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Engineering360: "Hydrogen to fuel Olympic flame in Tokyo"

01/28/2020 11:49 AM

Read Engineering360 article: Hydrogen to fuel Olympic flame in Tokyo.

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Guru
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#1

Re: Hydrogen to fuel Olympic flame in Tokyo

01/28/2020 1:22 PM

I seem to recall that when hydrogen burns the flame is a very pale blue, almost invisible in normal light. Are they going to add impurities (pollution ) to make the flame visible ?

This appears to be another case where symbolism is taken to an extreme.

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#3
In reply to #1

Re: Hydrogen to fuel Olympic flame in Tokyo

01/29/2020 9:12 AM

Actually a hydrogen flame is invisible when burning in a lab environment where the only oxidizer is the oxygen that Is supplied from air.

I do see a blue flame on my "water torch" which utilizes pressurized oxygen, but I think that color is coming from the oxygen burning.

If the Olympic torch is set-up to produce the blue flame, then carrier would also need to tote a pressurized tank of oxygen as well.

then the question begs: what is the actual carbon footprint after fabrication of the extra oxygen tank (most likely made of wound Kevlar/epoxy for weight), pressurized Hydrogen tank (which the engineers and scientists know that issue), the electrolysis to make the hydrogen and Oxygen, and pressurization equipment to fill the tanks.

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#4
In reply to #3

Re: Hydrogen to fuel Olympic flame in Tokyo

01/29/2020 12:42 PM

Logic and emotions are often at odds.

Oxygen can't burn, but it definitely helps other things burn. Most flames that people are able to see are ionized combustion components.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flame

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#2

Re: Hydrogen to fuel Olympic flame in Tokyo

01/29/2020 8:27 AM

I can have other colors under different fuel ratios, relative humidities, etc, just like other flames. I'm sure they can figure it out... also, a torch is a torch.

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#5
In reply to #2

Re: Hydrogen to fuel Olympic flame in Tokyo

01/29/2020 12:44 PM

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#6

Re: Hydrogen to fuel Olympic flame in Tokyo

01/30/2020 7:48 AM

Well I think as long as were not running out of fuel we might as well use something else we have another adntage with and oviosly not running out of.

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