Re: How can an oxygen tank explode?

[Eugene Mosca <emosca@PTD.NET>]

I wrote:

<< It can't, at least not without first pumping hydrogen or some other
combustible into the tank.

In the example given, the combustion, and therefore the explosion, occurred
outside the tank. >>

John S. Denker responded:

> I don't claim to know exactly what happened in the incident Eric read
> about, but here is something that could well have happened, and fits the
> facts:
>
> *) Person lights cigarette.
> *) Oxygen turns smoldering cigarette into torch.
> *) Cigarette is dropped, igniting upholstery.
> *) Burning upholstery overheats oxygen cylinder.
> *) Cylinder explodes.

I stand corrected.  Thanks John.

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