5 ms·
That's true for buoyancy but vacuum definitely has a major advantage in area of flammability.
by porpoisemonkey 12y ago
That's true for buoyancy but vacuum definitely has a major advantage in area of flammability.
- k__ 12y agoWhat happens if a vacuum sphere that can lift 10t implodes?
- dredmorbius 12y agoYou lose 10t of lift. If a hydrogen envelope of 10t ruptures, you lose 10t of lift and have a major fire hazard.
- idlewords 12y agoYou lose 10t of lift in a horrifyingly destructive implosion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz95_VvTxZM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz95_VvTxZM
- dredmorbius 12y agoAnd here's what hydrogen does. Note the comparison is of a pure H₂ vs. 2 χ H₂ + O₂ mix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOTgeeTB_kA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOTgeeTB_kA
- ars 12y agoHydrogen is not as major of a hazard as it looks. It's lighter than air, and will rapidly leave if it escapes. The real trick is making sure no oxygen gets in. In contrast a leak is not super dangerous. It will still burn of course, but if the skin is flameproof it won't do much harm to the ship as a whole. So what you do is make sure it's enclosed in cells of a flameresistant material. That way a fire won't spread and will rapidly rise away and put itself out.
- dredmorbius 12y agoThe range of explosive concentrations of hydrogen gas means that either oxygen in low concentration or hydrogen in low concentration are highly explosive. If you've a leak, pretty much by definition, oxygen is getting in.