Hydrogen safety covers the safe production, handling and use of hydrogen, particularly hydrogen gas fuel and liquid hydrogen. Hydrogen possesses the NFPA 704's highest rating of four on the flammability scale because it is flammable when mixed even in small amounts with ordinary air. Ignition can occur at a volumetric ratio of hydrogen to air as low as 4% due to the oxygen in the air and the simplicity and chemical properties of the reaction. However, hydrogen has no rating for innate hazard for reactivity or toxicity. The storage and use of hydrogen poses unique challenges due to its ease of leaking as a gaseous fuel, low-energy ignition, wide range of combustible fuel-air mixtures, buoyancy, and its ability to embrittle metals that must be accounted for to ensure safe operation. [1]
Liquid hydrogen poses additional challenges due to its increased density and the extremely low temperatures needed to keep it in liquid form. Moreover, its demand and use in industry—as rocket fuel, alternative energy storage source, coolant for electric generators in power stations, a feedstock in industrial and chemical processes including production of ammonia and methanol, etc.—has continued to increase, which has led to the increased importance of considerations of safety protocols in producing, storing, transferring, and using hydrogen. [1]
Hydrogen has one of the widest explosive/ignition mix range with air of all the gases with few exceptions such as acetylene, silane, and ethylene oxide, and in terms of minimum necessary ignition energy and mixture ratios has extremely low requirements for an explosion to occur. This means that whatever the mix proportion between air and hydrogen, when ignited in an enclosed space a hydrogen leak will most likely lead to an explosion, not a mere flame. [2]
There are many codes and standards regarding hydrogen safety in storage, transport, and use. These range from federal regulations, [3] ANSI/AIAA, [4] NFPA, [5] and ISO [6] standards. The Canadian Hydrogen Safety Program concluded that hydrogen fueling is as safe as, or safer than, compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling, [7]
NFPA 704 safety square | |
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There are a number of items to consider to help design systems and procedures to avoid accidents when dealing with hydrogen, as one of the primary dangers of hydrogen is that it is extremely flammable. [10]
Inerting chambers and purging gas lines are important standard safety procedures to take when transferring hydrogen. In order to properly inert or purge, the flammability limits must be taken into account, and hydrogen's are very different from other kinds of gases. At normal atmospheric pressure it is 4% to 75%, based on the volume percent of hydrogen in oxygen it is 4% to 94%, while the limits of the detonation potential of hydrogen in air are 18.3% to 59% by volume. [1] [11] [12] [13] [14] In fact, these flammability limits can often be more stringent than this, as the turbulence during a fire can cause a deflagration which can create detonation. For comparison the deflagration limit of gasoline in air is 1.4–7.6%, and of acetylene in air, [15] 2.5–82%.
