Fire on a Sintering Furnace for Uranium Pellet
A hydrogen leak occurred on a sintering furnace in a manufactory of uranium pellets. The event happened during the restart phase after a period of maintenance. The hydrogen ignited at the location of the electrical connection used for the resistance-heating of the furnace. The fire damaged the cooling system causing the release of et 300 l of water.
Event Date
April 25, 1998
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Causes
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
uranium sintering furnace
Storage/Process Medium
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Operational Condition
Pre-event Summary
The event happened at the restart of the furnace after a period of maintenance.
Property Loss (onsite)
A pump testing room, a general testing room, and the gas generator turbine testing ceiling were all destroyed. Almost all measurement piping in the pump testing room received blast damage. A slate roof 50 m separated from high-pressure gas containers, and walls around the exhaust gas treatment equipment 190 m away were damaged.Neighboring damage: eight private houses (the farthest one was about 2 km away), and one factory were damaged. At seven of the houses, windows were broken. At two of the houses, parts of walls and fixtures were moved.The explosion was heard 4-5 km away.
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Unknown
Event Nature
Emergency Action
The fire is stopped after closing of the feeding line. The fire has damaged the water pipe.
Release Type
Release Substance
Hydrogen Release Concentration (%)
100.00
Release Amount (kg)
300.00
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category
References
References
Event description in the French database ARIA
https://www.aria.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/accident/15508/
(accessed October 2020)