Green hydrogen leaking accidentally from a motor vehicle in confined space: A study on the effectiveness of a ventilation system
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Abstract
Green hydrogen can play a considerable role in helping the world achieve net zero emissions by forming a bridge between the energy sector and transportation. Currently, it is, at the initial phase of development, due to the low demand for hydrogen (H2) fuel for transportation in general. However, an increase in the H2 fuel demand in the future will require high investments in the infrastructure sector. In this regard, parking hydrogen vehicles in residential garages pose a potential safety hazard because of the accidents that could arise from hydrogen leaks. The diffusion of hydrogen in a ventilated garage has been investigated using FLUENT software. This study provides some insight into the hydrogen extraction efficiency of a natural ventilation system. We studied the influence of important ventilation parameters (shape and aspect ratio R of opening ventilation) on hydrogen stratification. First, results show a remarkable efficiency in the case of the square shape. Second, when the aspect ratio R decreases, there is an augmentation in fresh air drawn and hydrogen evacuation which generates the decrease of hydrogen concentration inside the garage and increases the extraction efficiency. Highlights This article develops a hot issue in the context of scarce resources, namely the use of hydrogen as a more environmental-friendly source of energy. Eventual leakage of hydrogen in confined spaces frequented by motor vehicles poses a significant hazard. The flow structure and molar fraction of hydrogen is strongly influenced by ventilation parameters The square shape has the lower concentration values; it presents the highest extraction efficiency. The hydrogen extraction of the transverse rectangular shape (R = 0.5) is more efficient and it presents better results than the others do.