3 ms·

Can someone explain this? "generators spin in a sealed atmosphere of hydrogen gas", hydrogen, really?

• benxron2 13y ago
  Hydrogen offers low drag and good thermal conductivity: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen-cooled_turbo_generator http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen-cooled_turbo_generator
  • nakedrobot2 13y ago
    Why wouldn't they spin instead in a near-vacuum, instead of an environment of hydrogen?
    • bronson 13y ago
      Because near vacuum is a terrible heat conductor.
    • kragen 13y ago
      Vacuum has no drag but also no thermal conductivity, so you'd have to cool the generators some other way.
• msandford 13y ago
  If they're sealed and there's no oxygen in there, then there's no boom. Since hydrogen is so light it makes for less aerodynamic drag on the moving parts.
  • quattrofan 13y ago
    Ah ok makes sense, thanks!