Hydrogen non-premixed combustion in enclosure with one vent and sustained release: Numerical experiments

Numerical experiments are performed to understand different regimes of hydrogen non-premixed combustion in an enclosure with passive ventilation through one horizontal or vertical vent located at the top of a wall. The Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model with a reduced chemical reaction mechanism is described in detail. The model is based on the renormalization group (RNG) k-ε turbulence model, the eddy dissipation concept (EDC) model for simulation of combustion coupled with the 18-step reduced chemical mechanism (8 species), and the in-situ adaptive tabulation (ISAT) algorithm that accelerates the reacting flow calculations by two to three orders of magnitude. The analysis of temperature and species (hydroxyl, hydrogen, oxygen, water) concentrations in time, as well as the velocity through the vent, shed a light on regimes and dynamics of indoor hydrogen fires. A well-ventilated fire is simulated in the enclosure at a lower release flow rate and complete combustion of hydrogen within the enclosure. Fire becomes under-ventilated at higher release flow rates with two different modes observed. The first mode is the external flame stabilised at the enclosure vent at moderate release rates, and the second mode is the self-extinction of combustion inside and outside the enclosure at higher hydrogen release rates. The simulations demonstrated a complex reacting flow dynamics in the enclosure that leads to formation of the external flame or the self-extinction. The air intake into the enclosure at later stages of the process through the whole vent area is a characteristic feature of the self-extinction regime. This air intake is due to faster cooling of hot combustion products by sustained colder hydrogen leak compared to the generation of hot products by the ceasing chemical reactions inside the enclosure and hydrogen supply. In general, an increase of hydrogen sustained release flow rate will change fire regime from the well-ventilated combustion within the enclosure, through the external flame stabilised at the vent, and finally to the self-extinction of combustion throughout the domain.     

聚合物火焰辐射的通风影响

根据通风条件不同，受限燃烧可分为燃料控制和通风控制两种燃烧状况。通风对于受限燃烧的火焰辐射有重要影响，尤其在通风控制燃烧时。本文以火焰中热量和炭颗粒的生成规律为基础，提出了描述通风影响的聚合物燃烧火焰辐射近似模型。针对几种典型聚合物计算了其火焰辐射放热分数和火焰平均辐射温度，并讨论了通风条件、燃烧构成和燃烧尺度的影响、以及火焰辐射放热分数与燃料烟点之间的关系。进而，在改进的基础上，以ｄｅ Ｒｉｓ和     

A comparison study into low leak rate buoyant gas dispersion in a small fuel cell enclosure using plain and louvre vent passive ventilation schemes

Hydrogen, producing electricity in fuel cells, is a versatile energy source, but with risks associated with flammability. Fuel cells use enclosures for protection which need ventilating to remove hydrogen emitted during normal operation or from supply system leaks. Passive ventilation, using buoyancy driven flow is preferred to mechanical systems. Performance depends upon vent design, size, shape, position and number. Vents are usually plain rectangular openings, but environmentally situated enclosures use louvres for protection. The effect of louvres on passive ventilation is not clear and has therefore been examined in this paper. Comparison ‘same opening area’ louvre and plain vent tests were undertaken using a 0.144 m³ enclosure with opposing upper and lower vents and helium leaking from a 4 mm nozzle on the base at rates from 1 to 10 lpm, simulating a hydrogen leak. Louvres increased stratified level helium concentrations by typically in excess of 15%. The empirical data obtained was also used in a validation exercise with a SolidWorks: Flow Simulation CFD model, which provided a good qualitative representation of flow behaviour and close empirical data correlations.     

Pressure peaking phenomenon: Model validation against unignited release and jet fire experiments

