The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor A build-up of hydrogen is being blamed for a May fire in Hudbay's Flin Flon cellhouse. The company says the fire started at 7 p.m. on May 21 on the first row of cells within the facility. 'There were no injuries and through the diligent work by the shift out that night, the potential for injuries was low,' said Rob Winton, metallurgical manager. Winton said the fire was 'fully eliminated' in a few hours after 'historic methods' of extinguishing it proved unsuccessful. Cells drained Ultimately, the effected cells were drained and power was removed, he said. Winton said the cause of the fire, as with any hydrogen fire, was a build-up of the naturally evolving hydrogen in a cell. 'Hydrogen is a natural byproduct of the electrowinning process, and for reasons undetermined in the joint investigation, build-up in these rows caused the fire,' Winton said. Winton said the fire was experienced from cells 20 to 35 in row 1 of the cellhouse. Hydrogen fires in the cellhouse are uncommon given Hudbay's operating practices and design, he added. The cellhouse is part of Hudbay's zinc plant, which produces special high-grade zinc metal in three cast shapes. It is where zinc is taken from solution to solid and plated.
