Event
- Event ID
- 776
- Quality
- Description
- The explosion took place in the hydrogen gasometer. The bell in the gasometer was lifted 15-20 m straight up and cracked. The cover fell down on the pipe bridge besides the gasometer. The cylindrical part of the bell fell down into the gasometer basin.
The reason for the explosion was transportation of oxygen into the hydrogen gasometer. This was due to poor drainage, and corresponding overpressure in the oxygen flow line.
No persons were injured.
The hydrogen gasometer was destroyed, and there was also considerable damage to the 02 and N2 gasometers. Several pipes were knocked off and foundations for the pipe bridge were damaged. There was also some damage to the neighbouring buildings and many windows were either blown in or sucked out of their frames. In total 1,200 m3 of glass were damaged. No comments are made regarding possible ignition sources.
The HAZOP study which was done after the explosion revealed that a series of improvements could be carried out to increase safety. - 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?
- Gasometer/Gasholder
- How was it involved?
- Internal Explosion (H2-O2 Mixture)
- Initiating cause
- Malfunctioning (Electrolyser, Cross-Over)
- Root causes
- Root CAUSE analysis
- The direct cause for the explosion was transportation of oxygen into the hydrogen gasometer. This was due to poor drainage, and corresponding overpressure in the oxygen flow line.
Facility
- Application
- Hydrogen Production
- Sub-application
- CH2 stationary tank
- Hydrogen supply chain stage
- Hydrogen Storage (No additional details provided)
- All components affected
- hydrogen gasometer
- Location type
- Unknown
- Operational condition
Emergency & Consequences
- Number of injured persons
- 0
- Number of fatalities
- 0
- Post-event summary
- Nobody was injured.
As well as the hydrogen gasometer being destroyed, there was also considerable damage to the 02 and N2 gasometers. Several pipes were knocked off and foundations for the pipe bridge were damaged. There was also some damage to the neighbouring buildings and many windows were either blown in or sucked out of their frames. In total 1,200 m3 of glass were damaged. No comments are made regarding possible ignition sources.
Event Nature
- Release type
- gas
- Involved substances (% vol)
- H2 100%
- Presumed ignition source
- Not reported
References
- Reference & weblink
6th International Symposium 'Loss Prevention and Safety Promotion in the Process Industries', Oslo, Norway, June 19-22 1989, Vol.2, pp. 40.1-40.14, available from Norwegian Society of Chartered Engineers
JRC assessment
- Sources categories
- Scientific article
