Fire in the a Catalytic Reforming Unit of a Refinery
A fire broke out at a flange of a heat exchanger used in the catalytic reforming unit of a refinery. This exchanger makes it possible to heat the load of heavy oil and hydrogen by recovering the heat of the load already passed through the reactors. No flame and smoke were visible from the outside. The unit was stopped, depressurised and cooled with water and foam, waiting for the complete depressurization. The fuel supply was stopped and the fire, no longer fed, was brought under control around 22:30. Firefighters were alerted but not a request to intervene. The amount of product burned is less than 1 t.
Event Date
June 15, 2005
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Causes
Cause Comments
Immediate cause is a leak at a flange of the heat exchanger.Root cause unknown.
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
flange of a heat exchanger, catalytic reforming unit
Storage/Process Medium
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Unknown
Event Nature
Emergency Action
19:30 The fire broke out around a flange of the heat exchanger. No flame and no smoke are visible from the outside. The unit is stopped and depressurized. The staff cools the equipment with water and creates a foam pad while waiting for the complete depressurization. 20:30 Firefighters are alerted without a request for intervention. 22:30 Fire under control .
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category
References
References
ARIA data base
event no. 30221