This section is divided into three parts:

INTRODUCTION

The editor has braced the author on whether we should address the topic of hydrogen on a site devoted to fire and fire safety.  The problem as viewed by the writer is that hydrogen is being used in motor vehicles as a fuel and there are automobiles and buses currently on the road which use hydrogen as a fuel.  The Missouri University of Science and Technology has recently opened a refilling station for hydrogen on the campus grounds. 

See  http://www.therolladailynews.com/archive/x1470888755/Chamber-honors-S-T-research

Firefighters Train For Hydrogen Fuel Fires

Experts Expect Hydrogen Fuel To Become Popular Gas Replacement

http://www.desmogblog.com/new-honda-is-powered-by-hydrogen-not-fossil-fuels

The readers responses to this article are of interest.  One can perhaps safely assume that hydrogen propelled vehicles will pass down Nova Scotia highways.  Since they pose very real risks to first responders in the case of accidents, they meet the purpose criteria. That the economic benefits are questionable as are any claims of being green, the writer also addresses the economics questions.  Since the best safety approach is total avoidance of any risks, no hydrogen fueled vehicles does equal no risk from same being involved in accidents.

The writer comes from a background were he trained and served as hydrogenation laboratory technician at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, re-established the hydrogenation laboratory at Stanford University, and later served as a consultant regarding the future use of the hydrogenation laboratory.  He designed and built and established a remote handling laboratory for hazardous gasses operating up to 100,000 p.s.i. at Hercules Inc. - Baachus Works.  He has considerable experience in the area of safety with high and low pressure hydrogen and other gasses at high pressures.  His Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry was with a minor in Physical Chemistry and he holds a good grasp of the energy related questions associated with alternate fuels.  

HYDROGEN SAFETY

http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/deepminesafety/lib/deepminesafety/training/hydrogengassafety.pdf

The above site furnishes an excellent summary of hydrogen gas safety and the source is a government laboratory actively engaged in alternative energy system development.  Of particular import are the wide flammability limits in air (4-75 volume percent), detonation limits in air (60 volume percent) and the extremely low energy in air for auto ignition (20 micro Joules). 

Flammability and Explosivity Are Primary Hazards

Since the hydrogen must be stored in some form of gas cylinder, we need to be concerned about the safety of the containment.  If the connection between the tank and the rest of the system is severed, one will have a high pressure jet pushing on the cylinder which if unconfined could easily penetrate a concrete wall and will most likely cause extensive damage to the vehicle.  If the hydrogen released encounters an ignition source a very hot flame and/or an explosion will result.  For vehicle stability reasons the hydrogen cylinders will be near the ground. Their vulnerability to damage from collisions with heavy vehicles should be self evident.  If they survive full rupture, there will most probably be, at a minimum, a slow leak of hydrogen which could be ignited (detonated) by rescuers using pry bars and jaws of life apparatus.

Safety high pressure gas cylinders, quote below from:   http://www.pmgsystems.ca/news.htm

"High Pressure Gas Cylinder Safety

All compressed gases are hazardous because of the high pressures inside the cylinders.  Gas can be released deliberately by opening the cylinder valve, or accidentally from a broken or leaking valve or from a safety device. Even at a relatively low pressure, gas can flow rapidly from an open or leaking cylinder.  There have been many cases in which damaged cylinders have become uncontrolled rockets or pinwheels and have caused severe injury and damage.  This danger has happened when unsecured, uncapped cylinders were knocked over causing the cylinder valve to break and high pressure gas to escape rapidly.  Most cylinder valves are designed to break at a point with an opening of about 0.75 cm (0.3 inches). This design limits the rate of gas release and reduces cylinder velocity.  This limit may prevent larger, heavier cylinders from "rocketing" although smaller, or the new lightweight aluminum cylinders, might take off.  Always ensure storage racks, cylinder transportation carts and safety chains are being properly used in your facility to ensure the safe handling of cylinders.  Always transport cylinders with valve caps or other valve protection in place.  Pulling cylinders by their valve caps, rolling them on their sides or dragging or sliding them can cause damage.  Rolling cylinders on their bottom edge ("milk churning") may be acceptable for short distances providing the cap is fully threaded on.  Never lift cylinders with magnets or chain or wire rope slings.  Transport cylinders on specially built hand carts or trolleys or other devices designed for this.  All transport devices should have some way of securing cylinders to prevent them from falling. Always chain or securely restrain cylinders in an upright position to a wall, rack or other solid structure wherever they are stored, handled or used.  Securing each cylinder individually is best.  Stacking of groups of cylinders together offers some protection, but if this is done improperly the entire group or individual cylinders could fall. Store compressed gas cylinders separately, away from processing and handling areas, and away from incompatible materials.  Separate storage can minimize personal injury and damage in case of fires, spills or leaks.  Many compressed gases can undergo dangerous reactions if they come in contact with incompatible materials (gases, liquids or solids), so store them apart from each other. For example, store oxidizing gases at least 6 metres (20 feet) away from fuel gases or other combustible materials, or separate them with an approved fire wall.