Therefore, when equipment is open to air before or after a transfer of hydrogen, there are unique conditions to take into consideration that might have otherwise been safe with transferring other kinds of gases. Incidents have occurred because inerting or purging was not sufficient, or because the introduction of air in the equipment was underestimated (e.g., when adding powders), resulting in an explosion. [16] For this reason, inerting or purging procedures and equipment are often unique to hydrogen, and often the fittings or marking on a hydrogen line should be completely different to ensure that this and other processes are properly followed, as many explosions have happened simply because a hydrogen line was accidentally plugged into a main line or because the hydrogen line was confused with another. [17] [18] [19]
The minimum ignition energy of hydrogen in air is one of the lowest among known substances at 0.02 mJ, and hydrogen-air mixtures can ignite with 1/10 the effort of igniting gasoline-air mixtures. [1] [11] Because of this, any possible ignition source has to be scrutinized. Any electrical device, bond, or ground should meet applicable hazardous area classification requirement. [20] [21] Any potential sources (like some ventilation system designs [22] ) for static electricity build-up should likewise be minimized, e.g. through antistatic devices. [23]
Hot-work procedures must be robust, comprehensive, and well-enforced; and they should purge and ventilate high-areas and sample the atmosphere before work. Ceiling-mounted equipment should likewise meet hazardous area requirements (NFPA 497). [16] Finally, rupture discs should not be used as this has been a common ignition source for multiple explosions and fires. Instead other pressure relief systems such as a relief valve should be used. [24] [25]
There are four main chemical properties to account for when dealing with hydrogen that can come into contact with other materials even in normal atmospheric pressures and temperatures:
All four of these factors are considered during the initial design of a system using hydrogen, and is typically accomplished by limiting the contact between susceptible metals and hydrogen, either by spacing, electroplating, surface cleaning, material choice, and quality assurance during manufacturing, welding, and installation. Otherwise, hydrogen damage can be managed and detected by specialty monitoring equipment. [34] [16]
Locations of hydrogen sources and piping have to be chosen with care. Since hydrogen is a lighter-than-air gas, it collects under roofs and overhangs (typically referred to as trapping sites), where it forms an explosion hazard. [14] Many individuals are familiar with protecting plants from heavier-than-air vapors, but are unfamiliar with "looking up", and is therefore of particular note. [33] It can also enter pipes and can follow them to their destinations. Because of this, hydrogen pipes should be well-labeled and located above other pipes to prevent this occurrence. [10] [16]
Even with proper design, hydrogen leaks can support combustion at very low flow rates, as low as 4 micrograms/s. [1] [35] [12] To this end, detection is important. Hydrogen sensors or a katharometer allow for rapid detection of hydrogen leaks to ensure that the hydrogen can be vented and the source of the leak tracked down. Around certain pipes or locations special tapes can be added for hydrogen detection purposes. A traditional method is to add a hydrogen odorant with the gas as is common with natural gas. In fuel cell applications these odorants can contaminate the fuel cells, but researchers are investigating other methods that might be used for hydrogen detection: tracers, new odorant technology, advanced sensors, and others. [1]
While hydrogen flames can be hard to see with the naked eye (it can have a so-called "invisible flame"), they show up readily on UV/IR flame detectors. More recently Multi IR detectors have been developed, which have even faster detection on hydrogen-flames. [36] [37] This is quite important in fighting hydrogen fires, as the preferred method of fighting a fire is stopping the source of the leak, as in certain cases (namely, cryogenic hydrogen) dousing the source directly with water may cause icing, which in turn may cause a secondary rupture. [38] [33]
