Hydrogen Safety Distance Calculator
Calculate exclusion zones, flammable cloud radius, thermal radiation distance, and overpressure distance for hydrogen leak scenarios.
Inputs
Results
Exclusion Zone
6.17 m
≈ 4 adult heights
Flammable Cloud Radius4.11 m
Thermal Radiation Distance4.74 m
Overpressure Distance9.28 m
Risk Category2 / 5
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter Leak Rate (kg/s), Wind Speed (m/s), and Ambient Temperature (°C).
- Set Enclosure Type.
- Review the Exclusion Zone (m) result.
- Use Flammable Cloud Radius and Thermal Radiation Distance to inform your decision.
- Use the chart to visualize the results and explore different scenarios by adjusting inputs.
How the result changes with Leak Rate (kg/s)
| Leak Rate (kg/s) | Exclusion Zone |
|---|---|
| 10 | 61.62 m |
| 35 | 115.28 m |
| 65 | 157.1 m |
| 90 | 184.86 m |
What each input means
- Leak Rate (kg/s)
- Mass flow rate of hydrogen leak in kg per second.
- Wind Speed (m/s)
- Ambient wind speed in meters per second. Affects dispersion.
- Ambient Temperature (°C)
- Ambient temperature. Higher temps increase buoyancy and dispersion.
- Enclosure Type
- 1 = outdoor (open air), 2 = semi-enclosed (canopy), 3 = enclosed (building).
What each result means
- Risk Category
- 1 = low risk, 5 = critical. Based on exclusion zone size.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersLeak Rate (kg/s) = 0.1, Wind Speed (m/s) = 3, Ambient Temperature (°C) = 20, Enclosure Type = 1 = 4 input(s) provided
- Calculate Exclusion ZoneExclusion Zone6.17 = 6.17
- Calculate Flammable Cloud RadiusFlammable Cloud Radius4.11 = 4.11
- Calculate Thermal Radiation DistanceThermal Radiation Distance4.74 = 4.74
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