DISPERSION OF HYDROGEN OR METHANE FUELS RELEASED INTO AN AUTOMOBILE INTERIOR

Gasoline-powered automobiles are being converted to operate on gaseous fuels such as hydrogen (H2) or methane (CH4). The fuel is often stored as a cryogenic liquid (H2 at 20 K and CH4 at 112 K) in dewar-like vessels located in the trunk of the car. Cryogenic storage provides four to five times greater vehicle range than gas storage in high pressure cylinders of comparable volume. Potential leakage of these gaseous fuels into the passenger compartment of the vehicle constitutes a safety threat. Definitive experiments were performed to identify the explosion hazards and establish venting criteria and general safe-guards for H2 or CH4 fueled passenger vehicles. Initial tests were conducted using methane at three inlet temperatures (300, 200, and 121 K). Results are discussed.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored in part by General Services Administration, Washington, D.C. Pub. in Proceedings of Cryogenic Engineering Conference, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Kingston, Ontario, Canada 22-25 Jul 75, v21 Paper J3 p387-398 1976.
• Corporate Authors:

  National Bureau of Standards

  14th Between E Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20234

  General Services Administration

  F Between 18th & 19th Streets, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20405
• Authors:
  • Arvidson, J M
  • Hord, J
  • Mann, D B
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Pagination: 12 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Cryogenics; Explosions; Fuels; Gasoline; Hazards; Highway safety; Hydrogen; Leakage; Liquefied gases; Methane; Motor fuels; Passenger vehicles; Reprints; Safety engineering; Tests
• Old TRIS Terms: Dispersion
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00154616
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 31 1977 12:00AM