This unusual and very peculiar strategy is no longer used, but was in great demand in the days of Apollo.
Unless you work for NASA, you probably don’t care about the fact that hydrogen burns with a very pale blue flame, is highly flammable, tends to seep through even the smallest cracks, and is nearly invisible in daylight. , writes IFL Science.
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But that’s the real problem for NASA employees. Agency officials said leaks at high-pressure connections could cause fires because hydrogen is highly flammable. The main problem with these leaks is that the gas and flame they emit are invisible in daylight – they are virtually colorless and odorless, making them very difficult to find.
In 2003, NASA researchers worked with the Florida Solar Energy Center to develop a special strip that changes color when exposed to hydrogen. Up until this point, scientists had to use ultraviolet sensors to detect flames. However, it turns out that the weirdest but most effective way to find a leak is the “broom method” that NASA employees used even before sensors.
NASA admits that the original path looks much less valuable, but it’s definitely more fun. Before each launch of the shuttle, agency workers had to check miles of pipeline for hydrogen leaks – it’s a task, we have to admit, not an easy one.
The scientists note that this “broom method” helped NASA workers a lot during the days of Apollo, when hundreds of gallons of hydrogen were pumped from the storage tank to the launch pad for refueling. This method consisted of workers walking along the pipeline with an extended broom in their hands. If the cleaner head starts to burn, there is a leak.
While the decision might seem pretty funny, it was very practical. Moreover, it clearly worked – the “burning broom” made it possible not only to detect a leak in a timely manner, but also to eliminate it.
By the way, this “broom method” is not only used by NASA employees, but it is known that firefighters actively use it during the extinguishing of hydrogen fires. Fortunately, this method is no longer necessary as both NASA and firefighters have long used more modern technology.
Previously Focus He wrote that NASA wants to build a pipeline on the Moon: why and who needs it.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.