GRPE ISO GROUP MEETING, MUNICH, JANUARY 22th, 2003

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• GRPE ISO GROUP MEETING, MUNICH, JANUARY 22th, 2003

GAS CYLINDERS USE OF PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
Hervé BARTHELEMY AIR LIQUIDE PARIS
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PRD FIRE PROTECTION

• ISO/CD/15869-1 REQUIRES USE OF THERMALLY
• ACTIVATED PRD

• This type of PRD is the only one which allows
  gas pressure
• release in case of fire even at low pressure

• Some fully wrapped cylinders behave very badly
  during
• standard bonfire tests if not protected with PRD

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CYLINDER CARBON FIBER - PLASTIC LINER
SERVICE PRESSURE 3 000 PSI
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CYLINDER CARBON FIBER - PLASTIC LINER
SERVICE PRESSURE 3 000 PSI

• FRAGMENTATION
• AFTER 100 s

• EXPOSURE TO
• STANDARD
• BONFIRE TEST

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PRD FIRE PROTECTION

• SITUATION WITH INDUSTRIAL CYLINDERS
• (SINGLE, BUNDLE/PACK OR ON TRAILER)

• Several millions are in used

• In Europe PRD not required by regulation and
  not used

• In North America PRD required by regulation.
  For H2,
• the industry decides to use bursting disk back
  up with a
• fusible plug (to avoid unexpected release of
  gas)

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RISK ANALYSIS
TWO RISKS SHALL BE CONSIDERED

• IN CASE OF FIRE / RISK OF CYLINDERS BURST
• SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRE

• RISK OF GAS RELEASE H2 IS EXTREMELY
• FLAMMABLE

The flammability range of H2 in air is much
bigger than CH4
H2 70,5 (LFL 4 UFL 74,5 )
CH4 10 (LFL 5 UFL 15 )
The minimum energy for igniting H2 in air is 10
times lower than CH4
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ACCIDENT WITH AN HYDROGEN BUNDLE (1985)
LEAK DUE TO FAILURE OF A NUT
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ACCIDENT WITH AN HYDROGEN BUNDLE (1985)
VUE OF THE FIRE DAMAGE
THE FILLING CENTER WAS SEVERELY BURNED
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ACCIDENT IN STOCKHOLM (1983) HYDROGEN LEAK
THE EXPLOSION CONSECUTIVE TO THE HYDROGEN LEAK
LEADS TO SEVERE DESTRUCTION IN A BIG AVENUE
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ACCIDENT IN STOCKHOLM (1983) HYDROGEN LEAK
BUNDLES 18 CYLINDERS 50 L/200 bar (about 180
m3 H2)
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GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
AVOIDANCE OF GAS RELEASE
It is better to contain the gas in cylinder as
much and as long as possible. Consequently, the
use of PRD shall be limited.
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INCIDENTS FIRE RESULTING FROM GAS LEAKAGES
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INCIDENTS FIRE RESULTING FROM GAS LEAKAGES
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INCIDENTS FIRE DUE TO INDUE FAILURE OF PRD
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INCIDENTS CYLINDERS INVOLVED IN A FIRE
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GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
- Many severe fires result from unexpected gas
release.
- Several severe fires result from undue failure
of C2H2 fusible plugs.
- Cylinders involved in fire none of the
reported incidents led to facilities or
injuries.
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PROPOSAL

• Fully Wrapped cylinders
• Thermally activated device is required, if
  cylinders cannot
• resist 5 min. in a  Standard fire  (Note ISO
  11119 requires
• only 2 min.).

• For every type, the car manufacturer will decide
  the use
• (or not) and the type of PRD to protect the full
  system.