The aim of this study is validation of pressure peaking phenomenon models for unignited and ignited releases of hydrogen in enclosures with limited ventilation, e.g. residential garages. The existence of “unexpected” peak in the pressure transient during release of a lighter than air gas in a vented enclosure was observed by Brennan et al. (2010) by carrying out theoretical and numerical research. The amplitude and duration of this pressure peak vary depending on the enclosure volume, vent size and leak flow rate. The peak can significantly exceed the steady-state overpressure, which is reached when the enclosure is fully occupied by leaking with a constant rate gas. The pressure peaking phenomenon can jeopardise a civil structure integrity in the case of accident if it is ignored at the design stage of hydrogen-powered vehicles. This could cause serious life safety and property protection issues that requires development of prevention and mitigation strategies and innovative safety engineering solutions. The experimental validation of the phenomenon was absent up to this work. The previous model for unignited release and developed in this study model for ignited release (jet fire) have been validated against experiments performed in a vented enclosure of 1 m³ volume with three different gases: air, helium, and hydrogen. The model for unignited release reproduces closely the experimental pressure peak and the pressure dynamics within the enclosure. The model for ignited release reproduces the pressure peak with acceptable engineering accuracy, and the simulation of pressure dynamics after the peak requires the increase of the discharge coefficient due to the change of vent flow from heavier air at the start to lighter hot combustion products afterwards and ultimately hydrogen. The methodology to calculate the pressure peaking phenomenon in two steps is described in detail. Examples of pressure peaking phenomenon calculation for typical hydrogen applications are presented. The phenomenon is relevant to most of indoor applications, when release of lighter than air gas is possible in an enclosure with limited ventilation. It must be considered when performing safety engineering design of inherently safer hydrogen systems and infrastructure.     

Comparative analysis on temperature characteristics of hydrogen-powered and traditional fossil-fueled vehicle fires in the tunnel under longitudinal ventilations

Vehicle fires in the tunnel are a great threat to the safe operation of the tunnel. Due to the rapid development of the hydrogen economy, the fire due to the hydrogen leakage could not be avoided and may bring great damage to the passengers and infrastructure. Due to the large difference between pool fires of traditional fossil-fueled and jet fires of hydrogen-powered vehicles, it is in doubt whether the existing longitudinal ventilation design could still be effective for the safety issue of hydrogen powered vehicles. To solve this problem, it is necessary to compare temperature characteristics of hydrogen-powered and traditional vehicle fires with and without longitudinal ventilations. In present work, we conducted a numerical investigation to discuss the different temperature distributions of traditional and hydrogen-fueled vehicle fires. Results indicate that the high temperature zone of the pool fire only exists above the ceiling of the vehicle. For hydrogen-powered vehicle fire, the high-speed hydrogen jet with the strong inertial force could push the hot smoke flows back to the ground. The ceiling temperature of hydrogen-powered vehicle fire is larger since hydrogen-powered vehicle has a larger heat release rate and the fire hazard of jet fires bring more danger compared with the pool fire. Although the temperature stratification is also obvious for the hydrogen-powered vehicle fire, the air temperature in the lower region could be heated and still high enough to bring a great damage to the passengers’ lives. This is quite different with the traditional pool fire. In addition, the critical ventilation velocity is also discussed. The theoretical equation could well predicted the critical ventilation velocity of traditional vehicle fires. For hydrogen-powered vehicle fires, the critical ventilation velocity could reach up to 6 m/s. The theoretical equation could not well predict the critical ventilation velocity of hydrogen-powered vehicle fires due to exist of hydrogen jet fires.     

Experimental and numerical investigations of hydrogen jet fire in a vented compartment

Hydrogen fires may pose serious safety issues in vented compartments of nuclear reactor containment and fuel cell systems under hypothetical accidents. Experimental studies on vented hydrogen fires have been performed with the HYKA test facility at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) within Work Package 4 (WP4) - hydrogen jet fire in a confined space of the European HyIndoor project. It has been observed that heat losses of the combustion products can significantly affect the combustion regimes of hydrogen fire as well as the pressure and thermal loads on the confinement structures. Dynamics of turbulent hydrogen jet fire in a vented enclosure was investigated using the CFD code GASFLOW-MPI. Effects of heat losses, including convective heat transfer, steam condensation and thermal radiation, have been studied. The unsteady characteristics of hydrogen jet fires can be successfully captured when the heat transfer mechanisms are considered. Both initial pressure peak and pressure decay were very well predicted compared to the experimental data. A pulsating process of flame extinction due to the consumption of oxygen and then self-ignition due to the inflow of fresh air was captured as well. However, in the adiabatic case without considering the heat loss effects, the pressure and temperature were considerably over-predicted and the major physical phenomena occurring in the combustion enclosure were not able to be reproduced while showing large discrepancies from the experimental observations. The effect of sustained hydrogen release on the jet fire dynamics was also investigated. It indicates that heat losses can have important implications and should be considered in hydrogen combustion simulations.     

