eu h 2 safety centre

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Future Needs for Research Infrastructures in Energy

Brussels, 24 January 2006

T. JordanForschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH

Co-ordinator of NoE HySafe

EU H2 Safety Centre /

2Future Needs for Research Infrastructures in EnergyBrussels, 24 January 2006

Main characteristics of H2 Safety

Dispersed knowledge in Europe due to different application fields, experience (oil/gas industry, other chemical industry, accidential nuclear production)

Cross-cutting issue Closely related to RC&S Early exceptional accident could be a show-stopper for the

H2 economy

Large energy / automotive players can afford their own research but keep results confidential

SMEs concentrate on product development, can not affordresearch and activities towards RC&S


NoE HySafe SES6-CT-2004-502630

General Goal Contributing to a safe transition to a sustainable development

in Europe by facilitating the safe introduction of hydrogen technologies / applications

Objectives strengthen and focus, integrate fragmented research on

hydrogen safety → competitive scientific and industrial institution“European Hydrogen Safety Centre” EHSC

Promoting public awareness and trust in hydrogen technologies development of an excellent safety culture


Medium and Long term market prospects

According to the European Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Technology Platform Strategic Overview:„Early markets - including specialist vehicles (e.g. forklifts) and portable applications – will be established by 2010, with stationary applications achieving commercialisation by 2015 and mass market transport applications by around 2020“

2020 Assumptions:Safety, RC&S

cross cutting issues


RTD objectives

Develop common understanding of safety relevant H2 properties Fill knowledge gaps e.g. on:

o Performance/appropriateness of mitigation measureso Behaviour in (partially) confined spaceso DDT in realistic conditions, heterogeneous mixtures, influence of water

sprayso Ignition in generalo Safety characterisation procedures for solid storage materialso Material compatibilitieso High pressure jet behaviouro Crashworthiness of H2 storage, piping, installations

Evaluate and develop engineering RA methodologies Support RC&S by coordinated (integrated) pre-normative research,

e.g. handbook for small stationary installations, translation of hazard zone and safety distances concepts, tunnel directives, bonfire testing …


Research Infrastructures usefulness for industry

Hardware/Facilities

Most of the 78 facilities listed in the HySafe catalogue of experimental facilities (public report D9 and online presentation on www.HySafe.org) have strong industry relevance or even have been co-financed by industry

FZK

INERIS

HSE/HSL

FZK160m3 Test Cell for distribution and combustion tests


Research Infrastructures usefulness for industry

Software/Simulation

CFD tools for gas distribution and combustion are important tools for all involved industries design, risk assessment,extrapolation of experimentalresults

Standard commercial toolsin general are less useful

o H2 differs considerably

from other burning gases

o Tools rarely fit H2 properties

o Poor verification and accuracy0

5

10

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20

25

30

35

40

45

50

0 600 1200 1800 2400 3000 3600 4200 4800 5400Time (s)

Fla

mm

able

vo

lum

e (m

3)

AVT AVT_cCEA DNV_aDNV_b FZKGRS GXCHSE/HSL NCSRD_aNCSRD_b UPMUU

Prediction of flammable volume by 240g H2 release in a “garage”:


Integration of the RTD objectives to a Strategic Research Agenda

Implicitely integrated as cross-cutting issue a detailed list of topics has been proposed but was

not implemented in the SRA Further details see HFP Review Meeting Online Presentations (

www.hfpeurope.org)

+ Leaves freedom to adopt new topics or to re-orientate HySafe roadmaps to external requirements

- Makes it difficult to anticipate the needs


Mapping of existing research infrastructuresOverview related to the objectives

Available infrastructure facilities Basic distribution/combustion phenomena in most scales(mircro fuel cell to tunnel accidents)

Special equipment testing fuel cells are available Not many application orientated facilities Existing H2 measurement techniques

not fully satisfactory (spatial resolution of small releases, reaction times of precise sensors,…)

Existing software infrastructure Not reliable enough to predict relevant phenomena accurately, still very dispersed and therefore too small efforts on proprietary codes with hidden models


Research Infrastructures needs Maintenance + Upgrades

Equipment of existing facilities with updated measurement systems

Upgrading existing facilities, e.g. to allow for H2 handling, and releases or to allow for more application orientated experiments o Tunnel facility www.l-surf.orgo New inserts for FZK Test Cell (Room simulation,…)

Setting up procedures for equipment exchange Further development of existing CFD codes for

H2 dispersion and combustion modelling

Integration by continuously and commonly performed research projects


Air Air

Exhaust

Silencer

Air Air

Exhaust

Silencer

Exhaust EmissionsAfter Treatment Equipment

SilencerAir Supply

Blower

Exhaust Blower

External Appearance of the FacilityInternal Structure of Fire Test Cell

Research Infrastructure needsNew Facilities / Instruments

Full scale test refueling stationtest different scenarios, mitigation measures, safety barriers best design and experimental verification of simulations

„European Hy-SEF“ ( Japan+US)for full scale automotive tests at system level,public garage simulations (fire, explosion,…)

Sensor arrays New optical measurementsnon instrusive(0-100% H2)+ software


Open Source European Combustion Codenew development, accounting for present and future HPC architecturesbest documented, modular design, modern testing and verification procedures

Common European Safety Assessment Frameworkunique approach for all EC (FP7) projects to prove the implementation of comparable safety action plans,continuous „control/auditing“ by independant safety expertsall according to guidelines (to be delivered) and existing standards/regulations

Common European Incidence/Accident Reportingfeeds the open HIAD databaseincreases information exchange, facilitates probabilistically based RA methodologies, increases public awareness improves safety

Research Infrastructure needsNew Software + Procedures


Research Infrastructure needsIntegrated Organisation

To increase efficiencies and competitiveness integration is needed for all safety relevant activities like

Joint Research Dissemination EducationCurrently provided by NoE HySafePublic support ends 2009 (first half of FP7)

Long term survival of the successful activities, instruments, databases and networks important

Reasonable maintenance of the 5 years EC and consortium partners investment


Research Infrastructure needsIntegrated Organisation

IPHECEN

HFP

StorHy

HyWays

NATURALHY

NorthAmerica

Japan

Russia

ISO IEA

AdvisoryCouncil

HyApproval

HyFire

HyTrainHyCourse

HySAFEST E&TR&D

RC&S

EH SCEuropean Hydrogen Safety Centre


Next steps

Develop DJPA for 3rd HySafe planning period Support HyApproval and HYTHEC by safety workshops Develop guideline for safety action plan (templated

procedure for all H2 project proposals)

Propose joint research activities responding public calls Business Plan for HySafe

European Hydrogen Safety Centre EHSC


Conclusion

Safety is a crucial factor for introducing H2 as an energy carrier to the public

There is no absolute measure for safety, rather a common scientificially based consensus on relative safety features

any early exceptional accident could inhibit the new option

There are many tools available based on different (also industrial) experience, but they have to be improved, partially adapted and applied

Some additional hardware infrastructure is needed immediate need for commonly agreed procedures and

organisation of joint research Scattered efforts need to be integrated, research

coordinated and enforced by efficient cooperation centrally organised by the European Hydrogen Safety Centre EHSC

eu h 2 safety centre

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