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Nitrogen tank explosion at Beechcraft
December 27, 2019, 11:49 AM
Pipe SmokerNitrogen tank explosion at Beechcraft
Likely a pressure bleed valve was stuck.
“A nitrogen tank explosion at a Beechcraft aircraft manufacturing facility in Kansas has left about a dozen people injured.
The explosion at the facility in Wichita was reported at about 8am on Friday.
At least a dozen people are believed to have been injured in the explosion that saw part of the building collapse.
Photos of the scene show extensive damage to the facility, as well as steam rising from a collapsed building.
A four-inch natural gas line was severed during the explosion.
The cause of the blast is under investigation…”
https://mol.im/a/7830723
Serious about crackers. December 27, 2019, 12:01 PM
Sailor1911Straight up 8 Am, I'm walking into my office 3+ miles from the plant and hear and feel the explosion. Fortunately, skeleton crew as the plant was off for the holidays.
Place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark.
“If in winning a race, you lose the respect of your fellow competitors, then you have won nothing” - Paul Elvstrom "The Great Dane" 1928 - 2016 December 27, 2019, 01:12 PM
nhtagmemberholy crap - Beech has enough problems, now this...
wonder if the system was part of a nitrogen plant owned by Beech or if it was owned by a vendor such as Praxaire or Air Liquide
[B] Against ALL enemies, foreign and DOMESTIC
December 27, 2019, 01:17 PM
Skins2881How did Nitrogen explode? It's not flammable. Maybe the tank was over pressurized?
Jesse
Sic Semper Tyrannis December 27, 2019, 01:24 PM
Georgeairquote:
Originally posted by Skins2881:
How did Nitrogen explode? It's not flammable. Maybe the tank was over pressurized?
I'm guessing this was liquid nitrogen and the cooling system failed. Normally there would be a vent pipe to direct that, but once any part of the volume of nitrogen gets over -196C it all boils off into a gas. Rapidly.
Just something to consider the next time you're shoved into a nitrogen-cooled MRI, for instance.
I'm curious for some of our members to help us understand what you would be using nitrogen for in that environment???
You only have integrity once. - imprezaguy02
December 27, 2019, 01:35 PM
aileronquote:
Originally posted by Georgeair:
I'm curious for some of our members to help us understand what you would be using nitrogen for in that environment???
Nitrogen is used to pressurize the autoclave for curing prepreg composites, as the heated prepreg epoxy/carbon structure is flammable during the elevated T&P cure.
December 27, 2019, 01:51 PM
LS1 GTOquote:
Originally posted by aileron:
quote:
Originally posted by Georgeair:
I'm curious for some of our members to help us understand what you would be using nitrogen for in that environment???
Nitrogen is used to pressurize the autoclave for curing prepreg composites, as the heated prepreg epoxy/carbon structure is flammable during the elevated T&P cure.
And tires
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The definition of the words we used, carry a meaning of their own...
December 27, 2019, 02:23 PM
Pipe Smokerquote:
Originally posted by Skins2881:
How did Nitrogen explode? It's not flammable. Maybe the tank was over pressurized?
See my leading comment in my OP.
Serious about crackers. December 27, 2019, 02:30 PM
Georgeairquote:
And tires
Just a drop or two.
I knew the expansion ratio was big, but you made me look that up. just under 700 as a gas vs. liquid. Yeah, that'll look just like an explosion!
You only have integrity once. - imprezaguy02
December 27, 2019, 02:41 PM
229DAKClosed for the holidays but over a dozen people injured? Hmmm....
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December 27, 2019, 02:45 PM
limblessbiffquote:
Originally posted by Georgeair:
quote:
Originally posted by Skins2881:
How did Nitrogen explode? It's not flammable. Maybe the tank was over pressurized?
I'm guessing this was liquid nitrogen and the cooling system failed. Normally there would be a vent pipe to direct that, but once any part of the volume of nitrogen gets over -196C it all boils off into a gas. Rapidly.
Just something to consider the next time you're shoved into a nitrogen-cooled MRI, for instance.
I'm curious for some of our members to help us understand what you would be using nitrogen for in that environment???
Welding. Especially with aluminum or stainless/titanium
December 27, 2019, 04:48 PM
Pipe Smokerquote:
Originally posted by Georgeair:
quote:
Originally posted by Skins2881:
How did Nitrogen explode? It's not flammable. Maybe the tank was over pressurized?
I'm guessing this was liquid nitrogen and the cooling system failed. Normally there would be a vent pipe to direct that, but once any part of the volume of nitrogen gets over -196C it all boils off into a gas. Rapidly.
<snip>
Not rapidly. A company I used to work for used a lot of liquid nitrogen. It was stored in a large insulated tank. There was no mechanical refrigeration system for it. The nitrogen was just allowed to boil off. The phase change from the liquid state to the gas state takes a LOT of energy:
Latent Heat of Vaporization of Nitrogen is 2.7928 kJ/mol.
www.nuclear-power.net/nitrogen...vaporization-fusion/
Serious about crackers. December 27, 2019, 04:52 PM
220-9erI'm curious for some of our members to help us understand what you would be using nitrogen for in that environment???[/QUOTE]
Welding. Especially with aluminum or stainless/titanium[/QUOTE]
That would mostly be Argon or Helium or a mixture of the two although it is used to purge inside stainless pipe too.
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December 27, 2019, 05:07 PM
sigmonkeyquote:
Originally posted by Georgeair:...
I'm curious for some of our members to help us understand what you would be using nitrogen for in that environment???
It's used to keep the Dry Ice from subliming at altitude and depleting the oxygen.
"the meaning of life, is to give life meaning" ✡ Ani Yehudi אני יהודי Le'olam lo shuv לעולם לא שוב! December 27, 2019, 05:27 PM
Georgeairquote:
Originally posted by sigmonkey:
quote:
Originally posted by Georgeair:...
I'm curious for some of our members to help us understand what you would be using nitrogen for in that environment???
It's used to keep the Dry Ice from subliming at altitude and depleting the oxygen.
That’s a Payne.
You only have integrity once. - imprezaguy02
December 27, 2019, 05:39 PM
Sailor1911quote:
Originally posted by aileron:
quote:
Originally posted by Georgeair:
I'm curious for some of our members to help us understand what you would be using nitrogen for in that environment???
Nitrogen is used to pressurize the autoclave for curing prepreg composites, as the heated prepreg epoxy/carbon structure is flammable during the elevated T&P cure.
The plant that had the explosion housed composite manufacturing and experimental aircraft fabrication.
Link to Local paper on the event:
Beech Explosion
Place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark.
“If in winning a race, you lose the respect of your fellow competitors, then you have won nothing” - Paul Elvstrom "The Great Dane" 1928 - 2016