Event
- Event ID
- 817
- Quality
- Description
- In a chlorine manufacturing unit, an explosion occurs in the room of the electrolysis cells. The accident occurs during the start-up phase of the unit, it is due to the presence of hydrogen in the chlorine collector of the cells. An amperage error (2000 A instead of 0) during the initiation phase is at the origin of the presence of this gas.
The collector was destroyed and the chlorine spread in the workshop. The month, day and place of the accident are not specified. - Event Initiating system
- Classification of the physical effects
- Hydrogen Release and Ignition
- Nature of the consequences
- Macro-region
- Europe
- Country
- Netherlands
- Date
- Main component involved?
- Electrolytic Cell
- How was it involved?
- Internal Explosion (H2-Cl2 Mixture)
- Initiating cause
- Wrong Operation
- Root causes
- Root CAUSE analysis
- An amperage error (2000 A instead of 0) during the initiation phase is at the origin of the presence of this gas.
The month, day and place of the accident are not specified.
Facility
- Application
- Chemical Industry
- Sub-application
- Chlorine production
- Hydrogen supply chain stage
- All components affected
- electrolysers cell, electrolyser building
- Location type
- Confined
- Location description
- Industrial Area
- Operational condition
Emergency & Consequences
- Number of injured persons
- 0
- Number of fatalities
- 0
- Post-event summary
- The collector was destroyed and the chlorine spread in the workshop.
Event Nature
- Release type
- gas mixture
- Involved substances (% vol)
- H2,
Cl2 - Presumed ignition source
- Electricity
References
- Reference & weblink
Event 6444 of the ARIA data base <br />
https://www.aria.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/accident/6444/<br />
(accessed December 2025)
JRC assessment
- Sources categories
- ARIA
