Event
- Event ID
- 815
- Quality
- Description
In a chemical plant, a 1750 m³ tank containing an ammoniac solution exploded.
The anchorage of the tank was ripped, the tank lifted on one side and crashed against the retention wall, which was partially destroyed. 1000 m³ of solution (10-20% NH3) was discharged; the stream destroyed another part of the retaining wall at the opposite side and contaminated the surroundings.The presence of an explosive atmosphere consisting of an air-NH3 / H2 / CH4 mixture was strongly suspected. The source of ignition was unknown (electrostatic, pyrophoric sulphides?).
Four people were slightly intoxicated (inhalations).Preventive measures were adopted (inerting, grounding, etc.).
- Event Initiating system
- Classification of the physical effects
- Hydrogen Release and Ignition
- Nature of the consequences
- Macro-region
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Date
- Component involved
- chemical storage tank
- Failure mode
- rupture & ignition
- Initiating cause
- unknown
- Root CAUSE analysis
The INITIATING cause is the formation and ignition of an flammable atmosphere, probably a mixture consisting of air-NH3 / H2 / CH4.
The source of ignition is unknown (electrostatic, pyrophoric sulphides?)
ROOT CAUSE analysis is no given.- Root causes
- Unknown
- Date entry in HIAD
- 01/01/2020
Facility
- Application
- Chemical industry
- Sub-application
- Ammonia production
- Hydrogen supply chain stage
- All components affected
tank containing an ammoniac solution
- Process temperature range [C]
- ambient temperature (-50°C to +50°C)
- Location type
- Semiconfined
- Location
- industrial area
- Operational condition
Emergency & Consequences
- Number of fatalities
- 0
- Number of injured persons
- 4
- Post-event summary
4 people were slightly intoxicated (inhalations).
Lesson Learnt
- Corrective Measures
Following the incident, measures aiming at preventing the incident were adopted: among which inertisation of the atmosphere and electrical grounding of the tank.
In-depth data
- Release type
- gas-liquid mixture
- Involved substances (% vol)
- NH3
H2
CH4 - Release temperature [°C]
- 25
- Probable IGNITION SOURCE
- Explosion type
References
- Sources categories
- ARIA
- Reference & weblink