Syngas Explosion in University Laboratory Injures Nine
Syngas explosion at a university laboratoryThe university lab affected was investigating generation of hydrogen and methane from biomass (wooden chips). The experimental furnace was a concrete cylindrical furnace of the diameter of 4 m and the height of 5 m. A fire jet occurred together with the explosion, and sparks fell on the professor in charge and students nearby. Nine persons were burned in face and hands and feet, and carried to the hospital by ambulances. They were only slightly injured. According to the fire station and the police, gas ignition was attempted at the gas outlet of the experimental apparatus, to check the effective generation of the gas. However, the gas did not ignite, but exploded. (translation from Japanese by means of Google Translate)
Event Date
April 19, 2002
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Causes
Cause Comments
Probably there are better way to detect generation of gas, than igniting them.
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Storage/Process Medium
Location Type
Location description
Inhabited Area
Pre-event Summary
The experimental device was being tested.
Consequences
Number of Injured Persons
1
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Unknown
Event Nature
Emergency Action
Unknown
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category
References
References
Text (in Japanese) of the Journal of Japan Society for Safety Engineering, Vol.42(2), pp.117-118 (2003)