<p>Hydrogen is a colourless, odourless, flammable, tasteless, non-toxic gas. It has very low ignition energy and burns with a non-luminous flame which is invisible under bright light. Hydrogen can easily pass through porous materials due to its small molecular size. It can be absorbed by some containment materials. The low viscosity, extremely high diffusivity, high buoyancy and propensity to cause embrittlement make Hydrogen susceptible to leaks too.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="uses-of-hydrogen">Uses of hydrogen</h2>



<p>Hydrogen is used for various purposes in a wide variety of industries such as petroleum refining, petroleum manufacturing, semiconductor industry, glass purification, aerospace applications, fertilizers, manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, annealing and heat treating metals, hydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids in vegetable oil, welding coolant in power generators and others.</p>



<p>Depending on the application and the industry, Hydrogen can be a raw material, a catalyst or a reagent.</p>



<h3 id="role-of-hydrogen-in-renewable-energy">Role of hydrogen in renewable energy</h3>



<p>When it comes to renewable energy, existing technology such as batteries is insufficient. And this is where Hydrogen comes into play. The gas can be produced at any time when there is an oversupply of electricity and then stored and transported over long distances. Alternatively, when demand is higher than supply, hydrogen can be converted back to electrical energy through fuel cells or hydrogen-fired turbines.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="risks-associated-with-handling-hydrogen">Risks associated with handling Hydrogen</h2>



<p>Hydrogen is combustible over a wide range of concentrations – from 4% to 74.2% by volume. And this combustible property makes safety a major concern while handling Hydrogen of any kind. The processes involved in the storage of electrical energy via Hydrogen need to be conducted with utmost care and safety. The risk of fire and explosion remains if Hydrogen is not handled following certain conditions. For example, a hydrogen-air mixture can get ignited through any ignition source. Cryogenic liquids also pose dangers. Hence, it is essential to follow certain safety guidelines while handling hydrogen of any kind.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="general-safety-guidelines-while-handling-hydrogen">General safety guidelines while handling hydrogen</h2>



<p>Irrespective of the equipment being handled, here are a few general safety guidelines that one should follow while handling hydrogen of any kind:</p>



<ul><li>Always secure hydrogen gas cylinders in an upright position to avoid being knocked over.&nbsp;</li><li>Using regulators designed to be used with Hydrogen is recommended.&nbsp;</li><li>Trying to repair a regulator is a big no-no. Also never try to force connections that do not readily fit together.&nbsp;</li><li>Never crack hydrogen cylinder valves to remove dust or dirt from the fittings. Although this practice is acceptable for other gases, it may result in self-ignition when it comes to Hydrogen.&nbsp;</li><li>Use leak-checking equipment regularly to check for hydrogen leaks.&nbsp;</li><li>Always secure the valves before moving hydrogen gas cylinders from their secured location.</li><li>All flammable materials should be kept in storage, away from major equipment or main working areas. Such storage areas need to have specially certified electrical and lighting equipment fit to be used in an explosive environment.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h2 id="regulatory-guidelines">Regulatory guidelines</h2>



<p>The inherent risk of handling Hydrogen has not escaped the attention of regulators. Hence, energy, health and safety regulators from across the world have laid down specific guidelines on every aspect of handling Hydrogen.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Health and Safety Executive, UK has laid down detailed requirements for the installation and usage of different kinds of Hydrogen and fuel cell systems.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Design and manufacturing requirements</strong></p>



<p>All products manufactured following the essential health and safety requirements of specific EU directives must have the CE marking. The CE conformity relates to design, manufacturing, and placing the product in the market.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The requirements of electrical products are elucidated in 94/9/EC - ATEX Equipment Directive 1. This directive applies to equipment (electrical and non-electrical) and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. For all such products, hazardous area classification has to be carried out to assess the potential locations and likelihoods of explosive atmosphere to ensure that no equipment acts as a source of ignition. All electrical equipment should be manufactured to avoid any electrical hazards and ensure electrical safety.</p>



