Fridge explosion

[lee8]

Re: Fridge explosion

It could be possible that the Engineer installed a TOC or other component, cut the wires and didn`t insulate them, caused a short across to the copper pipe carrying the refrigerant and bang.

I`ve seen Engineers work on appliances returned to Head office that have had such things done and tapped with insulation tape because the tech couldn`t be bothered to rewire the correct way.

[kwatt]

Re: Fridge explosion

No I think wsts has hit the nail on the head and, TBH, the only way I could see this happening. Although I do admit I was a bit miffed by it.

If the defrost heater control fails and leaves it on then it’s wrapped around the evaporator. Evap heats and heats along with the gas inside, increasing the pressure until it gets to the point where it goes beyond the tolerance of one of the joints or the pipework itself….

BOOM!

As is rightly pointed out, the gas under pressure is far more dangerous. I think you’d need that in order to cause the sort of damage being reported but, without a lot more info it’s difficult to say for sure.

I have to say I didn’t think about that but, when you put the pieces together it makes sense.

Now, we’ve got a few Samsung machines that have gone and we know that a Hotpoint/Indesit/Creda or whatever has gone. How long before we get some more?

K.

[spimps]

Re: Fridge explosion

gas under pressure is more dangerous in the respect that a container say cylinder if involved in a fir will BLEVE (boiling liquid escaping vapour explosion.
If the gas is mixing with air LPG for instance will ignite/explode with a mixture between 2{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} to 10{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} the severity of the explosion depends on the mixture,if the mixture is higher then its similar to the old carburettors of too rich a mixture there isn’t enough oxygen to balance the fuel.LPG being a purified version has similar properties.
R600a is flammable in concentrations of air between approximately 1.5{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} and 8.5{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} by volume
(LEL lower explosion limit and UEL upper explosion limit) so you wouldn’t need much of a leak to give the right mixture in a freezer compartment++.
• An ignition source at a temperature higher than 460°C is needed for a combustion to occur.
The 460c could be achieved by a short circuit.
If the fan is running in the freezer mixing the oxygen and fuel(r600a) then it could reach the desired mixture.
Certainly giving us food for thought.
Attended the Fire Service College at Morton many moons ago for a 10 day course on exploding chemicals,lpg included.
They showed us the effects of a lighter fuel refilling canister the small one ,which folks will keep in the kitchen cupboard when involved in a fire.
Astounding damage caused 😯
Bring back R12 I say.

[Gazman1000]

Re: Fridge explosion

The idea of using R600a as refrigerant was asking for trouble IMHO it will only be a matter of time before we get real problems. The other stupid idea is we all have to get a C&G 2079 or F gas reg to work with r134 but need no qualifications to work with an explosive gas like R600a.
It makes no sense.

[spimps]

Re: Fridge explosion

Gazman1000 wrote:The idea of using R600a as refrigerant was asking for trouble IMHO it will only be a matter of time before we get real problems. The other stupid idea is we all have to get a C&G 2079 or F gas reg to work with r134 but need no qualifications to work with an explosive gas like R600a.
It makes no sense.

Problems are occuring early on with R600,what about when they ar 10 years plus and materials naturally deteriorate,ther’ll be a second round of panic.
600 is also in commercials in larger quantities than domestics like Fosters double doors are on it.
No great problem if safe working practices are followed,if they aren’t or there is a natural component failure it has much more serious consequencies than a R12 or R134 leak for individuals,then again these are damaging the ozone layer so we can’t have that can we!
Fatalities sadly will occur before those at the top realise the magnitude of the decision to go down the isobutane road.
Did my F-gas a couple of weeks ago,barely no mention of isobutanes,no test on lok rings.

[stratfordgirl]

Re: Fridge explosion

I’m not involved at all with refrigeration, but am curious none the less to find out about the common refrigerants in use. R600a, R134, etc, are a complete mystery to me. Can anyone point to an idiot’s guide, please?

[spimps]

Re: Fridge explosion

Here are a few.
Dupont are a large manufacturing company too.

[don]

Re: Fridge explosion

Hi spimps

Adjusted your link so it works 😉

Don 🙂

spimps wrote:Here are a few to start with.

Dupont are a large producer also.

[spimps]

Re: Fridge explosion

Thought i did it myself 😕

[Gazman1000]

Re: Fridge explosion

My gripe with r600 is the lack of training requirement, anyone can work on r600 without training.

spimps wrote:No great problem if safe working practices are followed.

I quite agree with you on that, the problem is there is no training requirement to work with r600 so how does someone new shall we say a novice who has just started up on his own, know what are safe working practices with an explosive gas that is heavier than air, something needs to be done.

When I worked in London a local cowboy was going around doing re-gassing without any gauges or proper tools, I was called to a Hotpoint mistral frost free the day after he had “re-gassed it” the compressor was making a right din the customer told me the freezer had packed up after the other bloke left. I connected my gauges and they went off the scale, I connected up my recovery rig and got 970 grams of r134 out of it.
the correct charge was 103 grams, the fault was a dropped door not making the fan come on hence a warm fridge. With idiots like that working unchecked on r600 it is only a matter of time before a house gets blown up. I know the cowboys like him just won’t bother to train if they can get away with it. r600 is going to give us all nightmares in the future.

[Author]

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