Event
- Event ID
- 967
- Quality
- Description
- A diesel and gas leak (H2, H2S, CH4) occurred in a hydrodesulphurization unit (2,200 t/d). The leak location was on one of the boiler valves of the stabilization column.
The released mixture (390 °C / 35 bar) ignited, and due to the heat developed also other valves started leaking.
The compressor was stopped and the column isolated. The fire was extinguished in 35 minutes. - Event Initiating system
- Classification of the physical effects
- Hydrogen Release and Ignition
- Nature of the consequences
- Fire (No additional details provided)
- Macro-region
- Europe
- Country
- France
- Date
- Root causes
- Root CAUSE analysis
- The ARIA report (see references) mentions that the failed valves were of a special type without flange (?) and that were subject during operation to heavy thermal and mechanical fluctuations, and had already experienced various incidents in the past.
Facility
- Application
- Petrochemical Industry
- Sub-application
- Hydrodesulphurisation process
- Hydrogen supply chain stage
- All components affected
- valve of a boiler. tabilisation unit
- Location type
- Open
- Location description
- Industrial Area
- Operational condition
- Pre-event occurrences
- These boiler valves which failed in this event had already experienced various incidents in the past.
Emergency & Consequences
- Number of injured persons
- 0
- Number of fatalities
- 0
Lesson Learnt
- Corrective Measures
The ARIA report (see references) mention as corrective actions (1) the replacement of the failed valve, with another type and (2) improved design to protect them from mechanical and thermal stresses.
Event Nature
- Release type
- Gas-liquid mixture
- Involved substances (% vol)
- H2,
diesel - Presumed ignition source
- Not reported
- Flame type
- Other
References
- Reference & weblink
Event description in the French database ARIA<br />
https://www.aria.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/accident/11292/<br />
(accessed October 2020)<br />
JRC assessment
- Sources categories
- ARIA
