Event
- Event ID
- 686
- Quality
- Description
A hydrogen leak occurred from a low temperature valve on an acetic acid plant. The leak ignited and the resulting fire burned for about an hour. There was considerable media attention, particularly from local radio. It was surmised that deterioration of the valves may have taken place shortly before the incident.
- Event Initiating system
- Classification of the physical effects
- Hydrogen Release and Ignition
- Nature of the consequences
- fire
- Macro-region
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Date
- Component involved
- valve (generic)
- Failure mode
- leak & ignition
- Initiating cause
- material degradation (generic)
- Root causes
- Unknown
- Date entry in HIAD
- 01/01/2020
Facility
- Application
- Chemical industry
- Sub-application
- Acetic acid plant
- Hydrogen supply chain stage
- All components affected
Valve
- Process temperature range [C]
- ambient temperature (-50°C to +50°C)
- Location type
- Confined
- Location
- industrial area
- Operational condition
Emergency & Consequences
- Number of fatalities
- 0
- Number of injured persons
- 0
Lesson Learnt
- Lesson Learnt
This incident emphasises the need for efficient communications between shift staff and day staff .
There is also a need for standards for operations and maintenance staff, detailing key routine tasks, including the frequency of plant inspections.
In-depth data
- Release type
- gas
- Involved substances (% vol)
- H2 100%
- Release temperature [°C]
- 25
- Probable IGNITION SOURCE
References
- Sources categories
- ICHEME
- Reference & weblink
Event nr 10468 of the UK database ICHEME in PDF.
https://www.icheme.org/knowledge/safety-centre/resources/accident-data/
(accessed October 2020)
