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Swagelok Fittings Under High Pressure

Severity
Incident
Was Hydrogen Released?
No
Was There Ignition?
No
Incident Date
Incident Attributes
Equipment
Damage and Injuries
Probable Cause
Contributing Factors
Characteristics
When Incident Was Discovered
Describe the incident, including corrective steps taken and their result.

A shop supervisor determined that a second shift would be necessary to complete some priority work on the spare hydrogen mitigation pump. The work scope for the shift would be dedicated to continued fabrication of designed tubing runs, repairs to existing tubing with known leaks and pressure testing of other various tubing runs. The shift craft complement would include three pipe fitters, one welder, one QC inspector and a shift supervisor.

The shift remained under normal operations prior to the event. There had been no existing problem up until the point that craft personnel implemented some hydrostatic pressure testing on some tubing runs on the spare hydrogen mitigation pump. Work activities associated with the hydrostatic testing were to be in accordance with the Hydrostatic Test Procedure. This activity was initiated at approximately 9:00 p.m.. After initial pressurization of a tubing run, an indicated pressure of about 5200-5300 P.S.I., the pipe fitters realized that they were unable to maintain the required test pressure of 5000 P.S.I.+. Immediate trouble-shooting of the 3/8" stainless steel tubing (.065" wall thickness) run revealed a leak near the far end of the run at the Swagelok fitting and cap. At this point, the time was estimated to be approximate (9:40 p.m.)

At approximately 9:50 p.m., the pipe fitters commenced removing the cap from the Swagelok fitting at the far end of the run. At this time, it was apparent (as later stated by several of the pipe fitters) that they believed the balance of the tubing run to have been bled off and not to be under pressure. They had not recognized that the portion of the tubing run down stream of the check valves and the Swagelok fitting had remained isolated, therefore, remaining under high pressure. When the pipe fitter loosened the cap off of the tubing run Swagelok, the Swagelok, ferrules, and cap still under extreme pressure, blew off the end of the tubing run, becoming an airborne projectile. The pipe fitter that was performing the work stated that the force from the tubing run was strong enough that it blew his hands back away from the area near the Swagelok fitting. Information to date is inconclusive as to "how far" the Swagelok did or did not travel or at what velocity it was traveling, but subsequent inquiries directly related to this event have classified this as a near miss. No one was standing in front of the tube run and no one was injured.

Swagelok™ fittings, should not be tampered with, loosened or removed while under extreme pressure for any reason. In this case, the fitting was loosened to relieve pressure in lieu of a non-existent vent valve.

Lessons Learned

In this case, failure to recognize a run of tubing still maintaining pressure could have been avoided if such information was provided in a safety briefing. Knowledge of any job is the utmost importance in promoting and maintaining a safe working environment.

Facilities should Issue instructions to appropriate personnel to establish the standard practice for hydrostatic & pneumatic pressure testing.

The set up configuration of a tubing/piping run for a hydrostatic pressure test must be carefully reviewed to ensure that means are provided to immediately shutoff pressure and safely and completely relieve pressure. Under no circumstances should a Swagelok fitting or any other fitting be used as a vent valve. Equipment should be utilized for its intended purpose only.

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
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