Burning bottles

[normspanners]

I had exactly same many years ago, this is weird I was only telling someone YESTERDAY about it!! I had a small leak from acetylene reg for a few days the welding rep called and I said send me a new reg and flash arrester it arrived fitted and that was it, till I needed to warm some brake adjusters up, unwrapped the pipes and took them to the other side of the four poster then found they were not quite long enough sent the apprentice to move the trolley closer and went to light and as you said big crack and looked across and the bottle was on fire but my mother was at the sink in the corner of the workshop making tea and the bottles where under the wooden mezzanine floor they were well alight at full cyl pressure the massive yellow flames totally engulfing the oxy and up and along the rafters of the ceiling total flame length about 4-5 ft I ran round and the apprentice was still standing holding the handles of the trolley with his thick ginger hair stood on end !! I had to peel his hands off and push him away ! then make a choice and the best was to shut the acet cyl, but the key was in the oxy would you believe!! so had to put my hands in the flames and feel for the key but I did have welding gloves on, get the key and shut the cyls down seemed like ten minutes to do it, but dont forget my mum was stuck in the corner.
It seems it was a faulty gauge, even though it had flash back arresters it still went up I was livid I had done it to save this exact problem the mad thing was I had no problem when I had the leak it was only when the new bits were fitted! it went up!

 

[the snooper]

should have used a Co2 extinguisher on the acetylene cylinder to starve it of oxygen

 

[Parm]

Fire extinguishers are only ever there as a means of escape tool, all trains by we deliver makes it very clear to never attempt to fight a fire with an extinguisher. If it's safe to get out then do so and let the proffesionals deal with it

 

[Brad93]

Yeah I think you are right but I bet you didn't go over to warm your hands up on it! More panic then anything really. The fire officer did say Acetylene is hugely unstable a sharp knock can set things going as soon as its mentioned its a major incident because of its volatile nature.

I did work for British Gas for a while and my job was to build things for them to blow up and well know the damages gas can cause.

Acetylene bottles have been subjected to knock and impact tests by many large gas companies with no incidents, the fire officer doesnt know what he is on about.

 

[dannyp]

sounds like a good flashback to me, just it took the hose out rather than poping the flash back arreseter.

worst oxy fuel accident i've whitnessed was a mate playing billy bodger, he had the gas set in a loader bucket up at full reach and he was perched on the arm of another machene with the torch, problem was the loader had knackerd ram seals and the buket crept round, and the gas set had a bit of a tumbel. some inpressive flames comeing out of it and roaring fairish. scooped PDQ with same loader that it fell out of and tipped in the pond, that made some really weird noises and some quite cool burning bubbels for about half an hour till it setteld down

 

[blenkie1]

Powder extinguisher would of helped the flame to be extinguished. Foam would of make a nice column of bubbles.
If the bottles are burning and there is no chance of further damaged to life or property the fire brigade will let it either burn, or shut the bottle off.

Sorry it was powder we used. Everything is corroding now with it. 2 welders and plasma getting replaced as they were soaked.

Acetylene bottles have been subjected to knock and impact tests by many large gas companies with no incidents, the fire officer doesnt know what he is on about.

Its just what he told us so not sure someone might confirm it. Just before I left British Gas we were testing kevlar gas bottles which were in use in the states and were trying to get into the UK and we had to test them to make sure they were safe enough. Now they had been through all the tests in the US and passed. The first test was to place it under pressure in a bund with diesel in, set the diesel alight and see how long it would last. We got to the door to the control room and boom, one exploding gas bottle was spiralling into the air. The engineer said 'thats not supposed to happen' and that was the first and last test of them! Got to say they were really light but felt as fragile as hell.

 

[TechnicAl]

Sounds like and looks like a flashback

There were once upon a time some dodgy flashback arrestors doing the rounds

 

[blenkie1]

should have used a Co2 extinguisher on the acetylene cylinder to starve it of oxygen

We were using anything that was nearby!

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

BAFE, FIA and BS reg clearly state Powder fire extinguishers for all open gas fires.

 

[WorkshopChris]

Don't put a leaking cylinder out unless you can put all and every bit of fire out or the gas can build up and the reignite in a big bang!!
Either close valve or let it burn till everything else around is out and cooled.

 

[dannyp]

burning gas may look scary but gas thats out and waiting for an excuse to burn is far more dangerous imo

 

[the snooper]

We were using anything that was nearby!

as you do when you panic

 

[blenkie1]

then make a choice and the best was to shut the acet cyl, but the key was in the oxy would you believe!!

I was working on a car transporter when I set the hoses alight one night. Clambered down to shut the bottles off and could not find the key, was running round the workshop looking for a key! Every set had a key chained to them after that!

 

[blenkie1]

Amazing how corrosive the powder is everything is rusting badly and with the amount of water as well.

 

[brightspark]

I was working on a car transporter when I set the hoses alight one night. Clambered down to shut the bottles off and could not find the key, was running round the workshop looking for a key! Every set had a key chained to them after that![/QUOTEso does that mean whoever used the bottles didn't ever shut them down after use . I always have the key in the acetylene bottle

 

[Robotstar5]

Fire extinguishers are only ever there as a means of escape tool, all trains by we deliver makes it very clear to never attempt to fight a fire with an extinguisher. If it's safe to get out then do so and let the proffesionals deal with it

When I did the fire warden training we were told if the fire is bigger than a waste paper bin, leave it to the professionals.

I saw a small smokey flame coming from the DA bottle at the foundry, I did tell the welder who was working up a ladder nearby before I ran off

 

[WorkshopChris]

I was once cutting for a new flange in a tank, opposite were a pair of 2" pipes with that hessian and plastic insulation on, all covered in a oily dusty film. one started burning and started the other off before splitting off and disappearing down either side of a factory so big we use to ride bike to get back to maintenance.
Decided to let it burn and try and get in front of it with a good soaking then work back once it stopped spreading.

 

[Parm]

I was once cutting for a new flange in a tank, opposite were a pair of 2" pipes with that hessian and plastic insulation on, all covered in a oily dusty film. one started burning and started the other off before splitting off and disappearing down either side of a factory so big we use to ride bike to get back to maintenance.
Decided to let it burn and try and get in front of it with a good soaking then work back once it stopped spreading.

Wasn't the engine plant at Dagenham by any chance ?

 

[WorkshopChris]

No, but close ish a Johnson Controls (Car Seats) plant in Telford i think that one has gone now. Dont think i ever set light to anything at Dagenham, started a flood but never a fire.

 

[pedrobedro]

Yes, but that's propane - we're talking about acetylene...
Rather like comparing a ferrari to a pug 206 - sure, they'll both make noise and drive off, but one has vastly more go about it and isn't exactly tame.

Acetylene cylinder has a safety plug built in to let off pressure when it gets heated over 100°c so it doesn't go bang but flames off instead. The oxygen cylinder next to it is more of a problem. Full pressure of gas in an acetylene cylinder is 15psi, it is stored as a liquid in a catalyst as it is unstable as a gas at any pressure higher than that. I've not used mine for ages but yesterday they were invaluable getting some headers off of a CBR600, no way were they coming off without heat.