Learnings

Outcomes

Comprehensive details of the project’s outcomes are reported in the final report produced as part of the feasibility study:

“Hydrogen Gas Light Feasibility Report”, Enertek International, July 2023

Some of the key outcomes of the work are:

·         After initial development work with a prototype design gas lamp, optimal results were achieved for hydrogen firing using the original gas mantle assembly in the conventional downlighting mode, with a 0.5mm diameter nozzle injector. The illuminance produced by the hydrogen lamp was approximately double that of the equivalent natural gas lamp.

·         Set-up arrangements clearly have a major influence on gas lamp performance and the results achieved in this project may not be representative of the optimum performance levels achievable.

·         Illuminance levels for both hydrogen and natural gas lamps were much lower than that produced by a 40W incandescent electric lamp which was used to provide context to the test programme.

To develop the learning further, assessment is required of the longer term impact of the hydrogen flame on the integrity of the gas mantle and the assembly as a whole. It is also worth noting that there are no specific UK standards for gas lamps, although the withdrawn standard BS 1381:1947 Gas Lighting Units & Fittings for Single-Family Dwellings still has relevant sections for design, manufacture and testing of gas lamps.

To facilitate the development of hydrogen gas lamps, consideration of the design and testing of electronic ignition systems, with flame supervision devices would need to be undertaken in order to achieve Gas Appliance Regulation (GAR) compliance and certification. Development of a new standard for hydrogen lamps would need to be undertaken to enable this, taking into consideration the relevant elements of BS 1381:1947 Gas Lighting Units & Fittings for Single-Family Dwellings and PAS 4444:2020+A1:2021 Hydrogen-fired gas appliances – Guide.

Lessons Learnt

The key lessons learnt revolved around the ability of hydrogen to provide an equivalent, or better, luminescence than gas lamps burning natural gas. Several different orientations of the gas lamp equipment were trialled, each providing different levels of luminescence. Ultimately, the research undertaken was effective at achieving what it set out to do – the conversion of existing gas lamps to run on hydrogen is feasible, albeit further work is required to comply with the necessary industry standards for certification.

More details of the project outcomes are given in Section 7 below and in the technical report that was produced as the key deliverable of the feasibility study.