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Clean Hydrogen Partnership

unintended hydrogen formation from a truck with chemical tank

Event

Event ID
849
Quality
Description

In the collective treatment plant of a chemical platform, the truck tank of 25 m³ containing hydrochloric acid (HCl) rose in pressure, causing a leakage of acid solution and a gas release from the upper part of the tank.

The emergency plan of the site was triggered. The rescue confined 5 employees and switched off the electrical power on the site. The police interrupted the traffic. Reliefs opened the manhole of the tank to reduce the internal pressure. At 6pm, they measure 124, 923 and 230 ppm of HCl around the 3 manholes and a hydrogen (H2) level below the LEL. Staff containment was lifted. A specialized company emptied the tank until 9:30pm.

Event Initiating system
Classification of the physical effects
Unignited Hydrogen Release
Nature of the consequences
leak no ignition
Macro-region
Europe
Country
France
Date
Component involved
chemical storage tank (HCl)
Failure mode
rupture, no ignition
Initiating cause
accidental hydrogen formation
Root CAUSE analysis

According to the post-incident inspection, the incident was due to an incompatibility between HCl and the material constituting the tank (INOX), the acid attack leading to the formation of H2.

Root causes
Date entry in HIAD
01/01/2020

Facility

Application
Chemical industry
Sub-application
Storage of hydrochloric acid (HCl)
Hydrogen supply chain stage
All components affected

truck tank of 25 m³ with HCl

Location type
Open
Location
industrial area
Operational condition

Emergency & Consequences

Number of fatalities
0
Number of injured persons
0
Emergency action

The emergency plan of the site was triggered. The rescue confined 5 employees and switched off the electrical power on the site. The police interrupted the traffic. Reliefs opened the manhole of the tank to reduce the internal pressure. At 6pm, they measure 124, 923 and 230 ppm of HCl around the 3 manholes and a hydrogen (H2) level below the LEL. Staff containment was lifted. A specialized company was emptying the tank until 9:30pm.

In-depth data

Release type
gas mixture
Involved substances (% vol)
H2,
HCl
Probable IGNITION SOURCE

References

Sources categories
ARIA
Reference & weblink

ARIA data base
event no. 36762