Event
- Event ID
- 817
- Quality
- Description
In a chlorine manufacturing unit, an explosion occurs in the room of the electrolysis cells. The accident occurs during the start-up phase of the unit, it is due to the presence of hydrogen in the chlorine collector of the cells. An amperage error (2000 A instead of 0) during the initiation phase is at the origin of the presence of this gas.
The collector was destroyed and the chlorine spread in the workshop. The month, day and place of the accident are not specified.
- Event Initiating system
- Classification of the physical effects
- Hydrogen Release and Ignition
- Nature of the consequences
- Macro-region
- Europe
- Country
- Netherlands
- Date
- Component involved
- electrolytic cell
- Failure mode
- rupture & ignition
- Initiating cause
- wrong operation
- Root CAUSE analysis
An amperage error (2000 A instead of 0) during the initiation phase is at the origin of the presence of this gas.
The month, day and place of the accident are not specified.
- Root causes
- Date entry in HIAD
- 01/01/2020
Facility
- Application
- Chemical industry
- Sub-application
- Chlorine production
- Hydrogen supply chain stage
- All components affected
electrolysers cell, electrolyser building
- Process temperature range [C]
- Above ambient temperature (50°C to 100°C)
- Location type
- Confined
- Location
- industrial area
- Operational condition
Emergency & Consequences
- Number of fatalities
- 0
- Number of injured persons
- 0
- Post-event summary
The collector was destroyed and the chlorine spread in the workshop.
In-depth data
- Release type
- gas mixture
- Involved substances (% vol)
- H2,
Cl2 - Release temperature [°C]
- 25
- Probable IGNITION SOURCE
- Explosion type
References
- Sources categories
- ARIA
- Reference & weblink
Event 6444 of the ARIA data base
https://www.aria.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/accident/6444/
(accessed December 2025)
