In the evolving world of hydrogen as a fuel, how it’s mixed and burned can make all the difference in efficiency and safety. Cambridge Air Solutions’ High-Temperature Heating and Ventilation (HTHV) systems leverage direct-fired technology, which proves to be particularly advantageous in hydrogen mixing. Here's why.
The direct-fired component is the key. Unlike many systems that use a multi-stage mixing zone—where part of the fuel and air are mixed in stages—our approach is different. When you mix even a small amount of hydrogen, it behaves differently than natural gas, often challenging traditional systems. But our direct-fired method is robust enough to handle these challenges without the need for complex techniques.
Our system is as straightforward as it is effective. We simply force a mixture of air and gas and ignite it, much like lighting your gas grill. This simplicity is our strength. We don’t rely on complicated mechanisms that other products might use, allowing our system to be more resilient to variations in fuel mixtures.
When discussing hydrogen combustion, terms like flashback, lift-off, and ignition problems are common. Here’s what makes our system stand out:
Flashback Prevention: Flashback occurs when the ratio of fuel to air isn't accurate, causing the flame to burn back into the manifold. In other systems, this could lead to a combustible mixture within the manifold, creating a hotter flame that could ignite the unit from the wrong side, resulting in instantaneous and uncontrolled explosions. Our system prevents this by maintaining accurate ratios and ensuring that the flame remains where it should be.
Lift-Off Prevention: Lift-off happens when the flame burns too quickly, essentially lifting off the burner. Imagine lighting a trail of gasoline—the flame follows the fuel source. In a poorly controlled system, the flame could burn in all directions, never stabilizing. With our direct-fired approach, the flame achieves equilibrium, ensuring consistent and safe combustion.
Static Discharge Mitigation: In systems that pre-mix air and fuel, there’s a risk that static discharge could ignite the mixture prematurely. This isn't an issue with our direct-fired technology, where the mixing happens as the fuel is introduced, reducing the risk of pre-ignition.
Ultimately, our direct-fired HTHV technology is less complicated and more reliable than our competitors’. Cambridge Air Solutions’ HTHV systems are highly capable of igniting under a wide range of conditions, including with hydrogen—a fuel that, contrary to what you might think, is actually easier to ignite than natural gas.
Ready to learn more about how hydrogen infrastructure can transform your operations? Read our Hydrogen white paper for in-depth insights.
Other Hydrogen Resources: The Diverse Landscape of Hydrogen: Not All Hydrogen is Created Equal