Notices
Car Chat General discussion about Lexus, other auto manufacturers and automotive news.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Innova

Hydrogen fueling station explodes

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 27, 2010 | 12:21 PM
  #1  
LexFather
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Post Hydrogen fueling station explodes

Some are betting Hydrogen powered cars are the future..

http://www.whec.com/news/stories/S1716520.shtml?cat=566

Two hydrogen tanks at Monroe County's alternative fuel station on Scottsville Road exploded and caught fire this afternoon, sending black smoke high in the air. The blasts were heard as far away as Pittsford.

A male employee of Praxair drove an 18-wheel truck carrying a compressed-hydrogen tank to the station to replace another truck and tank, County Executive Maggie Brooks and Airport Director David Damelio said during a briefing this afternoon. Damelio said the exchange is carried out monthly. Praxair is a supplier to General Motors Corp.

One of the hydrogen tanks exploded and caught fire about 12:50 p.m. Officials believe that there was some sort of arcing on the ground that spread the flames to the other tank, which also exploded. By the time of Brooks’ 2:45 p.m. briefing, the hydrogen had been burned off and the fire extinguished.

On Thursday night, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Cpl. John Helfer said the driver, Robert Scruggs, 61, of Geneva, Ohio, had been taken to Strong Memorial Hospital with second-degree burns. Helfer said Scruggs was in satisfactory condition.
Reply
Old Aug 27, 2010 | 01:59 PM
  #2  
1JZsoarer's Avatar
1JZsoarer
Driver
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Québec
Default

If you don't believe Hydrogen can be viable, then you need to read up on it. It has much more molecular energy and it produces no pollution what so ever. You can even recycle the water formed by the process.

If people had said that when gasoline cars came out, where would we be at this time?

Last edited by 1JZsoarer; Aug 27, 2010 at 02:04 PM.
Reply
Old Aug 27, 2010 | 02:09 PM
  #3  
G Star's Avatar
G Star
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,973
Likes: 48
From: California
Default

Hydrogen is what the major oil corporations are banking on as the new profitable oil industry, hydrogen is not the answer.
Reply
Old Aug 27, 2010 | 02:11 PM
  #4  
LexFather
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Originally Posted by 1JZsoarer
If you don't believe Hydrogen can be viable, then you need to read up on it. It has much more molecular energy and it produces no pollution what so ever. You can even recycle the water formed by the process.

If people had said that when gasoline cars came out, where would we be at this time?
Yeah but we use a lot of natural gas to produce the hydrogen.
Reply
Old Aug 27, 2010 | 02:41 PM
  #5  
<VENOM>'s Avatar
<VENOM>
Lexus Champion
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,618
Likes: 0
From: NYC/ATL
Default

A lot of the commercial fleet vehicles in NYC are hydrogen or natural gas
Reply
Old Aug 27, 2010 | 10:11 PM
  #6  
mmarshall's Avatar
mmarshall
Lexus Fanatic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,702
Likes: 290
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Default

Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX
Yeah but we use a lot of natural gas to produce the hydrogen.
Doesn't have to be that way, though. Remember your chemistry labs back in school.....and the production of hydrogen from the electrolysis of water? In fact, that is partly (among other reactions) how modern fuel-cell cars work to make electricity for the motor.
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2010 | 04:55 AM
  #7  
Big Andy's Avatar
Big Andy
Pole Position
20 Year Member
Photogenic
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,816
Likes: 7
From: UK
Default

Originally Posted by mmarshall
Doesn't have to be that way, though. Remember your chemistry labs back in school.....and the production of hydrogen from the electrolysis of water? In fact, that is partly (among other reactions) how modern fuel-cell cars work to make electricity for the motor.
Whilst it's true you can produce hydrogen in small amounts in a lab, industrial scale production requires high temperature and high pressure systems - temperatures of 800 degC or so - and how do you get that heat? Back to hydrocarbons again.

Interestingly you can get hydrogen from urine and that is 300% more energy efficient than using water - but maybe that really is taking the p---.
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2010 | 07:41 AM
  #8  
4TehNguyen's Avatar
4TehNguyen
Lexus Fanatic
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 26,260
Likes: 94
From: Houston, Texas
Default

Originally Posted by 1JZsoarer
If you don't believe Hydrogen can be viable, then you need to read up on it. It has much more molecular energy and it produces no pollution what so ever. You can even recycle the water formed by the process.

If people had said that when gasoline cars came out, where would we be at this time?
hydrogen is not an energy source its an energy carrier, thats like saying the air in a compressed air engine is an energy source.
Reply
ClubLexus Stories

Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe

story-0

Toyota and Lexus Join Mille Miglia For The First Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Lexus NX 350h: A Fuel-Sipping Secret Hot Hatch???

 Michael S. Palmer
story-2

5 Best & 5 Worst Lexus Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Top 5 Hottest Lexus & Toyotas in 2026 (Hardest To Buy)

 Brett Foote
story-4

2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport Review: The Last of Its Kind Still Rocks

 Michael S. Palmer
story-5

Top 10 Most Confusing Things Lexus Has Ever Done!

