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Clean Hydrogen Partnership

Release of hydrogen in an ammonia plant

Event

Event ID
112
Quality
Description

Compressed hydrogen escaped from reactor due to faulty gasket

Event Initiating system
Classification of the physical effects
Unignited Hydrogen Release
Nature of the consequences
leak no ignition
Macro-region
North America
Country
United States
Date
Component involved
flange (gasket)
Failure mode
rupture, no ignition
Initiating cause
material degradation (generic)
Root CAUSE analysis

The INITIATING CAUSE was the loss of containment due to a failing gasket (of a joint/valve).
ROOT CAUSE unknown.

Root causes
Unknown
Date entry in HIAD
28/02/2009

Facility

Application
Chemical industry
Sub-application
Ammonia production
Hydrogen supply chain stage
All components affected

gasket, joint

Process temperature range [C]
High temperature (100°C to 500°C)
Location type
Unknown
Location
industrial area
Operational condition
UNKNOWN

Emergency & Consequences

Number of fatalities
0
Number of injured persons
0
Currency
US$
Property loss (onsite)
50.000

In-depth data

Release type
gas
Involved substances (% vol)
H2 100%
Probable IGNITION SOURCE
Explosion type
Deflagration

References

Sources categories
Zalosh
Reference & weblink

Extract from Table II of Appendix A of Zalosh and Short
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF HYDROGEN FIRE AND EXPLOSION INCIDENTS
Quarterly Report No. 2 for Period December 1, 1977 - February 28, 1978
https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6566131
(accessed September 2020)