6 May 2015

To:
Patrick Ferro
From: Shane Guy
Hydrogen Temperature Control
Background:
1.7 grams were desorbed from the hydrogen canister over the span of five minutes. Using a specific heat
value of 14.307(J/gC) the number of joules dissipated from the canister was 200. This is found by taking
the starting mass and the temperature difference of 8.2C to calculate the heat transfer to be 276.55 kJ
and subtracting the heat transfer calculated from the final mass and the same temperature difference of
8.2C which is 276.35 kJ.
Procedure:
Hydrogen was desorbed from its container; the measured temperature difference was every thirty
seconds. Measuring the initial temperature of the container after letting it reach equilibrium as a small
amount of hydrogen was desorbed, equilibrium was reached at room temperature 24.2C. Table A.1
shows the data recorded during the duration of the experiment.
Results:
Table A.1
Temperature Differences
Initial Temp.
24.1C
Initial Mass
2.3573 kg
Time(min)
Temp(C)
0
24.2
0.5
23.5
1
22.4
1.5
21.2
2
20.2
2.5
19.3
3
18.5
3.5
17.8
4
17.2
4.5
16.5
5
16
Final Mass
2.3556 kg
Table A.1 shows the decrease in temperature as the hydrogen is drained from the canister. Table A.1
shows a negative linear relationship between the temperature in Celsius of the canister and time in
minutes in which hydrogen is drained. Table A.1 shows that the change in mass over the duration of
time was miniscule, about 2 grams.
Table A.1 shows how the data seems to show a negative linear pattern as time progresses and more
hydrogen is drained from the canister. This suggest that the draining of hydrogen could be modeled by a
linear function suggesting that if knowing how much hydrogen is set to leave in thirty second intervals; it
would be possible to know exactly how long it would take for the canister to be drained completely.
However, the stark drop in temperature for such a short amount of time and amount of hydrogen is
troubling to consider actually how cold the canister could reach.

Fig. 1
30

Temperature(C)

25
20
15
10
5
0
0

Time(min)

Fig.1 shows the data points taken from Table A.1 plotted with Temperature in Celsius compared to Time
in minutes. The graph appears to have a negative linear slope. The graph concludes that the
temperature decreases as time increases.
Fig.1 illustrates that the canister can indeed drain at a negative constant linear fashion. This means that
the behavior of the hydrogen can be predicted and can be used to predict when the canisters needs
replacing. The observation is that if the canisters need to be replaced by the time that they reach a
temperature of 0C then according to the graph that would be reached in an estimate time of ten
minutes. Resulting in 1.7 grams being used. Thus, a waste of 2.3522 kg of hydrogen. Not a very efficient
use of time and resources.
Conclusions:
The results from this experiment are that for the duration of the procedure that the temperature of the
canister of the hydrogen had dropped considerably. The temperature of the canister had dropped 8.2C
from room temperature of 24.2C to 16C in the matter of five minutes for a rate of -1.64C/min. The
canister emptied out around about a gram and three-quarters from start to finish, for a mass flow rate
of 5.67 mg/s and loss of heat at a rate of 0.667 J/s.

Table A.1
Initial Temp.
Initial Mass
Time(min)
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
Final Mass

24.1C
2.3573 kg
Temp(C)
24.2
23.5
22.4
21.2
20.2
19.3
18.5
17.8
17.2
16.5
16
2.3556 kg

Table A.1 shows how the data seems to show a negative linear pattern as time progresses and more
hydrogen is drained from the canister. This suggest that the draining of hydrogen could be modeled by a
linear function suggesting that if knowing how much hydrogen is set to leave in thirty second intervals; it
would be possible to know exactly how long it would take for the canister to be drained completely.
However, the stark drop in temperature for such a short amount of time and amount of hydrogen is
troubling to consider actually how cold the canister could reach.

Graph A.2
30

Temperature(C)

25
20
15
10
5
0
0

Time(min)

The graph above, illustrates again that the canister can indeed train at a negative constant linear
fashion. This means that the behavior of the hydrogen can be predicted and can be used to predict
when the canisters need replacing. The unfortunate observation is that if the canisters need to be
replaced by the time that they reach a temperature of 0C then according to the graph that would be
reached in an estimate time of ten minutes. Resulting in 5.1 grams being used. Thus, a waste of 2.3522
kg of hydrogen. Not a very efficient use of time and resources.