Effect of heat transfer through the release pipe on simulations of cryogenic hydrogen jet fires and hazard distances

Jet flames originated by cryo-compressed ignited hydrogen releases can cause life-threatening conditions in their surroundings. Validated models are needed to accurately predict thermal hazards from a jet fire. Numerical simulations of cryogenic hydrogen flow in the release pipe are performed to assess the effect of heat transfer through the pipe walls on jet parameters. Notional nozzle exit diameter is calculated based on the simulated real nozzle parameters and used in CFD simulations as a boundary condition to model jet fires. The CFD model was previously validated against experiments with vertical cryogenic hydrogen jet fires with release pressures up to 0.5 MPa (abs), release diameter 1.25 mm and temperatures as low as 50 K. This study validates the CFD model in a wider domain of experimental release conditions - horizontal cryogenic jets at exhaust pipe temperature 80 K, pressure up to 2 MPa ab and release diameters up to 4 mm. Simulation results are compared against such experimentally measured parameters as hydrogen mass flow rate, flame length and radiative heat flux at different locations from the jet fire. The CFD model reproduces experiments with reasonable for engineering applications accuracy. Jet fire hazard distances established using three different criteria - temperature, thermal radiation and thermal dose - are compared and discussed based on CFD simulation results.     

Guidelines and recommendations for indoor use of fuel cells and hydrogen systems

Hydrogen energy applications often require that systems are used indoors (e.g., industrial trucks for materials handling in a warehouse facility, fuel cells located in a room, or hydrogen stored and distributed from a gas cabinet). It may also be necessary or desirable to locate some hydrogen system components/equipment inside indoor or outdoor enclosures for security or safety reasons, to isolate them from the end-user and the public, or from weather conditions.Using of hydrogen in confined environments requires detailed assessments of hazards and associated risks, including potential risk prevention and mitigation features. The release of hydrogen can potentially lead to the accumulation of hydrogen and the formation of a flammable hydrogen-air mixture, or can result in jet-fires. Within Hyindoor European Project, carried out for the EU Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking safety design guidelines and engineering tools have been developed to prevent and mitigate hazardous consequences of hydrogen release in confined environments. Three main areas are considered: Hydrogen release conditions and accumulation, vented deflagrations, jet fires and including under-ventilated flame regimes (e.g., extinguishment or oscillating flames and steady burns). Potential RCS recommendations are also identified.     

Non-homogeneous hydrogen deflagrations in small scale enclosure. Experimental results

University of Pisa performed hydrogen releases and deflagrations in a 1.14 m³ test facility, which shape and dimensions resemble a gas cabinet. Tests were performed for the HySEA project, founded by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking with the aim to conduct pre-normative research on vented deflagrations in enclosures and containers used for hydrogen energy applications. The test facility, named Small Scale Enclosure (SSE), has a vent area of 0,42 m² which can host different types of vent; plastic sheet and commercial vent were tested. Realistic levels of congestion are obtained placing a number of gas bottles inside the enclosure. Releases are performed from a buffer tank of a known volume filled with hydrogen at a pressure ranging between 15 and 60 bar. Two nozzles of different diameter and three different release directions were tested, being the nozzle placed at a height where in a real application a leak has the highest probability to occur. Three different ignition locations were investigated as well. This paper is aimed to summarize the main features of the experimental campaign as well as to present its results.     

A numerical simulation of the suppression of hydrogen jet fires on hydrogen fuel cell ships using a fine water mist

