Home | Search | Emissions | Pollutants | About the Database |
Accident # | 113891 |
State Police # | 09-01593 |
Accident Date | 2009-04-01 |
Report Date | 2009-04-08 |
Follow-up Date | 0000-00-00 |
Follow-up: | No |
Pollutant | Duration | Point Source | Greenhouse Gas | Criteria Pollutant | Ozone forming chemical | Amount of Release |
Sulfur Dioxide | 45m | unspecified flare | NO | YES | NO | 857.0 pounds |
Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity
Flaring was caused by an overhead condenser leak at the PCLA complex. The overhead material at the PCLA fractionator is cooled using cooling tower water. A leak developed in these condensers which caused cooling tower water to enter the shell side of the overhead condensers. When the cooling tower water evaporated, salts and foulant were deposited in the process side of the overhead condensers, causing an increase in pressure drop. This increase in pressure drop caused the fractionator pressure to increase, and eventually exceed the set pressure of the pressure relief valves. The pressure relief valves released fractionator overhead into the flare gas recovery system, resulting in flaring. Sulfur Dioxide was released to the atmosphere in exceedance of the reportable quantity.
The flaring occurred as the result of overhead condensers leaking after a routine water wash. There was no sign of significant leakage in these overhead condensers.
Unit pressure and unit feed rates were reduced to minimize overhead gas rates and eliminate flaring. Release exceeds RQ.
Connect With Us: