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Indeed. Household ammonia is only about a 3% solution. No big deal. 30% ammonia can give you a nosebleed if you sniff it. Break a couple bottles of 30% ammo
by diggernet 6y ago
Indeed. Household ammonia is only about a 3% solution. No big deal. 30% ammonia can give you a nosebleed if you sniff it. Break a couple bottles of 30% ammonia in a closed room, and people entering that room without an air supply will likely die. TFA doesn't mention the concentration they would use for fuel, but surely the higher the better. I wouldn't want to work on a ship running that stuff. Small leaks of various things are way too common, and ammonia is way too dangerous.
- johnr2 6y ago> ammonia is way too dangerous The thought of working in the confines of a ship's engine room with such a hazardous fuel is horrifying. One reason for the widespread use of diesel oil is that it's relatively safe for human operatives.
- Grazester 6y agoEngine rooms on these ships have large extractors and ventilation systems.
- DuskStar 6y agoI'd look at that as "look how large of fans we need to make diesel safe", not "we have big fans and thus can use ammonia".
- Dylan16807 6y agoCarbon monoxide is very dangerous. Removing that to replace it with the risks from ammonia could be a net improvement.
- occamrazor 6y agoThe article mentions that large amounts of ammonia are routinely transported as cargo. Storing ammonia safely isn’t easy, but it’s mostly a solved problem.
- jowsie 6y agoBig difference between safely storing for transport and using it as a fuel in an engine.