Event
- Event ID
- 364
- Quality
- Description
During an LH2 transfer from a tanker, the burst disc ruptured at 50 psi (ca. 3.5 bar). The operator had turned on the pressure valve and left it unattended, permitting pressure build-up past the allowed 30 psi.
Pressure limit for the operation was 30 psi (ca. 2 bar).- Event Initiating system
- Classification of the physical effects
- Unignited Hydrogen Release
- Nature of the consequences
- leak no ignition
- Macro-region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Date
- -
- Component involved
- PRD (burst disc)
- Failure mode
- correct activation & venting
- Initiating cause
- over-pressurisation (wrong operation)
- Root CAUSE analysis
The INITIATING CAUSE was the excess of maximal allowed pressure and consequent correct rupture of the burst disc.
The ROOT CAUSE was the not following of the prescribed procedure. The operator left pressure valve unattended, permitting pressure build-up past the allowed 30 psi.
- Root causes
- Date entry in HIAD
- 16/11/2024
Facility
- Application
- Hydrogen transport and distribution
- Sub-application
- LH2 tanker
- Hydrogen supply chain stage
- All components affected
burst disc
- Process temperature range [C]
- cryogenic temperature (below -50°C)
- Process pressure range [MPa]
- low to medium pressure (below 2 MPa)
- Location type
- Open
- Location
- industrial area
- Operational condition
Emergency & Consequences
- Number of fatalities
- 0
- Number of injured persons
- 0
Lesson Learnt
- Lesson Learnt
Hydrogen transfers are characterised by risks related to frequent connection-connections operations involving a flexible hoses and the series of manual operations required by the operators, who are often also the truck drivers. These operations need strong focus and continuous supervision. The operators need to follow well-designed procedures and be instructed on the consequences of not following them.
In-depth data
- Release type
- gas
- Involved substances (% vol)
- H2 100%
- Release pressure [MPa]
- 0.2
- Probable IGNITION SOURCE
References
- Sources categories
- ORDIN
- Reference & weblink
Mishap no 12 in
P. L. Ordin, Review of hydrogen accidents and incidents in NASA operations, 1974, NASA TM X-71565
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19740020344
