Hydrogen Leak and Fire in Refinery Desulfurisation Unit During Commissioning
Hydrogen leaked from the hydrogen compressor and ignited. The compressor was part of the desulfurization unit of a refinery. It had just been delivered and was under commissioning testing. The fire lasted more than a hour, till the moment that the unit had been depressurized. Tow workers were injured.
Event Date
January 28, 1994
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Causes
Cause Comments
Since the compressor was under commissioning, a possible error in the execution of the testing procedure could be a cause, as well as an ill-designed testing procedure.
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
Hydrogen compressor
Storage/Process Medium
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Operational Condition
Pre-event Summary
The hydrogen compressor was new and under commissioning.
Currency
Event Nature
Emergency Action
The fire is extinguished after 1h, when the unit is decompressed.
Release Type
Release Substance
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category
References
References
Event description in the French database ARIA
https://www.aria.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/accident/23174/
(accessed October 2020)