Safety
Experimental Study on Dynamic Response Performance of Hydrogen Sensor in Confined Space under Ceiling
Oct 2024
Publication
With the advancement of Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs) detecting hydrogen leaks is critically important in facilities such as hydrogen refilling stations. Despite its significance the dynamic response performance of hydrogen sensors in confined spaces particularly under ceilings has not been comprehensively assessed. This study utilizes a catalytic combustion hydrogen sensor to monitor hydrogen leaks in a confined area. It examines the effects of leak size and placement height on the distribution of hydrogen concentrations beneath the ceiling. Results indicate that hydrogen concentration rapidly decreases within a 0.5–1.0 m range below the ceiling and declines more gradually from 1.0 to 2.0 m. The study further explores the attenuation pattern of hydrogen concentration radially from the hydrogen jet under the ceiling. By normalizing the radius and concentration it was determined that the distribution conforms to a Gaussian model akin to that observed in open space jet flows. Utilizing this Gaussian assumption the model is refined by incorporating an impact reflux term thereby enhancing the accuracy of the predictive formula.
Influence of Safety Culture on Safety Outcomes of a Hydrogen–CCS Plant
Jan 2025
Publication
: This article investigates how safety culture impacts the safety performance of blue hydrogen projects. Blue hydrogen refers to decarbonized hydrogen produced through natural gas reforming with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. It is crucial to decide on a suitable safety policy to avoid potential injuries financial losses and loss of public goodwill. The system dynamics approach is a suitable tool for studying the impact of factors controlling safety culture. This study examines the interactions between influencing factors and implications of various strategies using what-if analyses. The conventional risk and safety assessments fail to consider the interconnectedness between the technical system and its social envelope. After identifying the key factors influencing safety culture a system dynamics model will be developed to evaluate the impact of those factors on the safety performance of the facility. The emphasis on safety culture is directed by the necessity to prevent major disasters that could threaten a company’s survival as well as to prevent minor yet disruptive incidents that may occur during day-to-day operations. Enhanced focus on safety culture is essential for maintaining an organization’s long-term viability. H2-CCS is a complex socio-technical system comprising interconnected subsystems and sub-subsystems. This study focuses on the safety culture sub-subsystem illustrating how human factors within the system contribute to the occurrence of incidents. The findings from this research study can assist in creating effective strategies to improve the sustainability of the operation. By doing so strategies can be formulated that not only enhance the integrity and reliability of an installation as well as its availability within the energy networks but also contribute to earning a good reputation in the community that it serves.
Simulation of Hydrogen Deflagration on Battery-Powered Ship
Sep 2025
Publication
Lead–acid batteries are widely used in modern battery-powered ships. During the charging process of lead–acid batteries hydrogen gas is released which poses a potential hazard to ship safety. To address this this paper first establishes a turbulent flow model for hydrogen deflagration. Then using FDS6.7.9 software simulations of hydrogen deflagration are conducted and a simulation model of the ship’s cabin is constructed. The changes in temperature and pressure during the hydrogen deflagration process in the ship’s cabin are analyzed and the evolution process of hydrogen deflagration in the ship’s cabin is derived. Hydrogen deflagration poses a significant threat to the fire safety of battery-powered ships. Additionally a comparative analysis of hydrogen deflagration under different hydrogen concentrations is performed. It is concluded that battery-powered ships using lead–acid batteries should pay attention to controlling the hydrogen concentration below 4%.
