PgCert/PgDip/MSc in Hydrogen Safety Engineering

There is a growing need for specialists in Hydrogen Safety Engineering. The PgCert/PgDip/MSc in Hydrogen Safety Engineering, offered by the University of Ulster, is World’s first higher educational programme that enables graduates to specialise in this new and rapidly advancing field. The programme is intended for students who pursue careers in hydrogen safety, and for professionals already working in industry (process industry, energy industry, civil works, aerospace industry, automotive industry, etc.), transport and distribution, fire and rescue brigades, insurance, teaching institutions, research institutions, legislative bodies, etc., thereby involved in a variety of activities: consulting, manufacture, design, teaching, research, operation, construction, legislation (regulations, codes and standards), etc. Graduates with a PgCert/PgDip/MSc in Hydrogen Safety Engineering will be suitably qualified for employment opportunities at various industrial corporations, governmental bodies, research organisations, educational institutions, etc.

Hydrogen Safety Engineering is of vital importance to the onset and further development of the hydrogen economy. It concerns the study of phenomena connected to the safety of hydrogen e.g. unscheduled releases (permeation, subsonic and supersonic jet releases, cryogenic spills), accidental combustion (premixed combustion, partially-premixed and diffusion combustion, ignition and autoignition, jet fires, deflagration, detonation, thermal loads, pressure and shock waves), and material compatibility (embrittlement, hydrogen attack) to ensure the safety of hydrogen in a variety of practical applications (production, storage, transportation, utilisation, development of infrastructures); including the development and application of mitigation technologies, accident prevention methodologies, and, standards and legal requirements. In addition to providing the student with a systematic understanding of the scientific/technological principles and techniques involved in hydrogen safety, this programme aims at developing the skill and expertise to apply this knowledge to the provision of safety in a wide range of hydrogen applications.

The course consists of four modules, namely,

The topical content of the modules complies with the International Curriculum on Hydrogen Safety Engineering, the development of which is led by the University of Ulster within the European Network of Excellence HySafe and aided by about 50 internationally recognised experts. The teaching materials of the course include information derived from the EC funded European Summer School on Hydrogen Safety where world leading experts deliver keynote lectures on the latest knowledge, innovations, and developments in hydrogen safety to an audience of young researchers. The course is taught by the University of Ulster's staff members involved in Hydrogen Safety Engineering and Research (HYSAFER Centre), experts from the European Network of Excellence “Safety of Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier” (HySafe), Keynote Speakers at the European Summer School on Hydrogen Safety, and experts from all over the globe at the International Short Course Series ‘Progress in Hydrogen Safety'. To optimise learning opportunities for students (i.e. meet just-in-time training needs, combining work-related commitments with study, combining family commitments with study), the course is offered in both the full-time (duration: 1 year) and part-time (duration: 3 years) mode.

Module ‘Principles of Hydrogen Safety’ seeks to develop in students the ability to integrate fundamental knowledge and engineering approaches from a variety of disciplines (thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, combustion) to understand the origin and phenomenology of hydrogen safety problems. Module 'Applied Hydrogen Safety' deals with the application of the 'Principles of Hydrogen Safety’ for the provision of hydrogen safety in areas involving the production, storage, transportation, and utilisation of hydrogen while taking the regulatory framework and standards into account. This module places particular emphasis on the provision of hydrogen safety under circumstances where consumers interact directly with hydrogen technologies in everyday life. Module ‘Progress in Hydrogen Safety’ provides the latest knowledge in hydrogen safety. Students acquire further knowledge in hydrogen safety by the dissemination of the latest developments in the field. The module content is updated rapidly with new information on progress in the safety of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and applications as it becomes available from (i) the European Summer School on Hydrogen Safety, (ii) the International Short Course Series ‘Progress in Hydrogen Safety', (iii) research projects, etc. It elaborates on the topics addressed by ‘Principles of Hydrogen Safety’ and ‘Applied Hydrogen Safety’ and covers advances in different areas, as for example, safety issues in the hydrogen infrastructure; risk management; hydrogen safety engineering; safety issues related to hydrogen fuelled vehicles, stationary applications, etc.; regulations, codes and standards, etc.; thereby supporting the module ‘Dissertation’. Module ‘Dissertation’ gives the student the opportunity to carry out a research project leading to a dissertation. Dissertation topics are chosen and carried out on an individual basis making use of knowledge gained in the taught modules of the course and by applying it in a situation appropriate to each student’s interest, employment and expertise. The project involves a substantial amount of original work on the part of the student, under the guidance of a supervisor.

