An assessment on the quantification of hydrogen releases through oxygen displacement using oxygen sensors

Gas sensors that respond directly to hydrogen are typically used to detect and quantify unintended hydrogen releases. However, alternative means to quantify or mitigate hydrogen releases are sometimes proposed. One recently explored approach has been to use oxygen sensors. This method is based on the assumption that a hydrogen release will displace oxygen, which can be quantified using oxygen sensors. Experimental evaluations designed to impartially assess the ability of oxygen and hydrogen sensors to reliably measure hydrogen concentration changes are presented. Although endorsed by the Global Technical Regulation (GTR) for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles to verify hydrogen vehicles’ fuel system integrity, the results of this study indicate that the use of oxygen sensors for this application may be inappropriate. The sensor testing protocols used for this study included parallel testing of multiple sensors with varying environmental conditions (temperature, pressure, and relative humidity) and gas concentrations. Specific limitations on the use of oxygen sensors for hydrogen measurements are identified (e.g. inadequate accuracy for safety applications and may give misleading results under certain conditions) and alternative sensor technologies that meet the requirements for several applications, including those of the GTR, are proposed.

BUTTNER William;  BURGESS Robert;  RIVKIN Carl;  POST Matthew;  BRETT Lois;  PALMISANO Valerio;  MORETTO Pietro; 

2014-12-02

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

JRC90344

0360-3199,   

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S036031991400980X,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC90344,   

10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.03.252,