1. As of January 2024, we are not aware of any public data on incidents or investigations where a hydrogen fired steam boiler exploded.
2. The potential for detonations within a boiler tube would depend on both the equivalence ratio of the hydrogen present and the diameter of the boiler tube.
a. At a minimum, if the circumference of the tube is…
The answer will depend on if it is only H2 measured or if VOCs are also included. The type of gas sensor may change since many detectors are limited to flammable gases. To provide feedback, the Panel would require more details on the sensors being used on the project and the failure modes. There are concerns about allowing hydrogen concentrations as large as 3.5% for the high level alarm.…
There are many manufacturers of multiple types of flame detectors and it’s best to seek their input for the advantages of different types for specific applications. Regarding flame detector technology, UV detectors have been prone to false alarms from outside sources such as sunlight, lightning, and welding/cutting torches. The newer triple-IR detectors that are specifically designed and…
One pertinent reference is a Sandia National Laboratories paper by Schefer et al: Spatial and radiative properties of an open-flame hydrogen plume, Intl J. Hydrogen Energy, 31 (2006): 1332-1340. Information on this and other similar papers are available at https://h2tools.org/bibliography. Further information can probably be obtained from the author of this paper and other papers reporting…
The Panel is not aware of any standard for hydrogen detectors for onboard vehicle applications. Some information is available in the SAE Technical Information Report: TIR J3089 Characterization of On-Board Vehicular Hydrogen Sensors, which was published in 2018.
Yes, these would be ignitable mixtures. In this case, it does not appear complicated geometry is involved, so 1200 psig pipe should be more than adequate to protect against internal deflagration. The most likely scenario is a "backfire," similar to a car, where ignition occurs too soon and shoots out the open end of the pipe. Consider using an inline deflagration flash arrestor on the…
NFPA 2 provides Tables in Chapters 7 and 8 that specify the hazardous area classifications surrounding vent stack outlets. These are based on typical vent systems and flows, but are only applicable for smaller systems. The designer of a vent system should apply the principles of documents such as IEC 60079-10-1 (also required by NFPA 2) or NFPA 497 to evaluate larger vent releases where the…
Guidance for location of vent stacks is provided by NFPA 2, Hydrogen Technologies Code, which also references CGA G5.5, Hydrogen Vent Systems, for additional guidance. Minimum distances to vent stack outlets should be determined from dispersion and radiation analyses. The height of the vent stack and orientation of the release will affect the minimum separation distance.
Dispersion and radiation analysis should be conducted to ensure that the hydrogen cloud will not interfere with the flight path of aircraft. In addition, there may be maximum height requirements due to airport requirements depending on the location of the stack.
The manufacturer’s calibration requirements should be followed to ensure proper operation of the
detection system. The requirements will vary depending on the type of detector and the environment in
which they are installed. Calibration can usually be performed by the user/owner if properly trained and
supplied with calibration gas, etc.
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