Is it Safe to Store Hydrogen Fuel?

Hydrogen fuel has great promise as an environmentally-friendly alternative to diesel fuel.  Not only is it a clean burning fuel emitting only water vapor into the atmosphere, but it is safer to store than diesel fuel.  The most significant barrier for the transportation industry to adopt hydrogen fuel cell technology is having sufficient infrastructure throughout the United States to fuel cars, trucks, and other equipment.  Dispelling myths related to hydrogen fuel will help fuel suppliers feel more confident about diversifying their products.  Many fuel station owners are surprised to learn that it is safer to store hydrogen fuel than diesel fuel, for example.

What happens if a hydrogen fuel tank leaks?

Some people feel hydrogen fuel is more prone to leaking than diesel fuel because it is much lighter.  In reality, compared to another fuel commonly stored in similar above-ground tanks–natural gas–researchers concluded that both materials leak at about the same rates.  There have also been significant advances in storage technology.  For example, NASA has been storing hydrogen fuel for its space program safely for the past sixty years.  

However, if hydrogen fuel leaks, the results are far less hazardous than the effects of a diesel fuel leak.  First of all, because hydrogen fuel is so much lighter than air (it’s approximately 14 times lighter than air), the fuel immediately dissipates and rises into the atmosphere rather than pooling on the ground. It’s also a natural element, so adding more hydrogen to our atmosphere is not harmful to the environment.   If the fuel ignited, it would quickly burn and disappear into the air.  

What happens if someone crashes into a tank?

Many people fear a hydrogen tank will erupt into a gigantic explosion if a vehicle were to run into it or someone tried to shoot a hole in it.  This just isn’t true.  First, storage tanks are made to withstand impacts to protect the fuel inside.  Secondly, if a tank is punctured, the hydrogen will quickly evaporate into the air rather than explode.  Toyota published a video on YouTube in 2016 showing what happens when the Mirai hydrogen fuel tank is fired at close-range:  nothing.  It is entirely safe to store hydrogen fuel in a tank.

PowerTap makes it even safer to store hydrogen fuel.

PowerTap’s onsite generator system makes producing hydrogen at your location accessible and affordable.  With PowerTap, you don’t need to try to forecast hydrogen fuel sales, manage orders and deliveries, or store days’ or weeks’ worth of fuel supply in tanks.  Using PowerTap, you can produce the fuel you need for the day and store minimal quantities on hand.  It’s simple to produce more hydrogen fuel when you need it.  

If you’re interested in diversifying your current product mix or would like to begin a journey in the exciting future of alternative energy solutions, contact our team at PowerTap Hydrogen today.  We’d love to show you how easy it is to be a part of the hydrogen fuel revolution.