Case Ditails

Scenario
Case Name Fire of engine oil caused due to overheat of a diesel engine for private power generation
Pictograph
Date September 22, 1989
Place Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan
Location Household utensils factory
Overview The piston rod and the crank shaft were damaged because the piston of the diesel engine for the private power generator overheated. However, operation of the generator continued without noticing it. As a result, vaporized engine oil was ignited by sparks from impact and friction in the crank case, and the oil burned. As the inspection cover could not resist this high temperature, it was damaged, and engine oil was scattered and burned. The resulting fire was detected by a private fire alarm at the early stage, and the fire was extinguished promptly within about three minutes.
Incident Engine oil of a diesel engine for a private power generator burned. As the inspection cover was damaged, engine oil was scattered and burned.
Processing Consumption and usage
Substance Engine oil
Type of Accident Fire
Sequence The piston of the diesel engine for power generation overheated, and parts of the piston rod and the crank shaft were damaged. Operation was continued as nobody noticed the damage. Soon, impact and friction were generated in the crank case, made sparks, ignited vaporizing engine oil, and the oil burned. The inspection cover could not resist this high temperature and was damaged, and burning oil was scattered and burned.
Cause The cause of the piston overheating is uncertain. Operation continued without noticing that the piston rod and the crank shaft were damaged.
Response A fire was found at the early stage because a private fire alarm system had been set up, and fire extinguishing was carried out promptly. The fire was extinguished within about three minutes because the firefighting equipment was prepared.
Countermeasures Mounting of the monitor for abnormality of the generator and synchronized emergency shutdown equipment.
Knowledge Comment Fire damage can be minimized by early detection with the private fire alarm equipment, prompt extinguishing, and by the presence of effective firefighting equipment and fire-prevention divisions. When a manufacturer has more knowledge of manufactured goods than users, the manufacturers should explain safety measures of the goods to the users.
Background A diesel engine is high-temperature combustion equipment that operates at a high speed. However, the risk of a diesel engine was not considered, and even an alarm for the diesel operation was not mounted. Although it was the user's problem, the manufacturer understands the hazards more than users, so the manufacturer should explain the danger to the users.
Reason for Adding to DB Example of accident caused due to insufficient facility management of a rotating machine
Scenario
Primary Scenario Poor Value Perception, Poor Safety Awareness, Inadequate Risk Recognition, Ignorance, Insufficient Knowledge, Convincement, Planning and Design, Poor Planning, Poor Design, Bad Event, Mechanical Event, Over Heat, Bad Event, Chemical Phenomenon, Evaporation, Secondary Damage, External Damage, Fire, Loss to Organization, Economic Loss, Direct Monetary Damage 70 million yen
Sources Fire and Disaster Management Agency, Major cases of accidents, Fire from diesel engine for private power generation, Accident cases of dangerous materials, pp.35,344-345
Number of Injuries 1
Physical Damage Part of a generator room (part of an engine for generator, a steel door, a cover for various interior piping, 12 square meters of the wall surface, a fire alarm and fluorescent lamps) were damaged by fire. Some lubricant in the engine was damaged.
Financial Cost ¥ 70 million. (Accident cases of dangerous materials).
Field Chemicals and Plants
Author OGAWA, Terushige (Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University)
TAMURA, Masamitsu (Center for Risk Management and Safety Sciences, Yokohama National University)
Scenario