Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-02-19
Cause Of Lamp Explosions.

The December number Of the Boston
Journal Of Chemistry, in an article on
chemistry Of Kerosene. speaks as fol-
lows: As an explanation of the causes
of lamp explosions, it is worth study
ing that these accidents may be avoided b
As has been stated, kerosene IS not
explosive. A lighted taper may be
thrust into it, or fame applied in any
way, and it does not explode. On the
il extinguishes flame, if ex-
perimented with at the. usual tempera-
ture Of our rooms. Kerosene accidents
occur from two causes: First, imper-
feet manufacture Of the article second.
adulterations. An imperfectly manu-
factured oil is that which results when
the distillation has been carried on at
too low temperature, anda portion of
the naptha remains in it. Adultera-
tions are largely made by unprincipled
dealers, who add 20 to 80 per cent. of
naptha after it leaves the manufactur-
er's hands. The light napthss which
have been spoken OF, as known in COM
merce under the names of benzine, ben
zoline gasoleine, etc, are very volatile,
inflamable, and dangerous. They how
ever, in themselves, are not explosive
neither are they capable of furnishing
any gas, when placed in lamps, which
is explosive. Accidents Of this nature
are due entirely to the facility with
which vapor is produced from them at
low temperatures. But the Vapor By
itself IS inexplosive; to render it so, Il
HlUst be uirsa nth ar. A lamp may be
filed with bad kerosene, or with VapoF
even, and in no possible way can it de
tomato, or explode unless atmospheric
air has got mixed with the vapor. A
lamp, therefore, full, or nearly full, Of
the liquid, IS 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 fluid is nearly ex-
hausted. The reason Of this will be
readily seen. In using imperfect or
adulterated kerosene, the space above
the line of oil is always filed with va
por; and so long as it is warm, and
rising freely, no air can reach it, and it,
is safe. At bedtime, when the family
retire. the light is extinguished; the
lamp cools, a portion of the vapor Is
condensed; this creates partial vac
uum in the space. which is instantly
filed with air. The mixture is now
more or less explosive and when upon
the next evening, the lamp is lighted
with out replenishing with oil, as is Of
ten done, an explosion is apt 10 take
place. Late in the evening when the
oil is nearly consumed. and the space
above filed with Yspor, the lamp can
not explode so long as it tremains at rest
upon the table. But take it IN hand,
agitate 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 I'M
pinged upon the lamp in the hands Of
the lady, rapidly condensed the Yapor,
air passed in, an explosion occurred,
which resulted fatally. 1.-THE lamp had
been full of fluid, this accident could not
have occurred. Before carrying it to
the door, flame might been thrust into
the lamp with safety; the yapor would
have ignited, hut no explosion could
have taken place.