ClassNK plans to collaborate with Japanese safety relief valve manufacturer Fukui Seisakusho Co., Ltd. (FUKUI) to conduct a joint study on a safety relief valve for liquefied hydrogen applications. A memorandum of understanding for the project, relating to a study of an installation of the safety relief valve on the cargo tank of a liquefied hydrogen (LH2) carrier, was signed at the Gastech event in Singapore earlier this week.

In order to ensure safety in the transport of liquefied hydrogen, the development of safety relief valves that can handle hydrogen’s characteristics including extremely low temperatures, ease of leakage, and hydrogen embrittlement, which leads to a decrease in material strength and toughness, is necessary. Appropriate safety standards are also required.