Aside from flammability concerns, in enclosed spaces, hydrogen can also act as an asphyxiant gas. [1] Therefore, one should make sure to have proper ventilation to deal with both issues should they arise, as it is generally safe to simply vent hydrogen into the atmosphere. However, when placing and designing such ventilation systems, one must keep in mind that hydrogen will tend to accumulate towards the ceilings and peaks of structures, rather than the floor. Many dangers may be mitigated by the fact that hydrogen rapidly rises and often disperses before ignition. [39] [16]
In certain emergency or maintenance situations, hydrogen can also be flared. [40] [14] For example, a safety feature in some hydrogen-powered vehicles is that they can flare the fuel if the tank is on fire, burning out completely with little damage to the vehicle, in contrast to the expected result in a gasoline-fueled vehicle. [41]
Ideally, no fire or explosion will occur, but the facility should be designed so that if accidental ignition occurs, it will minimize additional damage. Minimum separation distances between hydrogen storage units should be considered, together with the pressure of said storage units (c.f., NFPA 2 and 55). Explosion venting should be laid out so that other parts of the facility will not be harmed. In certain situations, this translates to a roof that can be safely blown away from the rest of the structure in an explosion. [16]
Liquid hydrogen has a slightly different chemistry compared to other cryogenic chemicals, as trace accumulated air can easily contaminate liquid hydrogen and form an unstable mixture with detonative capabilities similar to TNT and other highly explosive materials. Because of this, liquid hydrogen requires complex storage technology such as the special thermally insulated containers and requires special handling common to all cryogenic substances. This is similar to, but more severe than liquid oxygen. Even with thermally insulated containers it is difficult to keep such a low temperature, and the hydrogen will gradually leak away. Typically it will evaporate at a rate of 1% per day. [1] [42]
The main danger with cryogenic hydrogen is what is known as BLEVE (boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion). Because hydrogen is gaseous in atmospheric conditions, the rapid phase change together with the detonation energy combine to create a more hazardous situation. [43] A secondary danger is the fact that many materials change from being to ductile to brittle at extremely cold temperatures, allowing new places for leaks to form. [14]
Along with traditional job safety training, checklists to help prevent commonly skipped steps (e.g., testing high points in the work area) are often implemented, along with instructions on the situational dangers that come inherent to working with hydrogen. [16] [44]
Date | Location | Description | Suspected cause |
---|---|---|---|
6 May 1937 | Naval Air Station Lakehurst | As the zeppelin Hindenburg was approaching landing, a fire detonated one of the aft hydrogen cells, thereby rupturing neighboring cells and causing the airship to fall to the ground aft-first. The inferno then travelled towards the stern, bursting and igniting the remaining cells. | Despite four news stations recording the disaster on film and surviving eyewitness testimonies from crew and people on the ground, the cause of the initial fire was never conclusively determined.[ citation needed ] |
5 April 1975 | Ilford, UK | An oxygen separator exploded due to hydrogen ingress. The resulting abrupt release of lye exposed one person who later died of lye burn injuries. | Mixing of oxygen and hydrogen due to breakdown of the electrolyser cells. [45] |
28 January 1986 | Over the Atlantic Ocean just east of Kennedy Space Center | A large LH2 tank ruptured and exploded, killing all 7 astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger | A faulty O-ring on the solid rocket booster allowed hot gases and flames to impinge upon the external LH2 tank, causing the tank wall to weaken and then burst. The thrust generated from the contents of the tank caused the LOX tank above to also rupture, and this mixture of LH2/LOX then detonated, destroying the orbiter in the explosion. |
1999 | Hanau, Germany | A large chemical tank used to store hydrogen for manufacturing processes exploded. | The tank was designed to lie on its side, but instead was laid upright. The forces towards the top of the tank caused it to rupture and then explode. [33] |
