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      Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe! By exploring this element as an energy source, humankind could unlock nearly limitless energy resources. Hydrogen is produce mainly from methane and natural gas. It is highly combustible and when it combusts it burns at a much higher temperature than gasoline. To run a conventional engine on hydrogen, H.I.C.E needs to take into consideration all of the properties of hydrogen and compare them to the properties of gasoline. Below are three tables. Table 1 is standard chemical properties and helps H.I.C.E. see how hot the hydrogen will get, among other things, when ignition occurs. In Table 2, the energy for different fuel sources is compared for high heating value (HHV) and low heating value (LHV). The values in Table 3 are the densities of common fuels in different units.

 

Table 1. Chemical Properties of Hydrogen

Property

Value

Units

Auto Ignition Temperature

520(968)

°C(°F)

Boiling Point

-252.7(-423)

 °C(°F)

Density

0.08342

 table1

Diffusivity

1.697

 table1

Flame Temperature

2318(4202.4)

 °C(°F)

Flammable Range

4-74

 % by vol in air

Freezing/Melting Point

-259.2(-434.5)

 °C(°F)

Heat of Combustion by Mass

 28670

table1

Ignition Energy

 .02

 millijoules

Molecular Weight

 2.016

 

Specific Gravity

 .0696

 (air=1)

Specific Volume

 11.9(191.98)

 table1

Viscosity

 .03384

 table1

Volumetric Energy Density

 57.8

 table1

Flame Rate

 2.7

 ta le1

 

Table 2. Energy for Various Fuels

Hydrogen

Gasoline

#2 Diesel Fuel

Propane

Natural Gas

Units

HHV

61002

18800-20400

19200-20000

21600

23600

table2

134500

41500-45000

42300-44100

47600

52000

table2

141.9

43.8-47.5

44.6-46.5

50.2

54.9

table2

LHV

51532

18000-19000

18000-19000

19800

21300

table2

113600

39700-41900

39700-41900

43700

47000

table2

119.9

41.9-44.2

41.9-44.2

46.1

49.6

table2

 

Table 3. Density for Various Fuels

Hydrogen

Gasoline

#2 Diesel Fuel

Natural Gas

Methanol

Units

0.0000898

.702

.855

0.00071

0.799

table3

0.0898

702

855

0.71

799

table3

120

42.7

41.9

50.4

19.9

table3

.01006

31.2

36.5

0.0361

15.9

table3

10783

31200

36500

36.1

18000

table3

33.3

11.86

11.64

14

5.53

table3

2.79

8666.67

10138.88

10.02

4420

table3