DC-9: Jairo Andrés Meneses Gelves

Contact

Project

Developing an improved methodology to perform QRA with specific emphasis on hydrogen and other renewable and low-carbon fuels facilities

Host Organization

UPC

Supervisor

Prof. Elsa Pastor (UPC)

Objectives

Overall project objective: to develop a novel methodology for Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) tailored to the unique characteristics of renewable energy vectors, with a particular emphasis on hydrogen production, storage, and distribution. For this purpose, these further objectives are also drawn:

To conduct a comprehensive review of the state of the art in Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA) applied to hydrogen production, storage, and transport technologies.
To generate the knowledge necessary to precisely define scenarios, event frequencies, and probabilities for hydrogen-related facilities.
To evaluate critically and, if necessary, adjust effect and consequence models for calculating individual risk across various hydrogen facilities.
To analyse preliminary approaches for implementing dynamic QRA using artificial intelligence (AI) techniques.

Project Description

Hydrogen technologies are essential in reducing emissions and combating climate change. They are expected to play a key role in supporting the EU's decarbonization goals, with hydrogen use projected to increase by 24% by 2050. However, the development and implementation of these technologies present significant safety challenges, particularly in handling, storage, and transport, which must be addressed to minimize risks. One such challenge involves adapting and improving Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA) methods, commonly used for hazardous chemical facilities like SEVESO sites.

QRA methodologies must be reliably adjusted, considering both the specificities of new equipment and installations and the intrinsic hazards of hydrogen and its physicochemical properties. This adjustment requires a critical review and a research-based proposal of loss-of-containment scenarios, event trees, and effects and consequence models for efficient use in risk calculations.

This research project aims to address this challenge by conducting a comprehensive review of the state of the art in QRA applied to hydrogen production, storage, and transport technologies. It seeks to generate the knowledge necessary for the precise definition of scenarios, event frequencies, and probabilities specific to hydrogen-related facilities. Furthermore, the project involves a critical evaluation of effect and consequence models used to calculate individual risk, focusing on identifying potential adjustments to improve their accuracy and applicability.

The major expected results of this research project will include an in-depth review of current QRA methodologies applied to hydrogen technologies and other renewable and low-carbon fuel facilities across different countries, along with a critical analysis of existing gaps and needs. Additionally, the project will define hydrogen-specific QRA methods and parameters, including initiating events and frequencies, final events and probabilities, and parameters for consequence modelling. Finally, the project will deliver guidelines for implementing dynamic QRA in hydrogen facilities, specifically applying to the Port de Barcelona.

Relevant Background

B.Sc.: Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, 2018-2022.
M.Sc.: Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, 2022-2024.
Teacher Experience: Universidad de los Andes, 2022-2024. Teaching assistant in the courses "Integrated Project IV" (Process Plant Design) and "Computational Tool I" (CFD Simulation) in the Chemical and Food Engineering Department.
Research Experience: The University of Tulsa and Universidad de los Andes, 2022-2023. Develop a CFD simulation of heat transfer in an electric submersible pump motor used to extract crude oil.

Publications

Meneses-Gelves, J. A., Mendoza-Gamboa, D. F., Rodríguez-Cortina, A., & Hernández-Carrión, M. (2023). Desarrollo de encapsulados de aceite de semilla de Sacha Inchi para la formulación de alimentos funcionales. Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos, 8(1), 453-463. https://doi.org/10.29105/idcyta.v8i1.88