The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-05-22
Why Kerosene Lamps Explode.

Prof. r. c. Kedzie. M. d., President
of the Safe Board Of Health OF Mich
igan, and Professor in the State Agri-
cultural College, lately delivered an ad-
dress before the Michigan Legislature,
in which kerosene lamps usually explode.
He said: Some persons seem 10 think
the explosion of kerosene lamp is caused
in the same way as boiler explosion;
namely, by the pressure o! the vapor OF
the oil inside the lamp. in rare instan-
ces explosions may be caused in this way.
for example, where the ignited oil over
flows the lamp and the lamp is enveloped
in flame. But explosions usually occur
in another way; namely, where the vapor
of kerosene is mixed in proper proper
ton with air, and thus true explosive
mixture is formed which will explode
with the force OF gunshot when fired by
flame. This explains why lamp is in
more danger of exploding when only
partially filled with kerosene, because
larger amount of space is filled with the
explosive mixture; it is the same as
larger load of powder in a gun. Many
persons suppose that there can be no dan
ger OF q lamp explosion unless the whole
body OF the oil 10 the lamp is heated 10
the flashing point; that because the tenn
perature of our rooms never rises to 100
degrees there can be no danger in using
oil whose flashing point is 100 degrees.
But DR.. Baker. Secretary Of the State
Board of Health, has proved by expert.
ment with lamps that an explosive mix
ture may form and the lamp may explode
while the body of oil in the lamp is not
above IS degrees Fahrenheit. The tenn
perature Of the body Of oil in the lamp is
not the only factor to be considered, be-
cause different paris of the lamp become
very unequally heated. If you will touch
the brass collar of lamp which has been
burning for sometime you will find it
quite hot, and the tubes supporting the
wick is still more strongly heated. The
formation 81 vapor will be determined
by the hottest part of the lamp which
comes in contact with the oil. When the
combustion is imperfect from any cause,
the brass fitting of the lamp become
excessively heated. Dr.Baker found in
his experiments that when the chimney
was removed by breaking or otherwise,
and the lamp continued to burn, the sem
perature Of the brass collar rose very rap
idly in every instance; in one case in
fourteen minutes it rose to I56 degrees
Fahrenheit. In this last instance very
rapid explosions occurred by the side of
the wick, and to prevent the whole lamp
from exploding the light was extinguish-
ed. In none Of these experiments did
the temperature of the body of the oil
rise above S. degrees Fahrenheit. Many
persons on leaving room turn down
the lamp to save oil, but such economy
is very liable to cause lamp explosion,
which is anything but economical. l
know Of case in Charlotte which illus.
trates the danger of this practice. A lamp
in store was turned down during the
absence ofthe clerk; a person passing saw
the lamp explode and by promptly break
ing open the store he extinguished the
fire. If a light is not needed in room
either extinguish the lamp or leave it burn
ing with the usual blaze"