The major progress beyond the state-of-the-art achieved during the project and contributed to the principle public outcomes D6.9 D6.10 and D5.4 is:
- Developed criteria for fast hydrogen flame acceleration and transition to detonation tailored for realistic hydrogen-air mixtures and tunnel systems.
- Investigated effect of mitigation systems on hydrogen fires and blast wave attenuation.
- Performed research on concreate spalling caused by traditional heat exposure and hydrogen jet flames.
- Created safety strategies to exclude tank rupture in a fire: (a) engineering models and tools to design tank-TPRD as a system; (b) the breakthrough leak-no-burst (LNB) technology was further tested in the project.
- Designed universal correlation for blast wave decay following rupture of high-pressure hydrogen storage tank in a tunnel of any length and cross section.
- Performed unique release, jet fire and tank rupture experiments in real tunnels and large-scale facilities. The experimental data was used for CFD and engineering models correlations, e.g. the developed at UU universal correlation for blast wave decay in a tunnel, models for ignited and unignited pressure peaking phenomena, proof of contribution of hydrogen combustion to blast wave strength (previously observed only in numerical simulations).
- Developed and implemented novel engineering tools including engineering correlation for assessment of overpressure during spurious hydrogen release, analytical model for non-adiabatic blowdown from hydrogen tank, correlation for blast wave attenuation in a tunnel, tool for prevention of composite hydrogen storage tank explosion in a fire, etc. The tools and correlations are aimed at implementation in e-Laboratory of Hydrogen Safety (
https://elab-prod.iket.kit.edu(opens in new window)) to ensure continuity and longevity of project achievements.
- Developed coupled CFD/FEM models for analysis of hydrogen fires and tank rupture effect on tunnels structural integrity.
- Optimisation of release direction and orifice was performed for unignited and ignited hydrogen jets. Parametric simulations were performed in various environments (e.g. tunnel with and without slope, real car park geometry, etc.).
HyTunnel-CS project fulfilled the expected impacts listed in the FCH 2 JU work plan including:
Unique experimental data is available on completion of experimental research in the best facilities for hydrogen studies including large-scale real tunnels via public deliverables D2.3 D3.3 D4.3; open data access (see
https://zenodo.org/communities/hytunnelcs(opens in new window)) scientific publications (publications list maintained at
https://hytunnel.net/?page_id=90(opens in new window)) final dissemination conference (
https://hytunnel.net/?page_id=83(opens in new window)) etc.
Reduction of over-conservatism, increased efficiency of safety equipment and costs reduction is achieved through implemented in the project “system level” approach: mitigation of hazards and reduction of risks is achieved considering vehicle and tunnel as a single system. QRA methodology tailored for tunnel and underground systems was developed and presented in D5.3 “Report of quantitative risk assessment methodology”.
Intervention strategies and tactics for first responders were developed and the impact culminated in the public D5.4 “Harmonised recommendations on response to hydrogen accidents”.
Impact “Commonly agreed, scientifically based recommendations for the update of relevant RCS …” was achieved via the public deliverable D6.10 “Recommendations for RCS”.
Impact “Recommendations for … inherently safer use of hydrogen vehicles and safer transport of hydrogen in tunnels” was achieved via preparation and making available public deliverable D6.9 “Recommendations for inherently safer use of hydrogen vehicles in underground traffic systems”.
