Consequence Assessment of Vapour cloud Explosion Involving Hydrogen Release

This work is concerned with the consequence analysis of vapour cloud explosion (VCE) due to accidental release of hydrogen (H2) from the hydrogen holder in a chloralkali plant. Hydrogen is highly flammable if released accidentally may lead to flash fire or VCE which has the potential to damage people, equipment and facilities in the vicinity of the hydrogen holder. The equivalent TNT, TNO multi energy and Baker-strehlow models are used to estimate the overpressure from the explosion. The probit equation is used to estimate the fatalities of people and damage of facilities from overpressure at different distance from the centre of explosion. The people working at a location of 25 m from the centre of explosion may get affected with different fatality range from 8 to100 %. The structure at a radial distance of 100m from the center of explosion may get minor damage with different probability from 32 to 100 %. The findings of the vulnerability analysis may be used to evaluate the improvements needs on the site and to ensure the safe design, position and location of existing and new structures.