4 ms·

> for a very specific number of hours Unless you plan on throwing away the planes after one or two flights, those tanks will be filled with hydrogen for tens o

> for a very specific number of hours Unless you plan on throwing away the planes after one or two flights, those tanks will be filled with hydrogen for tens of thousands of hours over their lifespan. Perhaps they have light weight alloys that can cope with this though, I'm no metallurgist..

JAlexoid 6y ago
I never addressed the lifespan of containers, that's not same as hydrogen leakage.
- rbanffy 6y ago
  Still embrittlement is an issue. How long until the hydrogen tank needs replacement? Liquid per liquid, why not liquid methane that's far easier to work with and can be manufactured at zero carbon emissions.
- liability 6y ago
  Hydrogen embrittlement leads to hydrogen leaks. Unless there are advanced alloys that resist it, any aircraft part that comes into contact with the hydrogen will be subject to accelerated 'wear'. Frankly hydrogen planes are nonsense. Even if it works on paper, it's not realistic to expect all the extant planes to be rapidly phased out with brand new planes with exotic designs that aircraft manufacturers, pilots, and airlines don't have any experience with. On the other hand, old planes can be retrofitted to burn biofuel and new production planes of old proven designs can be made to burn biofuel from the get-go. 'Concept planes' like the ZEROe are basically just science fiction meant to wow shareholders and give the public the impression that legislative reform isn't necessary because corporations are already taking the problem seriously. I don't think these are serious proposals, it's just corporate propaganda. Car companies pushed hydrogen cars for years for the same reason. Hydrogen fuel cell cars were never going to happen for a myriad of practical reasons and car manufacturers knew it but promoted the concept anyway for PR reasons. ZEROe is Airbus doing the same.

JAlexoid 6y ago

I never addressed the lifespan of containers, that's not same as hydrogen leakage.

rbanffy 6y ago
Still embrittlement is an issue. How long until the hydrogen tank needs replacement? Liquid per liquid, why not liquid methane that's far easier to work with and can be manufactured at zero carbon emissions.
liability 6y ago
Hydrogen embrittlement leads to hydrogen leaks. Unless there are advanced alloys that resist it, any aircraft part that comes into contact with the hydrogen will be subject to accelerated 'wear'. Frankly hydrogen planes are nonsense. Even if it works on paper, it's not realistic to expect all the extant planes to be rapidly phased out with brand new planes with exotic designs that aircraft manufacturers, pilots, and airlines don't have any experience with. On the other hand, old planes can be retrofitted to burn biofuel and new production planes of old proven designs can be made to burn biofuel from the get-go. 'Concept planes' like the ZEROe are basically just science fiction meant to wow shareholders and give the public the impression that legislative reform isn't necessary because corporations are already taking the problem seriously. I don't think these are serious proposals, it's just corporate propaganda. Car companies pushed hydrogen cars for years for the same reason. Hydrogen fuel cell cars were never going to happen for a myriad of practical reasons and car manufacturers knew it but promoted the concept anyway for PR reasons. ZEROe is Airbus doing the same.