Why Helium is safer than hydrogen?
I'll answer
Earn 20 gold coins for an accepted answer.20
Earn 20 gold coins for an accepted answer.
40more
40more
Noah Anderson
Works at Apple, Lives in Cupertino, CA
As an expert in the field of aerospace materials and gases, I can provide an insightful comparison between helium and hydrogen, particularly in the context of their use as lifting gases for airships.
Helium and hydrogen are both lighter than air and can serve as lifting gases for airships, but they have vastly different properties that make helium a safer option.
Safety: The primary reason why helium is considered safer than hydrogen is due to its non-flammable nature. Helium is an inert gas that does not react with other substances, which means it does not support combustion. Hydrogen, on the other hand, is highly flammable and can explode when mixed with air and ignited. This flammability was tragically demonstrated in the Hindenburg disaster of 1937, where the hydrogen-filled airship caught fire and was destroyed.
Reactivity: Helium's inertness also means it does not react with the airship's materials, which can be a concern with hydrogen. Hydrogen can react with certain metals, a process known as hydrogen embrittlement, which can weaken the structural integrity of the airship over time.
Leakage: Helium is less likely to leak from an airship compared to hydrogen due to its higher density. While both gases can escape through small openings, helium's greater molecular weight makes it less prone to rapid leakage.
Environmental Impact: Helium has a lower environmental impact compared to hydrogen. When released, helium simply rises into the atmosphere and does not contribute to greenhouse gas effects. In contrast, hydrogen, although not a direct greenhouse gas, its production can involve processes that release carbon dioxide or other pollutants.
Payload: It is true that the use of helium can reduce an airship's payload significantly due to its higher density compared to hydrogen. However, this trade-off is often considered acceptable for the increased safety that helium provides.
Scarcity and Cost: Helium is indeed scarcer and more expensive than hydrogen. It is a non-renewable resource that is becoming increasingly valuable for other applications, such as in medical imaging and scientific research. The cost and scarcity of helium are significant factors that influence the decision to use it as a lifting gas.
Energy Efficiency: Helium requires less energy to lift an airship due to its greater lifting capacity per unit volume. This can result in more energy-efficient airships, which is an important consideration for sustainable operations.
In conclusion, while helium presents challenges in terms of cost, scarcity, and reduced payload capacity, its non-flammable nature, inertness, and lower environmental impact make it a far safer choice than hydrogen for manned lighter-than-air flight. The historical incidents involving hydrogen, such as the Hindenburg disaster, have led to a clear preference for helium in modern airship design.
Helium and hydrogen are both lighter than air and can serve as lifting gases for airships, but they have vastly different properties that make helium a safer option.
Safety: The primary reason why helium is considered safer than hydrogen is due to its non-flammable nature. Helium is an inert gas that does not react with other substances, which means it does not support combustion. Hydrogen, on the other hand, is highly flammable and can explode when mixed with air and ignited. This flammability was tragically demonstrated in the Hindenburg disaster of 1937, where the hydrogen-filled airship caught fire and was destroyed.
Reactivity: Helium's inertness also means it does not react with the airship's materials, which can be a concern with hydrogen. Hydrogen can react with certain metals, a process known as hydrogen embrittlement, which can weaken the structural integrity of the airship over time.
Leakage: Helium is less likely to leak from an airship compared to hydrogen due to its higher density. While both gases can escape through small openings, helium's greater molecular weight makes it less prone to rapid leakage.
Environmental Impact: Helium has a lower environmental impact compared to hydrogen. When released, helium simply rises into the atmosphere and does not contribute to greenhouse gas effects. In contrast, hydrogen, although not a direct greenhouse gas, its production can involve processes that release carbon dioxide or other pollutants.
Payload: It is true that the use of helium can reduce an airship's payload significantly due to its higher density compared to hydrogen. However, this trade-off is often considered acceptable for the increased safety that helium provides.
Scarcity and Cost: Helium is indeed scarcer and more expensive than hydrogen. It is a non-renewable resource that is becoming increasingly valuable for other applications, such as in medical imaging and scientific research. The cost and scarcity of helium are significant factors that influence the decision to use it as a lifting gas.
Energy Efficiency: Helium requires less energy to lift an airship due to its greater lifting capacity per unit volume. This can result in more energy-efficient airships, which is an important consideration for sustainable operations.
In conclusion, while helium presents challenges in terms of cost, scarcity, and reduced payload capacity, its non-flammable nature, inertness, and lower environmental impact make it a far safer choice than hydrogen for manned lighter-than-air flight. The historical incidents involving hydrogen, such as the Hindenburg disaster, have led to a clear preference for helium in modern airship design.
2024-05-20 10:10:24
reply(1)
Helpful(1122)
Helpful
Helpful(2)
Works at the International Development Association, Lives in Washington, D.C., USA.
The use of hydrogen as a lifting gas for passenger airships was completely abandoned by the late 1930s. ... Helium's non-flammable nature makes it the only practical lifting gas for manned lighter-than-air flight, but it is scarce and expensive, and the use of helium can reduce a rigid airship's payload by more than half.
2023-06-08 19:15:04
Isabella Kim
QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
The use of hydrogen as a lifting gas for passenger airships was completely abandoned by the late 1930s. ... Helium's non-flammable nature makes it the only practical lifting gas for manned lighter-than-air flight, but it is scarce and expensive, and the use of helium can reduce a rigid airship's payload by more than half.
