University of Washington

 Undergraduate Fuel Cell Research

   
 

Hydrogen Safety: Hydrogen Characteristics

 

Main Safety Page

    Designing with H2

The Hindenburg

 

Advantages
  • Hydrogen does not pool on the ground like gasoline or LPG therefore lowering the explosive potential.
  • Hydrogen has a higher flammable and explosive fuel/air mixture limit than gasoline.

Disadvantage

  • Hydrogen is flammable and explosive in any confined space, therefore constant monitoring for gas build up is necessary.  Additionally, a ventilation system is required to prevent gas build up in the fuel compartment.

Flammability limits
Hydrogen:

  • Flammable limit:
    4% fuel/air mix.
  • Explosive limit:
    13% fuel/air mix

Gasoline:

  • Flammable/Explosive limit:
    1% fuel/air mix

Natural gas:

  • 5% and 6% respectively