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ATEX explosion protection for IIC hydrogen exhaust
For battery room ventilation, renewable energy storage cells and carrier technologies, hydrogen gas is likely to become key in ensuring a reliable, safe, and stable energy source in the post fossil fuel period. For this reason, it is vital the safety of hydrogen ventilation and correct hazardous classification are prioritised
T
herefore, the safety of hydrogen ventilation and a correct hazardous area classification should always be undertaken when
handling applications that have this explosive high temperature class (T1), IIC group gas. Hydrogen is a group IIC gas and belongs to the T1
temperature class making it one of the hottest, most dangerous gases. When mixed with oxygen, Hydrogen is a highly explosive substance that is odourless, colourless and lighter than air. The lightweight element accumulates above the
oxygen, and where effective ventilation is not in place, a build-up can occur. In extreme circumstances there have been cases of battery room explosions as a result of ineffective battery room ventilation. A small smoulder can create a huge explosion when
hydrogen is in the presence of oxygen, and besides this, hydrogen is hazardous to health, causing skin burns and eye issues. A typical industrial application where high levels of
hydrogen are prone to exist is within large battery rooms where energy storage cells are contained that power different parts of a building, vehicle, ship, system or component. Everyone knows the function of a battery; to store electricity in the form of chemical energy and to convert to electrical energy when required. Vented lead-acid batteries or flooded batteries
as they are also commonly known, consist of plates that are flooded with an acid electrolyte. When charging, the electrolyte emits hydrogen through the vents in the battery. Under normal operations, the release of hydrogen
is relatively small, but this is elevated during heavy recharge periods, especially for large industrial batteries and hydrogen cells. For battery room ventilation and in more current
renewable energy storage cells and carrier technologies, hydrogen will be a key factor in ensuring a reliable, safe, and stable energy source in the post fossil fuel period. Therefore, the safety of hydrogen ventilation
and a correct hazardous area classification should always be undertaken when handling applications that have this explosive high temperature class (T1), IIC group gas.
Hazardous Area Classifications
HACs or hazardous area classifications are used to identify places where, because of the potential for explosive atmospheres, special precautions over sources of ignition are needed to prevent explosions. Hazardous area classifications should only be
done by certified personal; equipment manufacturers should not decide the classification and the onus should be on the end user to determine the correct zone and class of the area to determine where an explosive atmosphere is present, if it may occasionally occur or if it will only exist in abnormal conditions. Dismissing a critical safety issue is clearly not
responsible, system integrators in commercial, industrial, renewable energy and dockyard applications need to identify the risks and design a system to protect in a fail-safe way. This also includes protecting personal with
protective workwear. Any structure containing hydrogen components should be adequately ventilated. Suspended ceilings, inverted pockets, confining cowlings or covers that might accumulate hydrogen should be avoided if possible. The release of hydrogen in laboratory settings should be controlled by enclosures, fume hoods or vented outside to prevent it from reaching an ignition source. The likelihood of an explosion occurring in the
case of a battery room depends on the number of batteries, the charge rate, the size of the room and the ventilation available. Legislation advises the number of air changes per hour, for example IS:1332 Battery Rooms advises 12 air changes per hour or suggest that hydrogen concentration levels are kept below 1% to avoid the risk of explosion.
The National Fire Protection Association lists the
explosive concentration level, or Lower Explosive Level (LEL) of hydrogen as 4%, so the legislation stipulating a maximum level below 1% encourages the safe implementation of ventilation systems to avoid explosions far below the stipulated 4% explosive level. Air changes per hour tables can help to determine the changeover rate depending on how the room is used. If the level of hydrogen in a battery room exceeds 1% after one hour of charging, mechanical ventilation using ATEX explosion proof exhaust fans is required. This should be compulsory even if the concentration is not expected to reach 1%. Ventilation should ideally be placed at both high points and low points within the room to encourage forced ventilation out of the room. There should be no air recirculation as this encourages the mix of the two gases, and where possible, on a separate ventilation system than the rest of the building. Corrosion resistant fans with ATEX non sparking
components, ideally roof mounted to exhaust upward and out are the ideal solution, but if not possible, ATEX wall mounted axial fans with back draught dampers, to avoid the return of hazardous substances, can be used. For example, Axair’s ATEX explosion proof fans are suitable for IIC gas groups to ensure adequate and safe removal of hydrogen gas. From January 2023 ATEX marking in the UK will change to UKEX but for now equipment may have both labels to show compliance. Both temperature class and gas group are important pieces of information that are required for the correct selection of ATEX industrial fans for hydrogen exhaust.
16 July 2022
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