Numerical study on effect of fire on strength of blast wave after stand-alone hydrogen tank rupture

Using hydrogen as fuel to power vehicles requires it being stored under highpressures, up to 70 MPa. Such storage conditions present detrimental consequences following atank rupture due to fire, such as blast wave and fireball. Prior to rupture, a high-pressurehydrogen tank rupture surrounded by fire will experience less chemical reaction due to thelimited amount of oxidizer available. This reduces the initial combustion of hydrogen, and lesschemical energy contribution to the generated blast wave. The purpose of this study is tonumerically simulate a high-pressure hydrogen tank rupture and observe the effect of fire, ofareas 2 m2 and 21 m2, on the blast wave. Compared to when rupture occurs without fire present,the starting shock wave pressure in the near field is found to be reduced by half, the effectdiminishing outside the fire zone area. The relationship between blast wave pressure,concentrations of hydrogen and oxygen and combustion mechanisms are analysed. These resultswill aid in creating more accurate consequence analysis and harmful criteria within hydrogensafety, taking into regards the effect of fire prior to rupture.