O2 tank explosion

[Belmont]

<speculation #1>

When falling vent rolled open a bit and spark started the explosion.

</speculation #1>

<speculation #2>

dip tube was almost undone and when tank fell it got undone and stroke a spark causing tank to explode

</speculation #2>

All metals involved don't create sparks: aluminum, brass.

 

[Black Jack]

Thanks, I was looking at the Fayetteville stories. Yep, he was still worried about his dog, the house, etc. I'll post more details about the tank once I've been given clearance from Rick and Cindy.

Ed

 

[05sportsman]

It looks like a 40 cubic foot cylinder. Does anyone know if it was a 40 or an 80?

 

[Black Jack]

Al40.

 

[DandyDon]

I notice a rather thick black residue on the inside surface of the cylinder.

Could contamination inside the tank have caused the explosion.

Was it a bomb just waiting to be triggered by a shock?

No one is going to know at this point. I'm sure a complete investigation will be done, and this time we might get the results from his close friends already posting here.

As far as what caused the fire? The tank seems to have ruptured, releasing an amount of O2 under pressure, which would undoubtedly included some metal striking concrete, assuredly creating sparks, and with the O2 presence - even dust in the air will ignite and flames spread. Horrible accident.

 

[iztok]

All metals involved don't create sparks: aluminum, brass.

Actually if any amount of metal oxide such as rust is present aluminum can spark with a little bit of heat from friction. Plus this is an alloy not pure aluminum.

 

[knowone]

Sighted folks that seem to have difficulty seeing
should sit on their hands more, and speak less.

EOR

 

[pjones]

Oxygen is not combustible. It supports combustion.

To make an addition to the information you posted, Oxygen can react explosively with some oils and other oxidizing agents especially when exposed to elevated levels of oxygen.

"Many serious accidents have been caused by using oxygen instead of other gases such as air, compressed air or nitrogen. Oxygen can react explosively with oils and greases. People have been injured or even killed when pumps, engines, tyres and pressure equipment have been blown apart by the explosion. Oxygen can also cause other materials to ignite spontaneously. The resulting fire can cause damage to equipment and injury to people." - Oxygen

"Ignition of a substance, such as oily rags or hay, caused by a localized heat-increasing reaction between the oxidant and the fuel and not involving addition of heat from an outside source." - Spontaneous Combustion

"any animal or vegetable-based oil will do." - CSA

Read more: Hazmat

The last article is talking about drying oils and doesn't appear to account for elevated levels of oxygen. A higher concentration of oxygen only accelerates the reaction. Drying oils as well as others and are still typical to find in a garage as is an oily rag or other oxygen reactive substance. To simply say "oxygen is not combustable" may be true but is also miss leading as it doesn't account for the full potential that it has. Being in a garage with a car and other miscellaneous objects leaves a lot of potential for chemical reaction. However it hasn't been mentioned how quickly the explosion happened after the tank fell over or what chemicals/objects were in the garage at the time so this information still adds little to the subject on hand.

 

[Fishbird]

Hey Everyone,
There is now a website for people to follow Rick's recovery.

Get Well Rick

Rick is in rough shape, but he is tough and will pull through this.

Jonathan

 

[sharksdelight]

Thanks for posting the Get Well Rick site. I tried calling but their machine is full. Knowing Rick, I am betting he will be back in the water long before anyone's predictions.
Steve