(494g) Investigation of Hydrogen Gas Safety for the Electrolysis Based Ballast Tank Treatment System

Ballast water
has been identified as a serious risk to marine environment and a major cause
of ecological disturbance due to the pathogens and harmful adventive species
discharged through ballast water. The International Maritime Organization (IMO)
promulgates the international guidelines containing regulations about technical
standards and requirements for ballast water management in order to control
adventive species in the discharges. A number of techniques are developed to
diminish the aquatic invasive species in ballast water and sedimentations,
electrolysis coupled treatment system shows advantages in disinfection
efficiency for target species and simple installation and maintenance of
system. Simultaneously, the explosion risk of hydrogen gas generated through
electrolysis system is issued in terms of safety of the ship. The main aim of
this study is to verify dynamic behavior of ballast water and concentrations of
hydrogen gas in the ballast tank during ballasting process. Computational fluid
dynamic (CFD) simulations were implemented to analyze multiphase behavior of
hydrogen gas and ballast water within the ballast tank. Hydrogen gas
concentration at vent pipe is also measured to verify CFD simulation model.
Consequently, hydrogen gas is released into vent pipe normally at 200 ppm, and
ballast water contains 0.3 ppm of hydrogen in average. Based on the analysis,
we analyze that hydrogen explosion is highly unlikely in the ballast tank.
Finally, a recommendation on operationally feasible ways for sustaining
hydrogen safety against potential explosion is suggested.

Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 1. Hydrogen gas concentration profile

Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 2. Volume fraction of sea water

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