Posted on 05/29/2014 7:32:51 AM PDT by thackney
That’ll buff right out. NOT.
The Japanese are known to smoke too much. Maybe someone lit up at the wrong time.
The most dangerous time is when the tanks are empty. The fuel air mixture is just right for an explosion.
My exact first thought. I’m an electrician in oil and gas industry, and I empty tanks are extremely dangerous. Then some guy is using a grinder? I mean geez, how dumb can one be?
after 69 years? i think not... :)
Sucks to be on the Shoko Maru.
Prayers for all on board.
Damn I didn’t know Godzilla was in town LOL!
I thought he still in Hollywood working on sequel to his blockbuster movie
This is why when you smell gas in any building DO NOT!!!! touch the light switch to turn on. The mechanical switch will arc-spark every time. You can’t see it but occasionally hear it, if it is very quiet. If the gas concentration is there, flipping the switch will set it off. Don’t touch anything except the doorknob as you leave immediately and even then be aware of static electricity when you grasp the doorknob.
Take your shoes off first if they have rubber soles.
That may sound silly but how many times in your life have you been shocked and sometimes saw the spark when you touched a dooknob.
I would not stop to take off my shoes. I would not recommend anyone else stop when they smell gas either.
If you have built up a static charge at the point, you won’t get rid of the charge that way. I often would shock my daughters wearing only my socks and dragging them on the carpet.
“Fortunately, the tanker was almost empty, or else the damage would have been worse.”
Someone does not understand the fuel/air/source triangle and LEL,UEL
Your comment to me is correct. Even socks can isolate and cause a static build up resulting in a spark. I should have been more detailed. Thanks for your comment.
When I worked at GE in Schenectady (more than thirty years ago) I learned some interesting things.
One interesting thing I learned was that the big electric generators that are used in utility plants (they are called "alternators") are insulated with hydrogen gas. This is because hydrogen has some very nice characteristics:
As a consequence of using so much pure hydrogen in the huge alternator casings (some of them are almost a hundred feet long and more than 20 feet diameter), we were taught that unless there is more than a certain amount of oxygen present, hydrogen is inflammable. IIRC, the danger line was at 7% oxygen.
In other words, as long as there was no more than 7% oxygen around, hydrogen can be thought of as an inert gas.
Sorry, I said “inflammable.” I should have said “not flammable.”
Yes. I always laugh at a tv show or movie where the hero knocks off a gas line and then 10 seconds later the whole house explodes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.