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Accident # | 148693 |
State Police # | 13-01936 |
Accident Date | 2013-05-05 |
Report Date | 2013-05-09 |
Follow-up Date | 0000-00-00 |
Follow-up: | No |
Pollutant | Duration | Point Source | Greenhouse Gas | Criteria Pollutant | Ozone forming chemical | Amount of Release |
Ethylene | 1h 20m | No Information Given | NO | NO | YES | 333.0 pounds |
Flammable Vapor | 1h 20m | No Information Given | NO | NO | YES | 2,712.0 pounds |
Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity
On May 5 at approximately 4:20 AM, the ECLA-W unit HC-01 compressor tripped due to low lube oil pressure. The compressors' automatic trip system detected the low lube oil pressure and tripped the machine. The compressor valves on the suction side automatically opened to relieve pressure to the flare. Subsequently, a unit upset on the downstream unit, EPLA-W caused the atmospheric safety valve to lift, and briefly flare off-specification ethylene product.
Immediate remedial action was to reduce the feed rates to minimum and the furnacys were put in standby to further reduce flaring until the compressor was restarted. Improvements are being made to assist operators in detecting low lube oil pressure and refresher training will be conducted to improve controller response.
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