First Name
Andy
Last Name
Piatt
Severity
Incident
Was Hydrogen Released?
Yes
Was There Ignition?
Yes
Incident Date
Apr 05, 2006
Equipment
  • Motive Power Systems
  • Compressor
  • Safety Systems
  • Measurement / Sensing Device
  • Piping/Fittings/Valves
  • Piping
  • Piping/Fittings/Valves
  • Valve
  • Pressure Relief Devices
  • Pressure Transducer
  • Safety Systems
  • Fire-Extinguishing Equipment
  • Pressure Relief Devices
  • Burst Disk
  • Piping/Fittings/Valves
  • Gasket
  • Piping/Fittings/Valves
  • Flange
  • Hydrogen Storage Equipment
  • Gas cylinder
  • Hydrogen Storage Equipment
  • Hydrogen tubes
  • Safety Systems
  • emergency shut down procedures and disconnects
  • Hydrogen Storage Equipment
  • Vent line
Damage and Injuries
Probable Cause
Characteristics
When Incident Was Discovered
Lessons Learned

The following corrective actions have been taken:

The non-return valve was dismantled, cleaned, and tested. Following positive testing, the system was restarted and pressurized without any further malfunctioning.
The hydrogen discharge pipe was extended from the low roof of the compressor building (2.5 m) to the higher roof of a neighboring building (6 m). With this modification, any potential hydrogen ignition would occur at approximately 6 meters from ground, farther from personnel than the 2.5 meters of the previous situation.
The compressor was sent to the manufacturer for preventive maintenance in order to lower the frequency of component malfunctioning.
Plans for regular maintenance of the non-return valve will be recorded in the next revision of the Design and Safety Report.
A flame arrestor was purchased and mounted at the end of the exhaust pipe on top of the building.

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