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This data is from the European Hydrogen Incidents and Accidents database HIAD 2.1, European Commission, Joint Research Centre.

Fire in the Hydrogen Storage and Supply System of a Nuclear Power Plant
A hydrogen skid was placed into service in a nuclear power plant, outside the controlled area. This skid, like seven others, was located in a gas cylinder storage facility. It was supplied by several hydrogen cylinders at a pressure of 200 bar. As its pressure was rising, a trap on the skid was blown off, causing the hydrogen to leak and ignite. The flaming jet measured 40 cm and continued as the system was open. Surprised by the incident, an employee fell and slightly injured his arm. The sites internal emergency plan was initiated.The storage facility was located just 20 m from a 400 kV high-voltage power line. The use of hydraulic means was therefore impossible. Firefighters were able to close the hydrogen supply valve, which stopped the leak. The two skids impacted by the fire were removed from service.The analysis of the accident showed that the trap was loose and that its threads were worn. Mechanical rubbing during the expulsion had released enough energy to ignite the hydrogen. The operator conducted electrical and mechanical inspections of all the sites gas storage facilities. 60% of the traps was found with tightening defects.
Event Date
November 12, 2014
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Cause Comments
Immediate cause is the failure of a trap on the skid causing the hydrogen to leak and ignite.Root cause was the pack of a procedure for the careful inspections of the skids.
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
hydrogen supply unit of a nuclear power plant
Storage/Process Medium
Design Pressure
200
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Currency
Property Loss (onsite)
50000
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
The operator took the following corrective actions:1. periodic inspection of the tightening of the traps and their threads;2. review of the gas storage facilitys access conditions;3. study of modifications to the systems for purging flammable gas skids and protection against self-ignition;4. thoughtful analysis of the leak search procedure: study to replace the hydrogen detection system via an explosimeter with compressed air and a microbubble search.
Event Nature
Emergency Action
The sites internal emergency plan was initiated.The storage facility was located just 20 m from a 400 kV high-voltage power line. The use of hydraulic means was therefore impossible. Firefighters were able to close the hydrogen supply valve, which stopped the leak. The alert was called off at 2 a.m. The two skids impacted by the fire were removed from service.
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category
References
References

ARIA data base
event no. 46047

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