The power of acetylene

[Barry Churcher]

While transporting acetylene and oxygen between home and the garage I routinely lay the bottles on their sides. I do as hrpearce says and stand the acetylene up for a time before I use it. I also have a US Army welder trailer that has lying down storage for the bottles. I am more afraid of an oxygen bottle falling over and breaking off the valve. When I was an apprentice mechanic for a ready mix company an idiot truck driver kicked over a bottle and broke off the valve. The bottle went through a block wall and into the washroom where it stopped after smashing into a toilet. There were no drivers allowed in the shop after that.
Cheers,
Barry

[Grant Bowker]

Originally Posted by Barry Churcher

....... The bottle went through a block wall and into the washroom where it stopped after smashing into a toilet.......

Were you skulking in your "office", sitting on the throne at the time?

[Barry Churcher]

No Grant, I wasn't in "the office" at the time. Back then I was young and full of pee and vinegar, as we all were, and rarely venture there during work hours. Now I am just full of you know what according to my friends. I now live by the immortal words of Jack Nicholson in the movie The Bucket List. "Here's something to remember when you're older Thomas - never pass up a bathroom, never waste a hard-on, and never trust a fart. "
Barry

[Tony Smith]

Keith, you may have heard about this (literally! ):

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/austral...-van-explodes/

[Keith Webb]

Yes, looks nasty - a fatality. No word yet on what type the gas was.

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

Keith, you may have heard about this (literally! ):

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/austral...-van-explodes/

[Lynn Eades]

I thought current use refrigerents were non flamable?

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

I thought current use refrigerents were non flamable?

Here's a quote from the news update:

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Yes, looks nasty - a fatality. No word yet on what type the gas was.

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...