Modelling the Non-adiabatic Blowdown of Pressurised Cryogenic Hydrogen Storage Tank
Sep 2023
Publication
This paper describes a model of hydrogen blowdown dynamics for storage tanks needed for hydrogen safety engineering to accurately represent incident scenarios. Heat transfer through a tank wall affects the temperature and pressure dynamics inside the storage vessel and therefore the characteristics of the resulting hydrogen jet in case of loss of containment. Available non-adiabatic blowdown models are validated only against experiments on hydrogen storages at ambient temperature. Effect of heat transfer for cryo-compressed hydrogen can be more significant due to a larger temperature difference between the stored hydrogen and surrounding atmosphere especially in case of failure of equipment insulation. Previous work by the authors demonstrated that the heat transfer through a discharge pipe wall can significantly affect the mass flow rate of cryogenic hydrogen releases. To the authors’ knowledge thoroughly validated models of non-adiabatic blowdown dynamics for cryo-compressed hydrogen are currently missing. The present work further develops the non-adiabatic blowdown model at ambient temperature using the under-expanded jet theory developed at Ulster University to expand it to cryo-compressed hydrogen storages. The non-ideal behaviour of cryo-compressed hydrogen is accounted through the high-accuracy Helmholtz energy formulations. The developed model includes effect of heat transfer at both the tank and discharge pipe wall. The model is thoroughly validated against sixteen tests performed by Pro-Science on blowdown of hydrogen storage tanks with initial pressure 0.5-20 MPa and temperature 80-310 K through release nozzle of diameter 0.5-4.0 mm. The model well reproduces the experimental pressure and temperature dynamics during the entire blowdown duration.
Numerical Simulation of Underexpanded Cryogenic Hydrogen Jets
Sep 2023
Publication
As a clean and renewable energy carrier hydrogen is one of the most promising alternative fuels. Cryogenic compressed hydrogen can achieve high storage density without liquefying hydrogen which has good application prospects. Investigation of the safety problems of cryogenic compressed hydrogen is necessary before massive commercialization. The present study modeled the instantaneous flow field using the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) for cryogenic (50 and 100 K) underexpanded hydrogen jets released from a round nozzle of 1.5 mm diameter at pressures of 0.5-5.0 MPa. The simulation results were compared with the experimental data for validation. The axial and radial concentration and velocity distributions were normalized to show the self-similar characteristics of underexpanded cryogenic jets. The shock structures near the nozzle were quantified to correlate the shock structure sizes to the source pressure and nozzle diameter. The present study on the concentration and velocity distributions of underexpanded cryogenic hydrogen jets is useful for developing safety codes and standards.
The Effect of Natural Ventilation through Roof Vents Following Hydrogen Leaks in Confined Spaces
Sep 2023
Publication
Hydrogen energy is gaining global popularity as a green energy source and its use is increasing. However hydrogen has a rapid diffusion rate and a broad combustion range; thus it is vital to take safety precautions during its storage. In this study we examined the change of hydrogen concentration in a confined space exposed to a hydrogen leak according to the size of the leakage hole and the leakage flow rate assuming an extreme situation. In addition we investigated rectangular vents (that serve as explosion panels in the event of an explosion) to assess their ventilation performance according to the area of the vent when used for emergency natural ventilation. The vent areas tested represented 12% 24% and 36% of the floor area and they were installed in the ceiling of the test enclosure. When exposed to a simulated hydrogen leak the enclosure acquired a hydrogen concentration of 1% which is 25% of the lower flammability limit (LFL) in less than 6 s across all test cases. The time to LFL varied from approximately 4–81 s. In an assessment of the emergency ventilation duration the ventilation time required to reach safe hydrogen concentrations decreased and showed less deviation as the vent size was increased. For the largest vent size tested the LFL was reached in <1 min; it took 145.6 s to acquire a 1 vol% of hydrogen which is relatively fast. However there were no significant differences between the performance of large and medium-sized vent areas. Therefore through the results we found that it is reasonable to apply the area Kv = 3.31 (24% of the floor area) or less when considering the design of a roof vent that can serve as both an emergency ventilation and an explosion vent. This suggests that it is difficult to expect an improvement in ventilation performance by simply increasing the area of the vent beyond a certain area. Through these results this study proposes a practical and novel method for future design and parameters of safety functions that protect areas where hydrogen is present.
