Hydrogen Cylinder
Hydrogen is a colorless, tasteless and odorless gas with a molecule consisting of two hydrogen atoms (the chemical formula is H2), which is flammable and explosive when mixed with air or oxygen. Hydrogen is the lightest gas: it is 14.5 times lighter than air. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. It accounts for about 88.6 % of all atoms, although it accounts for about 17 % of all atoms on Earth and is the second most common after oxygen. On Earth, almost all of the hydrogen is in the form of compounds, and only a very small amount of it is contained in the atmosphere in the form of a simple substance. Hydrogen is a component of almost all organic substances and is present in all living cells, where hydrogen accounts for almost 63 % of the atoms. Hydrogen is liquefied between -252.7 °C and -259.1°C and becomes a very light, fluid and colorless liquid, it freezes at a temperature of -259.2°C, turning into a snow-like mass. There are a large number of different ways to produce hydrogen, the main of which include: hydrogen production from different types of natural fuel (steam methane reformation, plasma conversion of hydrocarbons, gasification of coal); hydrogen production using electrolysis technologies (alkaline electrolysis, electrolysis with solid polymer electrolyte, high-temperature water vapor electrolysis); biotechnology (obtaining hydrogen from biomass, garbage, algae, etc.).
APPLICATION:
• in the chemical industry for production of ammonia (about 50% of all globally produced hydrogen) and methanol (about 8% of global output); • in the oil refining industry to increase the refining depth of crude oil and improve the quality of final refined products; • in powder metallurgy for deposition of refractory compounds from metal oxides and during sintering of powder products containing chromium and stainless steel; • in the food and cosmetics industry; • as rocket fuel and fuel for cars and trucks. Requirements for transportation, storage and use of gaseous industrial oxygen cylinders are established by the Federal standards and regulations in the field of industrial safety "Regulations of industrial safety for hazardous facilities using equipment operating under excessive pressure", GOST 3022-80 "Industrial hydrogen. Technical specifications (with Amendments N 1, 2)", fire safety standards, as well as other laws and regulations and international agreements in force on the territory of the Russian Federation.Cylinders are not hazardous cargo until they are taken into use, but in any case they should be transported in conditions that exclude mechanical damage. Cylinders filled with industrial hydrogen shall be transported by all modes of transport, except aviation, in accordance with regulations on carriage of dangerous goods applicable to this mode of transport. Industrial hydrogen and oxygen cylinders shall not be transported together. Cylinders in special containers are transported by road. Industrial hydrogen in cylinders is transported by railroads in boxcars. The cylinders shall be transported in a horizontal position with gaskets between the cylinders or in a vertical position necessarily with a guard against possible falling. The cylinders must be transported with caps screwed on.
Cylinders designed for storage and transportation of industrial hydrogen must not be used for storage and transportation of other gases, and it is prohibited to perform any operations that may contaminate their internal surface and degrade the physical and chemical properties of the gas. It is forbidden to make any modifications to the cylinder bodies using welding or mechanical tools, which can lead to damage to the integrity or appearance of defects that degrade the technical characteristics of the cylinders. When using cylinders for industrial hydrogen it is not allowed to install them in the places of people passage, movement of goods and passage of vehicles. Cylinders must be located at least 1 m away from radiators and other heating devices and at least 5 m from heat sources with open flame. An insulating gas mask (oxygen or hose mask) must be worn when working in a hydrogen environment. The nominal pressure of industrial hydrogen at 20 °C in cylinders should be (14.7±0.5) MPa (150±5) kgf/cm2). The gas in the cylinders must not be completely consumed when in use. The residual gas pressure in the cylinder must be at least 0.05 MPa (0.5 kgf/cm2).
Cylinders filled with industrial hydrogen are stored in special warehouses or in outdoor areas under a shelter that protects the cylinders from precipitation and direct sunlight. Storage of cylinders with industrial hydrogen and cylinders with other gases is allowed only in premises, isolated from each other by non-combustible protective walls of height not less than 2.5 m. Storage of cylinders should be carried out with the caps screwed on.