SRI International, an independent nonprofit research and development organization, announced today it will present new research identifying methods for designing safer structures in the future for hydrogen fueled vehicles, at the upcoming International Conference on Hydrogen Safety, Sept. 16 – 18, in Ajaccio?Corsica, France. The paper, titled Experimental Study of Hydrogen Release Accidents in a Vehicle Garage, was authored by SRI researchers, with funding from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) through the Institute of Applied Energy (IAE), both based in Japan. SRI conducted experiments to determine the risks associated with accidental hydrogen releases and subsequent combustion in a structure built to simulate a one-car garage. SRI’s research highlights important insights that will help consumers use hydrogen safely on a daily basis.
“We are starting to see an increase in the use of hydrogen as a clean energy storage medium in many applications, including fuel cell vehicles and stationary power generation. For these applications it is important to investigate the hazards that can occur when hydrogen is released and develop approaches for mitigating the risk in these scenarios,” said Erik Merilo, SRI research engineer. “Hydrogen has been used safely for many years in different industries, and SRI is working with industry and government officials to provide the data necessary to ensure that hydrogen can be used safely by the general public.”
SRI’s work on hydrogen dispersion and deflagration was recently presented to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The data will be used for evaluating the risk associated with accidental hydrogen leaks in residential-type garages and for development of mitigation techniques, such as ventilation.
SRI has many years of experience in hydrogen safety research, and has performed large-scale tests to obtain fundamental hydrogen combustion data and investigate potential accident scenarios involving fuel-cell vehicles, transports, products and storage facilities. The data has been used to develop codes and standards, validate numerical models, and investigate risk mitigation approaches. In all tests, SRI measured the characteristics of the deflagration and detonation, as well as the potential hazard produced.
For more information about the International Conference on Hydrogen Safety, visit:
http://conference.ing.unipi.it/ichs2009/
About SRI International
Silicon Valley-based SRI International is one of the world’s leading independent research and technology development organizations. SRI, which was founded by Stanford University as Stanford Research Institute in 1946 and became independent in 1970, has been meeting the strategic needs of clients and partners for more than 60 years. Perhaps best known for its invention of the computer mouse and interactive computing, SRI has also been responsible for major advances in networking and communications, robotics, drug discovery and development, advanced materials, atmospheric research, education research, economic development, national security, and more. The nonprofit institute performs sponsored research and development for government agencies, businesses, and foundations. SRI also licenses its technologies, forms strategic alliances, and creates spin-off companies. In 2008, SRI’s consolidated revenues, including its wholly owned for-profit subsidiary, Sarnoff Corporation, were approximately $490 million.
