Hydrogen Gas

Hydrogen Gas is a light, combustible gas found in small quantities in the Caustic and Tide Pool biomes. It is most commonly produced by an Electrolyzer as a byproduct of oxygen generation, but it can also come from Hydrogen Vents, Plug Slugs that consume metal ores, and renewable space POIs on rocket missions such as Exploded Gas Giants and Helium Clouds.

Its main practical uses are as a power source, a coolant aid, and a rocket fuel precursor. Hydrogen Gas can be burned in a Hydrogen Generator, where 100 g/s of hydrogen produces 800 W of power. It is also the fuel for the Anti Entropy Thermo-Nullifier, which consumes only 10 g/s of hydrogen while producing -80 kDTU/s of cooling. In addition, Hydrogen Gas improves the cooling efficiency of Wheezeworts when they are kept in a hydrogen atmosphere, and Thermo Regulators can be placed in the same room to help keep them from overheating while they cool other gases.

Hydrogen Gas can also be liquefied into Liquid Hydrogen, which is used as fuel for the Hydrogen Engine. This fuel chain is important for advanced rockets, since the Hydrogen Engine is one of the strongest rocket engines available, especially for long-range travel and large module loads.

Common uses and handling notes:

• A typical oxygen production setup can separate hydrogen from an Electrolyzer and route it to a Hydrogen Generator for extra power.
• Because Hydrogen Gas rises, it is easy to collect near the top of enclosed rooms with proper pipe and gas filter layouts.
• Extra hydrogen can be vented into cold areas and later recovered, or circulated by natural convection to help move heat away.
• Wheezeworts are more effective in a hydrogen atmosphere, making the gas useful in cooling rooms and targeted temperature-control setups.
• Hydrogen produced by rocket exhaust can be captured and electrolyzed again, making high-end rocket systems potentially self-sustaining in fuel and power.

Hydrogen Gas is also relevant in exhaust management from Hydrogen Engines. These engines produce extremely hot steam on both takeoff and landing, so bases that recycle rocket exhaust often use insulated launch tunnels, drywall, tempshift plates, and Mechanized Airlocks to survive the heat and recover the byproducts safely.