Hydrogen in the Soviet Union

1989/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Energia

Soviet engineers led by Aleksei Tupolev believe that hydrogen can be the fuel of the future of aircraft.

Hydrogen has remarkable advantages. It can be created relatively easily, although it is currently expensive and does not produce pollution. Burning hydrogen only produces water and little ozone. The disadvantages are: occupy a lot of space in deposits or deposits and keep them cold due to their volatility.

The UA-155 aircraft has been completed with the necessary techniques for rocket construction. Areas with concentrated hydrogen to reduce the risk of explosion are surrounded by pressurized compartments. The fuel tank is located at the rear of the plane and the electric lines that lead to it run through the outside of the fuselage, keeping in special ventilated pipes. There are many sensors scattered around the plane to detect gas emissions and the crew just have to press a button so that the place where the spill occurs is well ventilated.

Hydrogen filling of the UA-155 aircraft is carried out via a remote control. On the other hand, the current depot occupies the space necessary for the transport of passengers, but Tupolev has stated that the investigations that are being carried out can overcome this barrier. Engines that burn less fuel are being designed without losing the “performance” of the plane.