AIR LINE EXPLOSION

[Anonymous Poster]

Sorry, but oil used for threading pipe, and or oil from the inline oiler could NOT be the culprit that caused the regulator to become a Diesel engine UNLESS the air pressure reached over 1500 psi.
I'd be looking for a different cause of regulator failure. Far more likely is water accumulated in the regulator and froze causing the initial fracture, and subscequently, compressed air blew the fractured chunk out, turning it into an unguided missle.
I've seen the aftermath of an Oxygen & Oil explosion, and I assure you had such occurred most of the piping would have been scattered across the neighborhood.

 

[frank_f15]

have to disagree: i have run thousands of ft. of airline piping from 1/4 in. to 3 in. always used cutting oil when threading, i do not beleive the oil vaporized and caused an explosin, i think it was just a mechanical failure of the filter or oiler

 

[frank_f15]

forgot to mention that the compressors i use to supply air to the plant are 200 HP ingersol rand 2 stage double acting compressors. they always pick up oil when compressing and we use seperators and filters to remove the oil, but some still gets out to the plant airlines. when we need really dry , oil free air we filter it and use driers to clean it at point of use. again don't beleive the oil caused the blowout.

 

[LGinIA]

I just purchased an In-line Oiler and want to know how to best put oil in it. There are no instructions-I'm assuming that you loosen the set screw and place the oil in the screw hole. How do you get the oil in there? The screw hole is real small and the plastic oil spout is too big--what's the trick?

 

[Egon]

I'm with you on this one Frank. We used to put lots of methanol in frozen air lines with no big bangs.

Egon

 

[frank_f15]

not sure what type of auto oiler u are using, there should be a resivior for u to add oil and then a a way for u to set the amt. of oil feed. there should have been instructions with the oil feeder, , if not take it back to store and get one with instructions, be advised tho that in some applications too much oil is just as bad as no oil

 

[DK35vince]

Big trucks with air brakes have been using alcohol in the winter to keep from freezing off for many many years at around 125 psi. with no bangs.
I'm with Egon here,I just can't see oil causing this !!

 

[LGinIA]

The In-line Oiler I am talking about is similar to the picture posted above by cpicton1 on 11/30. About 1 1/2" long and 1" wide.

 

[cpicton1]

LGinIA

You remove the small Philips head screw and fill through the small hole.

 

[Egon]

Franz:
Been doing some more thinking and you are right on with your explanation. The regulator vaporizing cools water in the lines till it freezes. There is probably a PSV somewhere back in the line that does not work or is not set at the right pressure or may not even be there.

Egon