Hydrogen & Hydrocarbon Fire in the Desulfurization Unit of a Refinery
The leak ignited at the seal located between the bottom and the body of a heat exchanger of a desulfurization unit of a refinery. The fire is alimented by the leaking fuel under pressure for about twenty minutes causing the emission of a plume of black smoke. The operation of decompression of the unit is delayed by the malfunction of an automated system. Nevertheless, when finally successful, it allows the fire to be controlled and then completely extinguished after emptying the reactor located upstream (morning of the following day). The intervention is provided by the emergency services of the operator without recourse to the firefighters of the municipality put however on preventive alert. The affected unit was stopped, repaired and restarted only 4 weeks later. The analysis of the causes performed by the operator reveals a failure of the mounted seal, different from the seal recommended at this point, poorly positioned and tightened non-homogeneously.
Event Date
July 31, 2006
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Cause Comments
The immediate cause of the release was the failure of the seal. Th root cause was a mistake when mounting the seal, which was different from the recommended seal, poorly positioned and tightened non-homogeneously.
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
heat exchanger of a desulfurization unit, refinery
Storage/Process Medium
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Unknown
Event Nature
Emergency Action
17:30 Fire at the seal of the heat exchanger. The emergency plan is initiated. The fire is alimented by the leak under pressure for about twenty minutes causing the emission of a plume of black smoke. 02:00 (morning) Fire extinguished after decompressing the unit and emptying the reactor located upstream. The intervention is provided by the emergency services of the operator without recourse to the firefighters of the municipality put however on preventive alert. The collected firewater is directed directly to the treatment plant. 20:22. (evening of the day after) The emergency plan is terminated. The collected firewater is directed directly to the treatment plant.
Release Type
Release Substance
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category
References
References
ARIA data base
event no. 32145