Off gassing of hydrogen from battery sources depends on battery chemistry, usage/duty cycle, age, and other considerations. The specific battery manufacturer should provide recommendations for fire prevention and mitigation in battery charging rooms as the battery itself impacts how an event would be mitigated. Adequate ventilation such that combustible mixtures cannot develop is a general…
Catalytic recombiners are effective at preventing flammable hydrogen mixtures and also sometimes useful to monitor hydrogen concentrations through heat evolution when an oxidizer is present. Careful considerations must be made when integrating these elements into a design, so that they do not become a source ignition (and/or flame arrestors prevent propagation of a flame front) and the…
Even if a small experiment is being run inside a fume hood, the best practice is to use a dedicated vent line for hydrogen which vents hydrogen to a safe location outside. This is especially recommended for planned venting. This practice avoids situations where flammable mixtures could develop. Each system is unique and should be evaluated and approved for use independently…
A nitrogen purge is generally not needed for a vent system designed in accordance with CGA G-5.5. However, there are times where this might be considered or required due to the specific design of a system. Where determined by a risk review to be needed, A continuous purge into a vent system reduces the probability air or oxygen in the piping. Intermittent purging should be…
The UN ECE R134 regulation is a good requirement to follow as it copies the language in the UN GTR #13 regulation. The updated version of this UN document (UN GTR #13 Phase 2) is currently in approval review at the GRSP in Geneva and should be approved by the end of 2023. Nevertheless, since the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is a contracting…
Because hydrogen is labeled as a hazardous substance, sometimes people are concerned about the environmental impact of releasing liquid hydrogen. There are currently no regulations that require reporting of hydrogen releases for environmental reasons.
However, there are safety implications. For example, the US DOT requires reporting of hazardous materials releases under certain…
The end use of hydrogen usually drives the cleaning for initial construction.
Cylinders are required to be tested periodically to verify structural integrity. The most common test method is hydrotesting, which means water is the most likely impurity that solidified in the inlets. Drying the tanks is normally a requirement after performing a hydrotest. In the USA, CFR 49 CFR § 180.209 applies: https://www.law.…
Requirements for local jurisdictions vary, so the AHJ should be consulted, but NFPA 2:2023, Hydrogen Technologies Code, Chapter 13 has requirements for installation of hydrogen generators up to 100 kg H2/h. Section 13.3.1 General says permitted water electrolysis systems are to be listed to ISO 22734:2019, Hydrogen Generators Using Water Electrolysis - Industrial, Commercial, and Residential…
It depends on the facility and risk assessment, but generally multiple pressure and temperatures to one vent stack is not the best practice unless all are similar in pressure and temperature, and the streams have compatible composition and flow rate. Care must also be taken to prevent reverse flow and misdirected flow between portions of the system. Additionally, one vent stack can become a…
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