Central PA, specifically Centre County. Its actually a large operation since its focal point is the main PSU campus. The University only provides housing for about 25 % of its students so it requires a lot of bus service to non-university student housing areas which can be as much as 3-4 miles away. Plus serving the rest of the immediate community as well as certain routes in surrounding townships.
tdmidget Alphas, without a location your post is meaningless. Where are these buses?
Alphas, without a location your post is meaningless. Where are these buses?
Our transit authority buses are all powered by CHG and in the approximate 20 years since it took over I believe there's only been one fire, with no injuries and moderate damage to the bus. That's a much better record than the previously used diesels. (Note: I was a member of the regional fire department for 25 years.)
Locally they are zero emission. The emissions are produced somewhere else so that the air quality in the city gets better.
You can make fuel cells real zero emission if you use water and renewable energies to produce hydrogen. A second way is producing Methanol from the atmosphere with renewable energy and using it in a fuel cell. The fuel cell releases CO2 but not more the used to produce Methanol: https://serenergy.com/the-first-methanol-fuel-cell-powered-vessel-in-germany-is-now-sailing-the-waters-of-lake-baldeneysee/
Producing Hydrogen from hydrocarbons will release CO2.
There are ways to make fuel cells zero emission. Hydrogen production could be used to buffer renewable energy in times of low demand.Regards, Volker
Zero emission????
One of the primary processes for making hydrogen is to start with fossil fuel. A primary by-product is, guess what? Carbon Dioxide.
I laugh when I see "zero emission" electric buses in Chicago. Illinois electricity source is about 45% coal and 45% nuclear.
Is the energy recovery of a final hydrogen user still less than other sources?. That is the energy needed to produce the hydrogen and the energy recovery of the end hydrogen user ?
In case of an accident isn't the energy density of either liquid or gaseous hydrogen more than natural gas , propane,etc ? Hydrogen doesn't have to dispose of those left over carbon atoms of natural gas and propane for example.
SD70DudeHas there ever been a hydrogen tank car BLEVE incident? Would make for a interesting comparison to propane, especially of hydrogen starts to be shipped by rail in large quantities.
Here is a BLEVE of a liquid hydrogen tank described: https://www.h2tools.org/lessons/liquid-hydrogen-tank-boiling-liquid-expanding-vapor-explosion-bleve-due-water-plugged-vent
Regards, Volker
VOLKER LANDWEHR I looked into a paper regarding handling of hydrogen issued by the governing body of German fire department. They advice to let pressure tanks with burning leakage burn out, while cooling with water. They say there is no danger, that the pressure tank might crackle. If the pressure tank gets extremely hot the danger of an implosion exists when the flame flashes back into the tank with decreasing gas pressure
I looked into a paper regarding handling of hydrogen issued by the governing body of German fire department.
They advice to let pressure tanks with burning leakage burn out, while cooling with water. They say there is no danger, that the pressure tank might crackle. If the pressure tank gets extremely hot the danger of an implosion exists when the flame flashes back into the tank with decreasing gas pressure
That is exactly how firefighters around here treat tank car fires at derailment sites, the most common contents are propane/LPG, gasoline, diesel and crude oil.
VOLKER LANDWEHR They also say that one might need a infrared camera to determine if the leakage really burns.
They also say that one might need a infrared camera to determine if the leakage really burns.
Like you said earlier a pure hydrogen flame is difficult to see in daylight.
The visible flames in the Hindenburg disaster were from the burning fabric skin and aluminium frame, which also helped to spread the fire.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
We have Hydrogn combustion engines in cars and trucks since the mid 1990s and I'm not aware of burning or exploding hydrogen tanks.Regards, Volker
Edit: BLEVEs (boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion) can occur when a tank containing boiling liquified gas ruptures. In cars and the current Hydrogen use in trains the gas is carried in pressure tanks at about 350 bar, not in liquified form.
D.Carleton SD70Dude D.Carleton Gasoline to hydrogen is akin to going from black powder to dynamite. Sooo... safer? Might want to rethink that comparison, I know which one I'd prefer to work with! Just don't let it freeze... Oh, okay. Gasoline to Hydrogen is akin to going from black powder to nitroglycerin. Needed is an Alfred Nobel to make it safer. Then he can start an awards program acknowledging the works of those advancing humanity.
SD70Dude D.Carleton Gasoline to hydrogen is akin to going from black powder to dynamite. Sooo... safer? Might want to rethink that comparison, I know which one I'd prefer to work with! Just don't let it freeze...
D.Carleton Gasoline to hydrogen is akin to going from black powder to dynamite.
Gasoline to hydrogen is akin to going from black powder to dynamite.
Sooo... safer?
Might want to rethink that comparison, I know which one I'd prefer to work with!
Just don't let it freeze...
Oh, okay. Gasoline to Hydrogen is akin to going from black powder to nitroglycerin. Needed is an Alfred Nobel to make it safer. Then he can start an awards program acknowledging the works of those advancing humanity.
If only it were so easy as mixing the liquid hydrogen with diatomaceous earth and wrapping it in wax paper...
No matter, I nominate you for a Safe Hydrogen Prize, if one ever exists!
But I am still not convinced that hydrogen is significantly more dangerous than a tank of compressed/liquefied propane or natural gas, both of which have been used in motor vehicles for quite some time.
Has there ever been a hydrogen tank car BLEVE incident? Would make for a interesting comparison to propane, especially of hydrogen starts to be shipped by rail in large quantities.
