“loss of sealing oil for the hydrogen in the turbine”
is H2 used for cooling, & if so, why not air, because H2 has a higher heat capacity?
If that is 'journalistically correct' (ie, completely wrong but has all the right words according to the editor), the 'engineer provided' causal info was probably 'loss of sealing oil for the hydrogen in the turbine-generator'. That is to say that the [possibly upwards of 300 MVA] generator (or major auxilliary, like the hydrogen cooler) blew up when > 5 % air mixed with <95% hydrogen, which would be an explosive mixture, was ignited by a spark or flame. Doesn't happen often, and there are multiple redundancies to avoid hydrogen explosions like this. Tragic, loss of life on construction sites always seem uncalled for. pray for all concerned.
on the other hand if the 'source' really meant to say “loss of sealing oil in the turbine” it could have been a natural gas explosion as others have reported.
“loss of sealing oil for the hydrogen in the turbine”
***is H2 used for cooling, & if so, why not air, because H2 has a higher heat capacity?***
I spoke too quick. The sealing oil is to keep hydrogen in the GENERATOR part of the turbine-generator. H2 is used for cooling the generator because it creates less friction than air cooled generators. The hot H2 is then cooled by water in a heat exchanger.
The H2 must be kept at a purity of 95% or more to keep it from exploding. From all I have heard recently this may be a natural gas explosion.
no hydrogen has lowest heat capacity