The Spread of Fire from Adjoining Vehicles to a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle

1. The Spread of Fire from Adjoining Vehicles to a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Japan Automobile Research Institute Yohsuke Tamura, Masaru Takabayashi, Masayuki Takeuchi and Mitsuishi Hiroyuki.

2. Fire phenomenon of HFCV Thermal PRDs are safety devices intended to avoid rupture of the vessels by releasing the fuel. Fire phenomenon of HFCV is different from gasoline vehicle. Hydrogen vessel for Vehicle Hydrogen flame In the process of HFCV widespread, HFCV will cause a fire with other fuel vehicles. Example: Crash fire between HFCV and Gasoline vehicle

3. HFCV fire by a gasoline pool fire

4. HFCV fire by a gasoline pool fire

5. HFCV fire by a gasoline pool fire Just before TPRD activation 1second after TPRD activation

6. Object • It is necessary to examine the spread of fire with adjoined vehicles including FCV for safety design against fire of parking, tunnels, ferries and car carriers. • As the first step, we implemented two fire tests.

7. Contents 1) Fire test on juxtaposed gasoline vehicle and HFCV 2) Multiple-HFCV fire test assuming a car carrier －Direct cause of fire spread from fire origin vehicle to adjacent vehicle －Fire spread behaviour

8. Contents 1) Fire test on juxtaposed gasoline vehicle and HFCV 2) Multiple-HFCV fire test assuming a car carrier 8

9. Fire Test on Juxtaposed Gasoline Vehicle and HFCV

10. Test results on Juxtaposed Gasoline Vehicle and HFCV

11. Cause of fire spread to adjacent vehicle When the gasoline vehicle caught fire at 58 min., HFCV had already been burned down. The adjoining gasoline vehicle was not ignited by the hydrogen flames generated through TPRD activation but by flames from the exterior and interior fittings of the fire origin vehicle.

12. Grand surface temp. PRD activation The hydrogen flames curled up on both sides of the HFCV’s body. .

13. Contents 1) Fire test on juxtaposed gasoline vehicle and HFCV 2) Multiple-HFCV fire test assuming a car carrier 13

14. Multiple-HFCV Fire Test Assuming a Car Carrier Fire scenario • The transportation of vehicles in a car carrier ship is simulated with regard to vehicle placement and keeping all the vehicle windows shut. • A fire accident occurs involving only the vehicles parked on one floor of a car carrier ship.

15. Test method

16. Test result

17. Fire spread The cause of fire spread from fire origin vehicle to adjacent vehicle is the flames spreading from the interior and exterior fittings of the fire origin vehicle – not the hydrogen flames from TPRD activation. However, after TPRD activation, the FCV’s fire spread rapidly.

18. Conclusions 1)Fire test on juxtaposed gasoline vehicle and HFCV 2) Multiple-HFCV fire test assuming a car carrier The direct cause of fire spread from fire origin vehicle to adjacent vehicle is the flames spreading from the interior and exterior fittings of the fire origin vehicle – not the hydrogen flames from TPRD activation. However, hydrogen flame by TPRD of a HFCV, in turn may activate the TPRD of adjoining HFCV. • To minimize damage by HFCV fire, therefore, it is important to realize early detection and extinguishing of fire before the TPRD activates

19. Thank you for your attention!

20. Temperature of the gasoline vehicle

21. Hydrogen venting direction and location

22. Fire spread process

23. Temperature measurement points on tanks

24. Temperature on tanksof B vehicle After the ignition of HFCV-B, temperature at its rear tank’s end plug (BTR_END) gradually increased.about 117 min. later the temperatures all over the rear tank climbed rapidly, following the activation of HFCV-A’s rear TPRD. About 3 min. after this temperature climb, the rear TPRD of HFCV-B activated; however, HFCV-B’s front tank was hardly affected by the TPRD activation in HFCV-A..

25. Temperature on tanksof C vehicle Although temperatures on the front tank did not change for some time after HFCV-C’s ignition, the temperatures suddenly climbed after the activation of HFCV-A’s rear TPRD.