A Computational Analysis of Cryogenic Hydrogen Release Under Various Conditions
Dec 2023
Publication
Cryogenic liquid hydrogen offers a promising solution for achieving high-density hydrogen storage and efficient on-site distribution. However the potential hazards associated with hydrogen leakages necessitate thorough investigations. This research aims to model cryogenic hydrogen release from circular and high aspect ratio (HAR) nozzles tested by Sandia. The test conditions cover reservoir pressures and temperatures corresponding to cryogenic hydrogen storage. The study conducts computational simulations using OpenFOAM to examine hydrogen concentration temperature fields mass fraction and temperature distributions achieving good agreement with the experimental data. To further explore the study of velocity variations shows a consistent decay rate with room-temperature jets. The numerical data reveals comparable inverse centreline hydrogen mass fractions (0.254 for HAR and 0.26 for circular) and normalised centreline temperature decay rates (0.031 for HAR and 0.032 for circular). The present computational model holds the potential for further analysis of cryogenic hydrogen in large-scale facilities.
Hydrogen Behavior and Mitigation Measures: State of Knowledge and Database from Nuclear Community
Nov 2024
Publication
Hydrogen has become a key enabler for decarbonization as countries pledge to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. With hydrogen infrastructure expanding rapidly beyond its established applications there is a requirement for robust safety practices solutions and regulations. Since the 1980s considerable efforts have been undertaken by the nuclear community to address hydrogen safety issues because in severe accidents of water-cooled nuclear reactors a large amount of hydrogen can be produced from the oxidation of metallic components with steam. As evidenced in the Fukushima accident hydrogen combustion can cause severe damage to reactor building structures promoting the release of radioactive fission products to the environment. A great number of large-scale experiments have been conducted in the framework of national and international projects to understand the hydrogen dispersion and combustion behavior under postulated accidental conditions. Empirical engineering models and computer codes have been developed and validated for safety analysis. Hydrogen recombiners known as Passive Autocatalytic Recombiners (PARs) were developed and have been widely installed in nuclear containments to mitigate hydrogen risk. Complementary actions and strategies were established as part of severe accident management guidelines to prevent or limit the consequences of hydrogen explosions. In addition hydrogen monitoring systems were developed and have been implemented in nuclear power plants. The experience and knowledge gained from the nuclear community on hydrogen safety is valuable and applicable for other industries involving hydrogen production transport storage and use.
The Progress of Autoignition of High-Pressure Hydrogen Gas Leakage: A Comprehensive Review
Aug 2024
Publication
As a paradigm of clean energy hydrogen is gradually attracting global attention. However its unique characteristics of leakage and autoignition pose significant challenges to the development of high-pressure hydrogen storage technologies. In recent years numerous scholars have made significant progress in the field of high-pressure hydrogen leakage autoignition. This paper based on diffusion ignition theory thoroughly explores the mechanism of high-pressure hydrogen leakage autoignition. It reviews the effects of various factors such as gas properties burst disc rupture conditions tube geometric structure obstacles etc. on shock wave growth patterns and autoignition characteristics. Additionally the development of internal flames and propagation characteristics of external flames after ignition kernels generation are summarized. Finally to promote future development in the field of high-pressure hydrogen energy storage and transportation this paper identifies deficiencies in the current research and proposes key directions for future research.
Recent Developments in Hydrogen Production, Storage, and Transportation: Challenges, Opportunities, and Perspectives
Jul 2024
Publication
Hydrogen (H2 ) is considered a suitable substitute for conventional energy sources because it is abundant and environmentally friendly. However the widespread adoption of H2 as an energy source poses several challenges in H2 production storage safety and transportation. Recent efforts to address these challenges have focused on improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of H2 production methods developing advanced storage technologies to ensure safe handling and transportation of H2 and implementing comprehensive safety protocols. Furthermore efforts are being made to integrate H2 into the existing energy infrastructure and explore new opportunities for its application in various sectors such as transportation industry and residential applications. Overall recent developments in H2 production storage safety and transportation have opened new avenues for the widespread adoption of H2 as a clean and sustainable energy source. This review highlights potential solutions to overcome the challenges associated with H2 production storage safety and transportation. Additionally it discusses opportunities to achieve a carbon-neutral society and reduce the dependence on fossil fuels.
