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U.S. Department of Energy
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HAZARDS IN USING LIQUID HYDROGEN IN BUBBLE CHAMBERS

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4135086

An experimental study on liquid andd gaseous hydrogen was conducted to determine the hazards associated with the use of liquid hydrogen as an ionizing particle detector in bubble chambers. The glsss window, the vacuum chamber, and the vent system were investigated. In addition, a study was made of the detection and ignition of escaping hydrogen and of the available electrical equipment for use in hydrogen atmospheres. Materials such as tempered glass, aluminum, and stainless steel are not penetrated readily by the small fragments formed when fully tempered glass is shattered and propelled by hydrogen at initial pressures up to 100 psig; long, slender fragments from untempered glass may penetrate thin walls of relatively soft materials such as rubber gaskets and lead. Hydrogen can be vented satisfactorily from a vacuum chamber with a well- designed vent system. However, the rapid leakage of hydrogen into the surrounding air is a serious problem because the available detectors are satisfactory only when the accumulation of hydrogen is slow. Much of the electrical equipment currently available was designed for use in hydrogen-air atmospheres. (auth)

Research Organization:
Bureau of Mines. Explosives Research Center, Pittsburgh
NSA Number:
NSA-18-004079
OSTI ID:
4135086
Report Number(s):
BM-RI-6309
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English