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hydrogen gas explosions - accidents

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Una Moran

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Jan 30, 1998, 3:00:00 AM1/30/98
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Concerning the explosion hazards of hydrogen, has there been any
documented accidents in plants, due to hydrogen gas explosion.

i.e. The following quotation from a chemical engineering journal
suggests explosion phenomenon, particular to hydrogen.

'It is probably true to say that this phenomenon of immediate ignition
of high pressure hydrogen releases reduce the risk of a hydrogen
explosion in an enclosure. Unfortunately, immediate ignition is not
inevitable and thus a risk of explosion will always exist.'


rto...@removethis.oanet.com

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Jan 31, 1998, 3:00:00 AM1/31/98
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There have been many hydrogen explosions over the years. There was
one in a small reciprocating ammonia plant in Northern Alberta in
about 1971 that blew the sides off the compressor house and caused
several $100,000 of damage. Ammonia plants are particularly prone to
potential explosions where the hydrogen rich stream is being
compressed prior to entering the reactor at several thousand psi. Hot
hydrogen will often self-ignite at a leak but not always by any means.
Most plants are well monitored for the presence of hydrogen in the
compressor house air and alarm or shut down as necessary. The N.
Alberta plant had no such monitors, it seems.


Dave Russell

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May 16, 1998, 3:00:00 AM5/16/98
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umo...@tcd.ie (Una Moran) wrote:

>Concerning the explosion hazards of hydrogen, has there been any
>documented accidents in plants, due to hydrogen gas explosion.

>i.e. The following quotation from a chemical engineering journal
>suggests explosion phenomenon, particular to hydrogen.

>'It is probably true to say that this phenomenon of immediate ignition
>of high pressure hydrogen releases reduce the risk of a hydrogen
>explosion in an enclosure. Unfortunately, immediate ignition is not
>inevitable and thus a risk of explosion will always exist.'

Look in the literature for chlorine manufacturing.


norbert

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May 23, 1998, 3:00:00 AM5/23/98
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One ( not very chemical plant related example ) must be the
Hindenburg - and the demise of hydrogen filled airships as a
method of travel.

In my experience the heating effect of high pressure hydrogen
discharge usually (!) results in it catching fire , avoiding
explosion risks

--

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