Quantitative Risk Assessment for Hydrogen-Powered Locomotive Refueling

Summary

A quantitative risk assessment was conducted for hydrogen-powered locomotive refueling systems, analyzing gaseous (450-bar and 900-bar) and liquid (10-bar) hydrogen scenarios. The study found that individual fatality risk, which peaked below 1.2 × 10⁻⁵ fatalities per year, was highly sensitive to pipe size, leak detection probability, and component leak frequencies. In contrast, factors like Mach flame speed and ambient conditions had little impact. The assessment revealed that thermal PPE provided minimal reduction in fatality risk for operators in close proximity to high-pressure gaseous leaks, where the hazard overwhelms protection, but was more effective in lower-risk situations. This work highlights areas for risk mitigation, such as improving leak detection and component maintenance, for hydrogen fueling infrastructure.

Key Facts

Source Document

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