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Clean Hydrogen Partnership

Crash of a CGH2 tube trailer

Event

Event ID
266
Quality
Description
A tube trailer was returning to base after delivery of gaseous hydrogen. It went off road shearing off rear valves and manifolds and released 2000 cu ft of hydrogen

[Zalosh and Short, 1978]
Event Initiating system
Classification of the physical effects
Unignited Hydrogen Release
Nature of the consequences
Leak No Ignition (No additional details provided)
Macro-region
North America
Country
United States
Date
Main component involved?
Valve (Generic)
How was it involved?
Rupture
Initiating cause
Impact, Rollover, Crash
Root causes
Root CAUSE analysis
INITIATING CAUSE was a traffic accident. In absence of information on drivers and driver behaviours, the ROOT CAUSE can be attributed generically to a human error (wrong maneuvre)

Facility

Application
Hydrogen Transport And Distribution
Sub-application
CGH2 tube trailer
Hydrogen supply chain stage
Hydrogen Transport (No additional details provided)
All components affected
valves;
manifolds
Location type
Open
Operational condition

Emergency & Consequences

Number of injured persons
0
Number of fatalities
0
Currency
US$
Property loss (onsite)
0
Property loss (offsite)
0
Emergency action
The leakage was probably detected by checking pressure stability. The location was found by the soap method. Nothing is known on the corrective measure.

Lesson Learnt

Lesson Learnt

Zalosh et al (see references), concluded their analysis of hydrogen transportation accidents till 1978 with the following conclusions:
"Finally, an encouraging aspect of the transportation incident compilation is that 71% of the hydrogen releases did not lead to an ignition. ... The relatively few ignitions may be due to either to lack of ignition sources or to the rapid dispersal of hydrogen into the atmosphere. In any event, the accident data provide further incentive t o transport , transfer and store hydrogen outdoors away from occupied areas."

Event Nature

Release type
gas
Involved substances (% vol)
H2 100%
Released amount
4.74884
Presumed ignition source
No ignition

References

Reference & weblink

Extract from Table III of Appendix A of Zalosh and Short<br />
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF HYDROGEN FIRE AND EXPLOSION INCIDENTS<br />
Quarterly Report No. 2 for Period December 1, 1977 - February 28, 1978<br />
https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6566131<br />
(accessed September 2020)

JRC assessment