Performance of standard and self-venting conformable compressed hydrogen storage systems in fire tests and incident car fire

Sergii Kashkarov; Dmitriy Makarov; Vladimir Molkov

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.150407

Performance of standard and self-venting conformable compressed hydrogen storage systems in fire tests and incident car fire

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

This study investigates the fire resistance rating (FRR) of a conformable compressed hydrogen storage system (cCHSS) in realistic under-vehicle fire scenarios. Using validated 3D CFD and physical models, the FRR was shown to depend strongly on the fire's heat release rate per unit area (HRR/A). Bare cCHSS exposed to a typical spill fire (HRR/A = 1 MW/m2) ruptured in 2 min 54 s, which is 2∼4 times shorter than the 6–12 min typical of standard tanks. A presence of metal casing increased the FRR up to fourfold, but only by 54 s (∼23 %) when direct contact occurred between metal casing and tank wall. The performance of self-venting tanks with microleaks-no-burst (μLNB) technology was demonstrated. These explosion-free tanks eliminate the need for TPRDs, as microleaks were triggered before structural failure, with leakage times between 18.5 and 28.5 min. The results support using TPRD-less cCHSS to increase hydrogen vehicle fire safety.

Original language	English
Article number	150407
Pages (from-to)	1-10
Number of pages	10
Journal	International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume	156
Issue number	150407
Early online date	14 Jul 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.150407
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 8 Aug 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Authors

Funding

This research was co-funded by Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking (now Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking) through the SH2APED \u201CStorage of hydrogen: alternative pressure enclosure development\u201D projects (101007182). This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, Hydrogen Europe, and Hydrogen Europe Research. The authors are grateful to the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) of the UK for the \u201CUK National Clean Maritime Research Hub\u201D (EP/Y024605/1). The authors also express their gratitude to Yosuke Tamura from JARI for providing valuable information on the experiments.

Funders	Funder number
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council	EP/Y024605/1

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Hydrogen safety
Composite storage tank
Conformable storage system
Self-venting explosion-free in fire tanks
Fire test
Car fire

Access to Document

10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.150407

1-s2.0-S0360319925034056-mainFinal published version, 5.81 MBLicence: CC BY

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.150407

Cite this

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title = "Performance of standard and self-venting conformable compressed hydrogen storage systems in fire tests and incident car fire",

abstract = "This study investigates the fire resistance rating (FRR) of a conformable compressed hydrogen storage system (cCHSS) in realistic under-vehicle fire scenarios. Using validated 3D CFD and physical models, the FRR was shown to depend strongly on the fire's heat release rate per unit area (HRR/A). Bare cCHSS exposed to a typical spill fire (HRR/A = 1 MW/m2) ruptured in 2 min 54 s, which is 2∼4 times shorter than the 6–12 min typical of standard tanks. A presence of metal casing increased the FRR up to fourfold, but only by 54 s (∼23 \%) when direct contact occurred between metal casing and tank wall. The performance of self-venting tanks with microleaks-no-burst (μLNB) technology was demonstrated. These explosion-free tanks eliminate the need for TPRDs, as microleaks were triggered before structural failure, with leakage times between 18.5 and 28.5 min. The results support using TPRD-less cCHSS to increase hydrogen vehicle fire safety.",

keywords = "Hydrogen safety, Composite storage tank, Conformable storage system, Self-venting explosion-free in fire tanks, Fire test, Car fire",

author = "Sergii Kashkarov and Dmitriy Makarov and Vladimir Molkov",

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doi = "10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.150407",

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AU - Kashkarov, Sergii

AU - Makarov, Dmitriy

AU - Molkov, Vladimir

PY - 2025/8/8

Y1 - 2025/8/8

N2 - This study investigates the fire resistance rating (FRR) of a conformable compressed hydrogen storage system (cCHSS) in realistic under-vehicle fire scenarios. Using validated 3D CFD and physical models, the FRR was shown to depend strongly on the fire's heat release rate per unit area (HRR/A). Bare cCHSS exposed to a typical spill fire (HRR/A = 1 MW/m2) ruptured in 2 min 54 s, which is 2∼4 times shorter than the 6–12 min typical of standard tanks. A presence of metal casing increased the FRR up to fourfold, but only by 54 s (∼23 %) when direct contact occurred between metal casing and tank wall. The performance of self-venting tanks with microleaks-no-burst (μLNB) technology was demonstrated. These explosion-free tanks eliminate the need for TPRDs, as microleaks were triggered before structural failure, with leakage times between 18.5 and 28.5 min. The results support using TPRD-less cCHSS to increase hydrogen vehicle fire safety.

AB - This study investigates the fire resistance rating (FRR) of a conformable compressed hydrogen storage system (cCHSS) in realistic under-vehicle fire scenarios. Using validated 3D CFD and physical models, the FRR was shown to depend strongly on the fire's heat release rate per unit area (HRR/A). Bare cCHSS exposed to a typical spill fire (HRR/A = 1 MW/m2) ruptured in 2 min 54 s, which is 2∼4 times shorter than the 6–12 min typical of standard tanks. A presence of metal casing increased the FRR up to fourfold, but only by 54 s (∼23 %) when direct contact occurred between metal casing and tank wall. The performance of self-venting tanks with microleaks-no-burst (μLNB) technology was demonstrated. These explosion-free tanks eliminate the need for TPRDs, as microleaks were triggered before structural failure, with leakage times between 18.5 and 28.5 min. The results support using TPRD-less cCHSS to increase hydrogen vehicle fire safety.

KW - Hydrogen safety

KW - Composite storage tank

KW - Conformable storage system

KW - Self-venting explosion-free in fire tanks

KW - Fire test

KW - Car fire

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DO - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.150407

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JO - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

JF - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

IS - 150407

M1 - 150407

ER -

Performance of standard and self-venting conformable compressed hydrogen storage systems in fire tests and incident car fire

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

The concept and validations of the breakthrough safety technology of self-venting (TPRD-less) hydrogen storage tanks

Explosion free in fire self-venting (TPRD-less) composite tanks: performance under fire intervention conditions

Breakthrough safety technology of explosion free in fire self-venting (TPRD-less) tanks: The concept and validation of the microleaks-no-burst technology for carbon-carbon and carbon-glass double-composite wall hydrogen storage systems

Explosion free in fire self-venting (TPRD-less) Type IV tanks: Validation under extreme impinging 70MPa hydrogen jet fire conditions

Performance of hydrogen storage tank with TPRD in an engulfing fire

Cite this

Performance of standard and self-venting conformable compressed hydrogen storage systems in fire tests and incident car fire

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Activities

The concept and validations of the breakthrough safety technology of self-venting (TPRD-less) hydrogen storage tanks

Explosion free in fire self-venting (TPRD-less) composite tanks: performance under fire intervention conditions

Research output

Breakthrough safety technology of explosion free in fire self-venting (TPRD-less) tanks: The concept and validation of the microleaks-no-burst technology for carbon-carbon and carbon-glass double-composite wall hydrogen storage systems

Explosion free in fire self-venting (TPRD-less) Type IV tanks: Validation under extreme impinging 70MPa hydrogen jet fire conditions

Performance of hydrogen storage tank with TPRD in an engulfing fire

Cite this