Add to homescreen
Content name
Select existing category:
Content name
New collection
Edit collection
Click to download
A 1968 vintage steam turbine/generator tripped due to unknown hydraulic control oil system failure. Within 30 seconds of the generator circuit breaker opening, the turbine accelerated from 3600 rpm to an estimated 6000 rpm (overspeed condition) resulting in a catastrophic failure of multiple components of the turbine. Seal and bearing lube were released under pressure as the emergency battery-powered lube-oil pumps continued operation. The leaking lube-oil ignited, causing an intense fire around and below the stricken machine. The generator shell was punctured, releasing hydrogen coolant which accumulated in the roof space of the turbine hall before exploding a few seconds later. This incident occurred on a weekend with few employees on site; on a weekday, 14 people would have been in imminent danger.
Ask yourself and your crew:
- How can something like this happen here (e.g. on our site)?
- What safety measures (i.e. procedures, controls/barriers) do we have in place to mitigate the risk?
- How do we know the risk controls/barriers are working?
- What improvements or changes should we make to the procedures, controls/barriers or the way we work?
Original content courtesy of IChemE Safety Centre
