Fire on a CGH2 tube trailer

A truck-trailer transporting 4,000 pounds of compressed hydrogen burned to ground, including the driver cabin. The driver was able to get out before it got fully engulfed. 3- to 4-feet of flames were seen coming from the hydrogen tanks, the confinement of which, however, was not completely lost. Despite the absence of factual evidence due to the total loss, the authorities suspected that the initial fire developed in the engine. The heat of the engine fire impinged on the trailer, and caused the pressure release system to release hydrogen. Possibly melting of some pipe components could have been an additional cause of leak.

The evolution of the event (engine fire as INITIATING cause) is based on assumptions.

truck engin

it is suspected that the engine took fire. The value of 400 pound of hydrogen provided by the online news is not credible. It would correspond to 1800 kg, while a tube traile can transport typically 500 kg.

the truck and the trailer were destroyed.

The firefighters took a “defensive” stance by pouring water on the burning tractor-trailer for several hours. Even after the flames were extinguished, they continued hosing down the tanks to make sure they had cooled entirely. Officials allowed all of the remaining hydrogen to vent from the tanks before moving the trailer.

The conclusion of the authorities was that “the incident wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been. In a worst-case scenario, it could have been very terrible”. They noticed as well that the company responsible for the hydrogen transport a “satisfactory” rating. Its consists of 749 drivers, and has better-than-average safety statistics in all categories of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.