Risk Assessment of a Gaseous Hydrogen Fueling Station (GHFs)

Promoted by national and European investment plans promoting the use of hydrogen as energy carrier, the number of Gaseous Hydrogen Fueling Station (or GHFS) has been growing up quite significantly over the past years. Considering the new possible hazards and the related accidents induced by these installations, like seen in 2019 in Norway, this paper presents a risk assessment of a typical GHFS using the same methodology as the one required in France by the authorities for Seveso facilities. The fact that a hydrogen fueling station could be used by a public, not particularly trained to handle hydrogen, underlines the importance of this risk assessment. In this article, typical components related to GHFS (dispenser, high pressure storage, compressor, low pressure storage) are listed, and the hazard potentials linked to these components and the substances involved are identified. Based on these elements and an accidentology, a risk analysis has been conducted in order to identify all accidental situations that could occur. The workflow included a detailed risk assessment, consisting in modeling the thermal and explosion effects of all hazardous phenomena and in assessing the probability of occurrence for these scenarios. Regarding possible mitigation measures the study was based on an international benchmark for codes and standards made for GFHS. These preliminary outcomes of this study may be useful for any designer and/or owner of a GFHS.