A review on the fire resistance of on-board hydrogen storage vessels

The development of efficient, safe, and cost-effective hydrogen fuel cell vehicles relies heavily on the advancement of on-board hydrogen storage vessels. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the various hydrogen storage containers utilized in vehicles and to explore the applicable fire test requirements dictated by established standards and specifications. It also reviews relevant experimental and simulation studies, detailing the study methodologies employed to evaluate fire behavior associated with vehicle hydrogen storage vessels. Finally, recommendations for potential future research directions are presented. The experimental methods for fire tests on hydrogen storage vessels are encouraged to comply with the UN GTR No. 13-PH2 guidelines. For instance, to ensure the stability and reliability of the fire source, it is recommended to set at least 17 temperature monitoring points during the pre-test phase and a minimum of three during the main test phase. Additionally, fire temperatures should meet the standards, with at least 600 °C for localized fires and 800 °C for engulfing fires. Notably, the establishment of a universal database of fire tests for on-board hydrogen storage vessels will advance research in fire resistance performance, risk assessment, and emergency response. The development of multiphysics coupling models and the integration of intelligent computing methods, such as image recognition and big data analysis, will promote the study of the thermal properties of materials, fluid flow characteristics, and mechanical properties of structures. • Standards and specifications for hydrogen storage vessel fire tests are compared. • The current research status of both experiments and simulations is analyzed. • A universal fire test database for on-board hydrogen storage vessels is needed. • The multiphysics coupling models need to be further researched. • Image recognition and big data analysis need to be integrated into research.