January 2007 | Muskingum River Coal Plant (owned and operated by AEP) | An explosion of compressed hydrogen during delivery at the Muskingum River Coal Plant caused significant damage and killed one person. [46] [47] [48] | A premature rupture of a pressure relief disc used for the compressed hydrogen cooling system. [49] |
2011 | Fukushima, Japan | Three reactor buildings were damaged by hydrogen explosions. | Exposed Zircaloy cladded fuel rods became very hot and reacted with steam, releasing hydrogen. [50] [51] The containments were filled with inert nitrogen, which prevented hydrogen from burning in the containment. However, the hydrogen leaked from the containment into the reactor building, where it mixed with air and exploded. [52] To prevent further explosions, vent holes were opened in the top of the remaining reactor buildings. |
2015 | The Formosa Plastics Group refinery in Taiwan | Chemical plant explosion | Due to hydrogen leaking from a pipe [53] |
12 February 2018 13:20 | Diamond Bar, a suburb of Los Angeles, CA | On the way to an FCV hydrogen station, a truck carrying about 24 compressed hydrogen tanks caught fire. This caused the evacuation initially of a one-mile radius area of Diamond Bar. The fire broke out on the truck at about 1:20 p.m. at the intersection of South Brea Canyon Road and Golden Springs Drive, according to a Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatcher. [54] [55] [56] [57] | The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation. [58] |
August 2018 | Veridam El Cajon, CA | A delivery truck carrying liquid hydrogen caught fire at Veridiam manufacturing plant. [59] in El Cajon, California. [60] | It is not known what caused the explosion. [61] |
May 2019 | AB Specialty Silicones in Waukegan, Illinois | An explosion killed four workers and seriously injured a fifth. | Operator error adding an incorrect ingredient [62] [26] |
23 May 2019 | Gangwon Technopark in Gangneung, South Korea | A hydrogen tank exploded, killing two and injuring six. [63] [64] | Oxygen seeped into the hydrogen storage tanks. [65] |
June 2019 | Air Products and Chemicals facility in Santa Clara, California | Tanker truck explosion damaging surrounding hydrogen transfill facility | Leak in transfer hose. [66] This resulted in the temporary shutdown of multiple hydrogen fueling stations in the San Francisco area. [67] |
June 2019 | Norway | A Uno-X fueling station experienced an explosion, [68] resulting in the shutdown of all Uno-X hydrogen fueling stations and a temporary halt in sales of fuel cell vehicles in the country. [69] | Investigations determined that neither the electrolyzer nor the dispenser used by customers had anything to do with this incident. [70] [71] Instead, Nel ASA announced the root cause of the incident had been identified as an assembly error of the use of a specific plug in a hydrogen tank in the high-pressure storage unit. [72] |
December 2019 | An Airgas facility in Waukesha, Wisconsin | A gas explosion injured one worker and caused 2 hydrogen storage tanks to leak. [73] [74] | Unknown. [75] |
7 April 2020 | OneH2 Hydrogen Fuel plant in Long View, North Carolina | An explosion caused significant damage to surrounding buildings. The blast was felt several miles away, damaging about 60 homes. No injuries from the explosion were reported. | The incident remains under investigation. [76] [77] [78] [79] The company published a press release: Hydrogen Safety Systems Operated Effectively, Prevented Injury at Plant Explosion. [80] |
11 June 2020 | Praxair Inc., 703 6th St. Texas City, Texas | An explosion occurred at the hydrogen production plant. | No further details [81] [82] |
30 September 2020 | Changhua City, Taiwan | A hydrogen tanker crashed and exploded, killing the driver. | Vehicle crash [83] |
9 August 2021 | Medupi Power Station in South Africa | An explosion in Unit 4 of the plant | Improper operator procedure while the generator was being purged of hydrogen [84] |
25 February 2022 | Detroit, Michigan | A hydrogen tank for a balloon in a pick-up truck bed exploded, injuring 2. | The Detroit Fire Department believes a leak in the hydrogen tank caused the explosion. |
22 April 2022 | Towanda, Pennsylvania | A hydrogen tank at Global Tungsten & Powders Corp. exploded. A spokesperson for the company said five employees were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. | OSHA and company officials are investigating the incident. |
