LOX and Bake-OS 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
Liquid Oxygen Cylinder Explosion
Improper methods used to render scrap cylinder unserviceable
Unsafe modifications to cylinder design
Accident Profile
Two individuals (ages 42 and 60) found a liquid oxygen cylinder that had been removed from service and left at a scrap metal dealer
The individuals were self-employed in scrap metal cutting operations and intended to use the cylinder in their work
Accident Profile
The individuals had access to a liquid oxygen supplier where cylinder ownership would not be questioned
Jury-rigging fill connections, the first attempt to fill the cylinder resulted in rapid venting through the Pressure Relief Device (PRD)
Accident Profile
The PRDs were removed and plugged
The cylinder was filled while onboard a pickup truck
The cylinder, which had no vacuum, was now unable to vent excess pressure
Accident Profile
While being transported down a busy highway, the pickup truck experienced a flat tire
Shortly thereafter, the cylinder exploded with the results shown in the following slides
Pickup truck on which the cylinder was being transported
Pickup truck on which the cylinder was being transported
Pickup and cylinder remains
Cylinder top
Cylinder outer shell, bottom
Cylinder bottom shell
PRD location was plugged using a threaded cap
Both inner and outer shells separated at bottom welds
Cylinder exploded at 12:40 PM while transport vehicle was parked on busy Interstate highway
The blast blew one individual across 5 lanes of traffic. The other was blown approximately 40 feet. Both survived
Cylinder flew approximately ¼ mile before plunging through the roof of an apartment, severing a main natural gas line and coming to rest in the living space
Despite heavy damage, no injuries to apartment tenants were reported
Apartment interior
Note that the media reported the event as a Butane cylinder explosion
Submitted on 09/18/2003
Submitted by:
Anonymous
Reference:
Duane Young
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