Emergency Management Science and Technology (Jan 2024)
Determination of possible industrial accident effects on a hydrogen storage tank in a fuel cell production facility
Abstract
Hydrogen fuel cells are an essential energy alternative in reducing emissions that cause climate change. However, hydrogen is not an innocent chemical, and it is crucial to ensure safety measures. The aim of the current study was to contribute to the relevant safety research by determining the possible accident effects of hydrogen storage tanks in a fuel cell production facility. ALOHA (Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres) Software and the B-S-T (Baker-Strehlow-Tang) method were used to model the accident effects. The first case study for Türkiye was performed by taking a fuel cell production facility in Ankara. Considering past accident data, it was assumed that there was a leak of 4.26 cm in diameter in the hydrogen storage tank (D = 4.03 m, L = 10.58 m, V = 140 L) operated at 345 atm in the example facility. Meteorological data for June for the province represented the conditions where hydrogen would show a more significant dispersion. Two different scenarios, no fire and jet fire due to release, were modeled with ALOHA Software. For the release of hydrogen with no fire, the toxic threat zone of the vapor cloud, the flammable threat zone of the vapor cloud, and the explosion threat zone of the vapor cloud were determined. Thermal radiation threat zones were determined in case of a jet fire. The largest impact distances were obtained for the flammable threat zone of the vapor cloud (red threat zone = 301 m, > 24,000 ppm, 60% LEL: Lower Explosive Limit). This was followed by the explosion threat zone of the vapor cloud with an impact distance of 207 m (> 1 psi). It was determined that the windows of buildings can be broken by the explosion effect (1 psi) at a distance of approximately 200 m using the B-S-T method. Software and correlation results were found to be compatible with each other. Although there were no direct effects on human health, it was shown that injuries due to glass breakage may occur.
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