First Name
Andy
Last Name
Piatt
Severity
Incident
Was Hydrogen Released?
Yes
Was There Ignition?
No
Incident Date
Mar 13, 2012
Setting
Equipment
  • Hydrogen Storage Equipment
  • Gas cylinder
Damage and Injuries
Probable Cause
Characteristics
When Incident Was Discovered
Lessons Learned

The hydrogen supplier installed a fire-resistant material board adjacent to the high-pressure hydrogen storage banks to prevent any potential jet flames from affecting adjacent high-pressure cylinders for several minutes. The 0.25 mm sandwich board of fiberglass-reinforced, lightweight concrete is easy to maintain and does not rot under outside conditions. This safety measure was implemented just three days after the incident occurred, although it had been planned for a long time.
The hydrogen supplier installed a semi-automated sprinkler system to cool the high-pressure hydrogen storage banks to prevent any potential escaping hydrogen gas that might ignite in jet flames from affecting other hydrogen cylinders. In addition, the dry piping system above the high-pressure hydrogen storage banks can be flooded with water by the fire department in case of fire or leakages in the high-pressure banks.
The alarm system was refined to send automated messages to relevant personnel informing them of gas/fire alarms.
The remote control room where service personnel are monitoring the fueling station is now equipped with an additional audio system to draw faster attention to alarms.
All plans and emergency procedures have been reviewed, adjusted and edited to document changes and fully capture the lessons learned.
Other learnings: Training for worst-case scenarios is recommended in order to be prepared for those siutations.

Key:

  • = No Ignition
  • = Explosion
  • = Fire
Hydrogen Incident Summaries by Equipment and Primary Cause/Issue
Equipment / Cause Equipment Design or Selection Component Failure Operational Error Installation or Maintenance Inadequate Gas or Flame Detection Emergency Shutdown Response Other or Unknown
Hydrogen Gas Metal Cylinder or Regulator   3/31/2012
4/30/1995
2/6/2013
4/26/2010 12/31/1969     3/17/1999
11/1/2001
12/23/2003
Piping/Valves 4/4/2002
2/2/2008
5/11/1999
4/20/1987
11/4/1997
12/31/1969
8/19/1986
7/27/1991
12/19/2004
2/6/2008
10/3/2008
4/5/2006
5/1/2007
9/19/2007
10/31/1980
2/7/2009 1/24/1999
2/24/2006
6/8/1998
12/31/1969
2/7/2009

9/1/1992
10/31/1980

10/3/2008  
Tubing/Fittings/Hose   9/23/1999
8/2/2004
8/6/2008
9/19/2007
1/1/1982 9/30/2004
10/7/2005
  10/7/2005  
Compressor   10/5/2009
6/10/2007
8/21/2008
1/15/2019
    10/5/2009 8/21/2008  
Liquid Hydrogen Tank or Delivery Truck 4/27/1989 12/19/2004
1/19/2009
8/6/2004 12/31/1969   1/1/1974 12/17/2004
Pressure Relief Device 7/25/2013
5/4/2012
1/15/2002
1/08/2007
12/31/1969        
Instrument 1/15/2019 3/17/1999
12/31/1969
2/6/2013
    11/13/73    
Hydrogen Generation Equipment 7/27/1999     10/23/2001      
Vehicle or Lift Truck   7/21/2011         2/8/2011
12/9/2010
Fuel Dispenser   8/2/2004
5/1/2007
6/11/2007
9/19/2007
  2/24/2006
1/22/2009
     
Fuel Cell Stack            

5/3/2004
12/9/2010
2/8/2011

Hydrogen Cooled Generator       12/31/1969
2/7/2009
     
Other (floor drain, lab
anaerobic chamber,
heated glassware,
test chamber,
gaseous hydrogen
composite cylinder,
delivery truck)
  11/14/1994
7/21/2011
7/27/1999
6/28/2010
8/21/2008
12/31/1969
3/22/2018
    6/10/2019
  • = No Ignition
  • = Explosion
  • = Fire