Explosion and Fire at Pacific Bioenergy

Monday, March 31, 2008 01:45 PM

Prince George B.C. - No one hurt, but investigators are trying to find a cause of two explosions and a fire at the Pacific Bioenergy plant on Willowcale road.

The first explosion happened around noon today, the second followed shortly thereafter. Crews from three fire halls attended the scene and quickly brought the fire under control.

The problem seems to have started in the bag house where there was a build up of pressure. What caused the pressure build up and the estimate of damage are not yet known.

The plant employees 16 people, and while no one was hurt, it is not certain when they will be able to return to their jobs.

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Posted on Monday, March 31, 2008 01:45 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: diplomat on March 31 2008 4:31 PM

Can bio-energy plants which are planned to be located DOWNTOWN explode and have fires in addition to spewing fine particulate matter?

Scary scenario for the neighbourhood! Another nail in the coffin.

Posted by: Harbinger on March 31 2008 5:16 PM

"Sure must have blowed up good, Billy Bob". Wish I was there.

Posted by: RUEZ on March 31 2008 5:18 PM

This plant is nothing like what they plan on putting downtown.

Posted by: rambleon on March 31 2008 6:02 PM

Since when did the city plan on producing pellet fuel downtown, diplomat?

Posted by: opinionated on March 31 2008 6:11 PM

Glad to know that no one was injured.

Posted by: Foo738 on March 31 2008 7:39 PM

I am proud of our Fire Department.

Posted by: realitysetsin on March 31 2008 8:09 PM

Bag houses = trouble.

Posted by: Captain Slashpile on March 31 2008 9:10 PM

no word yet on whether terrorism was ruled out.

Posted by: diplomat on March 31 2008 10:01 PM

rambleon: "Since when did the city plan on producing pellet fuel downtown, diplomat?"

You tell me. I didn't say that the city is planning one. I asked if the planned bio-energy plant (for producing hot water, remember) for the downtown can blow up and pose a hazard.

Do you know if it would be safe?

Posted by: He speaks on March 31 2008 10:55 PM

dip,

There is nothing in this world that is absolutely safe, in everything that we do. Someone along the line has risked something.

Even not dredging out the confluence of the Nechako into the Fraser, to prevent the risk to the fishies, We the citizen risk being flooded out. "Siltation of the rivers"

Is it safe to turn on the light. Well if your house is full of flammable fumes, and the switch sets of a spark, well ................. Ka boom.

Posted by: owl on April 1 2008 1:15 AM

Dust can be quite explosive. Dust in grain elevators and similar situations where fine particulates mix with air and are ignited by a spark in a confined volume will cause explosions. It is problem farmers and shippers dealing with grain elevators are familiar with. Sawdust is no different.

The pellet plant mill the wood chips into a very fine dust, compresses it inot pellets, ships them to commercial heating plants which re-pulverize the pellets. That fine dust is blown into the furnace where it immediately ignites to a very hot flame. The idea is that as much of the wood is combusted as possible.

http://ifnews.if.fi/en/latest-topics/lessons-from-losses/explosion-hazard-caused-by-dust.html

http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10953&page=123

Posted by: Reevus on April 1 2008 3:08 PM

Owl,
"The pellet plant mill the wood chips into a very fine dust, compresses it inot pellets, ships them to commercial heating plants which re-pulverize the pellets. That fine dust is blown into the furnace where it immediately ignites to a very hot flame."

I am just curious if they "re-pulverize" the pellets back to dust then why don't they just send them in pulverized form? it would save a step in the process wouldn't it?

Posted by: Eagleone on April 2 2008 3:52 AM

Probably a volume issue when it is compressed... and less dangerous for shipment. I heard a simple rock can cause the spark to ignite a fine wood dust explosion. Many mills have caught fire that way if not properly cleaned from time to time.