Simplified approach to evaluating safety distances for hydrogen vehicle fuel dispensers

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 44; no. 33; pp. 18639 - 18647
• Main Authors: Hirayama, Makoto, Ito, Yusuke, Kamada, Honami, Kasai, Naoya, Otaki, Tsutomu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 05.07.2019
• Subjects: Hydrogen dispenser; Risk assessment; Safety distance; Hydrogen dispenser; Safety distance; Risk assessment
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.05.153

As the use of hydrogen as a vehicle fuel becomes increasingly popular, the development and construction of hydrogen fueling stations is significantly increasing as well. However, despite its potential benefits, the flammability of hydrogen creates great safety concerns. In this research, along with various other elements related to such stations, we focused on hydrogen dispensers that are in close vicinity to the general public and developed a simple method to evaluate safety distances. Jet fires, explosions, and flash fires were assumed as undesirable scenarios for evaluating safety distances to third parties. The tools used in our evaluation were an open-access software application and a widely used spreadsheet program that all engineers should be able to access readily. Applying our method to a model hydrogen dispenser, we obtained safety distances of 4.9 m for jet fires, 3.9 m for explosions, and 8.0 m for flash fires. The use of our method and the results obtained in this study contribute to facilitate decision-making when setting safety distances for hydrogen dispensers. •A simple method for assessing safety distances for hydrogen dispensers was developed.•Jet fires, explosions, and flash fires were assumed as undesirable scenarios.•Safety distances for an example model were obtained for the each scenario.•The method and results contribute to decision-making of proper safety distances.