Release and ignition of hydrogen during CGH2 transfer

Event

Event ID: 367
Quality: 3
Description: During a gaseous hydrogen trailer filling operation, a burst disc relieved, causing a gas release. The gas flow caused the vent pipe to separate at the flared tube fitting, resulting in a fire. The fire caused three additional tubes in the gas trailer to relieve pressure (through their burst discs) increasing the intensity of the fire.

[Ordin, NASA (1974)]
Event Initiating system: Hydrogen System Initiating Event
Classification of the physical effects: Hydrogen Release and Ignition
Nature of the consequences: Fire (No additional details provided)
Macro-region: North America
Country: United States
Date: 01/01/1950 - 31/12/1974
Main component involved?: Prd (Burst Disc)
How was it involved?: Premature Activation
Initiating cause: Unknown
Root causes: Material/ Manufacturing Error
Root CAUSE analysis: The INITIATING CAUSE was the burst disc failure, but no reason was given for this. The pulling away of the tube from under the SAE flared fitting indicated faulty assembly.
Causes of faulty assembly include:
(1) flare on tube too short (short flare is squeezed, then due to smaller area, tube is loosened), (2) nut too loose, (3) tube end not squarely cut,
(4) foreign material in joint when tightened, (5) split flare.

This suggests that the ROOT CAUSES were a combination design and installation shortcomings, possibly assisted by not enough specific procedure.

Application: Hydrogen Transport And Distribution
Sub-application: CGH2 tube trailer
Hydrogen supply chain stage: Hydrogen Transfer (No additional details provided)
All components affected: burst disc
Location type: Open
Location description: Industrial Area
Operational condition: Normal

Reference & weblink: Mishap no 15 in <br />
P. L. Ordin, Review of hydrogen accidents and incidents in NASA operations, 1974, NASA TM X-71565<br />
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19740020344