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This data is from the European Hydrogen Incidents and Accidents database HIAD 2.1, European Commission, Joint Research Centre.

Lightning Striking the Stake of a Chemical Plant
At about 9:50 a.m., a lightning strike ignited hydrogen exiting a stack in a chemical factory. This hydrogen, produced by the chlorine electrolysis cells, is conveyed to the stack when the manufacturing shop that consumes it is shut down. The internal emergency plan was activated. The electrolysis chain was put into minimal operation mode. Nitrogen and steam were injected into the stack, which was cooled by in-house first responders. The situation was brought under control at 10:30 a.m. The emergency plan was lifted and chlorine production resumed at its usual pace.As the accident had already occurred once before (ARIA database number 44133), a preventive procedure in the event of a thunderstorm hazard had been set up (including a Storm Alert subscription and preventive injection of steam into the stack to dilute the hydrogen and increase the energy needed to ignite it), but the system was not active at this time of year (storms were traditionally rarer during the winter).
Event Date
February 7, 2014
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Cause Comments
As the accident had already occurred once before (ARIA database number 44133), a preventive procedure in the event of a thunderstorm hazard had been set up (including a Storm Alert subscription and preventive injection of steam into the stack to dilute the hydrogen and increase the energy needed to ignite it), but the system was not active at this time of year (storms were traditionally rarer during the winter).
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
hydrogen stack, chlorine electrolyzer
Storage/Process Medium
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Pre-event Summary
This hydrogen produced by the chlorine electrolysis cells, is conveyed to the stack when the manufacturing shop that consumes it is shut down.
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Unknown
Event Nature
Emergency Action
The internal emergency plan was activated. The electrolysis chain was put into minimal operation mode. Nitrogen and steam were injected into the stack, which was cooled by in-house first responders. The situation was brought under control at 10:30 a.m. The emergency plan was lifted and chlorine production resumed at its usual pace
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category
References
References

ARIA data base
event no. 44944

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