RE: Re: pIPING THICKNESS CALCULATOR

From: <James>
Date: Wed Dec 21 2005 - 08:12:00 EST

Information regarding the probable cause of the explosion at the Flixborough plant can be found on the UK's HSE website:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/comah/sragtech/caseflixboroug74.htm

A leak had been found in a reactor, and a temporary 20" bypass had been installed, which appears to have been the source of the explosion, though a fire on a separate 8" line may have been partially responsible.

Excerpt from HSE Accident Summary:
"During the late afternoon on 1 June 1974 a 20 inch bypass system ruptured, which may have been caused by a fire on a nearby 8 inch pipe. This resulted in the escape of a large quantity of cyclohexane. The cyclohexane formed a flammable mixture and subsequently found a source of ignition. At about 16:53 hours there was a massive vapour cloud explosion which caused extensive damage and started numerous fires on the site."

It will be interesting to see if sufficient evidence is found at Buncefield to determine the cause of the recent explosion in the oil tanks. There isn't anything on the HSE website yet which is not surprising.

Barbara

> -----Original Message-----
> From: PipingDesign@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:PipingDesign@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Geoff
> Stone DD&D Australia
> Sent: 21 December 2005 11:34
> To: PipingDesign@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [PipingDesign] Re: pIPING THICKNESS CALCULATOR
>
> Tom,
>
> Thats how the Flixborough disaster occurred in Yorkshire.
> Just a quick jumber around a defective reactor. the bellows
> squirmed and Kaboom. Bet those guys had a chart or quick
> calculator, not a piping engineer in sight.
>
> Geoff
>

---

This E-Mail, and any files transmitted with it, are confidential and may be privileged and are for the exclusive use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient(s) please note that any form of distribution, copying or use of this communication or the information in it, is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this E-Mail in error please return it to the sender and then delete the E-Mail and destroy any copies of it. It is your responsibility to scan any attachments for viruses. Received on Wed Dec 21 08:12:00 2005