Always open valves on all gas discharge equipment slowly. Rapid opening of valves results in rapid compression of the gas in the high-pressure passages leading to the seats.  The rapid compression can lead to temperatures high enough to burn out the regulator and valve seats.  Many accidents involving oxidizing gases result from burned out regulator and valve seats, usually caused by opening valves too quickly. Do not lubricate any cylinder valves, fittings, or regulator threads, or apply jointing compounds or Teflon tape unless required.  Use only lubricants, sealants and tape recommended by the gas supplier and apply only as directed.

Special cleaning procedures (equivalent to oxygen service) are required for all equipment to be used with oxidizing gases.  There are several ways to do this.  Contact your gas supplier for the best methods for specific systems.  Do not oil or grease any equipment that may contact oxidizing gases.  Keep greasy hands, rags and gloves away from any part of the cylinder and fittings.  Normal body oils are usually not hazardous, although it is a good practice never to touch any surface that may contact an oxidizing gas.  Again, only use lubricants and joint sealants recommended by the gas supplier.  Only use oxygen for its intended purpose.  Never use it to purge pipelines, power equipment or to provide ventilation.  Freshening the air with oxygen may make people more comfortable, but it also enriches the oxygen content in the area which can quickly create a major fire hazard.  Serious accidents have occurred when oxygen was used to run tools designed for compressed air as high oxygen pressure could cause the lubricant in the tool to explode."

HYDROGEN ECONOMY- ECONOMICS

Ever since time began, the laws of chemistry and physics have been in force and it is impossible to circumvent them.  With alternate energy sources being proposed with great frequency, it is important to ask the question “Is the claim being made that energy is being generated at no cost in energy?”  If the answer is yes, the claim is false.  Another test for reality is the question "Is there a mass balance?"  An example of this would be that when one electrolyses water to generate hydrogen, "what happened to the oxygen?"  The electrolysis process must have reactions occurring at both the negative (cathode) and positive (anode).  If alternating current is used, it just means that the anode and cathode change identity with the frequency of the current. Whenever a particular electrode is negative, hydrogen will evolve.  If no oxygen is generated, then some other chemical process must be occurring.  Contrary claims have been made for various apparatus, but the claim is false.  If you remove 2 grams of hydrogen you have to account for 16 grams of oxygen.  It was not discharged as the mythical molecule hydroxide.  Two obvious options are conversion to hydrogen peroxide and oxidation of the electrodes.

The claims of a hydrogen economy are often misleading.  If a vehicle drives up to a filling station and fills up with hydrogen gas the question to ask is "from whence cometh” the hydrogen?"  It was delivered to the filling station, which takes energy.  The hydrogen did not come from a hydrogen well.  It was either prepared from water by electrolysis or by some form of cracking process of molecules containing hydrogen, such as petroleum or coal plus water.  The electrolysis will require more energy than can later be realized using the resulting hydrogen as a fuel. The cracking processes are not green and also consume far more energy than can be realized.  Going down the road, the “hydrogen economy” is so much balderdash and bunkum!  It should not be surprising that it is being pushed by a government better known for its level of mendacity than for its scientific knowledge and veracity.  What is sad is that the scientific community and, in particular, the same research universities, are not blowing the whistle in place of accepting grants to chase chimera.  Happily not all.  See below:

The Hydrogen Economy - Energy and Economic Black Hole

  The Future of the Hydrogen Economy - Bright or Bleak?

And another, final look at the potential energy of a mass of hydrogen at the Hindenburg disaster.