Experimental study of pressure dynamics, spontaneous ignition and flame propagation during hydrogen release from high-pressure storage tank through 15 mm diameter tube and exhaust chamber connected to atmosphere

Hydrogen is expected to be a promising fuel in the future. However, high-pressure hydrogen is extremely easy to leak, after which spontaneous ignition may occur and causes serious hazards. For the purpose of collecting data to assess the risks and develop mitigation measures, high-pressure hydrogen release through a tube with a diameter of 15 mm and length of 360 mm and subsequent spontaneous ignition and flame propagation are experimentally studied in this work. Piezoelectric pressure transducers and light sensors are employed to detect shock waves and spontaneous ignition inside the tube, respectively. A high-speed video camera is used to record the flame propagation outside the tube. It is found that the pressure in the tank does not decrease immediately after high-pressure hydrogen release. The pressure depletion rate in the tank increases at first and decreases afterwards. Spontaneous ignition of pressurized hydrogen has a tendency to occur with higher burst pressure in the tube with a diameter of 15 mm and minimum pressure for spontaneous ignition in a 15 mm tube is between 3.30 MPa and 4.09 MPa (previous experiments were performed in tubes with diameters of 5 and 10 mm-this is new information). Initial flame detection time of spontaneous ignition is defined and it is shorter for the case with higher burst pressure. The velocity of the flame moving downstream outside the tube decreases at first and then remains approximately constant after the flame splits into two parts. In addition, the flame appears earlier and lasts longer with higher burst pressure. For the cases where spontaneous ignition successfully occurs, the pressure inside the exhaust chamber increases twice and oscillates with a larger amplitude. The pressure does not increase again and it oscillates with a smaller amplitude in other cases. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.