In this paper, in order to evaluate the reliability of a fine water mist for the suppression of fires on hydrogen fuel cell ships, the fire dynamics simulator (FDS) software was used to simulate the jet fire process and the action of a fine water mist on a fire caused by a hydrogen leakage in the hydrogen storage tank areas of hydrogen fuel cell ships. The fire scenario was classified into vertical or horizontal jet fires according to the location of the leakage in the hydrogen storage tank area, and the suppression effects of a fine water mist on hydrogen jet fires under a different droplet size, spray velocity, and ambient wind speed were compared and analyzed. The results indicate that a fine water mist is not effective in extinguishing hydrogen jet fires; however, by selecting suitable parameters (a spray velocity of 30 m/s and average droplet size of 30 μm), it can effectively reduce the fire field temperature of hydrogen jet fires and prevent the fire from developing further. Increasing the average droplet size of the fine water mist results in a gradual degradation of the suppression effect, while a higher spray velocity of the mist enhances the suppression effect to a certain extent. The ambient wind speed is an important factor that influences the suppression effect of a fine water mist on hydrogen jet fires, and when this speed is less than 4 m/s, a fine water mist with a higher spray velocity and smaller average droplet size is still a superior way of suppressing fires.     

Development of risk mitigation guidance for sensor placement inside mechanically ventilated enclosures – Phase 1

Guidance on Sensor Placement was identified as the top research priority for hydrogen sensors at the 2018 HySafe Research Priority Workshop on hydrogen safety in the category Mitigation, Sensors, Hazard Prevention, and Risk Reduction. This paper discusses the initial steps (Phase 1) to develop such guidance for mechanically ventilated enclosures. This work was initiated as an international collaborative effort to respond to emerging market needs related to the design and deployment equipment for hydrogen infrastructure that is often installed in individual equipment cabinets or ventilated enclosures. The ultimate objective of this effort is to develop guidance for an optimal sensor placement such that, when integrated into a facility design and operation, will allow earlier detection at lower levels of incipient leaks, leading to significant hazard reduction. Reliable and consistent early warning of hydrogen leaks will allow for the risk mitigation by reducing or even eliminating the probability of escalation of small leaks into large and uncontrolled events. To address this issue, a study of a real-world mechanically ventilated enclosure containing GH₂ equipment was conducted, where CFD modeling of the hydrogen dispersion (performed by AVT and UQTR, and independently by the JRC) was validated by the NREL Sensor laboratory using a Hydrogen Wide Area Monitor (HyWAM) consisting of a 10-point gas and temperature measurement analyzer. In the release test, helium was used as a hydrogen surrogate. Expansion of indoor releases to other larger facilities (including parking structures, vehicle maintenance facilities and potentially tunnels) and incorporation into QRA tools, such as HyRAM is planned for Phase 2. It is anticipated that results of this work will be used to inform national and international standards such as NFPA 2 Hydrogen Technologies Code, Canadian Hydrogen Installation Code (CHIC) and relevant ISO/TC 197 and CEN documents.     

Gas build-up in a domestic property following releases of methane/hydrogen mixtures

The results of large scale experiments to study gas accumulation within a ventilated enclosure representing a domestic room are presented. Gas was released vertically upwards at a pressure typical of that experienced in a domestic environment from hole sizes representative of leaks and breaks in pipes. The released gas composition was either methane or a methane/hydrogen mixture containing up to 50% hydrogen. During the experiments, gas concentrations throughout the enclosure and the external wind conditions were monitored. A mathematical model has also been developed to describe the gas release as it mixes with air and forms a layer of gas/air mixture in the upper part of the enclosure. The model accounts for both wind and buoyancy driven ventilation, which arises as a result of the formation of the gas accumulation within the enclosure. The results show the importance of buoyancy driven ventilation on the steady state gas concentrations achieved.     

Generalization of the radiative fraction correlation for hydrogen and hydrocarbon jet fires in subsonic and chocked flow regimes

The radiative fraction is one key parameter to characterize the jet flame combustion dynamics and to calculate the thermal radiant heat emitted from jet fire. A theoretical analysis is conducted to clarify the key parameters that dominate the radiative fraction of jet fires, with discussion of the limitation of previous radiative fraction correlations. A completely new dimensionless group, consisting of the mass fraction of fuel at stoichiometric conditions, the density ratio of fuel gas to ambient air and the flame Froude number, is proposed to correlate the radiative fraction of jet fires. The current up-to-date experimental data are used to build the radiative fraction correlation that covers orifice exit diameters from one to hundreds of millimeter, hydrogen, methane and propane fuels, vertical and horizontal jets, buoyance- and momentum-controlled releases, subsonic, sonic and supersonic jets. It is found that the source Froude number can fit the radiative fraction of a particular fuel jet fire. However, the new dimensionless group can correlate the radiative fractions of fuel-different jet fires. The predictive capability of the new correlation exceeds that of previously published work based on the source Froude number only or the global residence time with/without correction factors.     

