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Clean Hydrogen Partnership

unintended hydrogen formation from a truck with chemical tank

Event

Event ID
849
Quality
Description
In the collective treatment plant of a chemical platform, the truck tank of 25 m³ containing hydrochloric acid (HCl) rose in pressure at 11 am; leakage of acid solution and gas evolution occurred in the upper part of the tank.

The emergency plan of the site was triggered. The rescue confined 5 employees and switched off the electrical power on the site. The police interrupted the traffic. Reliefs opened the manhole of the tank to reduce the internal pressure. At 6pm, they measure 124, 923 and 230 ppm of HCl around the 3 manholes and a hydrogen (H2) level below the LEL. Staff containment was lifted. A specialized company emptied the tank until 9:30pm.

According to the IC inspection, the incident was due to an incompatibility between HCl and the material constituting the tank (INOX), the acid attack leading to the formation of H2.
Event Initiating system
Classification of the physical effects
Unignited Hydrogen Release
Nature of the consequences
Leak No Ignition (No additional details provided)
Macro-region
Europe
Country
France
Date
Root causes
Root CAUSE analysis
an incompatibility between HCl and the material constituting the tank (INOX), the acid attack leading to the formation of H2.

Facility

Application
Chemical Industry
Sub-application
Storage of hydrochloric acid (HCl)
Hydrogen supply chain stage
All components affected
truck tank of 25 m³ with HCl
Location type
Open
Location description
Industrial Area
Operational condition

Emergency & Consequences

Number of injured persons
0
Number of fatalities
0

Event Nature

Release type
gas mixture
Involved substances (% vol)
H2,
HCl
Presumed ignition source
No ignition

References

Reference & weblink

ARIA data base <br />
event no. 36762

JRC assessment