Upgrade the liquid hydrogen pump control system to shut down operation of the pump and protect the system when malfunctions like leaks, pump cavitation, or loss of purge gas occur.
Verify that maintenance procedures used for liquid hydrogen systems meet the requirements of the manufacturer. Ensure that personnel performing maintenance have the necessary training to work on liquid hydrogen pumps. Ensure that liquid hydrogen pump maintenance procedures are in the training system and that work performed is documented in the maintenance system.
Install an hour meter in pump systems to ensure that maintenance can be performed based on hours of service instead of on a fixed schedule. Program the recommended maintenance interval into the maintenance system.
Communicate the incident to all company team members through the safety bulletin and discussions at safety meetings/conference calls.
Share best practices with other company entities that have liquid hydrogen pumping installations. Send this report to other company entities operating or installing this type of equipment.
Make changes required by the fire department to resume operation and have drawings approved by state PE.
The operator’s quick response and training of emergency shutdown procedures at this facility prevented this from developing into a much larger and more serious incident.
Remember that gaseous hydrogen typically propagates much faster in air than cold liquid hydrogen. Cold liquid hydrogen has a density near air and instead of dissipating up quickly, it may propagate more slowly from the source of the leak. In this incident, the cold liquid hydrogen remained near ground level until it was warmed by the surrounding conditions.