Liquid Hydrogen Release from a Tanker
The tanker truck was carrying nearly 13,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen. it hit the base of a light pole in the parking lot of a local grocery store as the driver was attempting to turn around. Hydrogen gas then began leaking out of it. This resulted in a valve on the truck to become damaged and could have caused the liquid hydrogen to be released from the truck, a very serious situation for nearby residents and businesses. Nobody was physically harmed by the incident.
Event Date
October 24, 2017
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Causes (Select all applicable options):
Cause Comments
mistake in maneuvering
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
Liquid hydrogen tanker, road infrastructure
Storage/Process Medium
Storage/Process Quantity
50000
Storage/Process Units
Location Type
Location description
Inhabited Area
Operational Condition
Pre-event Summary
The accident occurred when the truck driver was turning.
Currency
Lessons Learned
The hazmat response team aimed at stopping the leaking, clean-up any spill, and to transport the remaining liquid hydrogen into another truck for safe removal from the area. Their greatest concern was that friction from the metal tanker on the metal light pole could cause a spark that could ignite the hydrogen. Thanks to the labelling of the truck content, they new its content and could use the appropriate instruction in the Emergency Response Guide (ERG): ERG Guide No. 115 states the following during a spill or a leak of liquid hydrogen: ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames in immediate area). All equipment used when handling the product must be grounded. Do not touch or walk through spilled material. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. If possible, turn leaking containers so that gas escapes rather than liquid. Use water spray to reduce vapours or divert vapour cloud drift. Avoid allowing water runoff to contact spilled material. Do not direct water at spill or source of leak. Prevent spreading of vapours through sewers, ventilation systems, and confined areas. Isolate area until gas has dispersed.in this case the emergency systems already in place worked.
Emergency Action
As experts from both the U.S. and Canada arrived to investigate the accident and help determine the safest way to handle the incident, officials eventually were able to off-load the liquid hydrogen from the damaged tanker truck to another tanker and remove it from the area. The whole incident lasted about 20 hours and resulted in no explosions, no injuries, and no damage to any nearby houses or businesses.
Emergency Evaluation
After the crash into the pole, local officials on hand realized the danger because the truck was properly placarded with a UN1966 placard. Therefore, officials were able to respond quickly and evacuated all local businesses and roads leading to the grocery store parking lot where the accident took place. Officials went door to door to local residents recommending that they seek shelter. The main goal was to not only keep everyone in nearby houses and businesses informed of the incident and safe, but to also stop any potential leaking.Had the truck not been placarded correctly, officials would not have known what was inside the truck and what dangers could come from exposure to the highly flammable liquid hydrogen.
Release Type
Release Substance
Hydrogen Release Concentration (%)
100.00
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category