Module Principles of Hydrogen Safety (30 CATS Points) is taught in the distance learning mode. Full-time students study the module in the first semester of the academic year. Part-time students study the module in the first and second semester of the first academic year of the programme. It consists of nine lectures, namely: Environmental, societal and safety aspects of the hydrogen economy; Hydrogen properties; Hydrogen thermochemistry; Introduction to CFD simulations of hydrogen accidents; Hydrogen releases and mixing; Premixed combustion of hydrogen-air mixtures; Diffusion and partially premixed combustion of hydrogen in air; Deflagrations and their mitigation; Detonations. The module is fully on-line and can be studied from anywhere in the world; there is no requirement to attend a specific campus location and there are no examinations. Assessment in this module is as follows. Learners are assessed by two coursework assignments (each contributing 50% towards the overall module result). The first coursework assignment is issued in the beginning of the module and has to be submitted to the Module Coordinator in the middle of the module. The second coursework assignment is issued in the middle of the module and has to be submitted to the Module Coordinator by the end of the module. The questions of the coursework assignments consist of a combination of problems to be solved, tests of factual knowledge, and short essays. On-line self-assessment and evaluation tools are also used to engage the learner with the subject matter. Each lecture is concluded by a simple multiple choice on-line assessment which must be completed prior to proceeding onto the next lecture.

Module Applied Hydrogen Safety (30 CATS Points) is taught in the distance learning mode. Full-time students study the module in the first semester of the academic year. Part-time students study the module in the first and second semester of the second academic year of the programme. It consists of eight lectures, namely: Hydrogen safety and the regulatory framework; Handling hydrogen releases; Prevention of hydrogen ignition; Pressure effects of hydrogen explosions; Structural response, fragmentation and missile effects; Compatibility of metallic materials with hydrogen; Risk assessment methodologies; Safety standards and good practices related to hydrogen applications. The module is fully on-line and can be studied from anywhere in the world; there is no requirement to attend a specific campus location and there are no examinations. Assessment in this module is as follows. Learners are assessed by two coursework assignments (each contributing 50% towards the overall module result). The first coursework assignment is issued in the beginning of the module and has to be submitted to the Module Coordinator in the middle of the module. The second coursework assignment is issued in the middle of the module and has to be submitted to the Module Coordinator by the end of the module. The questions of the coursework assignments consist of a combination of problems to be solved, tests of factual knowledge, and short essays. On-line self-assessment and evaluation tools are also used to engage the learner with the subject matter. Each lecture is concluded by a simple multiple choice on-line assessment which must be completed prior to proceeding onto the next lecture.

Module Progress in Hydrogen Safety (60 CATS Points) is taught throughout the whole academic year in block releases (European Summer School on Hydrogen Safety, International Short Course Series ‘Progress in Hydrogen Safety’) equivalent to 20 CATS points each. Full-time students taking this module have three semesters to complete the module. Part-time students taking this module have six semesters to complete the module. Credit Points acquired in one year are transferrable to subsequent years according to the course regulations. This module consists of lectures prepared by of lectures prepared by research active lecturers in the HySAFER group and by world leading experts as new knowledge on Hydrogen Safety Science and Engineering becomes available in a whole spectrum of topics (e.g. permeation leaks and related dispersion of hydrogen in confined space, high pressure releases and under-expanded jets, cryogenic spills, pool boiling, hydrogen dispersion in the open atmosphere, congested and confined spaces, ignition mechanisms and prevention, hydrogen fires, hydrogen thermochemistry, turbulence modelling, burning velocity and flame-turbulence interaction, thermal effects from hydrogen jet fires and explosions, deflagration dynamics and mitigation by venting technique, detonation and deflagration to detonation transition, blast effects in near and far field, structural response, missile effects, safety and set back distances, material compatibility (hydrogen embrittlement and hydrogen attack), accident prevention and mitigation, hydrogen detection and sensors, risk assessment, hydrogen safety engineering methodology, computational hydrogen safety engineering, regulation, codes and standards, etc.) following the International Curriculum on Hydrogen Safety Engineering which is being updated continuously.

