Fire in the Catalytic Reformer Operation
A fire occurred at an oil factory during maintenance work. On the day of the incident, a distillation unit was shutdown for a steam air tightness test. Cooling equipment on the distillation unit was found to be leaking at the header and joint. Nitrogen purging was carried out before the repair work. The header cover was then connected and tightened up using an impact wrench, when the fire broke out. Hydrogen gas, which formed during the previous operation of the catalytic reforming unit, entered the nitrogen gas system due to malfunction of the valve, and ignited by a spark generated when an impact wrench was used.
Event Date
July 8, 1987
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
catalytic reformer, distillation unit, valve
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Unknown
Event Nature
Emergency Action
Unknown
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category
References
References
Orignal source lost. RISCAD is closed.