Numerical validation of pressure peaking from an ignited hydrogen release in a laboratory-scale enclosure and application to a garage scenario

This work focuses on the overpressures arising from the rapid ignited release of hydrogen in an enclosure, specifically the peak in overpressure that may result in the initial period of the release, dependent on the level of ventilation. Two volumes are considered: a 1 m³ laboratory scale enclosure for which experimental data exists, and a real scale residential garage. Various vent configurations are considered for each scenario for leak rates typical of those from a fuel cell (laboratory scale enclosure) and from onboard hydrogen storage tanks through a thermally activated pressure relief device (TPRD) in the garage-like enclosure. A validation study has been performed for the laboratory scale enclosure and the modelling approach which gives optimum results has been identified. The influence of heat transfer on the pressure peak has been highlighted, particularly, the importance of radiation in predicting the pressure peak. The validated modelling approach has been applied to a range of experiments and garage scenarios. Both the laboratory and real scale simulations demonstrate the complex relationship between vent size and release rate and indicate the significant overpressures that can result through pressure peaking following an ignited release in an enclosure. The magnitude of the pressure peak as a result of an ignited release has been found to be two orders of magnitude greater than that for the corresponding unignited release. The work indicates that TPRDs currently available for hydrogen-powered vehicles may result in a dangerous situation for the specific scenario considered which should be accounted for in regulations, codes and standards. The application of this work extends beyond TPRDs and is relevant where there is a rapid, ignited release of hydrogen in an enclosure with ventilation.     

Safety assessment of unignited hydrogen discharge from onboard storage in garages with low levels of natural ventilation

This study is driven by the need to understand requirements to safe blow-down of hydrogen onboard storage tanks through a pressure relief device (PRD) inside a garage-like enclosure with low natural ventilation. Current composite tanks for high pressure hydrogen storage have been shown to rupture in 3.5–6.5 min in fire conditions. As a result a large PRD venting area is currently used to release hydrogen from the tank before its catastrophic failure. However, even if unignited, the release of hydrogen from such PRDs has been shown in our previous studies to result in unacceptable overpressures within the garage capable of causing major damage and possible collapse of the structure. Thus, to prevent collapse of the garage in the case of a malfunction of the PRD and an unignited hydrogen release there is a clear need to increase blow-down time by reducing PRD venting area. Calculations of PRD diameter to safely blow-down storage tanks with inventories of 1, 5 and 13 kg hydrogen are considered here for a range of garage volumes and natural ventilation expressed in air changes per hour (ACH). The phenomenological model is used to examine the pressure dynamics within a garage with low natural ventilation down to the known minimum of 0.03 ACH. Thus, with moderate hydrogen flow rate from the PRD and small vents providing ventilation of the enclosure there will be only outflow from the garage without any air intake from outside. The PRD diameter, which ensures that the pressure in the garage does not exceed a value of 20 kPa (accepted in this study as a safe overpressure for civil structures) was calculated for varying garage volumes and natural ventilation (ACH). The results are presented in the form of simple to use engineering nomograms. The conclusion is drawn that PRDs currently available for hydrogen-powered vehicles should be redesigned along with either a change of requirements for the fire resistance rating or innovative design of the onboard storage system as hydrogen-powered vehicles are intended for garage parking. Further research is needed to develop safety strategies and engineering solutions to tackle the problem of fire resistance of onboard storage tanks and requirements to PRD performance. Regulation, codes and standards in the field should address this issue.     

Fuel Load and Peak Heat Release Rate Correlations in Post-Flashover Room Fires

Flashover might occur rapidly as a consequence of non-accidental building fires. Response of the stored combustible items (being ignited and burned) should be studied carefully in such developed fires, which are ventilation-controlled. Air supply rate and heat fluxes acting at the materials would affect burning of the combustibles. A wide range of peak heat release rates with different fire durations results under different heat fluxes. The amount of combustibles denoted by fire or fuel load commonly adopted to quantify fire risks is no longer the key point in generating the heat release rate. A room with a large fire load may not give high heat release rates if the air supply is inadequate, or if the radiant heat flux is low. In this article, correlation of the peak heat release rate in burning the material under flashover with the fire load of the combustibles with adequate ventilation will be investigated. Data compiled from full-scale burning tests on well-developed room fires with steady burning are used to deduce a linear correlation between the possible peak heat release rate and the fire load density under adequate ventilation conditions.     

