• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.517-534
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• 2021

Hydrogen fuel is emerging as an new energy source to replace fossil fuels in that it can solve environmental pollution problems and reduce energy imbalance and cost. Since hydrogen is eco-friendly but highly explosive, there is a high concern about fire and explosion accidents of hydrogen fueled vehicles. In particular, in semi-enclosed spaces such as tunnels, the risk is predicted to increase. Therefore, this study was conducted on the applicability of the equivalent TNT model and the numerical analysis method to evaluate the hydrogen explosion pressure in the tunnel. In comparison and review of the explosion pressure of 6 equivalent TNT models and Weyandt's experimental results, the Henrych equation was found to be the closest with a deviation of 13.6%. As a result of examining the effect of hydrogen tank capacity (52, 72, 156 L) and tunnel cross-section (40.5, 54, 72, 95 m²) on the explosion pressure using numerical analysis, the explosion pressure wave in the tunnel initially it propagates in a hemispherical shape as in open space. Furthermore, when it passes the certain distance it is transformed a plane wave and propagates at a very gradual decay rate. The Henrych equation agrees well with the numerical analysis results in the section where the explosion pressure is rapidly decreasing, but it is significantly underestimated after the explosion pressure wave is transformed into a plane wave. In case of same hydrogen tank capacity, an explosion pressure decreases as the tunnel cross-sectional area increases, and in case of the same cross-sectional area, the explosion pressure increases by about 2.5 times if the hydrogen tank capacity increases from 52 L to 156 L. As a result of the evaluation of the limiting distance affecting the human body, when a 52 L hydrogen tank explodes, the limiting distance to death was estimated to be about 3 m, and the limiting distance to serious injury was estimated to be 28.5~35.8 m.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.21-27
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• 2022

For carbon neutrality, interest in R&D and infrastructure construction for hydrogen energy, an eco-friendly energy source, is growing worldwide. In particular, for hydrogen stations installed in downtown areas, underground hydrogen infrastructure are being considered to increase a safety distance from hydrogen tank explosions to adjacent structures. In order to design an appropriate location and depth of the underground hydrogen infrastructure, it is necessary to evaluate the impact of the explosion of the underground hydrogen infrastructure on adjacent structures. In this paper, a numerical model was developed to analyze the effect of the underground hydrogen infrastructure explosion on adjacent structures, and the over pressure of the hydrogen tank was evaluated using the equivalent TNT (Trinitrotoluene) model. In addition, parametric analysis was performed to estimate the stability of adjacent structures according to the construction conditions of the underground hydrogen infrastructure.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.605-612
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• 2021

Amid growing global damage due to abnormal weather caused by global warming, the introduction of eco-friendly cars is accelerating to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from internal combustion engines. Accordingly, many studies are being conducted in each country to prepare for the explosion of hydrogen fuel in semi-closed spaces such as tunnels and underground parking lots to ensure the safety of hydrogen-electric vehicles. As a result of predicting the explosion pressure of the hydrogen tank using the equivalent TNT model, it was found to be about 1.12 times and 2.30 times higher at a height of 1.5 meters, respectively, based on the case of 52 liters of hydrogen capacity. A review of the impact on the human body and buildings by converting the predicted maximum explosive pressure into the amount of impact predicted that all predicted values would result in lung damage or severe partial destruction. The predicted degree of damage was applied only by converting the amount of impact caused by the explosion, and considering the additional damage caused by the explosion, it is believed that the actual damage will increase further and safety and disaster prevention measures should be taken.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2021

Hydrogen in hydrogen-electric vehicles has a wide range of combustion and explosion ranges, and is a combustible gas with a very fast flame propagation speed, so it has the risk of leakage, diffusion, ignition, and explosion. The fuel tank has a Thermally active Pressure Relief Device (TPRD) to reduce the risk of explosion and other explosions, and in the event of an accident, hydrogen inside the tank is released outside before an explosion or fire occurs. However, if an accident occurs in a semi-closed space such as an underground parking lot, the flow of air flow is smaller than the open space, which can cause the concentration of hydrogen gas emitted from the TPRD to accumulate above the explosion limit. Therefore, in this study, the leakage rate and concentration of hydrogen over time were analyzed according to the diameter of the nozzle of the TPRD. The diameter of the nozzle was considered to be 1 mm, 2.5 mm and 5 mm, and ccording to the diameter of the nozzle, the concentration of hydrogen in the underground parking lot increases in a faster time with the diameter of the nozzle, and the maximum value is also analyzed to be larger with the diameter of the nozzle. In underground parking lots where air currents are stagnant, hydrogen concentrations above LFL (Lowe Flammability Limit) were analyzed to be distributed around the nozzle, and it was analyzed that they did not exceed UFL (Upper Flammability Limit).

