Impact of additives molecular structure on combustion of hydrogen

Advantages of hydrogen as a fuel and energy carrier are well known. Production and use of hydrogen are increased progressively (Global annual coefficient is approx 1.15). At the same time, however, application of hydrogen is significantly limited by heightened combustibility of its mixtures with air. Until recently chemical methods for controlling gas phase combustion processes of hydrogen and hydrocarbons have been applied on a small scale. Only simple halogenated hydrocarbons (halons) have actually been used as fire extinguishers. These compounds are, however, of limited applicability not only because they are toxic and chemically aggressive toward environment, but also because of their low efficiency of action on combustion. This makes the use of halons expensive and impedes the elucidation of the nature of the action. Such a situation of the problem of chemically controlling combustion is to a great extent a consequence of traditional views on these processes. My new approach is to develop efficient methods for controlling hydrogen and hydrocarbons combustion processes by use of ecologically clean selected small additives (2-3%) with certain molecular structure.