GB/T 40060-2021Technical requirements for storage and transportation of liquid hydrogen (English PDF)

1 Scope

This Standard specifies the requirements for the installation of liquid hydrogen storage vessel during the storage and transportation of liquid hydrogen, the transportation of tank cars and liquid hydrogen tank containers, purging and replacement, safety and protection, and accident handling.

This Standard is applicable to technical requirements for storage and transportation of liquid hydrogen storage vessel, liquid hydrogen transport vehicle and liquid hydrogen tank containers.

This Standard is inapplicable to storage and transportation of liquid hydrogen in military, national defense and aerospace fields.

2 Normative references

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

GB 2894, Safety Signs and Guideline for the Use

GB 4387, Safety regulation for railway and road transportation in plants of industrial enterprises

GB 12014, Protective clothing - Static protective clothing

GB 21148, Foot protection - Safety footwear

GB 21668, Provisions of vehicles for the carriage of dangerous goods with regard to their specific constructional features

GB/T 24499, Technology glossary for gaseous hydrogen, hydrogen energy and hydrogen energy system

GB/T 31421, Occupational antistatic headwear

GB 50140, Code for Design of Extinguisher Distribution in Buildings […]

4 Installation of liquid hydrogen storage vessel

4.5 Fire extinguishers, fire hydrants and other fire-fighting and first-aid equipment should be installed in the place of liquid hydrogen storage vessel. The fire extinguisher configuration shall meet the relevant regulations of GB 50140. Dry powder fire extinguishers shall be used as fire extinguishers. The setting of fire hydrants shall meet the requirements of GB 50974.

4.6 The place for liquid hydrogen storage vessel shall be equipped with liquid hydrogen tank vehicle and fire-fighting channels. The width of the road shall not be less than 4m. The clearance height on the road surface shall not be less than 4.5m.

4.7 Enclosures or fences and anti-collision facilities shall be set up in the storage and use places of liquid hydrogen.

4.8 In liquid hydrogen storage sites, the liquid hydrogen storage vessel shall be installed on a base higher than the ground. The base shall be 30cm above the ground.

4.9 The area for liquid hydrogen storage vessel shall be equipped with a hydrogen concentration monitoring and alarm system. The alarm concentration limit is not more than 0.4% (volume fraction). The response time is not more than 30s.

4.10 The area for liquid hydrogen storage vessel shall be equipped with ultraviolet flame detectors and infrared flame detectors.

4.11 The liquid hydrogen storage vessel shall be equipped with a grounding device, which shall meet the relevant regulations of GB 50177.

4.12 The liquid hydrogen transmission pipeline shall be equipped with a grounding device to conduct static electricity, which shall meet the relevant regulations of GB 50177.

4.13 When the liquid hydrogen storage vessel is emptied, the temperature of the vent nozzle shall not be lower than 90K.

5 Transportation of tank cars and liquid hydrogen tank containers

5.1 The use, transportation, maintenance and management of tank cars and liquid hydrogen tank containers shall comply with the relevant regulations of GB 21668, JT/T 617 (all parts).

5.12 After the tank car and liquid hydrogen tank containers are filled, the infusion tube shall be replaced to a non-hydrogen environment. After confirming it is safe, disconnect the infusion tube before leaving.

5.13 During filling and unloading operations of the tank car and liquid hydrogen tank containers, the car engine shall be turned off. During the filling process, the driver is not allowed to stay in the car.

5.14 It is not suitable to store the liquid hydrogen in the tank car and liquid hydrogen tank containers for a long time. Do not mix with other liquids. Paint color signs shall comply with relevant regulations.

5.15 During liquid hydrogen filling and refilling, the pipe connection shall be checked and confirmed again to prevent leakage.

6 Purging and displacement

6.1 The internal state of the liquid hydrogen vessel shall be checked before filling with liquid hydrogen. The pipes shall be dry and clean. It shall use nitrogen to blow dry. After assembling, plug the external pipe orifice with a suitable cap or plug.

6.2 The liquid hydrogen tank vehicle is not used when it exceeds 7d. The gas indicators in the storage tank shall be tested before use. If it is nonconforming, the hydrogen in the tank vehicle shall be replaced.

6.3 The liquid hydrogen vessel is newly used or contaminated by other gases (such as air). Positive pressure replacement shall be carried out before filling liquid hydrogen, and meet the following requirements:

a) Positive pressure replacement shall use nitrogen and hydrogen with a purity of not less than 99.99%. The replacement pressure does not exceed the working pressure of the liquid hydrogen vessel;

b) When purging and replacing air, it shall be repeatedly filled and discharged with nitrogen until the oxygen content in the detected exhaust is not more than 0.5% (volume fraction);

c) When purging and replacing nitrogen, it shall be repeatedly filled and discharged with hydrogen until the remaining gas impurity content in the tank meets the requirements of Table 1.

6.4 The impurity contained in the hydrogen in the liquid hydrogen vessel shall […]

7 Safety and protection

7.1.7 The operator shall be familiar with the characteristics and hazards of liquid hydrogen, the operating instructions of the relevant facilities, the equipment process, the various valves, instruments and their functions and operating procedures on the equipment. The operator shall be able to independently take emergency safety measures in the event of failures and accidents. The main characteristics of liquid hydrogen are shown in Table B.1 of Annex B.

7.1.8 The troubleshooting of the liquid hydrogen vessel shall be handled in accordance with the provisions of the instruction manual.

8 Accident handling

8.1 If there is a small leak in the piping system of tank car, liquid hydrogen tank containers, it shall be repaired and handled in time. When there is a serious leak, the tank car or liquid hydrogen tank container shall be moved to a sparsely populated, open and safe place. Gradually discharge. It shall be strictly guarded. When discharging, people and cars shall be in the upwind direction. When discharging liquid, turn off the car engine. Personnel shall not be stranded in the vehicle. Open flames shall be prohibited in the area affected by the discharged liquid hydrogen.

8.2 When an accident occurs in a tank car or liquid hydrogen tank container during transportation, it shall report to relevant local authorities for processing […]