Evaluating efficiency of methods ensuring fire and explosion safety of hydrogen-powered transport

PURPOSE. The paper examines the issue of switching to hydrogen as motor fuel in terms of fire and explosion safety. Taking into account the peculiarities of various hydrogen storage methods, the specifics of emergency situations development and insufficiency of the existing methods of passive and active fire and explosion protection for vehicles running on the given gas are discussed. METHODS. Analysis of available scientific data on hydrogen as motor fuel storage methods used in transport has been carried out. An assessment of the possibility to use a nitrogen fire engine for the described options for ensuring explosion safety has been made. FINDINGS. The insufficiency of existing methods for passive and active fire and explosion protection of vehicles running on hydrogen has been shown. To solve the identified issues, it is proposed to use a nitrogen fire engine to create local gaseous extinguishing environment around a hydrogen-powered damaged vehicle, as well as portable toximeters to control atmosphere explosion risk. RESEARCH APPLICATION FIELD. The results are applicable to ensure fire and explosion safety of vehicles and transport infrastructure. CONCLUSIONS. It is shown that the existing methods of passive and active fire and explosion protection for hydrogen-powered vehicles do not fully ensure their fire and explosion safety. In fire departments tactics in relation to such objects, actions under the threat of explosive hydrogen-air environment have not been worked out, there are no methods of mobile assessment for hydrogen level in the atmosphere. One of the options for ensuring explosion safety of hydrogen-air environment can be using a nitrogen fire engine to create local gaseous extinguishing environment around a hydrogen-powered damaged vehicle. Portable toximeters can be used to quickly determine hydrogen level in the atmosphere, which allow getting quick results and controlling potential environment hazard by combustible substance concentration.