Experimental study and model predictions on helium release in an enclosure with single or multiple vents

This paper presents experiments performed at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) to examine the dispersion behaviour of helium in a polycarbonate enclosure that was representative of a residential parking garage. The purpose was to gain a better understanding of the effect of buoyancy- or wind-driven natural ventilation on hydrogen dispersion behaviour. Although hydrogen dispersion studies have been reported extensively in the literature, gaps still exist in predictive methods for hazard analysis. Helium, a simulant for hydrogen, was injected near the centre of the floor with a flow rate ranging from 5 to 75 standard litres per minute through an upward-facing nozzle, resulting in an injection Richardson number ranging between 10^?1 and 10². The location of the nozzle varied from the bottom of the enclosure to near the ceiling to examine the impact of the nozzle elevation on the development of a stratified layer in the upper region of the enclosure. When the injection nozzle was placed at a sufficiently low elevation, the vertical helium profile always consisted of a homogenous layer at the top overlaying a stratified layer at the bottom. To simulate outdoor environmental conditions, a fan was placed in front of each vent to examine the effect of opposing or assisting wind on the dispersion. The helium transients in the uniform layer predicted with analytical models were in good agreement with the measured transients for most tests. Model improvements are required for adequately predicting transients with primarily stratified profiles or strong opposing wind.     

Quantitative risk analysis of life safety and financial loss for road accident of fuel cell vehicle

Vehicular use of hydrogen is the first attempt to apply hydrogen energy in consumers’ environment in large scale and has raised safety concerns in both public authorities and private bodies such as fire services and insurance companies. This paper analyzes typical accident progressions of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in a road collision accident. Major hydrogen consequences including impinging jet fires and catastrophic tank ruptures are evaluated separately in terms of accident duration and hazard distances. Results show that in a 70 MPa fuel cell car accident, the hazards associated with hydrogen releases would normally last for no more than 1.5 min due to the empty of the tank. For the safety of general public, a perimeter of 100 m is suggested in the accident scene if no hissing sound is heard. However, the perimeter can be reduced to 10 m once the hissing sound of hydrogen release is heard. Furthermore, risks of fatalities, injuries, and damages are all quantified in financial terms to assess the impacts of the accident. Results show that costs of fatalities and injuries contribute most to the overall financial loss, indicating that the insurance premium of fatalities and injuries should be set higher than that of property loss.     

Plane hydrogen jets

This study is focused on understanding the structure and behaviour of hydrogen under-expanded jets from plane nozzles and their differences with circular nozzle jets. Results of numerical simulations of hydrogen highly under-expanded jets from a storage vessel at pressure 40 MPa through a circular nozzle and two plane nozzles with aspect ratios 5.0 and 12.8 respectively, all of the same cross-section area, are presented. Two stages approach is applied to simulate under-expanded unignited jets and jet fires. At the first stage, the high Mach number flow in a near field to the nozzle is simulated by compressible flow solver. At the second stage, incompressible flow solver is applied to simulated either unignited or combusting jets in the far from the nozzle field with “inner” boundary conditions taken from the first stage. The structure and behaviour of hydrogen plane highly under-expanded jets is scrutinised, including the switch-of-axis phenomenon when the exiting jet expands in the vicinity of the nozzle only in the direction of the minor nozzle axis while it contracts in the major axis direction. Simulations demonstrated that plane jets may provide faster concentration decay compared to axisymmetric jets with the same mass flow rate due to the difference in air entrainment. The concentration decay rate is shown to be a function of the plane nozzle aspect ratio. The eddy break-up model is applied to simulate under-expanded hydrogen jet fires from the equipment at pressure of 40 MPa. The circular and plane nozzle jet fire simulations are validated against experiments by Mogi and Horiguchi (2009). The simulations are in a good agreement with the experiment.