New Experimental Data for Fragment Behavior Following CGH2 Tank Bursts

Hydrogen is a key player in the carbon-free modern economy, offering versatile and clean applications across transportation, industry, and power generation. However, safety issues related to its high flammability and potential for explosions must be carefully managed through predictive modeling, robust infrastructure design, and relevant safety protocols. Among these challenges, the catastrophic rupture of compressed gaseous hydrogen (CGH2) tanks results in a combination of blast waves, fireballs, and flying debris. While blast waves and fireballs have received dedicated research, the study of flying debris has not garnered enough attention in experimental programs. Predicting the size, velocity, and flying distance of fragments from a hydrogen tank burst is crucial for the safe use and handling of hydrogen. This assessment helps define exclusion zones, ensuring that people and infrastructure are outside the impact zone. The availability of experimental results on fragments generated by hydrogen tank bursts is limited compared to military and defence research. Existing data often comes from small-scale tests and historical incidents, which may not fully capture real-world conditions. Much of the current understanding is extrapolated from other fields, highlighting the need for hydrogen-specific research. Over the past four years, CEA (Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives) and SID (Service de l’Infrastructure de la Défense)-EPN (Expertise et Production Nationale) have conducted experimental programs dealing with the burst of type IV CGH2 tanks, gathering relevant information on fragment behavior under well-controlled conditions. This article reviews the experimental data related to hydrogen tank burst fragments in the open literature and describes the additional information obtained from recent experimental programs. The measured velocities and flying distances are compared to existing models to support the definition of exclusion zones.