Accident Analysis Modeling and Case Study of Hydrogen Refueling Station Using Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
Jun 2025
Publication
As the global transition to carbon neutrality accelerates hydrogen energy has emerged as a key alternative to fossil fuels due to its potential to reduce carbon emissions. Many countries including Korea are constructing hydrogen refueling stations; however safety concerns persist due to accidents caused by equipment failures and human errors. While various accident analysis models exist the application of the root cause analysis (RCA) technique to hydrogen refueling station accidents remains largely unexplored. This study develops an RCA modeling map specifically for hydrogen refueling stations to identify not only direct and indirect causes of accidents but also root causes and applies it to actual accident cases to provide basic data for identifying the root causes of future hydrogen refueling station accidents. The RCA modeling map developed in this study uses accident cause investigation data from accident investigation reports over the past five years which include information on the organizational structure and operational status of hydrogen refueling stations as well as the RCA handbook. The primary defect sources identified were equipment defect personal defect and other defects. The problem categories which were the substructures of the primary defect source “equipment defect” consisted of four categories: the equipment design problem the equipment installation/fabrication problem the equipment reliability program problem and the equipment misuse problem. Additionally the problem categories which were the substructures of the primary defect source “personal defect” consisted of two categories: the company employee problem and the contract employee problem. The problem categories which were the substructures of the primary defect source “other defects” consisted of three categories: sabotage/horseplay natural phenomena and other. Compared to existing accident investigation reports which identified only three primary causes the RCA modeling map revealed nine distinct causes demonstrating its superior analytical capability. In conclusion the proposed RCA modeling map provides a more systematic and comprehensive approach for investigating accident causes at hydrogen refueling stations which could significantly improve safety practices and assist in quickly identifying root causes more efficiently in future incidents.
Environmental Implications of Alternative Production, Distribution, Storage, and Leakage Rates of Hydrogen from Offshore Wind in Norway
Jun 2025
Publication
Renewable hydrogen offers compelling climate mitigation prospects with Norway possessing the opportunity to become a main global producer given its unique combination of wind energy potential available infrastructure and political motivation. However comprehensive environmental impact assessments of hydrogen from offshore wind are lacking and hydrogen leakage rates remain uncertain. A life-cycle assessment of hydrogen production from offshore wind farms in Norway is presented where different combinations of turbines (floating or bottomfixed) storage options (tank or salt cavern) and distribution methods (trucks or pipelines) are considered. Climate change impacts are assessed across the supply chain using global warming potential 100 (GWP100) and 20 (GWP20) and include hydrogen leakage contributions. The results range from 1.56 ± 0.14–2.28 ± 0.14 kg CO2-eq/kg H2 for GWP100 and 2.96 ± 0.76 and 3.75 ± 0.76 kg CO2-eq/kg H2 for GWP20 and are on average 55 % and 45 % lower than those of blue hydrogen respectively. At a default rate of 5 % hydrogen leakage contributes 50–63 % of the total impact for GWP20 and 25–37 % for GWP100. If higher-end leakage rates from literature are considered the impacts increase to 3.46 kg CO2-eq/kg H2 for GWP100 which is still lower than that of blue hydrogen. The scenario combining bottom-fixed turbines salt cavern storage and pipeline distribution presents the lowest environmental impacts. However while bottom-fixed turbines generally offer lower impacts floating turbines pose lesser risk to marine biodiversity. Overall infrastructure represents the main driver of environmental impacts. Mitigation in this area will improve potential benefits.
Safety Analysis of Hydrogen-Powered Train in Different Application Scenarios: A Review
Mar 2025
Publication
Currently there are many gaps in the research on the safety of hydrogen-powered trains and the hazardous points vary across different scenarios. It is necessary to conduct safety analysis for various scenarios in order to develop effective accident response strategies. Considering the implementation of hydrogen power in the rail transport sector this paper reviews the development status of hydrogen-powered trains and the hydrogen leak hazard chain. Based on the literature and industry data a thorough analysis is conducted on the challenges faced by hydrogen-powered trains in the scenario of electrified railways tunnels train stations hydrogen refueling stations and garages. Existing railway facilities are not ready to deal with accidental hydrogen leakage and the promotion of hydrogen-powered trains needs to be cautious.
