The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-05-30
WHY KEROSENE LAMPS EXPLODE.
A PRACTICAL HINT TO ALL WHO HANDLE
KEROSENE OR COAL OIL LAMPS.

| Frightful accidents from the explosion o.
kerosene and coal oil lamps have become SC
frequent of late, that the question Of enact.
ing some law to prevent if possible-or, al
least to lessen their repetition-has become
a subject of considerable discussion aud com.
ment In this city, from time to time, the
most horrible results have taken place, end
ing in death, and frequently disfguring the
unfortunate victims for life, by the careless
handling of this dangerous agent. r. G.
Kinzil, NJ. D., president of the state board
of health of Michigan and professor in the
state agricultural college of that state, in a
lecture recently delivered before the Michi-
gan legislature explained the manner in
which kerosene generally explodes. The
professor said 'Some persons seem to think
the explosion of kerosene lamp is caused
in the same way as boiler explosions name.
ly by the pressure of the vapor of the oil
inside the lamp. In rare instances explo.
sions are caused in this way for example,
where the ignited oil overhows the lamp and
the lamp is enveloped in flames. But ex.
plosions usually occur in another way ;
namely, where the vapor of the kerosene is
mixed in proper proportions with air, and
thus true explosive mixture is formed
which will explode with the force of gun
shot 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 lamp exploding unless the whole
body of the oil in the lamp is heated to the
flashing point that because the tempera.
ture of our rooms never rises to 120 degrees
there can be no danger in using oil whose
flashing point is l20 degrees. But Dr. Ba.
ker, secretary of the state board of health,
has proved by experiment with lamps that
an explosive mixture may form and the
lamp explode while the body of the oil in
the lamp is not above eighty.ive degrees
Fahrenheit. The temperature of the body
of oil in the lamp is not the only factor to
be considered, because different parts of the
lamp become very unequaly heated.
If you will touch the brass collar of a
lamp which has been burning for some time
you will find it quite hot and the tube sup
porting the wick is still more strongly heat
ed. The formation of vapor will be deter.
mined by the hottest part of the lamp which
M In, mt. h.
combustion is imperfect from any cause, the
brass fittings of the lamp become excessive
ly heated. DR.. Baker found in his expert
ment that when the chimney was removed
by breaking or otherwise, and the lamp con-
tinued to burn, the temperature of the brass
collar rose very rapidly in every instance
in one case in IA minutes it rose to 16l de-
grees, and in another case in ten minutes to
l55 degrees Fahrenheit. In this last in.
stance very rapid explosions occurred
by the side of the wick, and to prevent the
whole lamp from exploding the light was
extinguished. In none of these experiments
did the oil rise above S5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Many persons on leaving the room turn
down the lamp, to save oil, but such econo-
my is very liable 10 cause lamp explosion,
which is anything but economy. l know
of case in Charlotte which illustrates the
danger of this practice. A lamp in store
was turned down during the absence of the
clerk a person passing saw the lamp ex-
plode, and by promptly breaking into the
store he extinguished the fire. If lamp is
not needed in room either extinguish the
lamp or leave it burning with the usual
blaze"