Hydrogen Release at a Public Hydrogen Refueling Station
The station was storing 6,000 litres of liquid hydrogen in ten tanks. Rescue services were alerted and the station's activity is interrupted. The leak was stopped by closing the valves. According to the H2Tools report (see references), a vehicle fill had depleted the high-pressure hydrogen inventory. Consequently, the compressor turned on to refill the storage by compressing 4 bar (60 psig) hydrogen from a liquid hydrogen tank up to the 380 bar (5500 psig) compressed storage tank. After running about 2 hours, a crankshaft bearing started to fail. This allowed greater movement of the shaft, which led to a shaft seal leaking hydrogen. The compressor shut down on low suction pressure and then the system was shut down using the e-stop by the emergency responders.
Event Date
October 6, 2009
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Causes
Cause Comments
Immediate cause was a deterioration of a component of a hydrogen compressor.
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
hydrogen refueling station, liquid hydrogen storage, hydrogen compressor, bearing
Storage/Process Medium
Location Type
Location description
Inhabited Area
Pre-event Summary
A vehicle had just refueled, causing the need to top up the high pressure storage tank.
Consequences
Number of Injured Persons
16
Number of Fatalities
26
Currency
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
According to the H2Tools report (see references), the corrective action consisted in adding a gas detector in close proximity to the compressor shaft. Preventing measure to predict bearing failure were also considered, such as a vibration switch. In addition, the manufacturer was contacted and the bearing design analysed for possible improvements).
Event Nature
Emergency Action
The compressor stopped on suction low pressure signal.
Release Type
Release Substance
Hydrogen Release Concentration (%)
100.00
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category
References
References
Event description in the French database ARIA
https://www.aria.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/accident/37528/
(accessed October 2020)
Event description in the US database H2Tools/Lesson Learned
https://h2tools.org/lessons/leak-compressor-fueling-station
(accessed October 2020)