Unintended Hydrogen Formation from a Truck with Chemical Tank
In the collective treatment plant of a chemical platform, the truck tank of 25 m containing hydrochloric acid (HCl) rose in pressure at 11 am; leakage of acid solution and gas evolution occurred in the upper part of the tank.The emergency plan of the site was triggered. The rescue confined 5 employees and switched off the electrical power on the site. The police interrupted the traffic. Reliefs opened the manhole of the tank to reduce the internal pressure. At 6pm, they measure 124, 923 and 230 ppm of HCl around the 3 manholes and a hydrogen (H2) level below the LEL. Staff containment was lifted. A specialized company emptied the tank until 9:30pm.According to the IC inspection, the incident was due to an incompatibility between HCl and the material constituting the tank (INOX), the acid attack leading to the formation of H2.
Event Date
September 2, 2009
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Cause Comments
an incompatibility between HCl and the material constituting the tank (INOX), the acid attack leading to the formation of H2.
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
truck tank of 25 m with HCl
Storage/Process Medium
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Unknown
Event Nature
Emergency Action
The emergency plan of the site was triggered. The rescue confined 5 employees and switched off the electrical power on the site. The police interrupted the traffic. Reliefs opened the manhole of the tank to reduce the internal pressure. At 6pm, they measure 124, 923 and 230 ppm of HCl around the 3 manholes and a hydrogen (H2) level below the LEL. Staff containment was lifted. A specialized company was emptying the tank until 9:30pm.
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category
References
References
ARIA data base
event no. 36762