Breaking News: 5 Wounded (Internal Engineer of Pertamina) Because Boiler - Explosion in Dumai Refinery

A boiler to be the cause of the explosion hours ago in Pertamina Refinery, Putri Tujuh, Kelurahan (Regent) Jaya Mukti, East Dumai, Riau. Their report noted there were numerous workplace safety violations cited at the plant. 5 Wounded, transported to Pertamina Hospital Dumai.

This is second fire to occur at Pertamina Facility in 2023. Pertamina's Plumpang Oil Depot in South Rawa Badak, Plumpang, North Jakarta (March 3rd, around 8 pm), at least claimed the lives of 33 people (count until March 24th) and forced 600 residents to evacuate their homes. Pertamina's business support director Dedi Sunardi was dismissed by State-Owned Enterprise Minister Erick Thohir after Plumpang explosion.

Pertamina has announced success in producing the refined, bleached, and deodorized palm oil used for 100 percent biofuel, or the so-called Green Diesel, at its Dumai refinery in Riau, paving the way for Indonesia's ambition to switch to the green fuel as soon.

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Pertamina said the refinery produced 1,000 barrels biofuel per day in the third trial run, Pertamina's president director Nicke Widyawati said. The previous trials produced biofuel with a palm oil content of 7.5 percent and 12.5 percent. 

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Kilang PT Pertamina di Kota Dumai, Riau meledak pada pukul 22.30 WIB, Santu (1/4/2023). Ledakan yang terjadi di Dapur Boiler Kilang Pertamina Dumai Jalan Putri Tujuh, Kelurahan Jaya Mukti, Kecamatan Dumai Timur itu menimbulkan kobaran api dari dalam kawasan.

5 Teknisi terluka, sudah dibawa ke RS Pertamina Dumai.

Ini kerusakan / ledakan kedua diantara fasilitas milik Pertamina. 3 Maret lalu, Depo Plumpang meledak, 33 jiwa wafat. Direktur Bisnis Dedi Sunardi diberhentikan oleh Menteri BUMN Erick Thohir atas kejadian di Plumpang.

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What is a Boiler? And the simple answer, a typical boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid substance can be heated. You may find an electric or GAS powered boiler in your workplace. In my last workplace, there was a GAS powered boiler and we used water for yarn conditioning. Boiler also uses in Thermal Power Plant for Generating Electricity.

A boiler has several uses in different types of industry. These types of boiler are called industrial boiler. To maintain smooth operation for this kind of boiler required quality manpower and proper maintenance. It could be a disaster if there is any failure with its operation and perfect maintenance.

In this post I am going to discuss “Why boiler explodes and what should you know to be a perfect industrial boiler operator?”

Now let’s see “Why a boiler can explode?”

There is a steel pipe inside the boiler and inside of this steel pipe fire pass through and water or fluid become steam. This is the normal operation for any kind of boiler. You will find several water pumps with each boiler. This pump helps to send soft water means a special type of machine that makes normal water to soft water inside the boiler.

Oxygen needs to remove from water and filter the water to remove iron then send it to inside the boiler. Boiler’s life depends on water. Sometimes people do not run the water softener plant because of cost. This is a suicidal decision.

By the water, pump water sends to the boiler and ignite by burning gas or oil inside the boiler. There are two common mechanical safety valves with each boiler. After the 80% completion of the Vassal, the electrical sensor will send a signal to stop the ignition or fire. When the steam level is 30% inside the vassal ignition will start again.

You can change this setting with your requirement. Now if the electrical sensor fails then the mechanical safety valve will open automatically. You may ask “Why boiler explodes due to huge steam pressure when there is three way to release the pressure automatically?“

Such accidents can occur if the safety valve is not open even the steam pressure is over. Sometimes the safety valve remains installed for years and it is not tested whether it is working or not. Sometimes the valve can be closed when the dirt becomes stagnant and boiler may explode.

It has been found that the electric safety guard is not automatically operated in the boiler when it should operate. It can happen due to non-maintenance in time. Sometime boiler can blast by non trained engineers or technicians.

Now let’s find out “What skill should have a boiler operator?”

1. Check whether gas pressure and the main electric power supply lines are working properly or not.

2. Test the water from the Fed Tank is soft or not. Hardness water cannot be used in any case.

3. Open Ear/ Header cap if there is air in the boiler then blow it by a blower.

4. Water and GAS level should be checked regularly.

5. Make sure to check the appropriate amount of steam inside the boiler.

6. The flame of fire should be monitor regularly whether it is appropriate or not.

7. Check the fed water hardness (0-5), pH level (7-11) and the Fed Tank’s Temperature (60-700C) degree in every eight hours.

8. If there is any abnormal sound then find out its source and take necessary action as soon as possible.

9. Check all safety valves of boiler once in a month.

10. Water level controller should be cleaned in every 30 days.

11. Check Sequence Controller and Safety Circuit and serviced it if needed.

12. Examine the gas solenoid valve and services according to need.

13. Examine the scale quantities inside the boiler and clean it on an emergency basis if the scale is observed.

14. Test the boiler water is soft and 15 PSI then flow it down.

15. Every 6 months Boiler Fire Tube, Fire Champers and Compressor must be cleaned.