<p>Fuel cell and components manufacturers also need to carry out a risk assessment to determine the health and safety requirements applicable to the equipment. Manufacturers also need to take necessary action to provide protection against fire and explosion.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Installation requirements&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p>Each industry is unique with specific installation requirements. However, here are some generic installation guidance for safe use of Hydrogen:</p>



<ul><li>Vessels with permanent installations need to have substantial support manufactured with non-combustible materials securely anchored to firm foundations.&nbsp;</li><li>Vessels transporting Hydrogen gas cylinders should be secured against accidental dislodgement and must have protection against accidental impact.</li><li>All hydrogen fuel cells should be installed outdoors as much as possible. In case they need to be located indoors, they should be placed in a well-ventilated area with minimal combustible materials around them. For outdoor installations, weather protection needs to be provided especially from extreme temperatures (below -20°C and 50°C).&nbsp;</li></ul>



<p><strong>Operation and maintenance requirements</strong></p>



<p>Adjustment and maintenance points must be located outside the danger zones. All adjustment, maintenance, repair, cleaning and servicing operations must be carried out while the equipment is at a complete standstill. All equipment must have procedures to isolate it from all energy sources, with clearly identifiable isolators. Isolators should have the capacity of being locked, where an operator is unable to check if the energy has been cut off.&nbsp;</p>



<p>If a piece of equipment is plugged into an electricity supply, removal of the plug is sufficient. However, the operator must have access to the plug. However, each piece of equipment should be designed in such a way that the requirement for operator intervention is minimal.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Hydrogen is changing the dynamics of the power and electrical equipment industry. This will be an area to watch out for in the coming years.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="hazardous-safety-and-hazardous-area-grouping">Hazardous safety and hazardous area grouping</h2>



<p>Each explosive atmosphere is characterized by distinctive properties including flame temperature, minimum ignition energy, upper and lower explosive limits and molecular weight. These properties determine the severity and likelihood of an explosion. Based on these, explosive atmosphere with the presence of gases are divided into four broad groups, which are commonly known as Gas Groups:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Gas Groups</strong></td><td><strong>Typical Gas Example</strong></td></tr><tr><td>I</td><td>Methane and coal dust</td></tr><tr><td>IIA</td><td>Propane, Petrol, Industrial Methane</td></tr><tr><td>IIB</td><td>Ethelyene, Coke oven gasses</td></tr><tr><td>IIC</td><td>Acetylene, Hydrogen, Carbon Disulphide</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p>Sometimes, a fifth category is assigned called IIB+H2, when an atmosphere has IIB gases along with the presence of Hydrogen. You can refer to our article What is <a href="https://ajvwp.easydesk.work/blog_type/what-is-gas-group-iib-h2-an-explanation/">Gas Group IIB + H2 - An Explanation</a> for more details.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Among the groups mentioned in the table, Group IIC is the most volatile group with the presence of the maximum amount of flammable gases. Hence, only equipment with Group IIC marking can be used in these areas. This means that these equipment are fitted with the maximum level of safety technologies. These equipment can also be used in Group IIA and IIB settings. However, the reverse is not true.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="products-used-in-group-iic-areas">Products used in Group IIC areas</h2>



<p>AJV Technical Equipment is a supplier of ATEX-certified products. Our most popular products include:</p>



<p><strong>1. Raytec Spartan High Power Zone 1 Floodlight HPFL</strong></p>



<p>With a lumen output of 10K-25K, these floodlights are designed for large and open hazardous areas. Such areas require highly reliable white light illumination. Manufactured using Raytec's field-proven, long-life LED technology, these floodlights come with an industry-leading 5-year warranty.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>2. Raytech Spartan 4ft Linear Zone 1 - WL 168</strong></p>



<p>A part of SPARTAN's extensive linear light range offering, these lights are suitable for new hazardous area installations as well as to retrofit existing fluorescent installations. The overall dimensions are compatible with common 2X36W fluorescents. They also come with a 5-year warranty.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Check out our product portfolio today to browse through our extensive range of explosion proof lighting.&nbsp;</p>

All you need to know about Hydrogen and safety

Need to know about Hydrogen and safety - AJV Tech explores the exciting world of hydrogen energy, diving into its applications and safety considerations. 