Hydrogen Related Fire Safety Issues
in Residential/Commercial Vehicle
Storage Facilities
John Baker
Will Schreiber
University of Alabama
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Tuscaloosa, AL
Objective
The overall purpose of the proposed project
is to provide practical guidelines for the
safe storage of commercially available
hydrogen powered vehicles.
Motivation
• Safe systems for the industrial production,
transportation, and utilization of hydrogen
already exist.
• Unresolved issues
exist with regard
to the use of
hydrogen in
commercial/
residential
applications.
Linde AG, Germany
Motivation
Hydrogen
• Wide range of flammability concentrations in air
• Lower ignition energy as compared to gasoline or
natural gas
• Burns with almost invisible flame
• Much lighter than air
• Hydrogen embrittlement
• Molecular diffusion
• Leakage
Motivation
Regulations
• NASA, 1997, Safety Standard for Hydrogen and
Hydrogen Systems, NSS 1740.16.
• U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, Regulations
(Standard - 29 CFR), Standard Number 1910.103,
Hydrogen.
• NFPA 50B: Standard for Liquefied
Hydrogen Systems at Consumer
Sites
• NFPA 50A: Gaseous Hydrogen
Systems at Consumer Sites
Motivation
Residential Hydrogen Safety
• Environmental factors
• Dispersion of hydrogen from likely release sites
• Potential ignition sources
• Impact on residential
design
Plan of Action
Proposed one-year study
• Thoroughly examine existing regulations
• Experimentally observe hydrogen
dispersion behavior in typical settings
• Develop preliminary hydrogen dispersion
models.
Plan of Action: First Quarter
Task 1a – Review of Existing Standards
Review of the existing standards and guidelines as
related to commercial / residential hydrogen use and
storage.
Task 1b – Experimental Design
Design of a test cell that can simulate the transport
behavior of a hydrogen leak in a residential two car
garage.
Task 1c – Initial Computational Models
Preliminary CFD models to be used in the
development of the helium dispersion experiments.
Plan of Action: Second Quarter
Task 2a –Hydrogen Sensors
A thorough review of existing hydrogen sensor
technology.
Task 2b –Experimental Study
Helium dispersion behavior in on-campus parking
garage.
Task 2c – Computational Modeling
Model helium dispersion behavior in parking garage.
Plan of Action: Third Quarter
Task 3a – Analysis of Helium Dispersion Testing
Determine average dispersion patterns. May need to
conduct additional tests.
Task 3b – Fabrication
Build two car garage test facility. Instrument facility.
Task 3c – Computational Modeling
Develop initial hydrogen dispersion models to aid
hydrogen dispersion experimental test plan.
Plan of Action: Fourth Quarter
Task 4a – Hydrogen Dispersion Testing – Two Car
Garage
Conduct experiments and perform preliminary analysis
of hydrogen dispersion data.
Task 4c – Analysis of Data/Recommendations
Using information gained during the course of the
study, make preliminary recommendations regarding
guidelines/regulations for storage of hydrogen
vehicles.
Task 4d – Identification of Future Effort
Develop plan for continued examination of hydrogen
safety in residential/commercial applications.
Facilities
Combustion and Propulsion Systems
Laboratory
• Combustion (holographic interferometer, PIV, FTIR
spectrometer, high speed video, data
acquisitions systems, reduced
gravity test cell, etc.)
• Computational modeling
software (Fluent, CEA)
• Codes developed
in-house for
thermodynamic
equilibrium
analysis
Summary
• Existing regulations do not adequately address the hazards
associated with the storage of hydrogen powered vehicles for
residential/commercial applications.
• A study is proposed to examine hydrogen safety as it relates
to the residential/commercial use of hydrogen vehicles.
• The proposed study will lay the groundwork for the
development of practical guidelines/regulations needed for
the safe storage of hydrogen powered vehicles.
Public Perception
Contact Information
Dr. John Baker
Ph: (205) 348-4997
E-mail: john.baker@coe.eng.ua.edu
Dr. Will Schreiber
Ph: (205) 348-1650
E-mail: schreiber@coe.eng.ua.edu