Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1868-06-25
Cause Of Lamp Explos-
ions.

Ho OOotoIl cOtcfItU6 " CftSfTtIS
try, in an article on the chemi
try of kerosene, speaks as follows
As an explanation of the causes
of lamp explosions, it is worth
studying, that these accidents
may be avoided:
AS has been stated, kerosene il
not explosive. A lighted taper
may be thrust into it, or flame
applied in any way, and it does
not explode. On the contrary il
extinguishes flame, if experiment.
ed with at the usual temperature
of our rooms. Kerosene accidents
occur from two causes: First, i'm.
perfect manufacture of the arti.
Gle; second, authorizations. An
imperfectly manufactured oil is
that which results when distilla-
tion has been carried on at too low
temperature, and portion of the
naptha remains in it. Adultera-
tions are largely made by unprin-
cipled dealers, who add 20 or 80
per cent. of naptha after it leaves
the manufacturers hands. The
light naptha which has been spo-
ken of, benzine, benzoline, gas
oline, etc., are very volatile, and
dangerous. They, however, in
themselves, are not explosive, nei-
ther are they capable of furnish
ing any gas, when placed in
lamps, which is. explosive. Ac-
cidents of this nature are due en-
tirely to the facility with which
vapor is produced from them at
low temperatures. But the vapor
by itself is not explosive; to rem
der it 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 detonate, or explode, unless at.
mospheric air has somewhat 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. Ex-
plosions generally occur when the
lamp is first lighted, without be-
ing filed, and late in the evening
when the fluid is nearly exhausted.
The reason of this will be readily
seen. In using imperfect or adul-
terated kerosene, the space above
the line Of oil is always filled with
vapor; and SO long as it is warm,
and rising freely, no air can reach
it and it is safe. At bed time
when the family retires, the light
is extinguished; the lamp cools;
portion of the vapor is condensed;
this creates partial vacuum in the
space, which is instantly filled |
with air. The mixture is now
more or less explosive; and when |
upon the next evening, the lamp |
is lighted without replenishing |
with oil, as is often done, an ex-
plosion is liable to take place. Late
in the evening, when the oil is
nearly consumed, and the space
above filled with vapor, the lamp
cannot explode SO long as it re-
mains at rest on the table. But
take it in hand, agitate it, carry
it into a cool room, the vapor is
cooled, air passes in, and the va
por becomes explosive. A case
Of lamp explosion came to the
writer's knowledge a few years since
which was occasioned by taking a
amp from the table to answer a
ring of the door-bell. The cool
outside air which impinged upon
he lamp in the hands of the lady
passed in, and an explosion occurred
air rapidly condensed the vapor,
which resulted fatally. If the
amp had been full of fluid, this
accident could not have occurred.
Before carrying it to the door,
lame might have been thrust into
he lamp with safety; the vapor
would have ignited but no explo-
ion would have taken place.