Editor Emeritus, This Week at Amtrak
SD70Dude D.Carleton CSSHEGEWISCH D.Carleton I was thinking of the hydrogen fire I saw as a power plant operator years ago. It was big, brief and bright and convinced me that hydrogen is not something you want traversing the highways or railways with any regularity. The same could be said of natural gas, propane or any number of other flammable gases. The fire I saw was a fireball the size of a backyard swimming pool and was fed by an amount of liquid hydrogen between one teaspoon and one tablespoon. Hydrogen is far more potent than any other fuel in use today and best kept away from the general public. I bet similar things were said about gasoline in the past. Now it's ubiquitous. The key point about your hydrogen fire is that it was brief, and stayed in the immediate spot it originated at. Flaming gasoline or other liquids can flow around and spread the fire while they burn for a longer time. I was once told by a Chemistry Professor that the most dangerous substance in her laboratory was liquid oxygen. And yet we allow smokers to carry tanks of it around our cities.
D.Carleton CSSHEGEWISCH D.Carleton I was thinking of the hydrogen fire I saw as a power plant operator years ago. It was big, brief and bright and convinced me that hydrogen is not something you want traversing the highways or railways with any regularity. The same could be said of natural gas, propane or any number of other flammable gases. The fire I saw was a fireball the size of a backyard swimming pool and was fed by an amount of liquid hydrogen between one teaspoon and one tablespoon. Hydrogen is far more potent than any other fuel in use today and best kept away from the general public.
CSSHEGEWISCH D.Carleton I was thinking of the hydrogen fire I saw as a power plant operator years ago. It was big, brief and bright and convinced me that hydrogen is not something you want traversing the highways or railways with any regularity. The same could be said of natural gas, propane or any number of other flammable gases.
D.Carleton I was thinking of the hydrogen fire I saw as a power plant operator years ago. It was big, brief and bright and convinced me that hydrogen is not something you want traversing the highways or railways with any regularity.
I was thinking of the hydrogen fire I saw as a power plant operator years ago. It was big, brief and bright and convinced me that hydrogen is not something you want traversing the highways or railways with any regularity.
The fire I saw was a fireball the size of a backyard swimming pool and was fed by an amount of liquid hydrogen between one teaspoon and one tablespoon. Hydrogen is far more potent than any other fuel in use today and best kept away from the general public.
I bet similar things were said about gasoline in the past. Now it's ubiquitous.
The key point about your hydrogen fire is that it was brief, and stayed in the immediate spot it originated at. Flaming gasoline or other liquids can flow around and spread the fire while they burn for a longer time.
I was once told by a Chemistry Professor that the most dangerous substance in her laboratory was liquid oxygen. And yet we allow smokers to carry tanks of it around our cities.
VOLKER LANDWEHR I know there are differences between pressure storage (350 bar) and liquified storage at -423°F and ambient pressure. The latter are not allowed in underground car parks.Regards, Volker
I know there are differences between pressure storage (350 bar) and liquified storage at -423°F and ambient pressure. The latter are not allowed in underground car parks.Regards, Volker
Neither are propane vehicles, can't remember about natural gas though.
Is not Hydrgen stored in a tank with a metal hydride solution?
Not knowing the circumstances I can't tell.
A hydrogen fire is not easily seen in daylight: https://www.h2tools.org/sites/default/files/bp-images/flames%20comparison.jpg
Better at night: https://www.h2tools.org/sites/default/files/bp-images/flames%20comparison%20night.jpg
You possibly think of the Hindenburg desaster: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/e/e4/1937-05-10_Special_Release_-_Zeppelin_Explodes_Scores_Dead.ogv/1937-05-10_Special_Release_-_Zeppelin_Explodes_Scores_Dead.ogv.480p.webm
But that is different than a Hydrogen pressure tank with a small leak. At Lakehurst around 7 million cubic feet of Hydrogen burnt at the same time.
Pressure storage at 350 bar is used for Hydrogen since a long time and I haven't read of problems. Cars with this kind of storage are allowed in underground car parks in Germany though LNG cars are not allowed.
BNSF is testing a switcher, BNSF 1205, with a hydrogen fuel cell.Regards, Volker
We've all seen a hydrogen fire. Oh the humanity!
In Europe Alstom is already offering the Coradia iLint: http://www.alstom.com/Global/OneAlstomPlus/Railsystems/Pressreleases/2017/20170314---_iLint---800x320.jpg
It is equipped with two 200 kW fuel-cell and 110kW-hr lithium-ion batteries for 19500 lbs starting tractive effort and a total power of 544 kW. The reach is about 500 miles with 200 lbs H2 at 350 bar. The iLINT costs about 75% more than a diesel-electric LINT.
Siemens is developing a H2 fuel-cell propulsion system for its Mireo platform together with Ballard Power Systems (Canada). Market introduction hoped for in 2021.
erikemBest way to generate hydrogen would be using surplus solar power in late morning/early afternoon and surplus wind power when available.
I think that is the only way if you propose a clean exhaust. Otherwise the fuel-cells still produce just water but the harmfull exhaust is transfered to the power plant.Regards, Volker
Have you ever seen a hydrogen fire?
I believe I read in Trams and Urbn Transit, the publication of the UK Light Railway T. A., a report of a Japanese or Chinese fuel-cell streetcar, possibly a whole line.
Would be kind of fun to see DMU's, such as the NCTD Sprinters, replaced by fuel cell powered EMU's. Would almost certainly have to be some sort of hybrid power source, i.e. fuel cells for steady state power and batteries or ultra-caps for acceleration (suspect NCTD Sprinters would use LiPO batteries due to the hills). Nice thing with hybrids is that regeration would take care of most of the braking saving wear and tear on the friction brakes.
I got a ride in a Toyota fuel cell mini-van about four years ago. Experience was about the same as being in an electric car.
Best way to generate hydrogen would be using surplus solar power in late morning/early afternoon and surplus wind power when available.
- Erik
CandOforprogress2 So when do we get Hydro streetcars?
So when do we get Hydro streetcars?
London has some hydrogen buses, all single-deckers.
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