Event
- Event ID
- 116
- Quality
- Description
- Workers were connecting a compressed hydrogen cylinder, when a release of hydrogen occurred within a safety-box for flammable gases (a fire-proof safety cabinet).
During the emergency response procedures, the explosive atmosphere ignited and destroyed the safety-box completely.
A fire followed the explosion, which was extinguished by the company fire department. Due to the explosion two employees were seriously injured and one minor injured. - Event Initiating system
- Classification of the physical effects
- Hydrogen Release and Ignition
- Nature of the consequences
- Macro-region
- Europe
- Country
- Germany
- Date
- Main component involved?
- Cgh2 Cylinder(S)
- How was it involved?
- Internal Explosion (H2-Air Mixture)
- Initiating cause
- Unknown
- Root causes
- Unknown (No additional details provided)
Facility
- Application
- Laboratory / R&d
- Sub-application
- unspecified
- Hydrogen supply chain stage
- Hydrogen Storage (No additional details provided)
- All components affected
- H2 gas cylinder, safety box
- Location type
- Unknown
- Location description
- Industrial Area
- Operational condition
- Pre-event occurrences
- The hydrogen release occurred during the connection of a compressed hydrogen cylinder.
Emergency & Consequences
- Number of injured persons
- 3
- Number of fatalities
- 0
- Emergency action
- the driver exited the highway and stopped at an abandoned gas station. There the drivers ("blew down") reduced manually the tank pressure to 75 psig (5.2 barg) and restarted the travel.
Lesson Learnt
- Corrective Measures
Nothing is now on the accident analysis conclusions. Nevertheless, the company recommended all users of hydrogen-gas-cylinders to immediately ensure that the following conditions are in place:
(1) All gas-cylinders are in a technically good condition;
(2) The fixed pipe system with all its components and devices are sealed;
(3) The operators are all well trained in handling hydrogen;
(4) The operators have a documented training in the connection procedures of cylinders.
Event Nature
- Release type
- gas
- Involved substances (% vol)
- H2 100%
- Presumed ignition source
- Not reported
- Deflagration
- Y
- High pressure explosion
- N
- High voltage explosion
- N
- Flame type
- Other
References
- Reference & weblink
Company own annuncement
JRC assessment
- Sources categories
- NEWS
