Diesel and Explosions

[brizospark]

Was working in a factory today where they have diesel pumps encased in plastic housing. About 200mm from the diesel pumps is the socket that the pumps plug into. Could not believe what I saw, Less than 1 foot away from these diesel pumps and whoever has installed has used an exterior socket (IP65 garden type) wired in flex with standard plastic compression glands.

Shouldn't this all be installed in explosion proof gear, when I opened the door to the plastic housing the fumes were absolutely belting out

 

[Engineer54]

We used to empty aviation fuel from aircraft on a regular basis (Basically diesel). Once it had been transported to the flam dump, a colleague of mine used to impress the young trainees by throwing a lit match into it only to see it go out.

And i always thought that aviation fuel was more like a modified ''paraffin'' than anything like diesel!!

 

[tazz]

And i always thought that aviation fuel was more like a modified ''paraffin'' than anything like diesel!!

it is 90% Paraffin & Light oil

 

[Knobhead]

I got suspended from school for a week for bringing a load of sugar and sodium chlorate weedkiller in one day.
It spontaneously went off and burnt a desk in a classroom.

They didn’t expel me for blowing the gas meter off the wall. I got six of the best, end of subject!

If anyone here thinks that diesel needs to be compressed to become explosive, they better think again!! Better still, keep away from any electrical installations involving the storage of diesel oil !! lol!!

As stated elsewhere on this thread, it's the vapour of diesel fuel that is most volatile and you'll always find copious amounts of that volatile vapour sitting on top of the fuel oil in storage tanks!! A full storage tank is much safer to open than a partially full tank!!

Going by the photo provided, i'd say that isn't a safe, or ideal storage facility, can't even see any means of natural ventilation or free air flow etc.... Certainly wouldn't be using normal weatherproof switches and outlets that close to a flammable fuel storage tank and delivery system!!

It depends on the upper and lower explosive limits. The vapour on top of a tank would be too concentrate.

 

[scammell man]

from the photo the tank and pump arrangement look like a standard commercial unit. What are the manufactuers installation instructions? What environmental standard is the pump built to? Not much point in having the supply built to a higher standard than the pump itself.

Diesel is a very safe fuel. Almost (but not not totally) impossible to ignite without an accelerant (oxidizer) present, as outlined in various posts above. I think Diesel is classified as flammable NOT highley flammable as petrol or gas is, but happy to be corrected. Try this COSH sheet http://www.hess.com/ehs/msds/9909dieselfuelalltypes.pdf, Think this will answer your questions regarding total safety.

 

[Richard Burns]

flammable is having a flash point below 50 degrees C, diesel has a flash point of 55 degrees C so should not be classed as flammable.
Unfortunately the powers that be have specified that the labelling for diesel is as a flammable material.

 

[Engineer54]

from the photo the tank and pump arrangement look like a standard commercial unit. What are the manufactuers installation instructions? What environmental standard is the pump built to? Not much point in having the supply built to a higher standard than the pump itself.

Diesel is a very safe fuel. Almost (but not not totally) impossible to ignite without an accelerant (oxidizer) present, as outlined in various posts above. I think Diesel is classified as flammable NOT highley flammable as petrol or gas is, but happy to be corrected. Try this COSH sheet http://www.hess.com/ehs/msds/9909dieselfuelalltypes.pdf,
Think this will answer your questions regarding total safety.

Say's it all in the first couple of pages, as in type of electrical componants to be used and that storage should be in a well ventilated area/space!!


No Diesel oil/fuel isn't as hazardous as petrol or gas, no one's saying it is, but it still needs to be treated with respect, or it can easily turn and bite you seriously hard in the arse!! lol!!

 

[Badged01]

They didn’t expel me for blowing the gas meter off the wall. I got six of the best, end of subject!

How long ago was it and was there any sexual pleasure derived by the giver, were you mentally and emotionally traumatised as a result of it and its been building up and festering inside you all these years! Its still not too late to raise a charge with the police and get it investigated! Sounds like you've got a good case for a compensation claim through the Sun or Daily Mirror .......

 

[Darkwood]

The one i connected many years ago was a molded construct where their was the tank surrounded by another envelope tank probably 200mm wider and this had a cutout float switch incase the inner tank leaked... a final services tank encasing the lot housed the pump, electrics etc their own factory installed electric controls were standard and not intricately safe...although it didn't ask for it i still fitted a trailer plug/socket to provide power that were for explosive environments.

 

[Guest111]

joking aside though,the farm took delivery of a new diesel tank last year,and the arrangement was very similar,the whole unit was metal with a roller door on the front and behind the door was a pump similar to that in the op's picture,the pump had a built in switch that was protected by a rubber boot.The power feed was just a short rubber flex,the actual diesel tank was a metal tank within the outer one and was vented to atmosphere externally,I could not find any info regarding whether they were classed as EX rated or not but with a rubber boot over a rocker switch I would doubt it,I think they are designed as a temporary tank more than a permanent one,but even so they would still have to meet the correct standard.