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Clean Hydrogen Partnership

collision of CGH2 tube trailer

Event

Event ID
850
Quality
Description

The vehicle involved consisted of a tractor and semi-trailer and was carrying 17 cylinders of 200 m³ of compressed hydrogen each. The driver lost control of the vehicle, crossed the traffic lanes and stopped against the median barriers of a motorway. The driver was slightly injured but no leak was detected on the cylinders. The emergency services establish a security perimeter, interrupt the traffic in both directions and install two protection lances. Approximately two hours later, traffic on the highway was partially reopened in the south-north direction. Since a metal signboard support spanning the traffic lines was deteriorated in the crash, The company managing the highway removed it, because it was threatening to collapse. After expertise, the stowage of the bottles was reinforced and the heavyweight evacuated around. Traffic was fully restored around several hours later.
According to the transporter company, the driver was a victim of malaise.

Event Initiating system
Classification of the physical effects
No Hydrogen Release
Nature of the consequences
Macro-region
Europe
Country
France
Date
Component involved
CGH2 tube (trailer)
Failure mode
damage, no release
Initiating cause
impact, rollover, crash
Root CAUSE analysis

INITIATING CAUSE was a traffic accident. In absence of information on driver, the ROOT CAUSE is attributed generically to a human error (wrong manoeuvre). According to the transporter company, the driver was a victim of illness. Without further details, the possibility of a case of force majeure cannot be assessed.

Root causes
Date entry in HIAD
01/01/2020

Facility

Application
Hydrogen transport and distribution
Sub-application
CGH2 tube trailer
Hydrogen supply chain stage
All components affected

CGH2 tube trailer

Process temperature range [C]
ambient temperature (-50°C to +50°C)
Process pressure range [MPa]
medium to high pressure (10 to 50 MPa)
Location type
Open
Location
highway or similar
Operational condition
Pre-event occurrences

Driver loosing control of the truck due to illness

Emergency & Consequences

Number of fatalities
0
Number of injured persons
1
Post-event summary

The driver is slightly injured but no leak is detected on the bottles. A metal signboard support spanning the traffic lines is deteriorated.

Emergency action

8:10, the driver loses control of his vehicle, crosses the traffic lanes and stops against the median barriers of a motorway.
The driver is slightly injured but no leak is detected on the cylinders. A metal signboard support spanning the traffic lines is deteriorated.
The emergency services establish a security perimeter, interrupt the traffic on the A6 in both directions and install 2 protection lances.
10:40 Traffic on the highway is partially reopened in the south-north direction.
The company managing the highway removes the road sign that was threatening to collapse. The stowage of the bottles is reinforced and the truck carried away
18:00 Traffic is fully restored

In-depth data

Release type
no release
Released amount (kg)
0
Release temperature [°C]
25
Probable IGNITION SOURCE

References

Sources categories
ARIA
Reference & weblink

ARIA data base
event no. 37985