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Title: Risk Assessment of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles in Tunnels

Abstract

The need to understand the risks and implications of traffic incidents involving hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles in tunnels is increasing in importance with higher numbers of these vehicles being deployed. A risk analysis was performed to capture potential scenarios that could occur in the event of a crash and provide a quantitative calculation for the probability of each scenario occurring, with a qualitative categorization of possible consequences. The risk analysis was structured using an event sequence diagram with probability distributions on each event in the tree and random sampling was used to estimate resulting probability distributions for each end-state scenario. Here, the most likely consequence of a crash is no additional hazard from the hydrogen fuel (98.1–99.9% probability) beyond the existing hazards in a vehicle crash, although some factors need additional data and study to validate. These scenarios include minor crashes with no release or ignition of hydrogen. When the hydrogen does ignite, it is most likely a jet flame from the pressure relief device release due to a hydrocarbon fire (0.03–1.8% probability). This work represents a detailed assessment of the state-of-knowledge of the likelihood associated with various vehicle crash scenarios. This is used in an event sequence frameworkmore » with uncertainty propagation to estimate uncertainty around the probability of each scenario occurring.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Fuel Cell Technologies Office
OSTI Identifier:
1570250
Report Number(s):
SAND-2019-11064J
Journal ID: ISSN 0015-2684; 679723
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Fire Technology
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 56; Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 0015-2684
Publisher:
Springer
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS; Hydrogen; Risk; Fuel cell electric vehicle; Event sequence diagram

Citation Formats

Ehrhart, Brian David, Brooks, Dusty Marie, Muna, Alice Baca, and LaFleur, Chris Bensdotter. Risk Assessment of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles in Tunnels. United States: N. p., 2019. Web. doi:10.1007/s10694-019-00910-z.
Ehrhart, Brian David, Brooks, Dusty Marie, Muna, Alice Baca, & LaFleur, Chris Bensdotter. Risk Assessment of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles in Tunnels. United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10694-019-00910-z
Ehrhart, Brian David, Brooks, Dusty Marie, Muna, Alice Baca, and LaFleur, Chris Bensdotter. Sat . "Risk Assessment of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles in Tunnels". United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10694-019-00910-z. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1570250.
@article{osti_1570250,
title = {Risk Assessment of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles in Tunnels},
author = {Ehrhart, Brian David and Brooks, Dusty Marie and Muna, Alice Baca and LaFleur, Chris Bensdotter},
abstractNote = {The need to understand the risks and implications of traffic incidents involving hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles in tunnels is increasing in importance with higher numbers of these vehicles being deployed. A risk analysis was performed to capture potential scenarios that could occur in the event of a crash and provide a quantitative calculation for the probability of each scenario occurring, with a qualitative categorization of possible consequences. The risk analysis was structured using an event sequence diagram with probability distributions on each event in the tree and random sampling was used to estimate resulting probability distributions for each end-state scenario. Here, the most likely consequence of a crash is no additional hazard from the hydrogen fuel (98.1–99.9% probability) beyond the existing hazards in a vehicle crash, although some factors need additional data and study to validate. These scenarios include minor crashes with no release or ignition of hydrogen. When the hydrogen does ignite, it is most likely a jet flame from the pressure relief device release due to a hydrocarbon fire (0.03–1.8% probability). This work represents a detailed assessment of the state-of-knowledge of the likelihood associated with various vehicle crash scenarios. This is used in an event sequence framework with uncertainty propagation to estimate uncertainty around the probability of each scenario occurring.},
doi = {10.1007/s10694-019-00910-z},
journal = {Fire Technology},
number = 3,
volume = 56,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Sep 21 00:00:00 EDT 2019},
month = {Sat Sep 21 00:00:00 EDT 2019}
}

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