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Clean Hydrogen Partnership

small fire on an ammonia processing unit

Event

Event ID
1221
Quality
Description

A small fire occurred at the vent stack of an ammonia processing unit in a plant producing fertilisers and other nitrogen-based chemicals.
A safety shutdown procedure of the ammonia processing unit had been activated due to a technical problem not further specified. During the shutdown process, the safety valve opened, and the escaping gas ignited, causing a loud noise. The ignition occurred due to the presence of hydrogen and rust particles.
Flames and smoke were visible from outside the facility. Personnel initiated the emergency procedure. The shutdown of the whole unit the combustion.

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
PRD (generic)
Failure mode
rupture & ignition
Initiating cause
unknown
Root causes
Unknown
Date entry in HIAD
30/09/2025

Facility

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

valve

Location type
Open
Location
populated area
Operational condition
Pre-event occurrences

The reason for the shutdown of the ammonia unit is not reported.

Emergency & Consequences

Number of fatalities
0
Number of injured persons
0
Property loss (onsite)
0
Post-event summary

No injury. No damage beyond the costs of the stop of production.

Emergency action

The alarm siren sounded throughout the plant.
Personnel initiated the emergency procedure. The shutdown of the whole unit the combustion.

In-depth data

Release type
gas mixture
Involved substances (% vol)
H2
NH3
Probable IGNITION SOURCE

References

Sources categories
ARIA
Reference & weblink

Event no.63315 of the French database ARIA
https://www.aria.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/accident/63315/
(accessed December 2024)