Experimental results to develop guidelines for safe hydrogen handling

The results of experiments conducted at the end of April by experts from the Faculty of Safety Engineering (FSE) at VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava (VŠB-TUO), in partnership with commercial companies, in the Hradiště military training area in the Doupov Mountains, will form the foundation for developing safety regulations and standards for hydrogen handling. Researchers involved in the REFRESH project plan to revisit the site in June and autumn, with additional experiments also scheduled to take place in Ostrava.

“At the Mětikalov site within the military training area, we conducted a unique series of large-scale experiments focused on the behavior of hydrogen pressure cylinders in a fire. These tests are intended to provide crucial data for enhancing the safety of hydrogen technologies. Hydrogen is considered an alternative energy source for the future; however, the development of new technologies for its production or storage must go hand-in-hand with addressing safety considerations,” remarked Vojtěch Jankůj from the FSE.

The FSE team of experts conducted the experiments in collaboration with the University of Defence, Vítkovice Cylinders, and Linde. The University of Defence provided the premises and support at the test site, Vítkovice Cylinders supplied the pressure cylinders, and Linde handled their hydrogen filling and transportation.

“The tests focused on a 245-liter hydrogen pressure cylinder rated for a maximum working pressure of 200 bar. Throughout the testing process, we observed changes in pressure and shell temperature when the cylinder was subjected to an external fire. A key aspect of the experiment involved simulating cylinder failure to assess potential fragmentation and the environmental hazards it could pose. We also explored an alternative risk mitigation strategy, which entailed controlled puncturing of the cylinder and the managed release of hydrogen,” added Jankůj.

Modern technologies, including thermal imaging drones, high-speed cameras, and various instruments from the FSE laboratory’s equipment, were utilized in the tests.

Additional experiments are planned for the Doupov area in June and October. In July and August, small-scale fire tests examining flame spread within cavities will be performed in the FSE laboratory. During the summer months, researchers will also conduct tests on the behavior of selected batteries used in electric scooters. An experimental study on the combustion of wooden materials in indoor environments, along with the development of predictive fire safety models, is scheduled for the autumn at the Vítkovice test facility.