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Cylinders used within a laboratory can be used safely by meeting the requirements prescribed in NFPA 2,
Hydrogen Technologies Code, and NFPA 45, Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals.
Special consideration should be given to both safe handling and storage of cylinders. Regarding lecture
size cylinders, their small size can make them susceptible to damage and…
Flare-less compression style fittings are commonly used. Choose tubing materials and tube wall thicknesses suitable for hydrogen and pressures you are using. Make sure all tubing joints are properly made, mechanically supported to minimize stress and vibration, are in a ventilated space, and are easily accessible for inspection and leak testing.
In general, indoor storage should be limited and the use of hydrogen indoors should be the least necessary. Look to store flammable gases outdoors in dedicated protected area when practicable. Check to see what adopted building and fire codes in your jurisdiction say. NFPA 2, Hydrogen Technology Code, Sections 6.4.1 and 16.3 prescribe requirements to limit hydrogen storage and use in…
Purging is not recommended as a continuous part of vent stack operation. However, maintenance activity is a transient event and it’s prudent and recommended to purge a vent system prior to performing maintenance. It’s always possible that hydrogen could be leaking internally from a valve or other component and therefore create a hazard. Of particular note, care must be taken that proper…
We are not aware of a study for blended NG/H2. However, for high concentrations of NG, the vent system should be similar to NG, which still recommends a vent system as NG is less dense than air. For nearly pure hydrogen the recommendations of this presentation are in effect.
We would not open the vent system to inspect the internal piping without a good reason.
It is recommended to check for water in the vent stack trap
Recommended limits of heat flux for various exposures is provided in documents such as API Standard 521, the International Fire Code, the National Fire Protection Association and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers. Selection of a specific thermal radiation level is dependent upon a risk analysis. Some salient exposures are listed below.
The colors of hydrogen are not different hydrogen molecules. The colors represent the different methods to produce hydrogen. The colors are based on how much carbon is produced into the atmosphere during the manufacture of hydrogen.
That being said there is no difference in hydrogen vent systems design by color, only by the design parameters (i.e. temperature, pressure, flow rate,…
It is normal for some air ingress to occur from the vent stack outlet. This is not a hazard if the stack has been properly designed to withstand an internal explosion or fire. Once hydrogen flow from a device is initiated, it will sweep out any air that might be in the stack. Generally, if the vent rate is insufficient to sweep the air out, then it’s also insufficient to freeze or liquefy air…
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