To identify the safety issues associated with hydrogen fueling stations, incidents at such stations in Japan and the USA were analyzed considering the regulations in these countries. Leakage due to the damage and fracture of main bodies of apparatuses and pipes in Japan and the USA is mainly caused by design error, that is, poorly planned fatigue. Considering the present incidents in these countries, adequate consideration of the usage environment in the design is very important. Leakage from flanges, valves, and seals in Japan is mainly caused by screw joints. If welded joints are to be used in hydrogen fueling stations in Japan, strength data for welded parts should be obtained and pipe thicknesses should be reduced. Leakage due to other factors, e.g., external impact, in Japan and the USA is mainly caused by human error. To realize self-serviced hydrogen fueling stations, safety measures should be developed to prevent human error by fuel cell vehicle users

In this review, the principles to detect flaws with uniform eddy currents were presented based on the shape and orientation of the excitation coils and detection coils of the probe. Techniques are applied to detect flaws like cracks, especially on the weld zone surface, of test pieces of non-magnetic and ferromagnetic materials, and have unique features which are immune to the effects of lift-off. In the technique of interest, almost all the probe models developed are the type with tangential rectangular excitation coils. The induction condition and the flaw signal for each probe were discussed based on the shape and orientation of the excitation coils and detection coils of the probe. Finally, the challenge of increasing sensitivity to detect flaws with a uniform eddy current was also presented.

Multiple-energy-fueling stations, which can supply several types of energy such as gasoline, CNG, and hydrogen, could guarantee the efficient use of space. To guide the safety management of hybrid hydrogen–gasoline fueling stations, which utilize liquid hydrogen as an energy carrier, the scale of gasoline pool fires was estimated using the hazard assessment tool Toxic Release Analysis of Chemical Emissions (TRACE). Subsequently, the temperature and the stress due to temperature distribution were estimated using ANSYS. Based on the results, the safety of liquid hydrogen storage tanks was discussed. It was inferred that the emissivity of the outer material of the tank and the safety distance between liquid hydrogen storage tanks and gasoline dispensers should be less than 0.2 and more than 8.5 m, respectively, to protect the liquid hydrogen storage tank from the gasoline pool fire. To reduce the safety distance, several measures are required, e.g. additional thermal shields such as protective intumescent paint and water sprinkler systems and an increased slope to lead gasoline off to a safe domain away from the liquid hydrogen storage tank