LESSONS
LEARNED
Disclaimer: The Lessons Learned Database includes the incidents that were voluntarily submitted. The database is not a comprehensive source for all incidents that have occurred.

Stainless Steel (403) Failure in Liquid Hydrogen Line

Severity
Near-Miss
Was Hydrogen Released?
No
Was There Ignition?
No
Incident Attributes
Setting
Laboratory
Equipment
Measurement / Sensing Device
Piping
Damage and Injuries
Property Damage
Probable Cause
Design Flaw
Contributing Factors
Human Error
Characteristics
Low Temperature (< -100°C)
When Incident Was Discovered
During Operations
Describe the incident, including corrective steps taken and their result.

A bourdon tube ruptured in a pressure gage after 528 hours of operation in a liquid H2 system. The alarm sounded, the system was isolated and then vented.

Lessons Learned

The tube was 403 stainless steel, which is subject to hydrogen embrittlement. It is requested that all gauges that have bourdon tubes be replaced with 303 stainless steel.

A web-based resource developed by Sandia National Laboratories to provide data on hydrogen embrittlement of various materials is available at Technical Reference for Hydrogen Compatibility of Materials.

Key:

  • = No Ignition
  • = Explosion
  • = Fire
Hydrogen Incident Summaries by Equipment and Primary Cause/Issue
Equipment / CauseEquipment Design or SelectionComponent FailureOperational ErrorInstallation or MaintenanceInadequate Gas or Flame DetectionEmergency Shutdown ResponseOther or Unknown
Hydrogen Gas Metal Cylinder or Regulator 3/31/2012
4/30/1995
2/6/2013		4/26/201012/31/1969  3/17/1999
11/1/2001
12/23/2003
Piping/Valves4/4/2002
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		2/7/20091/24/1999
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		1/1/19829/30/2004
10/7/2005		 10/7/2005 
Compressor 10/5/2009
6/10/2007
8/21/2008
1/15/2019		  10/5/20098/21/2008 
Liquid Hydrogen Tank or Delivery Truck4/27/198912/19/2004
1/19/2009		8/6/200412/31/1969 1/1/197412/17/2004
Pressure Relief Device7/25/2013
5/4/2012		1/15/2002
1/08/2007		12/31/1969    
Instrument1/15/20193/17/1999
12/31/1969
2/6/2013		  11/13/73  
Hydrogen Generation Equipment7/27/1999  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

This material was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government.
Twitter H2Tools Facebook H2Tools Instagram H2Tools YouTube H2Tools

Contact

The portal brings together and enhances the utility of a variety of tools and web-based content on the safety aspects of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to help inform those tasked with designing, approving or using systems and facilities, as well as those responding to incidents.

Copyright © 2024 by H2Tools; H2 Tools is intended for public use. It was built, and is maintained, by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory with funding from the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office. All Rights Reserved
We are professional and reliable provider since we offer customers the most powerful and beautiful themes. Besides, we always catch the latest technology and adapt to follow world’s new trends to deliver the best themes to the market.

Contact info

We are the leaders in the building industries and factories. We're word wide. We never give up on the challenges.

Recent Posts