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Liquid Hydrogen Spills on Water—Risk and Consequences of Rapid Phase Transition

Author

Listed:
  • Lars H. Odsæter

    (SINTEF Energy Research, Postboks 4761 Torgarden, 7465 Trondheim, Norway
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Hans L. Skarsvåg

    (SINTEF Energy Research, Postboks 4761 Torgarden, 7465 Trondheim, Norway
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Eskil Aursand

    (SINTEF Energy Research, Postboks 4761 Torgarden, 7465 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Federico Ustolin

    (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology NTNU, 7491 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Gunhild A. Reigstad

    (SINTEF Energy Research, Postboks 4761 Torgarden, 7465 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Nicola Paltrinieri

    (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology NTNU, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
    Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy)

Abstract

Liquid hydrogen (LH 2 ) spills share many of the characteristics of liquefied natural gas (LNG) spills. LNG spills on water sometimes result in localized vapor explosions known as rapid phase transitions (RPTs), and are a concern in the LNG industry. LH 2 RPT is not well understood, and its relevance to hydrogen safety is to be determined. Based on established theory from LNG research, we present a theoretical assessment of an accidental spill of a cryogen on water, including models for pool spreading, RPT triggering, and consequence quantification. The triggering model is built upon film-boiling theory, and predicts that the mechanism for RPT is a collapse of the gas film separating the two liquids (cryogen and water). The consequence model is based on thermodynamical analysis of the physical processes following a film-boiling collapse, and is able to predict peak pressure and energy yield. The models are applied both to LNG and LH 2 , and the results reveal that (i) an LNG pool will be larger than an LH 2 pool given similar sized constant rate spills, (ii) triggering of an LH 2 RPT event as a consequence of a spill on water is very unlikely or even impossible, and (iii) the consequences of a hypothetical LH 2 RPT are small compared to LNG RPT. Hence, we conclude that LH 2 RPT seems to be an issue of only minor concern.

Suggested Citation

  • Lars H. Odsæter & Hans L. Skarsvåg & Eskil Aursand & Federico Ustolin & Gunhild A. Reigstad & Nicola Paltrinieri, 2021. "Liquid Hydrogen Spills on Water—Risk and Consequences of Rapid Phase Transition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:16:p:4789-:d:610050
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Yulin Liu & Dongming Wang & Min Xie & Huanhuan Xu & Xiaohan Ren, 2022. "Research on the Mixing Mechanism and Parameter Optimization of Liquid Nitrogen Foam Generator," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-23, November.
    2. Shu, Zhiyong & Liang, Wenqing & Liu, Fan & Lei, Gang & Zheng, Xiaohong & Qian, Hua, 2022. "Diffusion characteristics of liquid hydrogen spills in a crossflow field: Prediction model and experiment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).

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