Hydrogen Plant Explosion and Vent Gas Dispersion Assessments

Requirements

We were commissioned by an international industrial gas supplier to assess the explosion overpressure impacts due to the catastrophic failure of selected equipment for three proposed hydrogen plants across Southeast Asia.

The customer plans to construct the following new hydrogen plants within three different petrochemical plants, located in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines:

• Hydrogen Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) plant within a methionine plant on Jurong Island, Singapore;
• Hydrogen SMR plant within a bio-methionine and thiochemicals plant in Malaysia; 
• Electrolysis hydrogen plant within an integrated polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) plant in the Philippines.

Solutions

Through the delivery of an explosion impact and vent dispersion study we undertook the following:

• Conducted consequence analysis to assess explosion impacts and vent dispersion effects of hazardous gas arising from hydrogen plant;
• Performed frequency analysis to assess explosion probability of identified loss of containment scenarios;
• Assessed impacts hazardous impacts (flammability, toxicity and explosion) to personnel, administration building and central control room;
• Provided recommendations to further improve safety of hydrogen plant.

Benefits

Several recommendations were raised for the customer’s consideration to improve the safety of the proposed hydrogen plants, which include equipment design review, re-location of critical infrastructure, and other safety measures.

Consequence modelling simulations with detailed illustrations were presented to the client to facilitate their understanding of the study basis and results.

Additionally, we provided frequency assessments to be performed for scenarios with consequence results. This presented a more realistic and complete view of explosion risks considering both the severity and likelihood of occurrence, which assisted the customer in deciding the appropriate course of action.