Hi Todd >Keith, > >I think Tom offered some strong clues as to the "how" of the fire. My bet is >that the boiling methanol caused frothing of the oil and boiling over the >edge of an open or perhaps even vented reactor. > >Don't know what Tom used as a process heat source. But it had to be >something of reasonably high output to heat the oil past the boiling temp of >MeOH.
He was making Babington burners, I'm don't know if he used them for biodiesel process heat. >If it were strictly alcohol fumes from the boil that reached an ignition >source there would have been an explosion first and then fire. A fireball of >any proportion is not a pretty site, even if just in one's imagination. No it's not! >Anyway, here are some of the things that have been pointed out as potential >fire problems in the past. Doesn't hurt to place them back in the public >view once again in a composite manner. > >--- Open reactor and poor ventilation in the presence of an ignition source. >Ignition sources can be: > a) Using combustible fuels as a direct heat source (ie propane, natural >gas, wvo, wood, etc.), rather than a heat exchange system where the flame is >far removed from the processing area. > b) Open electric motor housings, rather than TEFC motors (at minimum). > c) Disconnecting an electrical appliance by pulling out the wall plug, >rather than using enclosed switches. > d) A match or lighter (open flame, Part Dieu). > >Other fire sources can be over taxed pumps and motors in close proximity to >combustible materials (garage walls, plastic barrels, almost anything), >oversized breakers and/or fuses, undersized wiring (such as 14/2 Romex) for >higher amperage draws. And there always is the danger of spontaneous >combustion in the presence of oily rags, most predominant when working with >drying oils such as hemp and linseed. This threat decreases as the >saturation of the oil/fat increases. > >There are probably a dozen other hazards that don't come readily to mind at >the moment. But these are the basics. Thanks very much, good compilation, and indeed it doesn't hurt. regards Keith >Todd Swearingen > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Keith Addison" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <biofuel@yahoogroups.com> >Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2003 8:58 AM >Subject: [biofuel] Re: Fwd: Weekend fire destroys backyard biodiesel >operation > > > > k5farms wrote: > > > > >--- In biofuel@yahoogroups.com, "Appal Energy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > A lot to be said for having a closed system. Would have saved the > > >building. > > > > Sometimes "stuff" happens. Most of the time it don't. But now > > >wouldn't be the time to pick snits. > > > > Good time for damage control though, before it gets all twisted and > > out of hand. > > > > > > Sorry he suffered the loss and glad the burns are only superficial. > > > > Very, on both counts. > > > > > > Todd Swearingen > > > > > > >People should always understand that your working with explosive > > >gasses and combustable fuels and that stray sparks and leaking gasses > > >will find each other at most unfortunate times!: > > > > Sure, but still, it shouldn't have happened. If you're working with > > an open-tank processor (don't!) and you haven't made absolutely sure > > that there's no opportunity for sparks, stray or otherwise, then > > you're asking for trouble. Anyway, this wasn't a case of leaking > > gases, it was a runaway disaster - the oil should not have been > > allowed to get so hot. Don't exaggerate it, these fuels aren't very > > combustible - throw a lighted match into either biodiesel or WVO and > > it sputters and goes out. I'd add that biofuellers have an obligation > > to be safe, not just for their own sakes - the homebrew scene is > > vulnerable to attack by industry and by regulators, an accident opens > > the door for them, and judging by past experience they might not be > > too scrupulous about it. Everyone posts plenty of safety warnings, > > and this is small-scale stuff, easy to control, not to be compared > > with the kind of industrial operation that uses 40,000-gallon tanks. > > > > If making your own biodiesel is now to be branded dangerous on this > > account, then we'll have to stop housewives making french-fries too - > > everyone knows if you let the oil get too hot it'll catch fire and > > could burn your house down and kill your family. It doesn't stop > > anyone doing it, there's no onerous regulation to wade through, yet > > vanishingly few people burn their houses down and kill their families > > this way - how many french fries per accident? It's a valid > > comparison, even without the methanol - it's not the methanol that > > caused this accident, it's that the oil was allowed to get too hot. > > > > Best > > > > Keith > > > > > > > > >BENSON, Minn. - An explosion and fire rocked a plant where corn is > > >turned into ethanol Wednesday, killing one worker and injuring > > >another man, officials said. > > > > > >Robert Olson, 20, was working near a storage tank filled with 40,000 > > >gallons of corn mash when it exploded at Chippewa Valley Ethanol Co., > > > > <snip> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at MyInks.com. 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