Fire at a Waste Liquid Storage Tank
When waste alkali solution was taken out of dumper trucks into a waste liquid storage tank, a reaction occurred in the tank. As a result, the solution in the tank foamed over it, and reached an incinerator burning waste wood, when all the waste solution got in flames. The cause of the incident was the waste alkali solution with heavier specific gravity than water, which sank in a mass and came into contact with aluminum powder that had accumulated at the bottom the tank. This resulted in generation of hydrogen gas, which was ignited by fire at the incinerator.
Event Date
June 11, 1996
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Cause Comments
The cause of the incident was the waste alkali solution with heavier specific gravity than water, which sank in a mass and came into contact with aluminum powder that had accumulated at the bottom the tank. This resulted in generation of hydrogen gas, which was ignited by fire at the incinerator.
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
Liquid storage tank, alkali tank
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Consequences
Number of Injured Persons
12
Number of Fatalities
2
Currency
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
[1st] Organization factor [2nd] Design mistake [3rd] Prior evaluation is insufficient.
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.