Investigation of the Hydrogen Release Incident at the AC Transit Emeryville Facility

May 8, 2013
ME Auditorium
1200

Dr. Chris San Marchi

Senior Member of Technical Staff
Materials Department
Sandia National Laboratory

Abstract

On May 4, 2012, the uncontrolled release of approximately 300kg of hydrogen occurred at the AC Transit hydrogen fuel cell bus refueling station in Emervville CA. Witnesses reported a loud “boom” when the released hydrogen mixed with air and ignited. The Emeryville Fire Department promptly responded to the incident. Facility employees along with the surrounding businesses were temporarily evacuated as a precautionary measure, although no injuries or fatalities resulted from the incident. After the incident Sandia National Laboratories (Livermore CA) was asked to assist the investigation because of the expertise of the Hydrogen Safety, Codes and Standards program, a US Department of Energy program at Sandia with extensive experience analyzing the risks associated with hydrogen infrastructure. The present talk summarizes the investigation results and highlights the metallurgical failure of the pressure relief device that precipitated this incident.

Biography

Dr. Chris San Marchi obtained a PhD in Materials Science from MIT in 1997 and holds BS degrees in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering as well as in Chemistry. Currently Dr. San Marchi is a Principal Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories in the Hydrogen and Metallurgy Science Department. Dr. San Marchi has published extensively in the area of hydrogen-assisted fracture, including authoring the Technical Reference for Hydrogen Compatibility of Materials and contributing to distinguished texts. Dr. San Marchi also works with various standards organizations that are developing codes and standards for hydrogen infrastructure.

POC

Dr. Daniel A. Nussbaum
Naval Postgraduate School 
Principal, Energy Academic Group
Monterey CA 93943
Phone: 831-656-2387
Mobile: 831-324-3228
Email: dnussbaum@nps.edu