The quantitative risk assessment of a hydrogen generation unit

The safety of hydrogen generation process is a major concern. This paper discusses the quantitative analyzes of the risk imposed on neighborhood from the operation of a hydrogen generator using natural gas reforming process. For this purpose, after hazard identification, the frequency of scenarios was estimated using generic data. Quantitative risk assessment was applied for consequence modeling and risk estimation. The results revealed that, jet fire caused by a full bore rupture in Desulphurization reactor has the highest fatality (26person) and affects the largest area of 5102 m2. The lethality radius, maximum radiation and safe distance of this incident were 140 m, 370 kW/m2 and 225 m respectively. A full bore rupture in Reformer can lead to the most dangerous flash fire. In this incident the concentration of released material in LFL zone (area of 1483.17 m2) and ½ LEL zone (area of 1970.74 m2) were 61,125 ppm and 40,000 ppm respectively. QRA is a credible method to assess the risks of hydrogen generation process.

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► The process safety of hydrogen generation was analyzed.
► The risk imposed on neighborhood was determined.
► The risk was quantitatively assessed.
► Validated technique and instrumentation were applied.
► The safety of a hydrogen generation unit using natural gas reforming was assessed.