Multidimensional risk analysis of hydrogen pipelines

Hydrogen has the highest mass specific energy content of all conventional fuels and is the most abundant element in the universe. It is considered as a renewable resource and sustainable solution for reducing global fossil fuel consumption and combating global warming. In general, it must be transported from production plants to demand points. Thus, the delivery process of its supply chain leads to the possibility of there being new forms of hazard. Pipelines have proven to be one of the cheapest ways to transport hydrogen. However, failures in pipelines can pose major risks. In this context, this paper proposes a multicriteria decision model for assessing the risk in hydrogen pipelines. By incorporating the decision maker's preferences structure into the decision process, the model enables sections of the pipeline to be ranked in terms of risk. The model proposed in this work is considered as an evolution of previous studies in the area, due to new features incorporated in the process. Finally, a numerical application is conducted in order to test the model. Copyright (C) 2012, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.