SUSHy Project Workflow

With respect to hybrid renewable-energy-resources (HREP) hydrogen stations, WP1 is developing a framework to identify typical and atypical accident scenarios related to hydrogen systems that may lead to uncontrolled releases of hydrogen, especially considering those that directly endanger nearby communities and the neighbouring environment.

Tasks (Ts) of WP1 include:

• T1.1 Identification of the structures of the hydrogen systems considering the spatial allocation of key components for generating or storing hydrogen, including the geometry of those components and main process parameters, such as the gas pressure;
• T1.2 Development of scenarios for accident cases involving uncontrolled hydrogen releases, and estimation of the potential domino effects;
• T1.3 Analysis of the risk in the operation of hydrogen systems; and
• T1.4 Determination of the size of the potentially exposed areas in the proximity of key components in the hydrogen systems.

In the case of HREP hydrogen stations, designed protection and emergency response systems typically fall within one of the following categories. Detectors and alarms for slight hydrogen leaks, automatic shutdown systems to close the hydrogen valve quickly, emergency exhaust systems, inert gas nitrogen introduction systems, cooling systems, fire-extinguishing systems (e.g., water spraying) and anti-explosion walls. Based on the scenarios identified in WP1, a probabilistic digital twin at the system level is being developed in WP3 to analyse the effectiveness and performance of abovementioned systems under the uncertainties involved in various scenarios.

Tasks of WP3 include:

• T3.1 Design of a novel probabilistic digital twin model for assessing emergency systems for HREP hydrogen fuelling stations;
• T3.2 Development and verification of new algorithms that consider parameters and uncertainties related to production and storage with controllable protection measures and risks at a HREP hydrogen fuelling station; and
• T3.3 Optimisation of specification, placement, and operating strategies for protection measures considering cost and safety (against domino effects).

Hydrogen should be produced commercially under competitive conditions, and a potential HREP station should be evaluated against relevant codes and standards. The problem arising from the variability of renewable energy sources can be solved by combining two or more sources with batteries. In WP5, various parameters of HREP hydrogen stations are examined using artificial intelligence techniques, while the whole system can be evaluated economically considering different probabilistic scenarios for the hydrogen load demand, as well as issues of unreliability stemming from the renewable energies.

Tasks of WP5 include:

• T5.1 Evaluation of the renewable power system for hydrogen stations for both connected-to-the-grid and standalone conditions;
• T5.2 Estimation of hydrogen production cost covering all identified considerations, such as safety risk, renewable source type, and so forth;
• T5.3 Development of sensitivity analysis methods for operational parameters, such as power purchase price (for off-grid mode), undesired stoppage and maintenances; and
• T5.4 Development of an optimisation algorithm for the economic viability of HREP hydrogen stations.