• Journal of Auto-vehicle Safety Association
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.73-80
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• 2021

Recently, Korea has established a plan for the supply of hydrogen vehicles and is promoting the expansion of the supply. Risk factors for hydrogen vehicles are hydrogen leakage, jet fire, and explosion. Therefore Safety measures are necessary for this hazard. In addition, risks in semi-closed spaces such as tunnels, underground roads, and underground parking lots should be analyzed. In this study, an explosion experiment was conducted on a hydrogen tank used in a hydrogen vehicle to analyze the risk of a hydrogen vehicle explosion accident that may occur in a semi-closed space. As results, the effect on the structure and the human body was analyzed using the overpressure and impulse values for each distance generated during the explosion.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2023

This study presents an analytical study of investigating the effect of shock waves generated by the hydrogen detonation and damage to structures for the safety evaluation of hydrogen storage facilities against detonation. Blast scenarios were established considering the volume of the hydrogen storage facility of 10 L to 50,000 L, states of charge (SOC) of 50% and 100%, and initial pressures of 50 MPa and 100 MPa. The equivalent TNT weight for hydrgen detonation was determined considering the mechanical and chemical energies of hydrogen. A hydrogen detonation model for the converted equivalent TNT weight was made using design equations that improved the Kingery-Bulmash design chart of UFC 3-340-02. The hydrogen detonation model was validated for overpressure and impulse in comparison to the past experimental results associated with the detonation of hydrogen tank. A parametric study based on the blast scenarios was performed using the validated hydrogen detonation model, and design charts for overpressure and impulse according to the standoff distance from the center of charge was provided. Further, design charts of the three-stage structural damage and standoff distance of adjacent structures according to the level of overpressure and impact were proposed using the overpressure and impulse charts and pressure-impulse diagrams.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.83-90
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• 2020

This study conducted a risk assessment using the HyKoRAM program created by international joint research. Risk assessment was conducted based on accident scenarios and worst-case scenarios that could occur in the facility, reflecting design specifications of major facilities and components such as compressors, storage tanks, and hydrogen pipes in the hydrogen charging station, and environmental conditions around the demonstration complex. By identifying potential risks of hydrogen charging stations, we are going to derive the worst leakage, fire, explosion, and accident scenarios that can occur in hydrogen storage tanks, treatment facilities, storage facilities, and analyze the possibility of accidents and the effects of damage on human bodies and surrounding facilities to review safety.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.47-60
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• 2021

Hydrogen is a next-generation energy source, and according to the roadmap for activating the hydrogen economy, it is expected that industries to stably produce, store, and transport of hydrogen as well as the supply of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will be made rapidly. Accordingly, safety measures for accidents of hydrogen vehicles in confined spaces such as tunnels are required. In this study, as part of a study to ensure the safety of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in road tunnels, a basic investigation and research on the risk of fire and explosion due to gas leakage and hydrogen tank rupture among various hazards caused by hydrogen fuel cell vehicle accidents in tunnels was conducted. The following results were obtained. In the event of hydrogen fuel cell vehicle accidents, the gas release rate depends on the orifice diameter of TPRD, and when the gas is ignited, the maximum heat release rate reaches 3.22~51.36 MW (orifice diameter: 1~4 mm) depending on the orifice diameter but the duration times are short. Therefore, it was analyzed that there was little increase in risk due to fire. As the overpressure of the gas explosion was calculated by the equivalent TNT method, in the case of yield of VCE of 0.2 is applied, the safety threshold distance is analyzed to be about 35 m, and number of the equivalent fatalities are conservatively predicted to reach tens of people.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.659-677
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• 2022

Hydrogen is emerging as a next-generation energy source and development and supply of FCEV (hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle) is expected to occur rapidly. Accordingly, measures to respond to hydrogen car accidents are required and researches on the safety of hydrogen cars are being actively conducted. In this study, In this study, we developed a hydrogen car accident scenarios suitable for domestic conditions for the safety evaluation of hydrogen car in road tunnels through analysis of existing experiments and research data and analyzed and presented the hazard distance according to the accident results of the hydrogen car accident scenarios. The accident results according to the hydrogen car accident scenario were classified into minor accidents, general fires, jet flames and explosions. The probability of occurrence of each accident results are predicted to be 93.06%, 1.83%, 2.25%, and 2.31%. In the case of applying the hydrogen tank specifications of FCEV developed in Korea, the hazard distance for explosion pressure (based on 16.5 kPa) is about 17.6 m, about 6 m for jet fire, up to 35 m for fireball in road tunnel with a standard cross section (72 m²).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2023

As an alternative to environmental pollution generated from fossil fuels currently in use, research is being actively conducted to use hydrogen that does not cause air pollution. As fire and explosion accidents caused by hydrogen leakage have occurred until recently, research on safety is needed to commercialize hydrogen on ships, which are special environments. In this study, a seasonal alternative scenario for each season and the worst scenario were assumed in the event of a leakage accident while a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion ship equipped with a hydrogen storage tank was navigating at JangSaengPo port in Ulsan. In order to consider environmental variables, the damage impact range was derived through ALOHA and probit analysis based on the annual average weather data for 2021 by the Korea Meteorological Administration and on geographic information data from the National Statistical Office. Radiation showed a wider damage range than that of Overpressure and Flame in both the alternative and worst-case scenarios, and as a result of probit analysis, a fatality rate of 99% was confirmed in all areas.