Does anyone know how they made hydrogen in the early 1900 Zeplins like the hindenburg?
Is there any schematics that show how its built?
These had to produce massive amounts of hydrogen on board to make them rise.
Thanks
I believe that helium was used until wartime (world war 2)when the germans could not get helium but they did use hydrogen.They were restricted from buying helium since it came(mostly) from other countires.I believe too that germans used electrolysis of water.Triffid
They may have used helium at some time but I do know the Hindenburg used Hydrogen because that disaster was blamed on the hydrogen it contained.
That was back in the 20's - 30's and they were able to produce enough to fill a large area like that, so that technology should easily be able to run an ICE car.. right?
seems i remember they used coal powdered very fine, salt, and water. i dont remember the mixture amounts of each tho.
google it and see what ya come up with. i remember seeing a video on it a while back.
Good luck!
Quote from: triffid on October 15, 2008, 01:09:20 PM
I believe that helium was used until wartime (world war 2)when the germans could not get helium but they did use hydrogen.They were restricted from buying helium since it came(mostly) from other countires.I believe too that germans used electrolysis of water.Triffid
Helium came from natural gas wells in the U.S. It was a very rare and expensive material at the
time and was not authorised for export.
:MSCoffman
That sounds right the germans could not get helium so they were forced to use hydrogen or not fly at all.I dont know how they made their hydrogen.Triffid
I think some old copies of "Popular Science " and" Popular Mechanics" from the 1920's and 1930's would give a weath of info on Zeplins and their design.These would be in the public library bound into hardback book form.Triffid
Hm? Do you seriously trow that electrolysis was unknown and invented just today ??? :o
1800 - William Nicholson and Johann Ritter decomposed water into hydrogen and oxygen.
As you know it is simple. Is simple now and was simple then.
Many another ways too but ... I think that Zeppelin used not electricity.
cheers,
khabe
perhaps:
Hydrogen was made by dropping iron filings into containers of sulfric acid then piped to the inflating balloon. This could take a couple days to complete.
http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/Aircraft/Balloon-Lowe
Since hydrogen doesn't exist on earth as a gas, we must separate it from other elements. We can separate hydrogen atoms from water, biomass, or natural gas molecules. The two most common methods for producing hydrogen are steam reforming and electrolysis (water splitting). Scientists have even discovered that some algae and bacteria give off hydrogen.
Steam reforming is currently the least expensive method of producing hydrogen and accounts for about 95 percent of the hydrogen produced in the United States. It is used in industries to separate hydrogen atoms from carbon atoms in methane(CH4). Because methane is a fossil fuel, the process of steam reforming results in greenhouse gas emissions that are linked with global warming.
Electrolysis is a process that splits hydrogen from water. It results in no emissions but it is currently a very expensive process.
Hydrogen Technology from Science, 1900-1940
http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4404/app-a3.htm