Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith Webb
Yes, looks nasty - a fatality. No word yet on what type the gas was.
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Keith ..
have attained the exalted position of Journeyman refrigeration in December of 1967,I have no doubt that the explosion was caused by acetylene .
We carry.cylinders contained LPG, acetylene and refrigerants,nitrogen and oxygen and the acetylene would be the only one capable of an explosion like that..
Propane ,if it was present,which it could have been,also could make an explosion like that..
The problem with Acetylene and propane is that it is heavier than air and tends to "Pool"up in low spots..
That is why propane is much more dangerous than natural gas,which is lighter than air and tends to float off and dissipate ,unless contained in an airtight enclosure ,like the back of a van..
Propane pools up and hangs around waiting for a spark..
Either one is dangerous unless treated respectfully.
Natural gas is quite safe and if you see a natural gas flare stack ,look from the top of the flare stack to the bottom of the flame..there is no fire...The natural gas coming out of the stack is too rich to burn until it gets high enough and has enough air mixed with in it to support combustion..from 7%-14% gas-air ratio..
between these two points only supports combustion in natural gas..
so it is really quite safe..
When you smell natural gas you are actually smelling Mercaptan, an intense oderant added to the natural gas to identify it in the case of a leak..
If the mechanic had a n over filled propane cylinder in the van and it was extremely hot out the propane cylinder has an overpressure relief valve that starts to slowly release propane...that is also a possibility...
A broken acetylene hose or valve inside the van ..If the cylinder was not shut off after use.but the mechanic only used the valve on the torch to shut off the gas ..is also a possibility...but what ever the cause..I attribute it to mechanic error..
Cylinders don't leak by them selves..
48 years in the trade and still in one battered piece...