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

2026 Lexus ES Review: Lexus Re-Embraces Founding Principles

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Lexus Bargains That are Cheaper Than a New Toyota RAV4

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

8 Weirdest Things Lexus Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 28, 2010 | 08:37 AM
  #9  
dsnowgs4's Avatar
dsnowgs4
Pole Position
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Default

Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX
Some are betting Hydrogen powered cars are the future..

http://www.whec.com/news/stories/S1716520.shtml?cat=566
Yeah this would never make sense because we currently have Gasoline tankers are completely impervious to explosions and fire.

Its not like we had an entire oil rig blow up in the Gulf.. and burn/hurt/kill people.

I just had to bring out some of Sicks sarcasm....
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2010 | 02:29 PM
  #10  
I8ABMR's Avatar
I8ABMR
Lexus Fanatic
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 22,608
Likes: 105
From: Waiting for next track day
Default

you act like a gas station has never gone up. This is a non issue. Hydrogen will still be in our furure. I think there are risks to any source that we use. These risks need to be reduced by engineering etc and we should be fine. Just think of how many times we have seen an episode of cops where some drunk dude crashes into a fuel tank at a gas station and BOOOM. There is risk with anything. We just need to realize that we have to work to reduce the risks.

Last edited by I8ABMR; Aug 28, 2010 at 02:33 PM.
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2010 | 02:31 PM
  #11  
I8ABMR's Avatar
I8ABMR
Lexus Fanatic
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 22,608
Likes: 105
From: Waiting for next track day
Default

Originally Posted by mmarshall
Doesn't have to be that way, though. Remember your chemistry labs back in school.....and the production of hydrogen from the electrolysis of water? In fact, that is partly (among other reactions) how modern fuel-cell cars work to make electricity for the motor.
Thank you . I feel like some have forgotten basic chemistry
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2010 | 07:51 AM
  #12  
1JZsoarer's Avatar
1JZsoarer
Driver
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Québec
Default

Originally Posted by 4TehNguyen
hydrogen is not an energy source its an energy carrier, thats like saying the air in a compressed air engine is an energy source.
I always thought that Hydrogen was ``burned`` therefore being an energy source.
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2010 | 08:39 AM
  #13  
Infra's Avatar
Infra
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 1
From: TX
Default

Originally Posted by mmarshall
Doesn't have to be that way, though. Remember your chemistry labs back in school.....and the production of hydrogen from the electrolysis of water? In fact, that is partly (among other reactions) how modern fuel-cell cars work to make electricity for the motor.
So what energy source are you suggesting we use to create molecular hydrogen?

Creating hydrogen by electrolysis consumes more energy than the oxidation reaction (burning it) creates - it's a net loss no matter how you look at it. Other methods do exist for generation, but the current most cost effective one is natural gas reformation. Again, fossil fuels are the base energy source.

Storing hydrogen is inherently more dangerous than gasoline as it must be compressed, and is therefore combustible (tanker trucks transporting gasoline are not compressed, and under most situation will only ignite, not combust). It will also burn at a much higher range of air/fuel mixtures than almost any other fuel source.

Combine all this with the fact that it's energy density is very poor - about 27% that of gasoline or diesel, and you have a fuel that is being pushed solely because it is "green".

Electric cars make much more sense than hydrogen cars ever will.

Good information on hydrogen.
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2010 | 01:20 PM
  #14  
Stage3's Avatar
Stage3
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,379
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, FL
Default

That must have been one HELL of an explosion...
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2010 | 03:38 PM
  #15  
PhilipMSPT's Avatar
PhilipMSPT
Cycle Savant
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 21,528
Likes: 9
From: In rehab...
Default

I don't know why they'd use the same material found in Hydrogen bombs?!?
Reply



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:59 AM.

story-0
Toyota and Lexus Join Mille Miglia For The First Time

Slideshow: A five-car lineup spanning more than five decades of Toyota performance and engineering will tackle one of Italy's most celebrated automotive routes.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-15 16:53:16


VIEW MORE
story-1
Lexus NX 350h: A Fuel-Sipping Secret Hot Hatch???

Slideshow: a quick review of the 2026 Lexus NX 350h F Sport Handling

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-18 14:36:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
5 Best & 5 Worst Lexus Daily Drivers

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Lexus daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 11:14:58


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 5 Hottest Lexus & Toyotas in 2026 (Hardest To Buy)

These five Lexus and Toyota models are the most sought-after on the market right now.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-15 10:47:52


VIEW MORE
story-4
2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport Review: The Last of Its Kind Still Rocks

Slideshow: the 2026 IS 350 isn't all that new, and that's why we love it!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-04 14:35:23


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Most Confusing Things Lexus Has Ever Done!

Slideshow: 10 most confusing things Lexus has ever done.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-04 09:40:55


VIEW MORE
story-6
2026 Lexus ES Review: Lexus Re-Embraces Founding Principles

Slideshow: Our First-Drive Review of the 2026 Lexus ES!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-29 20:30:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Lexus Bargains That are Cheaper Than a New Toyota RAV4

Slideshow: 10 Lexus bargain that are cheaper than a new Toyota.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 10:28:20


VIEW MORE
story-8
8 Weirdest Things Lexus Has Ever Built

Slideshow: From hoverboards to luxury yachts, these are the strangest projects Lexus has ever attached its badge to.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-16 11:34:36


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Some luxury cars chase trends, but these Lexus models look better now than they did when they first rolled into showrooms.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-06 17:58:29


VIEW MORE