Other feedstocks can include ethane, propane, butane, and light and heavy naphtha but are not commonly used. The steam reforming process produces syngas, which is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Regardless of the method of production, the product steam is then separated into its components and the hydrogen dried, purified, and compressed into cylinders or tubes for transportation.

Hydrogen is used in the chemical industry to synthesize ammonia and in the hydrogenation of vegetable and animal oils and fats.

Fuel Cells, Fuel Stacks and Power Storage : Mobility Refuelling Sytems and Sustainable Clean Energy Distribution

In the metallurgical industry, hydrogen is used to reduce metal oxides and prevent oxidation in heat-treating certain metals and alloys. Some use of hydrogen is made in the welding and cutting of metals. Hydrogen is also used by semiconductor manufactures, primarily to form reducing atmospheres

Molecular Weight	2.016
Boiling Point @ 1 atm	-423.2°F (-252.9°C)
Freezing Point @ 1 atm	-434.8°F (-259.3°C)
Critical Temperature	-400.4°F (-240.2°C)
Critical Pressure	186 psia (12.7 atm)
Density, Liquid @ B.P., 1 atm	4.42 lb./cu.ft.
Density, Gas @ 68°F (20°C), 1 atm	0.005229 lb./cu.ft.
Specific Gravity, Gas (Air=1) @ 68°F (20°C), 1 atm	0.0696
Specific Gravity, Liquid @ B.P., [water=1 @ 68°F (20°C)]	0.0710
Specific Volume @ 68°F (20°C), 1 atm	191 cu. ft./lb.
Latent Heat of Vaporization	389 Btu/lb. mole
Flammable Limits @ 1 atm in air	4.00% - 74.2% (by Volume)
Flammable Limits @ 1 atm in oxygen	3.90% - 95.8% (by Volume)
Detonable Limits @ 1 atm in air	18.2% - 58.9% (by Volume)
Detonable Limits @ 1 atm in oxygen	15% - 90% (by Volume)
Autoignition Temperature @ 1 atm	1060°F (571°C)
Expansion Ratio, Liquid to Gas, B.P. To 68°F (20°C)	1 to 845

 

Handling and Storage of Cylinders
1. Never drop cylinders or permit them to strike each other violently.
2. Cylinders should be assigned a definite area of storage. The area should be dry, cool, well-ventilated, and preferably fire-resistant. Keep cylinders protected from excessive temperature by storing them away from radiators or other sources of heat.
3. Cylinders may be stored in the open, but in such cases should be protected against extremes of weather and from damp ground to prevent rusting.
4. The valve protection cap should be left in place until the cylinder has been secured against a wall, a bench, or placed in a cylinder stand and is ready to be used.
5. Avoid dragging or sliding cylinders, even for short distances. Cylinders should be moved by using a suitable hand truck.
6. Do not use cylinders as rollers for moving material or other equipment.
7. Never tamper with safety devices in valves or cylinders.
8. When returning empty cylinders, close the valve before shipment. Leave some positive pressure in the cylinder. Replace any valve outlet and protective caps originally shipped with the cylinder. Mark and label the cylinder as "Empty". Do not store full and empty cylinders together.
9. No part of a cylinder should be subjected to a temperature above 125°F (52°C). Prevent sparks or flames from welding or cutting torches or any other source coming in contact with cylinders. Do not permit cylinders to come in contact with electrical apparatus or circuits.
10. Never permit oil, grease, or other readily combustible substances to come in contact with cylinders or valves.
11. Use regulators and pressure relief devices when connecting cylinders to circuits having lower pressure service ratings.
12. Smoking or open flames should be prohibited in hydrogen cylinder and tube storage and use areas.
13. Know and understand the properties, uses, and safety precautions of hydrogen before using the gas and associated equipment. Consult the Air Products Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for safety information.
14. Always open a cylinder valve slowly. Never crack open a hydrogen cylinder to clear the valve of dust, as the escaping hydrogen may ignite.
15. Total storage capacity of an indoor hydrogen system should be limited to 3000 cubic feet or less.
16. Hydrogen storage inside a building should not be near oxidants or other combustible storage.
17. When finished with a cylinder, always close the valve. When work is to be interrupted for any length of time, the valve should be closed and all gas released from the hose and regulator to a safe location.
18. If a cylinder or valve is defective or leaking, remove the cylinder to a remote outdoor location away from possible sources of ignition, and post the area as to the hazard involved. Notify your supplier.
19. If a cylinder protective cap is extremely difficult to remove, do not apply excessive force or pry the cap loose with a bar inserted into the ventilation openings. Attach a label or tag to the cylinder identifying the problem and return the cylinder to the supplier.
20. Wrenches should not be used on valves equipped with a handwheel. If the valve is faulty, attach a label or tag to the cylinder identifying the problem and return the cylinder to the supplier.
21. Compressed gas cylinders should not be refilled except by qualified producers of compressed gases.
22. Shipment of a compressed gas cylinder filled without the consent of the owner is a violation of the Law.