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COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF FIRE-INDUCED FAILURE IN HIGH-PRESSURE HYDROGEN CYLINDER
Abstract
Hydrogen is increasingly recognized as a promising energy carrier, but its storage poses significant safety challenges. One of the most common storage methods is the use of high-pressure Type I steel cylinders, where hydrogen is kept in gaseous form at variable pressures up to 1000 bar. Cylinders used in industrial processes are usually equipped with pressure or temperature-pressure relief devices, while transportation units often lack such protection. In accident scenarios, especially under fire exposure, cylinders may undergo uncontrolled rupture, creating severe hazards including pressure wave, fireball formation, and high-velocity fragmentation. This study investigates and compares the fire-induced failure behavior of two hydrogen cylinder sizes commonly used in practice: 50 L and 245 L. Large-scale experiments were conducted, during which each cylinder was exposed to external heating until catastrophic failure occurred. Throughout the process, internal pressure evolution, shell temperature distribution, and failure mechanisms were continuously monitored. Particular attention was given to the fragmentation patterns of both cylinder sizes, as these determine the range and intensity of the resulting hazards. The comparative analysis highlights how cylinder volume influences the rate of pressurization, heat absorption, and the mode of structural failure. The results indicate notable differences between the smaller and larger cylinders in terms of time to failure, fragmentation behavior, and associated risks. These findings contribute to a better understanding of hydrogen storage safety and provide a basis for developing guidelines for the safe use, handling, and transportation of high-pressure hydrogen cylinders of different capacities.
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References5
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