28 September 2022 | Vasai, India | 3 people killed, 8 injured in hydrogen cylinder explosion in at a Maharashtra Industrial unit. | Faulty tank. [88] [89] |
6 February 2023 | Delaware County, Ohio | A pickup truck towing a trailer carrying full hydrogen tanks on US-23 in Delaware County Ohio explodes after crash. Three people were transported to a hospital with minor injuries. | Vehicular crash [90] |
28 April 2023 | Troutman, North Carolina | A Plug Power liquid hydrogen tanker venting and flaring caused an evacuation at a Pilot Travel Center in Troutman, North Carolina along the Charlotte Highway, Interstate 77. | Safety flare and vent due to excess pressure. [91] [92] [93] [94] |
18 July 2023 | Kern County, California | A Golden Empire Transit Bus was destroyed during fueling at their maintenance facility. | Leaking fuel tank. [95] [96] [97] [98] |
8 August 2023 | Lebring, Styria, Austria | An outdoor hydrogen tank exploded at the premises of HypTec in Austria, causing massive damage due to the pressure wave which could be felt 3 km away. The personnel at the site was indoor and only minor injuries to an employee occurred. | Leaky tank [99] [100] |
17 September 2023 | North West Queensland, Australia | Release of pressurised hydrogen gas at a chemical plant in North West Queensland resulted in an explosion and fire. Three workers were injured and damage caused to plant. The incident occurred during the recommissioning of equipment after routine scheduled maintenance. The injured workers did not require hospitalisation. | Failure of a butterfly valve, under hydrogen header-pressure of approximately 2000kPa. The bearing bush bolts of the butterfly valve may not have been correctly installed at the time of overhaul. [101] |
26 June 2024 | Gersthofen, Germany | A fire broke out after an apparent explosion at a newly opened hydrogen filling station in the freight transport center in Gersthofen in Augsburg. No one was injured. The station remained closed after the incident. | Probably an explosion in a compressor. [102] |
19 September 2024 | Geismar, Louisiana | A hydrogen gas explosion and fire occurred at Chevron Renewable Energy Group’s renewable diesel plant. Two workers were seriously injured. | Under investigation. [103] |
23 December 2024 | Chungju, South Korea | A hydrogen gas explosion occured in a bus after being refueled at a hydrogen filling station. Three persons were injured, one of them seriously. | Under investigation. [104] |
There exist many hydrogen codes and standards for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, stationary fuel cell applications and portable fuel cell applications. Additional to the codes and standards for hydrogen technology products, there are codes and standards for hydrogen safety, for the safe handling of hydrogen [105] and the storage of hydrogen. What follows is a list of some of the major codes and standards regulating hydrogen:
Name of standard | Short title |
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29CFR1910.103 | Gaseous and cryogenic hydrogen handling and storage |
29CFR1910.119 | Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals |
40CFR68 | Chemical accident prevention provisions |
49CFR | Regulations on shipping and handling hydrogen gas and cryogenic hydrogen [106] |
ISO 13984:1999 | Liquid hydrogen — Land vehicle fuelling system interface |
ISO/AWI 13984 | Liquid Hydrogen Land Vehicle Fueling Protocol |
ISO/AWI 13985 | Liquid hydrogen — Land vehicle fuel tanks |
ISO/CD 14687 | Hydrogen fuel quality — Product specification |
ISO/AWI TR 15916 | Basic considerations for the safety of hydrogen systems |
ISO 16110 | Hydrogen generators using fuel processing technologies |
ISO 16111 | Transportable gas storage devices — Hydrogen absorbed in reversible metal hydride |
ISO/AWI 17268 | Gaseous hydrogen land vehicle refuelling connection devices |
ISO 19880 | Gaseous hydrogen — Fuelling stations |
ISO/AWI 19881 | Gaseous hydrogen — Land vehicle fuel containers |
ISO 19882 | Gaseous hydrogen — Thermally activated pressure relief devices for compressed hydrogen vehicle fuel containers |
ISO/TS 19883 | Safety of pressure swing adsorption systems for hydrogen separation and purification |
ISO/WD 19884 | Gaseous hydrogen — Cylinders and tubes for stationary storage |
ISO/CD 19885 | Gaseous hydrogen — Fuelling protocols for hydrogen-fueled vehicles — Part 1: Design and development process for fueling protocols |
ISO/CD 19887 | Gaseous Hydrogen — Fuel system components for hydrogen fuelled vehicles |