Evaluation of Passenger Train Safety in the Event of a Liquid Hydrogen Release from a Freight Train in a Tunnel Along an Italian High-Speed/High-Capacity Rail Line
Oct 2025
Publication
The global shift towards cleaner energy sources is driving the adoption of hydrogen as an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels. Among the forms currently available Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) offers high energy density and efficient storage making it suitable for large-scale transport by rail. However the flammability of hydrogen poses serious safety concerns especially when transported through confined spaces such as railway tunnels. In case of an accidental LH2 release from a freight train the rapid accumulation and potential ignition of hydrogen could cause catastrophic consequences especially if freight and passenger trains are present simultaneously in the same tunnel tube. In this study a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model was developed to simulate the dispersion and explosion of LH2 following an accidental leak from a freight train’s cryo-container in a single-tube double-track railway tunnel when a passenger train queues behind it on the same track. The overpressure results were analyzed using probit functions to estimate the fatality probabilities for the passenger train’s occupants. The analysis suggests that a significant number of fatalities could be expected among the passengers. However shorter users’ evacuation times from the passenger train’s wagons and/or longer distances between the two types of trains might reduce the number of potential fatalities. The findings by providing additional insight into the risks associated with LH2 transport in railway tunnels indicate the need for risk mitigation measures and/or traffic management strategies.
Numerical Investigation of Hydrogen Leakage Quantification and Dispersion Characteristics in Buried Pipelines
Sep 2025
Publication
As a clean energy carrier hydrogen is essential for global low-carbon energy transitions due to its unique combination of safe transport properties and energy density. This investigation employs computational fluid dynamics (ANSYS Fluent) to systematically characterize hydrogen dispersion through soil media from buried pipelines. The research reveals three fundamental insights: First leakage orifices smaller than 2 mm demonstrate restricted hydrogen migration regardless of directional orientation. Second dispersion patterns remain stable under both low-pressure conditions (below 1 MPa) and minimal thermal gradients with pipeline temperature variations limited to 63 K and soil fluctuations under 40 K. Third dispersion intensity increases proportionally with higher leakage pressures (exceeding 1 MPa) greater soil porosity and larger particle sizes while inversely correlating with burial depth. The study develops a predictive model through Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) optimization demonstrating exceptional accuracy (mean absolute error below 10%) for modeling continuous hydrogen flow through moderateporosity soils under medium-to-high pressure conditions with weak inertial effects. These findings provide critical scientific foundations for designing safer hydrogen transmission infrastructure establishing robust risk quantification frameworks and developing effective early-warning systems thereby facilitating the practical implementation of hydrogen energy systems.
Technoeconomic analysis of Hydrogen Versus Natural Gas Considering Safety Hazards and Energy Efficiency Indicators
Aug 2025
Publication
Hydrogen (H2) is emerging as a key alternative to fossil fuels in the global energy transition. This study presents a comparative techno-economic analysis of H2 and natural gas (NG) focusing on safety hazards energy output CO2 emissions and cost-effectiveness aspects. Our analysis showed that compared to NG and other highly flammable gases like acetylene (C2 H2) and propane (C3 H8) H2 has a higher hazard potential due to factors such as its wide flammability range low ignition energy and high flame speed. In terms of energy output 1 kg of NG produces 48.60 MJ while conversion to liquefied natural gas (LNG) grey H2 and blue H2 reduces energy output to 45.96 MJ 35.45 MJ and 31.21 MJ respectively. Similarly while unconverted NG emits 2.72 kg of CO2 per kg emissions increase to 3.12 kg for LNG and 3.32 kg for grey H2. However blue H2 significantly reduces CO2 emissions to 1.05 kg per kg due to carbon capture and storage. From an economic perspective producing 1 kg of NG yields a profit of $0.011. Converting NG to grey H2 is most profitable yielding a net profit of $0.609 per kg of NG while blue H2 despite higher production costs remains viable with a profit of $0.390 per kg of NG. LNG conversion also shows profitability with $0.061 per kg of NG. This analysis highlights the trade-offs between energy efficiency environmental impact and economic viability providing valuable insights for stakeholders formulating hydrogen and LNG implementation strategies.
