[ certification ]
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Electrolyser safety through certification
Electrolysers range from small , appliance-size products to large , multi-megawatt-scale production facilities . In all cases quality and safety must be ensured . One of the major concerns when designing , building , operating or even talking about a hydrogen system is safety . Known for its high flammability range and small molecular size , hydrogen can easily leak , forming an explosive mixture if adequate measures are not taken . Taking adequate measures , however , can be a straightforward process if attention is paid to safety from the design on .
By Rashi Mor and Álvaro Fernandes , Kiwa
To be able to determine whether a design is safe or not , the associated hazards expected during the lifetime of the system should be identified . This is where risk assessment comes into the picture .
Risk assessment
Risk assessment is a process that helps identify hazards and quantify the risks associated with hazards by taking into consideration factors like likelihood and severity . Several methods exist
( HAZOP , FMEA , HAZID , QRA , etc .) that can be used to conduct a risk assessment for a given system . The same is applicable to electrolysers . Electrolysers are peculiar systems due to the presence of flammable gases , oxygen and electricity in the vicinity of each other , high-pressure – and possibly hightemperature – operating conditions , and potential release of toxic gases . All these characteristics can result in fatal events if not properly considered . Therefore , in addition to a risk assessment ,
24 Hydrogen Tech World | Issue 7 | December 2022