Event
- Event ID
- 35
- Quality
- Description
- An isolation failure in starter coil of the high voltage generator induced an electric arc to the hydrogen supply line, with consequent fire and melting of the line.
[Zalosh and Short, 1978] - Event Initiating system
- Classification of the physical effects
- Hydrogen Release and Ignition
- Nature of the consequences
- Fire (No additional details provided)
- Macro-region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Date
- Main component involved?
- Pipe
- How was it involved?
- Rupture & Formation Of A Flammable H2-Air Mixture
- Root causes
- Root CAUSE analysis
- The INITIATING CAUSE was the accidental spark from high-voltage generator on the hydrogen line.
In absence of details (even regarding application) the ROOT CAUSE could be identified in a design fault: a correct safety design should be able to prevent an accidental scenario such as the on occurred here, and anyhow effective earthing is one of the major concerns when dealing with hydrogen systems.
Facility
- Application
- Electronics And Micro-Electronics
- Sub-application
- electric power compoents production
- Hydrogen supply chain stage
- All components affected
- hydrogen pipe, high voltage generator
- Location type
- Unknown
- Operational condition
Emergency & Consequences
- Number of injured persons
- 0
- Number of fatalities
- 0
- Environmental damage
- 0
- Currency
- US$
- Property loss (onsite)
- 160000
- Property loss (offsite)
- 0
- Post-event summary
- No injuries, 159000 $ material damage
Event Nature
- Release type
- gas
- Involved substances (% vol)
- H2 100%
- Release duration
- unknown
- Presumed ignition source
- Short circuit
- Flame type
- Other
References
- Reference & weblink
Table II of Appendix A of Zalosh and Short<br />
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF HYDROGEN FIRE AND EXPLOSION INCIDENTS<br />
Quarterly Report No. 2 for Period December 1, 1977 - February 28, 1978<br />
https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6566131<br />
(accessed September 2020)
JRC assessment
- Sources categories
- Zalosh
