HSE’s Research into the Safe Use of Gaseous and Liquid Hydrogen

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The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Science and Research Centre in Buxton has been conducting safety-related research into the use of gaseous and liquid hydrogen for over two decades. These unique facilities, which allow for full-scale testing, are being utilised to assess the fire and explosion hazards that may occur with emerging hydrogen-based technologies that will drive the net-zero energy transformation. Recently, HSE has undertaken test campaigns that have contributed to UK and European research programs related to hydrogen refueling stations, liquid hydrogen fuel transfer facilities, and the use of liquid hydrogen in aviation.

In the EU-funded project MultHyFuel, HSE examined the consequences of accidents related to hydrogen leakage from a refueling dispenser that could be located within a typical petrol station forecourt. Figure 1 shows two images of a hydrogen jet fire following ignition of a simulated leak of high-pressure hydrogen from a refueling hose. The thermal camera image (Fig 1B) shows the extent of the jet fire that, due to the optical properties of hydrogen combustion, are not fully apparent from a normal camara image, or the visual range of humans (Fig. 1A). The findings from this work are informing industry safety standards for future forecourt designs.

For the ELVHYS project, another EU-funded initiative, HSE assessed the potential for the formation of flammable atmospheres around pump and hose connections used with liquid hydrogen. Figure 2 shows the development of an explosion within a fuel transfer housing following a simulated leak of liquid hydrogen. The experimental campaign also performed a unique set of experiments to investigate how the low temperatures encountered with liquid hydrogen (ca. -253 °C) can condense and solidify oxygen from the air, thereby affecting explosion hazards and the necessary safeguards.

For more information about these projects or to learn how HSE’s expertise and facilities can be utilised to drive forward a safe energy transition, please contact:

Dr. Mark Pursell
Principal Explosive Atmospheres Engineer
Health and Safety Executive
Science Division
mark.pursell@hse.gov.uk

(A)
(B)

Figure 1 Assessment of jet fire properties following ignition of a simulated leak from a hydrogen refuelling dispenser for the MultHyFuel project. Image A shows a smaller hydrogen flame when viewed in the normal visible range, while in Image B a thermal camera image shows the true extent of the jet fire hazard.

Figure 2 Assessing the explosion consequence of liquid hydrogen leakage inside a transfer container housing, as part of the experimental campaign for the ELVHYS Project. The image shows activation of the explosion safety vent panel.

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