Knowing how to predict the impacts of an uncontained, outdoor hydrogen explosion is key to protecting the workers, public, and infrastructure supporting the hydrogen fuel economy
As Canada progresses in its quest towards clean energy, hydrogen continues to stand out as a powerful energy carrier. The research exploring its potential applications stretches across electricity generation, long-haul transport, energy storage, and more.
And, like any fuel, hydrogen must be handled safely, especially because it’s extremely flammable.
Though rare, an outdoor explosion can happen when hydrogen gas is accidentally released from containment and ignited. This could happen at a hydrogen refueling station, an industrial facility, or even on the road during transport, for example. But, compared to explosions that happen in confined space, those that happen in the “open air” have a greater likelihood of potentially impacting the public, making it even more essential to mitigate risks.
This is why a research team at Chalk River Laboratories is using computational modelling to better understand and provide the data needed to prevent such events — open-air hydrogen explosions and their resulting pressure and shockwaves that blast whatever is in their path.
Researchers developed their own advanced computer models to simulate how an outdoor explosion impacts nearby structures, using data from a real-world experiment involving controlled hydrogen detonations near reinforced concrete walls as their benchmark.
What sets their model apart is how it combines multiple scientific disciplines to more accurately capture what happens during an explosion. It blends together fluid and thermal dynamics, structural mechanics, and chemistry.
“Many empirical models skip over the chemistry because of how complex it can be,” explains Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) materials scientist Yuqing Ding.
Their team’s model, though, includes simplified chemistry that gives it the ability to efficiently capture the true behaviour of the explosion. And when the team compared their simulations to the actual experimental results, they found that their approach reasonably matched reality, validating that their model can reliably inform safety, risk, and engineering design assessments.
By virtually simulating such scenarios, their work opens the door to accurately and efficiently predicting forces generated by the blasts — without needing expensive, time-consuming physical tests or a supercomputer. Tools like these are essential to managing risks and building public confidence while hydrogen becomes a cornerstone of Canada’s clean energy future.
This research is funded by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s (AECL) Federal Nuclear Science & Technology (FNST) work plan program, which connects federal organizations, departments, and agencies to the nuclear science expertise and facilities we have at Chalk River Laboratories.
Under this program, our researchers carry out projects designed to support the Canadian government’s core responsibilities and priorities across the areas of health, safety and security, energy, and the environment.
