Thought then I'm sincerely even more surprised you would say that any fuel tank on fire is a (relatively) equal problem.
As for hydrogen rapidly escaping and going straight up because of its low density, those properties I would only consider positive in scenarios where the hydrogen isn't reacting (being on fire, to be more precise). When on fire, quite the opposite. Buildup of heat on the ground might still be less of a problem than with heavier fuels (which indeed is a very real problem with those), but not much advantage of that once everything within a certain radius is reduced to the size of matchsticks by a powerful explosion.
But if you claim to be (some sort of) an expert, I'll believe you. I certainly am not, that much I admit.
I only based my opinion on what I've been told by chemists that I personally trust. They told me rather invariably that the engineering challenges for storing/operating hydrogen are such a bitch, that they are ultimately only a good for when you want something closely resembling a bomb, without actually being one (or just hoping it won't explode before it served its purpose). Like e.g. rocket engines.
I didn't say it would be an equal problem, I said that you will have similar problems if an airplane fuel tank catches fire. The problems you're raising are definitely real problems, I just think they can be designed around.
The engineering problems obviously aren't large enough to prevent something like the Tu-155 from using liquid hydrogen. Whether it can ultimately made as safe as conventional aircraft, I don't know. Maybe not. Either way, I don't think the economics are favorable for hydrogen.
Thought then I'm sincerely even more surprised you would say that any fuel tank on fire is a (relatively) equal problem.
As for hydrogen rapidly escaping and going straight up because of its low density, those properties I would only consider positive in scenarios where the hydrogen isn't reacting (being on fire, to be more precise). When on fire, quite the opposite. Buildup of heat on the ground might still be less of a problem than with heavier fuels (which indeed is a very real problem with those), but not much advantage of that once everything within a certain radius is reduced to the size of matchsticks by a powerful explosion.
But if you claim to be (some sort of) an expert, I'll believe you. I certainly am not, that much I admit.
I only based my opinion on what I've been told by chemists that I personally trust. They told me rather invariably that the engineering challenges for storing/operating hydrogen are such a bitch, that they are ultimately only a good for when you want something closely resembling a bomb, without actually being one (or just hoping it won't explode before it served its purpose). Like e.g. rocket engines.