Experimental and computational-theoretical capabilities of RFNC—VNIITF and the tasks of ensuring the safety of hydrogen energy technologies

The development of hydrogen energy technologies can be held back by the exceptional explosiveness of hydrogen-containing mixtures. In order to minimize the risks of accidents, it is necessary to adapt regulatory documents and create new safety analysis tools based on both experimental and calculated data. As part of ensuring the safety of hydrogen energy technologies, the Russian Federal Nuclear Center—Zababakhin All-Russia Research Institute of Technical Physics (RFNC—VNIITF) has created a complex of laboratory benches and polygon facilities, which are designed for detailed studies of hydrogen outflow, ignition, and combustion in various modes. High-precision numerical models are verified for calculating selected emergency scenarios. A software tool is also being developed for assessing the explosion safety of various emergency scenarios and providing a quantitative measure of the risks involved in specific technological solutions.