The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-03-21
Cause Of Lamp Explosions.

The Boston Journal Of Chemistry, in an article
on the chemistry OF kerosene, speaks as follows
As an explanation of tho causes of lamp explo-
sions, it is worth studying, that these accidents
may be avoided:
As has been stated, kerosene is not explosive.
A lighted paper may be thrust into it. or flame
applied in any way, and it does not explode On
the contrary it extinguishes flame, if expert
meAted with at the usual temperature of our
rooms. Kerosene accidents occur from two
causes: First, imperfect manufacture of the ar
ticles second, authorizations. An imperfectly
manufactured oil is that which results when the
distillation has been carried on at too low tenn
perature, and portion Of the naptha remains in
it. Authorizations are largely made by unprin.
cipled dealers, who add 20 to 30 per cent of
naptha after it leaves the manufacturers hands
The light napthas which have been spoken of as
known in commerce under the names of benzine,
benzolne, gasoleine, etc, are very volatile, in.
fiammable, and dangerous. They, however, in
themselves, are not explosive; neither are they
capable ct furnishing any gas, when placed in
lamps, which is explosive. Accidents of this ma
ture are due entirely to the facility with which
yapor is produced from them at low tempera-
lures. But the vapor by itself is not explosive !;
to render il so, it must be mixed with air a
lamp may be filled with bad kerosene, or with
the vapor even, and in no possible way can it de-
tomato, OF explode, unless atmospheric air has
somehow got mixed with tho vapor. lamp,
therefore FULL nearly full of the liquid il safe;
and also one full Of pure warm vapor is safe.
Explosions generally occur when the lamp is
first lighted, without being filed, and late in the
evening, when the fsd is nearly exhausted
The reason OF this will readily be seen. In using
imperfect or adulterated kerosene, the space
above the line Of oil is always filled with vapor
and so long as it is warm, and rising freely, 40
air can reach it, and it is safe. At bedtime,
when tho family retire, the light is extingush-
ed, the lamp cools, portion of the vapor is con-
donsed; this creates partial vacuum in the
space, which is instantly filled with air The
mixture now is more or less xplosive; and when
upon the next evening, the lampi is lighted with
cut replenishing with oil, is often DONE an ex-
plosioa is liable to take place Late in the even
ing, when the oil is nearly consumed, and the
space above filed with vapor, the lamp cannot
explode 80 long as it remains at rest upon the
table But take it in hand. sgitate it, carry it
into cool room. the vapor is cooled, air passes
in, and the vapor becomes explosive. A case of
lamp explosion came TO the writer's knowledge
few years since, which was occasioned by taking
lamp from the table to answer a ring Of the
door-bell The cool outside air which impinged
upon the lamp in the hands of the lady, rapidly
condensed to vapor, air dashed in, an explosion
occurred, which resulted fatally If the lamp
had been full of fluid, this accident could not
have occurred Before carrying it to the door,
flame might have been thrust into the lamp with
safety; the vapor would have ignited, but no cx-
plosion would have taken place.