Quantitative Risk Assessment of Hydrogen Gas Explosion Accidents at Complex Hydrogen Refueling Station

Abstract

The global automobile market is shifting from vehicles powered by LNG, LPG, diesel, and gasoline toward electric and hydrogen-driven vehicles. To boost the development of a hydrogen economy, the Korean government has been supporting the supply of hydrogen vehicles and permitting the installation of hydrogen refueling stations alongside the existing LNG, LPG, diesel, and gasoline refueling stations. This study entailed an evaluation of the risk of hydrogen gas explosion accidents at a combined hydrogen fueling station that supplies hydrogen, gasoline, and diesel. Numerical analysis was used to examine the extent of damage to the interior and exterior of the hydrogen station caused by the blast wave generated by the vapor cloud explosion resulting from a hydrogen gas leakage inside the station. The results indicate that the severity of the damage to nearby structures and facilities due to the vapor cloud explosion increased with increasing hydrogen gas leakage. The results have applicability in planning the safety separation distance of hydrogen stations and placement of hydrogen facilities.