Numerical simulation on the diffusion of hydrogen due to high pressured storage tanks failure

With widely utilizing of hydrogen energy, the high pressured hydrogen vessels are rapidly developed. At the same time, inevitable accidents from leakage of the vessel may occur. Thus, understanding and predicting the diffusion of high pressured hydrogen are crucial for safe operation of such devices. In this study, an analytical model for the diffusion of high pressured hydrogen due to storage tank failure was established and corresponding numerical method was presented. Several important factors which affect the diffusion of hydrogen such as the wind velocities, ambient temperature, leaking positions, diameters of the leaking hole and obstacles were taken into account. And their influences on the diffusion of hydrogen were discussed. The simulated results are in good agreement with available experimental data, which indicates that the presented model can be applied for predicting the diffusion of high pressured hydrogen due to storage tanks failure. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.