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Hydrogen
Hydrogen (H2)Features
- Odourless, colourless and tasteless
- Will ignite easily so cylinders must not be snifted
- Burns with an invisible flame
- Produces a flame of approximately 2834°C when used with oxygen
- Supplied in high-pressure cylinders
Benefits
- Has the highest thermal conductivity of all gases
- Is supplied at higher pressures than other fuel gases
- Burns with a clean carbon-free and soot-free flame
Applications and Uses
- Heat-treatment applications often in combination with nitrogen
- An important addition to argon in a range of argon-hydrogen shielding gases for TIG and plasma welding
- Shielding gas mixtures are primarily used for welding austenitic stainless steels and some nickel alloys
- Can be used with argon in a range of gas mixtures for plasma-cutting primarily stainless steel and aluminium
- Used with oxygen for underwater flame-cutting. Deeper cutting requires increased pressure of fuel and oxygen
- Can be used as an alternative power source when used with a fuel cell to generate electricity
- In the glass industry, used to form the rim on glasses
Please Note:
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When using hydrogen, the correct hoses should be used to resist hydrogen permeation.
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Highly combustible and can auto ignite with a low ignition energy. For this reason hydrogen cylinders must not be snifted, that is opening the valve momentarily to release small volumes of gas to clear dust from the valve neck, as hydrogen will spontaneously ignite upon release and will burn with an invisible flame.
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Hydrogen will collect at the highest point in any enclosed space unless it is ventilated at a high level.
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The small size of the hydrogen atom means that it has a much greater permeability through solids than other gases. Hydrogen can leak through materials and joints that would normally be considered gas-tight. It is important to test for leaks.
