Innovations in Hydrogen Combustion and Safety

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on engineering science, modeling, and practical implementation challenges related to hydrogen combustion and safety, which are two critical enablers for hydrogen's role in decarbonized energy systems. This Special Issue aims to showcase mechanistic studies, high-fidelity simulations, experimental validation, and design innovations across various combustion systems and safety-critical infrastructures.

By centering on combustion and safety and their integration into real-world energy applications, this Issue hopes to bridge gaps between mechanical engineering, energy systems, and computational modeling.

1. Hydrogen Combustion Science and Applications:
• Laminar and turbulent flame characteristics: speed, ignition delay, blow-off, flashback.
• NOₓ formation pathways, control strategies, and emissions modeling.
• Advanced engine combustion modes (SI, HCCI, CI) with H₂ and H₂-blends.
• Gas turbine combustion chambers: stability, flameholding, lean operation.
• Industrial and residential burner design: radiant characteristics, thermal efficiency.
• Retrofitting of conventional systems for H₂ operation.
2. Computational Modeling of Hydrogen Combustion:
• LES/DNS of hydrogen flames; turbulent-chemistry interaction.
• Reduced-order modeling (ROM) for system-level simulation and control.
• Conjugate heat transfer and combustion-coupled thermoacoustic stability.
• Model validation with benchmark experimental data.
3. Hydrogen Safety, Risk, and Infrastructure Integrity:
• CFD/FEA of hydrogen release, dispersion, accumulation, deflagration/detonation.
• Material compatibility and hydrogen embrittlement in pressure vessels and pipelines.
• Passive and active safety system design: sensors, suppression, ventilation.
• Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) and failure mode studies in hydrogen handling.
4. Integrated Engineering Aspects:
• Design of safe combustion and storage systems for mobility and industrial sectors.
• Coupling of hydrogen combustion systems with renewable energy (solar, wind).
• Experimental methods for validation of combustion and safety models.

Exclusions:

• Fundamental electrochemistry of fuel cells (unless directly impacting system design/performance).
• Biological hydrogen production (e.g., dark/photo fermentation, biophotolysis).
• Pure policy/socio-economic studies without strong technical engineering analysis.

Rationale for Alignment with my Expertise:

1. Focus on Thermofluids and Combustion: Prioritizes H₂ utilization in engines, turbines, and burners – my core strength. This includes fundamental combustion science, which is vital for design.
2. CFD Emphasis: Explicitly calls for high-fidelity and reduced-order CFD modeling in production, storage safety, and especially combustion – directly leveraging my skills.
3. Mechanical Engineering Core: Focuses on reactor design, pressure vessels, piping, turbomachinery (turbines), engine systems, heat transfer, and materials – all central to MechE.
4. Systems Perspective: Includes production process engineering, storage systems, and integrated energy analysis (TEA/LCA), fitting my energy systems background.
5. Safety Integration: Highlights safety as a critical engineering challenge, where CFD and experimental mechanics are key – aligning with combustion/energy experience.

Key Objectives for the Special Issue:

• Advance modeling and simulation tools for hydrogen combustion and dispersion.
• Improve understanding of hydrogen’s reactive and physical hazards.
• Present validated design approaches for H₂ engines, turbines, and burners.
• Share experimental data for modeling calibration and safety strategy development.
• Promote integration of combustion and safety in hydrogen infrastructure planning.

Target Audience:
Researchers and engineers in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, aerospace engineering, energy engineering, combustion science, computational fluid dynamics, and materials science working on hydrogen technologies.

Prof. Dr. Marco Aurélio Dos Santos Bernardes
Dr. Dimitrios Kolokotronis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Hydrogen is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• hydrogen combustion
• turbulent flames
• NOₓ emissions
• computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
• LES/DNS
• hydrogen safety
• explosion risk
• hydrogen storage safety
• engine and turbine combustion
• fire prevention
• mechanical engineering
• reactive flows