Exploding Air Compressor, Is Yours Safe?

[zerotofifty]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg0r28k9IoY

Air compressor tanks collect water inside, this leads to corrosion, and that can cause the tank to fail under pressure. See video, one fatality

Is your tank safe? Inspect it, by looking inside for rust, if in doubt, replace. These are killers.
Pressure vessels with large volumes, can be extremely dangerous, they pack a lot of energy.

Stay Alive!!!!
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Sorry About That Chief.

Give Peace a Chance.

Words to live by.

[wagen19]

[Who.Me?]

I only use mine a few times each year, so I store it with the drain plug open.
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Andy


Looking for info on my truck's history. Are you from Campbell California or nearby. Do you recognise it? ... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=636786

[Cusser]

[KTPhil]

[EverettB]

[NJ John]

My compressor collects dust. I use a lot of cordless stuff. But, there’s probably water in it, I’ll have to check it out.
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1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[viiking]

The other important thing is that you check the pressure relief valve (PRV)is operational. That's not easy to do however to get an absolute lifting pressure unless you get it tested by someone. Replacement should occur if there is any damage or doubt to its integrity. The outlet of the valve should be clear of any sort of restriction and under NO circumstances should a pipe be fitted as an extension from the PRV say to an outside area. To do so will increase the potential for the valve not to be able to safely reduce the pressure quickly enough.

The PRV is set at a pressure higher than the electronic pressure cutoff of the compressor and at a pressure lower than the safe operating pressure of the receiver.

Normally the bursting pressure of the air receiver is much higher than the PRV setting but over time with the INEVITABLE rusting inside the receiver the air receiver becomes thinner and weaker. If you are fortunate a thinned area will break through as a pinhole and you'll see and hear the leak. This must not be ignored. At this stage the receiver should be scrapped. Many won't.

Now again, the CORRECT manufacturing standard for any cylindrical pressure vessel is that the rounded end section is designed to blow off before the cylindrical section is deformed. So the ends of the receiver should always be pointed away from any critical area or you. Preferably the air receiver should be outside of the workspace if possible.

I won't and shouldn't speculate the causes of this incident but I have experience in Risk Assessment of large pressure vessels in flammable service.

One of the considerations we all need to consider in our own garages is that we are very careful where the air is coming for the compressor. If for instance we are in an enclosed garage spraying paint and the compressor is sucking in those same vapours and compressing them, then science will tell you that a static charge can and will be lurking. It only needs an unfortunate combination of events to cause an explosion. You don't need much fuel to do so.

In Risk Assessment and Investigation this sort of phrase is oft quoted:

"The impact/intensity of an incident is inversely proportional to the probability of the incident happening". That is, the most unlikely incidents will have the greatest impact.
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1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3