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Clean Hydrogen Partnership

Explosion on a hydrogen compressor

Event

Event ID
582
Quality
Description
An explosion occurred in hydrogen compressor, followed by a fire, due to rupture of 4 inch suction pipe to the compressor.
"there was a substantial release of hydrogen, which exploded and continued to burn until it was extinguished".
3 fatalities.
Event Initiating system
Classification of the physical effects
Hydrogen Release and Ignition
Nature of the consequences
Macro-region
North America
Country
United States
Date
Main component involved?
Compressor / Booster / Pump (Pipe)
How was it involved?
Rupture & Formation Of A Flammable H2-Air Mixture
Initiating cause
Unknown
Root causes
Unknown (No additional details provided)

Facility

Application
Petrochemical Industry
Sub-application
unkown refinery process
Hydrogen supply chain stage
Hydrogen Compression (No additional details provided)
All components affected
suction pipe,
H2 compressor
Location type
Unknown
Operational condition

Emergency & Consequences

Number of injured persons
2
Number of fatalities
3

Event Nature

Release type
gas
Involved substances (% vol)
H2 100%
Presumed ignition source
Not reported

References

Reference & weblink

Associated press Newspaper news on 6 Dec 1984<br />
https://www.apnews.com/1caf3098e31244fbb9f2fa32ea1b314c<br />
(accessed may 2020)

JRC assessment