Hydrogen Release While Loading Hydrogen to a Tanker Truck
A hydrogen leak occurs at on the hose connection of a tank truck being loaded into an industrial gas company. Alerted by the noise, the driver of the vehicle gave the alert. Firefighters from the petrochemical platform to which the plant belongs stopped the leak by closing the manual valves on the tank. The tank, initially at 200 bar, lost only 10 bar in 3h30. The site's sensors did not activate because of the small size of the leak.
Event Date
April 14, 2012
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Causes
Cause Comments
According to the ARIA report (see references), the investigation carried out after the near miss revealed that not the hose, but the connection to the trailer could have been the location of the leak.
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
unclear if liquid or compressed tanker
Actual Pressure
20
Design Pressure
200
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Pre-event Summary
The near miss occurred hydrogen tank truck loading
Consequences
Number of Injured Persons
46
Number of Fatalities
1
Currency
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
The lack on details on tank, the loading operation and the position of the hydrogen detectors does not allow for a technical lesson. The fact that the detector did not spotted the leak because too small, demonstrates the importance of a careful placement of the detection system. Under other circumstances (confined space), a small, undetected leak can be the source of a potentially great hazard.
Event Nature
Emergency Action
Firefighters from the nearby petrochemical platform stopped the leak by closing the manual valves on the tank.
Release Type
Release Substance
Hydrogen Release Concentration (%)
100.00
Release Pressure (bar)
200.00
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/42107/
(accessed October 2020)