Current Status and Issues of Risk Assessment for Hydrogen Transport

Abstract

The objective of this article is to clarify the current status and issues of risk assessment for transporting hydrogen from production facility to hydrogen station for fuel cell vehicles. These clarifications were conducted through the comparison of hydrogen and dangerous materials transport in risk assessment studies. Hydrogen is one of the dangerous materials. Its transport to hydrogen station is still validation phase as against well-established dangerous materials transport. The risk assessment for hydrogen transport hence has the same framework as that for dangerous materials transport. As in the framework, there are the accident scenario creating, risk analysis, risk evaluation, and risk reduction. The difference in hydrogen and dangerous materials transport exists in accident scenario creating and risk analysis. In terms of creating accident scenario, hydrogen transport targets at virtual hydrogen supply system while dangerous materials transport targets at specific transport route. Risk analysis for hydrogen transport is based on a qualitative analysis whereas that for dangerous materials transport covers both qualitative and quantitative analysis. The issues of risk assessment for hydrogen transport are divided into two parts. The first part is the redefinition of risk associated with hydrogen transport. Risk assessment for hydrogen transport need to explore not only engineered risk but also psychological and social risk, such as social disorder and security. The second part is to close a gap between hydrogen and dangerous materials transport in risk assessment. Therefore, future risk assessment for hydrogen transport needs to create accident scenario suitable for unknown system and to effectively-use rich accident data for dangerous materials transport.