Disclaimer: The Lessons Learned Database includes the incidents that were voluntarily submitted. The database is not a comprehensive source for all incidents that have occurred.
Failure of a diaphragm is not infrequent, but the seizure of the main nut threads is very rare. The manufacturer claimed this had never occurred before with this type of unit. The broken plunger is likely the result of poor instructions/…
The visiting intern had several years of experience in research projects and tasks that were similar to those in progress at this laboratory. This led to the incorrect assumption that formal introductory training for this laboratory was…
After the aforementioned incident, a rigid cage was designed to protect the reactor from external conditions, and to protect the contents of the hood and any experimenter from the reactor, in the event of a pressure burst from the reactor cell.…
High-pressure fueling hoses should be examined daily for signs of external damage, including corrosion, abrasion, cuts, and kinking. High-use fueling hoses should be replaced every six months.
An investigation team was formed to determine the cause of this anomaly. The team performed a fault tree analysis which identified the following five main paths or gates: fault in the original weld, age, component not built per design intent,…
Proper installation of check valves and other equipment should be visually inspected prior to pressurization.
Several recommendations were outlined by the investigating committee to govern future operations of the hydrogen compressor in the synthetic liquid fuels laboratory:
Metallurgical examination of the two failed disks by light optical microscopy (LOM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopic analysis (EDS) found them to be fabricated from pure nickel with evidence of…
Mounting hardware incorporated polymeric braces not suitable for long-term exposure to sunlight and temperature extremes. With time, the polymeric materials had disintegrated, allowing the mounting brackets to become loose. In addition, the…
The SS 24-inch pipe that failed was replaced with 1-1/4 Cr 1/2 Mo alloy pipe that is corrosion-resistant to SCC. A revised HTS bypass piping layout was installed to prevent the hazardous conditions that lead to the failure. A detailed hazard…
To prevent a similar flashback, the following measures have been taken:
Many accidents reported from paper mills have much in common with this incident. Microorganisms in the process water with pulp produce hydrogen gas that mixes with air to form an explosive atmosphere. The ignition source is typically sparks…
All installed and certified safety and emergency systems functioned as designed.
1. The fuel cell turned off immediately after fire detection.
2. The fire suppression system was immediately initiated thereafter.
3. The physical…
Several procedural and design changes should be considered for the future:
Key:
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