Isn hydrogen a dangerous fuel?
Hydrogen is a very reactive gas and can even be explosive if not handled correctly. However this is generally true of many industrial gasses in wide use today most notably natural gas. Gasoline is also a very explosive and potentially dangerous fuel source if not properly handled. Proper handling and design of equipment is an essential part of any system using volatile fuels. In some ways hydrogen may even be safer than other gases. Hydrogen is a very small molecule and much lighter than air. Therefore it usually will rise and escape very quickly rather that build up in a room and become a hazard. This is not the case with gasoline fumes, which are much heavier than air and tend to sit low where many ignition hazards tend to be (pilot lights, electrical outlets etc.). Much of the public’s fear about the use of hydrogen gas has stemmed images of the much publicized Hindenburg incident. Recent evidence from a thorough investigation suggests that hydrogen may not have played a major role
