Explosion and Fire in a Fertilizer Plant
The explosion occurred in the compressors unit of the plant. Witnesses reported a cloud of yellow smoke and a fire ball at its bottom. This first event has been followed by a fire fed by a hydrogen pipe (5.5 of gaseous hydrogen were present in the system). The fire brigade confined it until its natural extinction.A negligible amount of ammonia has been probably released to the environment. No injured but a considerable materials damage: the plant remained closed for one week and specialized work had to be done for the removal of asbestos contained in a wall which was destroyed by the explosion. It is suspected the welding of the hydrogen pipe was at the origin of the first incident.
Event Date
July 14, 2000
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Cause Comments
The immediate (or the contributing) cause is suspected to be the failure of the welding of the hydrogen pipe. Nothing is known on the root cause, but the organization has continued the operation, while not able to identify the original of the incidents.
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
compressor, hydrogen pipe, ammonia reactor
Storage/Process Medium
Storage/Process Quantity
5500
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Operational Condition
Pre-event Summary
other small incidents had occurred during the preceding 7 days : the plant was shut down one week before due to the malfunctioning of a compressor and a boiler. When restarting a small explosion had occurred. The plant was restarted 2 days later and stopped again the next day due to the malfunctioning of an other compressor. After one day of control, the plant is again restarted and the main explosion occurred.
Currency
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Unknown
Event Nature
Emergency Action
The fire brigade confined the fire until its natural extinction.
Release Type
Release Substance
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category
References
References
The related ARIA event (https://www.aria.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/accident/18302_en/?lang=…, accessed September 2020)