The EU FireComp project and risk assessment of hydrogen composite storage applications using bow-tie analysis

Abstract : Hydrogen is expected to become a highly valuable energy carrier and significant mechanism for meeting future energy needs. The 3-year European FireComp project was initiated in 2013 to explore the thermomechanical behaviour of high pressure vessels in composite materials when exposed to fire conditions. FireComp brings together European partners from diverse disciplines with the main objective to better characterise the conditions that are needed to avoid loss of hydrogen containment. The project comprises six work packages, which include looking at fire protection strategies and providing input into regulations, codes and standards, as well as dissemination activities. The main activities include : - Experimental work in order to improve the understanding of heat transfer mechanisms and the loss of strength of composite high-pressure vessels in fire conditions. - Modelling of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of these vessels. The current paper briefly outlines the FireComp project, and describes quantitative risk assessments of the hydrogen composite storage systems exposed to fire conditions using bow-tie analysis, based on previous results from earlier tasks. Different applications were considered: stationary applications, transportable cylinders, bundles and tube trailers, and were illustrated by a case study. Risk analyses have been conducted for each application with the aim of leading to the definition of optimised safety strategies; the main goal is to ensure that the composite storage systems are at least as safe as systems using steel cylinders. Further work within the FireComp project will provide bonfire test results to allow refinement of the risk analysis.