Is Hydrogen Refueling Station Safe with Valves and other Mechanical Equipment?

Hydrogenation stations can be divided into systems of hydrogen compression systems, systems of gas storage systems, filling systems and control systems. Also, there are electrical equipment and other mechanical equipment including pipelines, fittings, valves and so on in the hydrogenation stations. The core equipment of the hydrogen refueling station is a compressor of hydrogen compressor, systems of hydrogen storage and machines of hydrogen refueling.

Safety of the Hydrogen Refueling Station

Hydrogen energy is a secondary energy that is safer and more controllable than natural gas. The government regards the hydrogen as a hazardous chemical. However, in fact, the diffusion coefficient of hydrogen is 11 times higher than that of ordinary gasoline. It means that if in the open space instead of a closed space, the specific gravity of hydrogen is equivalent to one-fourth of the entire air. When the hydrogen leaks in the open space, the hydrogen may evaporate before it has time to burn or explode. Therefore, it can basically be said that hydrogen is a very safe in the open space.

Therefore, from a security perspective, it cannot be said to be completely safe. However, we can take various measures to prevent it from resulting in security consequences. In developed countries such as Europe and the United States, gasoline and diesel are also called hazardous chemicals, but they also have the energy attribute. This means that when produced in the factory, gasoline and diesel need to be managed through the method specially for the hazardous chemicals. Also, after entering the gas station, they should be restored according to requirements. Hydrogen is a kind of hazardous chemicals in most countries, but it does not prevent it from being used for energy. Only if energy attribute is given to the hydrogen, can hydrogen get a greater breakthrough in both research and application.

Difficulties in Hydrogen Refueling Station

The construction of hydrogen refueling stations is very difficult because hydrogen is far more dangerous than gasoline. Stations for general gas do not meet the requirements for the construction of hydrogen stations. Only a part of them may be able to carry out this service of hydrogen refueling in the future. The construction of hydrogen refueling stations is extremely demanding, which also requires a lot of space by occupying a large area. At the same time, safety measures such as explosion protection must be settled in the hydrogen refueling stations. Transportation such as taxi has high requirements in density for the construction of hydrogen refueling stations, which is difficult to achieve.

What is more, compared with advanced countries such as Japan and the United States, China has a huge gap in the hydrogen energy industry, and these countries are still prudent. Especially in terms of hydrogen refueling stations, most stations in China have also introduced technology from Japan and other countries or directly entrusted the construction of hydrogen refueling stations to foreign companies for construction. Up to now, we are unable to carry out the construction of liquid station of hydrogen refueling on our own, while the technologies such as the designing of the valves of liquid station are developing rapidly abroad.