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Clean Hydrogen Partnership

Gas storage vessel rupture release of tank in open atmosphere

Event

Event ID
26
Quality
Description
A compressed gas spherical vessel failed along the along the weld, releasing the whole content, consisting in a H2-CH4-rich mixture (54%, 26%). The cause was stress corrosion accelerated by hydrogen.
Event Initiating system
Classification of the physical effects
Unignited Hydrogen Release
Nature of the consequences
Leak No Ignition (No additional details provided)
Macro-region
Europe
Country
Germany
Date
Main component involved?
Cgh2 Vessel
How was it involved?
Rupture & Formation Of A Flammable H2-Hc-Air Mixture
Initiating cause
H2-Driven Material Degradation
Root causes
Root CAUSE analysis
The INITIATING CAUSE was hydrogen-assisted stress corrosion.
ROOT CAUSE is not given, but a inadequate design is suspected.

Facility

Application
Hydrogen Stationary Storage
Sub-application
unspecified
Hydrogen supply chain stage
All components affected
compressed gas spherical vessel
Location type
Unknown
Location description
Industrial Area
Operational condition

Emergency & Consequences

Number of injured persons
0
Number of fatalities
0
Emergency action
As emergency response to the event, the plant was shut down, electrical supply was cut and loading/unloading operations were stopped. The internal emergency plan operated correctly.

Event Nature

Release type
gas mixture
Involved substances (% vol)
H2 54%
CH4 46%
Presumed ignition source
No ignition

References

Reference & weblink

Kier and Müller, 1983; A.M. Kreiser, G. Fröhlich, H. Eichert, A.Schatz, IKE Universität Stuttgart ISSN 0173-6892, April 1994Analyse von Störfällen mit Wasserstoff in bisherigen Anwendungsbereichen mit besonderer Berücksichtigung von LH2

JRC assessment