Event
- Event ID
- 843
- Quality
- Description
A fire occurred on three cells of the chlorine manufacturing unit. A leak of hydrogen in the electrolysis room was at the origin of the fire; the ignition of the H2 cloud caused a noticeable noise outside the site.
The emergency plan was initiated; the gas alert resulted in the confinement of personnel located in the area of the site concerned.
The use of nitrogen to make inert the atmosphere and the intervention of the firefighters of the site allowed the extinction of the fire of the plastic lids of the three cells around 14:30.
No leakage of chlorine was noted and the operator issued a press release.
Three people were slightly injured including one who was transported to the hospital for light electrification.- Event Initiating system
- Classification of the physical effects
- Hydrogen Release and Ignition
- Nature of the consequences
- fire
- Macro-region
- Europe
- Country
- France
- Date
- Component involved
- electrolytic cell
- Failure mode
- rupture & ignition
- Initiating cause
- unknown
- Root causes
- Unknown
- Date entry in HIAD
- 01/01/2020
Facility
- Application
- Chemical industry
- Sub-application
- Chlorine production
- Hydrogen supply chain stage
- All components affected
electrolyser cells, electrolysis 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
- 3
- Post-event summary
Three people were slightly injured including one who was transported to the hospital for light electrification.
No leakage of chlorine was noted and the operator issued a press release.
- Emergency action
13:20 Fire is noticed due to the noise from the ignition of hydrogen
The emergency plan was initiated; the gas alert resulted in the confinement of personnel located in the area of the site concerned.
14:30 The fire around the plastic lids of the three chlorine cells was extinguished by means of nitrogen and the intervention of the firefighters of the site
No leakage of chlorine was noted and the operator issued a press release.
In-depth data
- Release type
- gas
- Involved substances (% vol)
- H2 100%
- Release temperature [°C]
- 25
- Probable IGNITION SOURCE
References
- Sources categories
- ARIA
- Reference & weblink
ARIA data base
event no. 35032
