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Old August 21st 06, 01:52 AM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
Don Tuite
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Posts: 319
Default Ethanol Powered Aircraft

On Sun, 20 Aug 2006 19:52:40 -0400, Roger
wrote:

Cold? I noted some liquid running off one of the fittings and figured
it was way too cold for water, but it sure looked like it. The tank
farm operator remarked; "Water? No, it's way too cold for that. That
stuff running off is liquid Oxygen".


Jesus. What was it dripping onto?

However I would add that there is a way to keep a lot of H2 in a
relatively small space at room temperature that is "physically
practical". Unfortunately it takes a lot of some very expensive
material that is also toxic. They can use metal Hydrides as "metal
sponges" and the things do hold a tremendous amount of H2. Also a
ruptured tank is not a fire safety issue as you normally have to use a
small heater to get the H2 out.

FWIW, the H2 in GM's little hydrogen-fueled electric cars is gaseous,
pressureized to 10K psi.

Don