ISO/AWI 22734 | Hydrogen generators using water electrolysis — Industrial, commercial, and residential applications |
ISO/AWI 24078 | Hydrogen in energy systems — Vocabulary |
ISO 26142:2010 | Hydrogen detection apparatus — Stationary applications [107] |
NFPA 2 | Hydrogen technologies code |
NFPA 30A | Rules for design of refueling stations |
NFPA 50A | Standard for gaseous hydrogen systems at consumer sites |
NFPA 50B | Standard for liquefied hydrogen systems at consumer sites |
NFPA 52 | Compressed Natural Gas Vehicular Fuel Systems Code |
NFPA 57 | Liquefied natural gas vehicular fuel systems standard [108] |
CGA C-6.4 | Methods for External Visual Inspection of Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) and Hydrogen Gas Vehicle (HGV) Fuel Containers and Their Installations |
CGA G-5 | Hydrogen |
CGA G-5.3 | Commodity Specification for Hydrogen |
CGA G-5.4 | Standard for Hydrogen Piping Systems at User Locations |
CGA G-5.5 | Hydrogen Vent Systems |
CGA G-5.6 | Hydrogen Pipeline Systems |
CGA G-5.7 | Carbon Monoxide and Syngas Pipeline Systems |
CGA H-3 | Standard for Cryogenic Hydrogen Storage |
CGA H-4 | Terminology Associated with Hydrogen Fuel Technologies |
CGA H-5 | Standard for Bulk Hydrogen Supply Systems (an American National Standard) |
CGA H-7 | Standard Procedures for Hydrogen Supply Systems |
CGA H-10 | Combustion Safety for Steam Reformer Operation |
CGA H-11 | Safe Startup and Shutdown Practices for Steam Reformers |
CGA H-12 | Mechanical Integrity of Syngas Outlet Systems |
CGA H-13 | Hydrogen Pressure Swing Adsorber (PSA) Mechanical Integrity Requirements |
CGA H-14 | HYCO Plant Gas Leak Detection and Response Practices |
CGA H-15 | Safe Catalyst Handling in HYCO Plants |
CGA H-16 | Guideline on Remedial Actions for HYCO Plant Components Subject to High Temperature Hydrogen Attack |
CGA P-6 | Standard Density Data, Atmospheric Gases and Hydrogen |
CGA P-28 | OSHA Process Safety Management and EPA Risk Management Plan Guidance Document for Bulk Liquid Hydrogen Supply Systems |
CGA P-74 | Standard for Tube Trailer Supply Systems at Customer Sites |
CGA PS-31 | CGA Position Statement on Cleanliness for Proton Exchange Membranes Hydrogen Piping/Components |
CGA PS-33 | CGA Position Statement on Use of LPG or Propane Tank as Compressed Hydrogen Storage Buffers |
CGA PS-46 | CGA Position Statement on Roofs Over Hydrogen Storage Systems |
CGA PS-48 | CGA Position Statement on Clarification of Existing Hydrogen Setback Distances and Development of New Hydrogen Setback Distances in NFPA 55 |
CGA PS-69 | CGA Position Statement on Liquefied Hydrogen Supply System Separation Distances |
The current ANSI/AIAA standard for hydrogen safety guidelines is AIAA G-095-2004, Guide to Safety of Hydrogen and Hydrogen Systems. [109] As NASA has been one of the world's largest users of hydrogen, this evolved from NASA's earlier guidelines, NSS 1740.16 (8719.16). [14] These documents cover both the risks posed by hydrogen in its different forms and how to ameliorate them. NASA also references Safety Standard for Hydrogen and Hydrogen Systems [110] and the Sourcebook for Hydrogen Applications. [111] [106]
Another organization responsible for hydrogen safety guidelines is the Compressed Gas Association (CGA), which has a number of references of their own covering general hydrogen storage, [112] piping, [113] and venting. [114] [106]
In 2023 CGA launched the Safe Hydrogen Project which is a collaborative global effort to develop and distribute safety information for the production, storage, transport, and use of hydrogen.
Propane is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula C3H8. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure, but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it is often a constituent of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is commonly used as a fuel in domestic and industrial applications and in low-emissions public transportation; other constituents of LPG may include propylene, butane, butylene, butadiene, and isobutylene. Discovered in 1857 by the French chemist Marcellin Berthelot, it became commercially available in the US by 1911. Propane has lower volumetric energy density than gasoline or coal, but has higher gravimetric energy density than them and burns more cleanly.
Liquid hydrogen (H2(l)) is the liquid state of the element hydrogen. Hydrogen is found naturally in the molecular H2 form.
