CGH2 tube trailer off road

A gaseous tube trailer gone off road in a countryside area and landed on one side. All cylinders were loaded to a pressure of 200 bars.
The impact with the ground has caused the rupture of a high pressure valve of one of the cylinders positioned at the back part of the tube trailer. The interested cylinder was positioned in the low band in a central position. The rupture of the valve caused a considerable loss of hydrogen.

The loss of control and consequent drive-off caused damage to the high pressure valve of one of the hydrogen cylinders and it emptying.

Compressed hydrogen cylinders

The gaseous tube trailer has been transported to the producer site and the cylinders have been emptied.

The fire brigade made use of an infrared camera to measure the temperature of the cylinders, and excluded overheating. The body of the cylinders resulted entire without other losses. The fire brigade team recovered the still loaded trailer, without need to remove gas.

From the analysis of this accident the following emerged:

(1). Lack of the side protection to the bodies valve and pipes of connection among the containers. The rear of the trailer contains the whole hydraulic system (valves of intercept, manometers and collectors). The system was not protected efficiently in case of rear and side collisions.

(2). Lack of points for the lifting of the wagon during the phases of vehicle recovery. In case of roll-over or tipping, the final phase of the emergency consists in the recovery of the trailer-tractor. This is usually done mean of a crane. Without anchor points, the lifting and up-righting is a complex situation.