Event
- Event ID
- 35
- Quality
- Description
This event started with an isolation failure in starter coil of the high voltage generator of a facility producing electrolic components. The arc induced an electric arc to the hydrogen supply line, with consequent fire and melting of the line.
- Event Initiating system
- Classification of the physical effects
- Hydrogen Release and Ignition
- Nature of the consequences
- fire
- Macro-region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Date
- Component involved
- pipe (generic)
- Failure mode
- rupture & ignition
- Initiating cause
- conventional component failure (electricity, power)
- Root CAUSE analysis
The INITIATING CAUSE was the accidental spark from high-voltage generator on the hydrogen line.
In absence of details (even regarding application) the ROOT CAUSE could be identified in a design fault: a correct safety design should be able to prevent an accidental scenario such as the on occurred here, and anyhow effective earthing is one of the major concerns when dealing with hydrogen systems.- Root causes
- Date entry in HIAD
- 28/02/2009
Facility
- Application
- Electrical, electronics and micro-electronics industry
- Sub-application
- electrical components production
- Hydrogen supply chain stage
- All components affected
hydrogen pipe, high voltage generator
- Location type
- Unknown
- Location
- unknown
- Operational condition
Emergency & Consequences
- Number of fatalities
- 0
- Number of injured persons
- 0
- Currency
- US$
- Property loss (onsite)
- 160.000
- Post-event summary
No injuries, 159000 $ material damage
In-depth data
- Release type
- gas
- Involved substances (% vol)
- H2 100%
- Probable IGNITION SOURCE
References
- Sources categories
- Zalosh
- Reference & weblink
Table II of Appendix A of Zalosh and Short
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF HYDROGEN FIRE AND EXPLOSION INCIDENTS
Quarterly Report No. 2 for Period December 1, 1977 - February 28, 1978
https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6566131
(accessed September 2020)
