Hydrogen fire in a food industry

A jet fire occurred on a 25m3 hydrogen storage tank while transferring a catalyst to a buffer tank.

The constabulary created an area of safety around the plant while the staff extinguishes the fire by purging the tank with nitrogen. The fire is extinguished prior to the arrival of fire brigade.

The INITIATING cause could have been a catalytic ignition of hydrogen.
The transfer operation to the buffer tank was not foreseeing inertisation of the tank atmosphere. This shortcoming in hazards prevention procedures could be the ROOT CAUSE .

tank, catalyst

The hydrogen fire occurred when transferring a catalyst into a buffer tank.

The constabulary isolated the plant while the staff extinguishes the fire by purging the tank with nitrogen.

The fire is extinguished prior to the arrival of the fire brigade.

Following the analysis of the incident, a modification of the procedure was decided: before transferring the to catalyst, the buffer tank must be placed under nitrogen. A non further specified safety barrier was added on the tank.