Safety evaluation of a PEMFC bus

Lionel Perrette (1) , Samira Chelhaoui (1) , David Corgier (2)

1 INERIS - Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques
2 Direction R&D

In 2005, a fuel cell bus manufactured by the French company IRISBUS will operate in the streets of Paris. Under the French automotive regulation, IRISBUS is allowed to run its fuel cell prototype, provided that it guarantees its safe operation. This task requires a risk analysis to be carried out. INERIS has been chosen to drive this study. This paper reviews the risk assessment methodology and results. It highlights that maintenance and use are the most critical stages because of potential aggressions on the hydrogen system. It also indicates that the greater hazard potential lies in high pressure hydrogen storage and distribution. As such, it appears that more information is required on high pressure tank behaviour faced with different thermal and mechanical aggressions. Beyond, thermal fuse reliability has to be known. However, this bus features design principles and safety barriers that bring the risk down to an acceptable level.

Domaines: Sciences de l'ingénieur [physics]

Lionel Perrette, Samira Chelhaoui, David Corgier. Safety evaluation of a PEMFC bus. 5. Hydrogen Power Theoretical and Enginnering Solutions International Symposium (HYPOTHESIS), Sep 2003, Porto Conte, Italy. ⟨ineris-00972430⟩