Seismic Design Requirements for a Hydrogen Electrolysis Facility/Plant

[Wayne Peck]

Hi All,

I’m hoping for some earthquake engineering input from the combined wisdom of the AEES.

I’m trying to determine what seismic design standard would be applicable for an industrial scale Hydrogen Electrolysis facility in Australia.

To be honest I don’t know a great deal about the structures involved, an electrical switchyard, a number of electrolysers  and some water storage tanks I believe, possibly some cooling towers, but I really don’t know any details.

The seismic hazard at the site will be relatively simple to determine and reasonably low in the Australian context. I’m just trying to determine whether a site specific seismic hazard assessment is warranted and if so what the outputs of that study should be.

My understanding is that 1170.4 does not apply to industrial structures of that nature.

What would be the most appropriate Australian or international standard to apply?

Many thanks in advance for any input you might have.

Cheers Wayne 

Wayne Peck

Operations Manager, Seismology Research Centre

141 Palmer Street, Richmond VIC 3121, Australia

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[Kevin McCue]

Wayne 

It might help if you could find out the consequences of a hydrogen explosion at the site. ie number of workers, what containment measures if any are proposed, impact on neighbours etc

Damage to the electrical switchyard might have secondary consequences depending how far it is from the hydrogen storage tanks.

I’d agree that AS1170.4 is not appropriate for such a facility.

With the lack of an appropriate standard, it might be up to the proponents to prove the safety of the facility to the local council or state. 

Cheers

Kevin

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[Tinus Smith]

Hi Wayne,

 

Although I don’t have any information on the facility, I would imagine that a special study would have to be conducted for this site to determine the requirements. These requirements will probably go above and beyond AS1170.4.

 

I’m more in the non-structural seismic field but I don’t think Australia conduct enough special studies for these types of facilities. It usually gets handballed down to contractors who have no idea what special study means.

 

Regards

Tinus Smith

Engineering Manager

CPEng (Aus/NZ) RPEQ IntPE(Aus/NZ)

 

 

Gripple Australia

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[Simon Matthews]

Hi Wayne,

Notwithstanding the specific requirements of such a plant (Kevin's comments), attached a couple of general publications on seismic design of industrial plants that may be of some assistance.

Cheers

Simon Matthews

[Jordan Bartlett]

Hello Wayne,

 

I’ve not worked on structures outside of the BCA (NCC Volume 1) although I have a few thoughts on the matter:

 

This facility would most likely be considered IL4 unless and someone wished to argue that a major failure would be confined within the boundary or not any population/neighbours (ie remote)

 

Source of Importance Levels and return periods for Australian structures:

1. covered by the NCC v1 should be taken from the NCC Tables B1.2a & B1.2b, and not AS/NZS1170.0 Section 3 (NZ only).
2. Not covered by the NCC v1 - ‘for which design events are not given elsewhere) ‘should’ meet or exceed the ‘normative’ information outlined in AS/NZS 1170.0 Appendix F.

 

I agree with Tinus: a Special Study should be completed, and I would anticipate the SA DIT would have a strong influence upon this in whatever capacity they have within government.

 

A great deal of the Australian Standards fall far short of clearly stating the requirement to meet the requirements of AS1170.4, especially the HV and fire suppression system standards.

 

My personal experience with the VIC WorkSafe Hazardous Materials division, responsible for Safety Case facilities… there’s a major assumption that Earthquake requirements fall far outside of their responsibility and that all facility designers and constructors are aware of their obligations. They had never heard of a special study also when I attempted to engage with them.

 

I would expect AS1170.4 to be mandated, with only international requirements of greater level to be able to supersede it.

 

Regards,

 

Jordan

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