A hypergolic propellant is a rocket propellant combination used in a rocket engine, whose components spontaneously ignite when they come into contact with each other.
Liquefied petroleum gas, also referred to as liquid petroleum gas, is a fuel gas which contains a flammable mixture of hydrocarbon gases, specifically propane, n-butane and isobutane. It can sometimes contain some propylene, butylene, and isobutene.
Methanol fuel is an alternative biofuel for internal combustion and other engines, either in combination with gasoline or independently. Methanol (CH3OH) is less expensive to sustainably produce than ethanol fuel, although it is more toxic than ethanol and has a lower energy density than gasoline. Methanol is safer for the environment than gasoline, is an anti-freeze agent, prevents dirt and grime buildup within the engine, has a higher ignition temperature and can withstand compression equivalent to that of super high-octane gasoline. It can readily be used in most modern engines. To prevent vapor lock due to being a simple, pure fuel, a small percentage of other fuel or certain additives can be included. Methanol may be made from fossil fuels or renewable resources, in particular natural gas and coal, or biomass respectively. In the case of the latter, it can be synthesized from CO2 (carbon dioxide) and hydrogen. The vast majority of methanol produced globally is currently made with gas and coal. However, projects, investments, and the production of green-methanol has risen steadily into 2023. Methanol fuel is currently used by racing cars in many countries and has seen increasing adoption by the maritime industry.
Cryogenic fuels are fuels that require storage at extremely low temperatures in order to maintain them in a liquid state. These fuels are used in machinery that operates in space where ordinary fuel cannot be used, due to the very low temperatures often encountered in space, and the absence of an environment that supports combustion. Cryogenic fuels most often constitute liquefied gases such as liquid hydrogen.
Fire safety is the set of practices intended to reduce destruction caused by fire. Fire safety measures include those that are intended to prevent the ignition of an uncontrolled fire and those that are used to limit the spread and impact of a fire.
A fuel tank is a safe container for flammable fluids, often gasoline or diesel fuel. Though any storage tank for fuel may be so called, the term is typically applied to part of an engine system in which the fuel is stored and propelled or released into an engine. Fuel tanks range in size and complexity from the small plastic tank of a butane lighter to the multi-chambered cryogenic Space Shuttle external tank.
A gas explosion is the ignition of a mixture of air and flammable gas, typically from a gas leak. In household accidents, the principal explosive gases are those used for heating or cooking purposes such as natural gas, methane, propane, butane. In industrial explosions, many other gases, like hydrogen, as well as evaporated (gaseous) gasoline or ethanol play an important role. Industrial gas explosions can be prevented with the use of intrinsic safety barriers to prevent ignition, or use of alternative energy.
A flash fire is a sudden, intense fire caused by ignition of a mixture of air and a dispersed flammable substance such as a solid, flammable or combustible liquid, or a flammable gas. It is characterized by high temperature, short duration, and a rapidly moving flame front.
In electrical and safety engineering, hazardous locations are places where fire or explosion hazards may exist. Sources of such hazards include gases, vapors, dust, fibers, and flyings, which are combustible or flammable. Electrical equipment installed in such locations can provide an ignition source, due to electrical arcing, or high temperatures. Standards and regulations exist to identify such locations, classify the hazards, and design equipment for safe use in such locations.
Mixtures of dispersed combustible materials and oxygen in the air will burn only if the fuel concentration lies within well-defined lower and upper bounds determined experimentally, referred to as flammability limits or explosive limits. Combustion can range in violence from deflagration through detonation.
Fire investigation, sometimes referred to as origin and cause investigation, is the analysis of fire-related incidents. After firefighters extinguish a fire, an investigation is launched to determine the origin and cause of the fire or explosion. These investigations can occur in two stages. The first stage is an investigation of the scene of the fire to establish its origin and cause. The second step is to conduct laboratory examination on the retrieved samples. Investigations of such incidents require a systematic approach and knowledge of fire science.
