Dispersion analysis of hydrogen released from a fuel cell electric vehicles with ventilations

Abstract

Hydrogen is one of most attractive clean energy and has been broadly used as fuel for vehicles. However, the accidental leakage of the hydrogen may cause fire and casualties. So, it is extremely important to have a good knowledge of the leaking hydrogen dispersion. This study focuses on the effect of vent amount, location and wind pattern on the distribution of leaked hydrogen using CFD models. The dispersion of high-pressure hydrogen horizontally released from a hydrogen fuel cell transit bus in an enclosure with multiple vents is simulated using CFD models. The results figure out an improvement in ventilation with two vents or forced wind imposed at the vents and the results also illustrate keeping distance between two vents makes the improvement much apparently. The hydrogen mass fraction at monitors closed to the vents that is imposed with the wind keeps low level. As a result, all these kinds of positions are not suggested to be the locations for installing the sensors.