The 60 CATS Points required to complete the module may comprise of any combination of short courses and summer schools. Students are assessed by one coursework assignment in each 20 CATS Points block-release. The coursework assignment shall be issued no later than six weeks after the block-release and has to be submitted to the Module Coordinator no later than six weeks (20 CATS Points) after it has been issued. These coursework assignments contribute to the overall module result according to their relative credit weighting.

MSc candidates are required to carry out a research project leading to a dissertation. This 60 CATS Points fully on-line module requires students to carry out rigorous investigative research into an aspect of hydrogen safety suggested by the Module Coordinator and approved by the Dissertation Committee, consisting of the Course Committee and External Examiner, or, of their own choice, subject to approval by the Dissertation Committee. Projects are chosen from a list of titles covering various topics in hydrogen safety. A dissertation of at least 15000 words and a presentation are then required for assessment. Projects are chosen and carried out on an individual basis, making use of knowledge gained in the taught modules of the course and applying it in a situation appropriate to each student’s interest, employment and expertise. The project should involve a significant amount of original work on the part of the student, under the guidance of a supervisor appointed by the Dissertation Committee. External advisors may be assigned by the Dissertation Committee. These may be senior researchers at the location of the student where the dissertation is prepared.

A list of dissertation topics is circulated to students before the beginning of the module to assist them with the selection of a dissertation subject. Learners are expected to select a dissertation topic and submit a synopsis of their chosen topic for consideration by the Course Committee in the first month from the start of the module. The synopsis should not exceed two A4 pages in length and include: the title, aims and objectives, summary and research strategy. Students will be informed by the Module Coordinator about the Dissertation Committee's decision regarding their submissions not later than six weeks after the start of the module. Students obtaining the approval by the Course Committee of their selected topic will be required to prepare and present to the Course Committee normally within 4 weeks (full-time) or 8 weeks (part-time):

By the end of the module, the student is expected to submit the dissertation to the Module Coordinator. The dissertation will be assessed by the supervisor and reviewed by at least one other member of the Course Committee, taking into account content, style and presentation. A final summary mark shall be agreed upon.

The CATS Points gathered by studying Modules Principles of Hydrogen Safety (30 CATS Points), Applied Hydrogen Safety (30 CATS Points), Progress in Hydrogen Safety (60 CATS Points) and Dissertation (60 CATS Points) contribute to the Final Award of Master of Science in Hydrogen Safety (requiring 180 CATS Points). The award scheme is as follows:

ADMISSION

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must

ADMISSION WITH EXEMPTIONS; ACCREDITATION OF PRIOR LEARNING

The next intake on the course is in September 2008. Registration with the course can be done on-line by pressing the Apply Now button in the University of Ulster's Prospectus.

- A PgCert generally has a weighting of 60 CATS Points.
- A PgDip generally has a weighting of 120 CATS Points.
- An MSc/MA generally has a weighting of 180 CATS Points.

The normal cost per credit is £19.00 for EU students and £48.05 for non EU students. Click here to see the Guidance Notes for Students on Home/EU/Overseas Fees Status. The tuition fees of the modules of the Master of Science in Hydrogen Safety Engineering are as follows:

This information should be used only as a guide to the normal costs of a distance learning programme, and the University of Ulster's finance website should be used as the definitive source of fees information.

Tuition fees for HySafe Members involved in staff development for the delivery of educational/training programmes will be paid from the Hysafe budget (see calculation of the HySafe contribution to the tuition fees by a Hysafe-partner). At the 9th HySafe Network Governing Board (NGB) Meeting held on 12 March 2008 at the Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Paris, France, the NGB ratified the following decision “We support the inclusion of past and future tuition fees for the enrolment of HySafe Partner Members onto higher educational course(s) in hydrogen safety into the HySafe Partner’s Budget.”

Non-EU students who would like to study the course at EU-rates may submit a request for a bursary by email to MSc-HSE@ulster.ac.uk. These requests will be considered on a case-to-case basis.

The Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) is a system whereby academic credits are awarded for courses or parts of courses. These enable students to transfer from course to course or institution to institution, or to gain exemption from part(s) of a course. Consult the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System and the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme for more information.