The Formosa Plastics propylene explosion was a propylene release and explosion that occurred on October 6, 2005, in the Olefins II Unit at the Formosa Plastics plant in Point Comfort, Texas, United States. The subsequent fire burned for five days.
A combustible material is a material that can burn in air under certain conditions. A material is flammable if it ignites easily at ambient temperatures. In other words, a combustible material ignites with some effort and a flammable material catches fire immediately on exposure to flame.
A dust explosion is the rapid combustion of fine particles suspended in the air within an enclosed location. Dust explosions can occur where any dispersed powdered combustible material is present in high-enough concentrations in the atmosphere or other oxidizing gaseous medium, such as pure oxygen. In cases when fuel plays the role of a combustible material, the explosion is known as a fuel-air explosion.
A gas detector is a device that detects the presence of gases in an area, often as part of a safety system. A gas detector can sound an alarm to operators in the area where the leak is occurring, giving them the opportunity to leave. This type of device is important because there are many gases that can be harmful to organic life, such as humans or animals.
A flame arrester, deflagration arrester, or flame trap is a device or form of construction that will allow free passage of a gas or gaseous mixture but will interrupt or prevent the passage of flame. It prevents the transmission of flame through a flammable gas/air mixture by quenching the flame on the high surface area provided by an array of small passages through which the flame must pass. The emerging gases are cooled enough to prevent ignition on the protected side.
A hydrogen infrastructure is the infrastructure of hydrogen pipeline transport, points of hydrogen production and hydrogen stations for distribution as well as the sale of hydrogen fuel, and thus a crucial prerequisite before a successful commercialization of fuel cell technology.
In fire and explosion prevention engineering, inerting refers to the introduction of an inert (non-combustible) gas into a closed system to make a flammable atmosphere oxygen deficient and non-ignitable.
The initial source of fire was likely a release of hydrogen from a failed weld on a pressure switch.
An electrical short circuit occurred, causing a small electrical fire.
Contributing cause was poor design of the venting system, which was installed in a horizontal position, causing inadequate venting and buildup of static electricity.
One theory presented the possibility of a spark (caused by static electricity) being the source of the ignition that caused the fire. Due to the proximity of the fuel cell unit to a shrink-wrap packaging machine at the time of the incident, this seemed to be a plausible hypothesis.
As a corrective action, eliminate burst discs from hydrogen storage assembly. Redesign venting system for the pressure relief valves to prevent or inhibit moisture build up and allow moisture drainage.
Explore elimination of rupture disk PRDs and substitution of spring-style relief valves.
Engineering Systems, Inc. conducted an independent investigation into the root cause of the explosion, which determined the cause to be human error that resulted in the mistaken addition of an erroneous ingredient.
valve stem material incompatibility with hydrogen (causing a material weakening) is suspected
A GH2 leak occurred in an underground ASTM A106 Grade B, Schedule XX carbon steel pipe with a 3.5-inch diameter and a 0.6-inch wall thickness. The pipe was coated with coal tar primer and coal tar enamel, wrapped with asbestos felt impregnated with coal tar, coated with a second coat of coal tar enamel, and wrapped in Kraft paper, in accordance with American Water Works Association Standard G203. The source of the leak was an oval hole about 0.15 in x 0.20 in at the inner surface of the pipe and about 2-in in diameter at the outer surface of the pipe. Upon excavation of the pipe, it was noted that the coating was not present at the leak point. This resulted in galvanic corrosion over a 15-year period and the eventual rupture when high-pressure gas was applied to the thin pipe membrane. The pipe was 8 ft 9 in below the concrete pad.
This allowed greater movement of the shaft, which led to a shaft seal leaking hydrogen.
Do not direct water at source of leak or safety devices; icing may occur.
Place signs on all liquid hydrogen tanks indicating that no water is to be put on the vent stack.
I live more than 3km away... and the blast made my windows shake