Re: Case steam engine explodes... kills 3

Posted by Bob Kerr on July 30, 2001 at 23:02:30 from (205.188.199.181):

In Reply to: Case steam engine explodes... kills 3 posted by jim on July 29, 2001 at 18:37:20:

First off I wish to give my condolences to the familys of all the victims and my prayers to them and all who were injured. Second, The impact of an accident like this could quite possibly end the era of steam a second time. Everyone who owns and operates steam equipment needs to be extra careful when crowds are in the area. As we all saw, you don't have to be close to be hurt when a boiler goes. I have a steam boat that was built in 1918 and it takes every bit of my attention when I run it. Distractions come at me from all angles when it is at the dock or out on the lake or river. I have to constantly check the water level and make sure everything is ok,and it is difficult to do when other boats pull up to take a look or ask questions. One thing I found that helps is to have someone who knows a little about the boat deal with them and answer all the questions while I keep things in line. Another thing is I have read a ton of current boiler books as well as the old books. To be very well informed is the best policy when working with steam. Last year At a few shows last summer,I saw things that scared the heck out of me when I watched some Traction engine operators. One fellow seemed to think a traction engine is also a dragster, and threw the trottle wide open quickly and took off down a lane. He did this several times like he was trying to "burn off" the rear wheels. I hid behind my car!(like that would do any good if it blew!)As far as the oil the reports were talking about, there may have been a boiler water treatment added to scavange oxygen from the water. The additive is a reddish color when mixed and may have been mistaken for oil. There may be as little as a half a gallon of oil on the whole rig. The people were burned by steam. When a boiler shell ruptures, two thirds of the water in the boiler turns to steam immediatly and expands 16 to 1. (that is the explosion part) The temperature of the steam depends on at what pressure the boiler was under before the release and can be around 350 degrees easily in a traction engine. The remaining third "cools off" to about 210 degrees by the evaporation of the 2 thirds of the water turning to steam.This all happens in a fraction of a second.If you have ever taken off the pressure type radiator cap off an over heated car you have seen what happens when water is over 210 degrees and the pressure is released.Let us all be glad the Case that blew was not under full steam pressure. The 49 people hurt would have surely been killed also and many more would have been hurt. Anyway,Let us use this tragedy as a reminder to be extremly careful this year(and every year). The world (and the lawyers) are watching us now.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Re: Case steam engine explodes... kills 3 AJ 16:15:21 08/01/01 (0)
• Re: Re: Case steam engine explodes... kills 3 Thanks Bob Kerr 06:20:50 07/31/01 (0)
• Re: Re: Case steam engine explodes... kills 3 Bob Kerr 23:27:03 07/30/01 (0)

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