3 ms·

Hydrogen would also be .. interesting ...

• flir 2y ago
  Oh, the huge HDD.
• dreamcompiler 2y ago
  Wouldn't be a fire risk because there's no oxygen available. But hydrogen is chemically reactive and over time it could corrode or weaken the materials inside the HDD.
  • banish-m4 2y ago
    That's not the main problem. The main problem is hydrogen is fucking painful to contain.
    • dreamcompiler 2y ago
      Not as painful as helium. Bigger atom but it leaks more.
      • banish-m4 2y ago
        Ah, truth. Brain fart. ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Section V Helium leak detection sensitivity is 3 orders of magnitude higher. Memory is fallible, but the code doesn't lie.
• ahartmetz 2y ago
  Hydrogen even diffuses through (and into) metal - seems not doable, not cheaply and without maintenance at least.
  • credit_guy 2y ago
    Helium atoms are actually smaller than hydrogen atoms, and much smaller than hydrogen mollecules.
    • adrian_b 2y ago
      While that is true, there are metals through which hydrogen can diffuse faster than helium, because the hydrogen molecules dissociate and ionize when entering the metal and the hydrogen ions diffuse through the metal individually.
• aaron695 2y ago
  > Hydrogen would also be .. interesting ... Why? It's used in power station generators. Why would a hard disk be interesting? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen-cooled_turbo_generator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen-cooled_turbo_generato...
  • dtx1 2y ago
    Cause exploding hard drives are metal AF
    • mitthrowaway2 2y ago
      It won't explode until it's mixed with oxygen.
      • AnimalMuppet 2y ago
        Hold my beer.
        • HankB99 2y ago
          The small amount contained in the HDD would a minimal risk. Larger amounts handled in the manufacturing process, OTOH... I'm curious how the shaft seals for generators manage to seal the hydrogen. Perhaps the hydrogen is contained within the the generator and not exposed to the seals, though I thought one of the reasons for its use (along with cooling) was reduced windage losses.
          • aaron695 2y ago
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