Event
- Event ID
- 914
- Quality
- Description
An explosion occurred in a graphite purification workshop. Due to a leak of the cooling circuit of an electric furnace, the water entered in contact with materials at a temperature of 1,800°C. The gas mixture produced (hydrogen, air...) exploded. The carbon contained in the furnace was ejected and ignited as well.
- Event Initiating system
- Classification of the physical effects
- Hydrogen Release and Ignition
- Nature of the consequences
- Macro-region
- Europe
- Country
- France
- Date
- Component involved
- reactor / oven / furnace / test chamber
- Failure mode
- rupture & ignition
- Initiating cause
- accidental hydrogen entrance
- Root CAUSE analysis
INITIATING CAUSE was the leaking of water into the high temperature reactor, which brought to water thermolysis.
Nothing is known on the reason for the leak.
- Root causes
- Unknown
- Date entry in HIAD
- 01/01/2018
Facility
- Application
- Chemical industry
- Sub-application
- graphite production
- Hydrogen supply chain stage
- All components affected
graphite purification reactor
- Process temperature range [C]
- Ultra-high temperature (above 1000°C)
- Location type
- Confined
- Location
- industrial area
- Operational condition
Emergency & Consequences
- Number of fatalities
- 0
- Number of injured persons
- 0
- Post-event summary
The furnace and the roof covering it were destroyed.
- Emergency action
The local residents alert the fire brigade. The fire is extinguished with powder (including carbon).
In-depth data
- Release type
- gas
- Involved substances (% vol)
- H2 100%
- Release temperature [°C]
- 1800
- Probable IGNITION SOURCE
- Explosion type
- Detonation
References
- Sources categories
- ARIA
- Reference & weblink
Description of the event in the French database ARIA
https://www.aria.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/accident/10466/
(accessed September 2020)