Research on Hydrogen Leakage Risk Control Methods in Deck Compartments of Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Powered Ships Based on CFD Simulation and Ventilation Optimization
Oct 2025
Publication
Hydrogen fuel cell vessels represent a vital direction for green shipping but the risk of large-scale hydrogen leakage and diffusion in their enclosed compartments is particularly prominent. To enhance safety a simplified three-dimensional model of the deck-level cabins of the “Water-Go-Round” passenger ship was established using SolidWorks (2023) software. Based on a hydrogen leakage and diffusion model the effects of leakage location leakage aperture and initial ambient temperature on the diffusion patterns and distribution of hydrogen within the cabins were investigated using FLUENT software. The results show that leak location significantly affects diffusion direction with hydrogen leaking from the compartment ceiling diffusing horizontally much faster than from the floor. When leakage occurs at the compartment ceiling hydrogen can reach a maximum horizontal diffusion distance of up to 5.04 m within 540 s; the larger the leak aperture the faster the diffusion with a 10 mm aperture exhibiting a 40% larger diffusion range than a 6 mm aperture at 720 s. The study provides a theoretical basis for the safety design and risk prevention of hydrogen fuel cell vessels.
A Proposal of Hydrogen Safety Technology for Decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station
Mar 2025
Publication
The safe removal transportation and long-term storage of fuel debris in the decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi is the biggest challenge facing Japan. In the nuclear power field passive autocatalytic recombiners (PARs) have become established as a technology to prevent hydrogen explosions inside the containment vessel. To utilize PAR as a measure to reduce the concentration of hydrogen generated in the fuel debris storage canister which is currently an issue it is required to perform in a sealed environment with high doses of radiation low temperature and high humidity and there are many challenges different from conventional PAR. A honeycombshaped catalyst based on automotive catalyst technology has been newly designed as a PAR and research has been conducted to solve unique problems such as high dose radiation low temperature high humidity coexistence of hydrogen and low oxygen and catalyst poisons. This paper summarizes the challenges of hydrogen generation in a sealed container the results of research and a guide to how to use the PAR for fuel debris storage canisters.
A Review of Integrated Carbon Capture and Hydrogen Storage: AI-Driven Optimization for Efficiency and Scalability
Jun 2025
Publication
Achieving global net-zero emissions by 2050 demands integrated and scalable strategies that unite decarbonization technologies across sectors. This review provides a forwardlooking synthesis of carbon capture and storage and hydrogen systems emphasizing their integration through artificial intelligence to enhance operational efficiency reduce system costs and accelerate large-scale deployment. While CCS can mitigate up to 95% of industrial CO2 emissions and hydrogen particularly blue hydrogen offers a versatile low-carbon energy carrier their co-deployment unlocks synergies in infrastructure storage and operational management. Artificial intelligence plays a transformative role in this integration enabling predictive modeling anomaly detection and intelligent control across capture transport and storage networks. Drawing on global case studies (e.g. Petra Nova Northern Lights Fukushima FH2R and H21 North of England) and emerging policy frameworks this study identifies key benefits technical and regulatory challenges and innovation trends. A novel contribution of this review lies in its AI-focused roadmap for integrating CCS and hydrogen systems supported by a detailed analysis of implementation barriers and policy-enabling strategies. By reimagining energy systems through digital optimization and infrastructure synergy this review outlines a resilient blueprint for the transition to a sustainable low-carbon future.
Determining the Hydrogen Conversion Rates of a Passive Catalytic Recombiner for Hydrogen Risk Mitigation
May 2025
Publication
Hydrogen can play a key role as short- and long-term energy storage solution in an energy grid with fluctuating renewable sources. In technologies using hydrogen there is always the risk of unintended leakages due to the low density of gaseous hydrogen. The risk becomes specifically high in confined areas where leaking hydrogen could easily mix with air and form flammable gas mixtures. In the maritime transportation large and congested geometries can be subject to accumulation of hydrogen. A mitigation measure for areas where venting is insufficient or even impossible is the installation of catalytic recombiners. The operational behavior can be described with numerical models which are required to optimize the location and to assess the efficiency of the mitigation solution. In the present study we established an experimental procedure in the REKO-4 facility a 5.5 m³ vessel to determine the recombination rate obtained from a recombiner. Based on the experimental data an engineering correlation was developed to be used for simulations in safety assessments.
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