CNG Explosion discussion thread

Right Lane Cruiser · #1 12-03-2007, 10:28 AM

Another reason why NG is not a feasible long term fuel for vehicular motivation!!!

I am **** glad Wayne wasn't involved in anything like this when he test drove the Civic GX up here and back.

Chuck · #2 12-03-2007, 10:32 AM

Sobering pictures!

Blake · #3 12-03-2007, 10:33 AM

This is the discussion thread for the CNG Explosion Thread

I didn't want to chew up bandwidth so lets take the discussion here

Mods note: I'm glad you are sensitive to our dialup users, but don't think the bandwidth is that bad...maybe in the future slightly resize the pictures and/or crop out some of the background. You're doing fine.

BailOut · #4 12-03-2007, 10:35 AM

Whoa... little car go BOOM.

I did quite a bit of demo in the military and I can tell you that this is a decent-sized bang.

I've never seen carbon fiber de-laminated before. Weird.

laurieaw · #5 12-03-2007, 10:36 AM

holy crap. how does that compare to what would have happened if were gasoline?

Blake · #6 12-03-2007, 10:37 AM

No... nothing like that. I have NEVER seen a gasoline tank explode... infact its pretty much impossible except in freak occurances for a gas tank to explode like that. For an explosion like that to occur it has to be a sealed vessel so the pressure will build up.

brick · #7 12-03-2007, 10:50 AM

First, let's keep in mind that the car was set ablaze by an arsonist. That doesn't mean that a CNG car is going to be my first choice, but we also have to step back and remember that the car didn't just up and do this on its own. Otherwise we become just like the hybridophobes who think I can't drive in the rain for fear of electrocution.

Second, when can I get me one of them EVs with the big Nanosafe battery?

Right Lane Cruiser · #8 12-03-2007, 11:01 AM

While true, in the remote possibility that an accident causes a gas fire to spread to a NG car... could this happen? Or was the car doused in a flammable liquid so the temperature got hotter than it ever would have in the posited situation?

Blake · #9 12-03-2007, 11:06 AM

Think about it this way. Two car wreck... One car is CNG powered, the other is gas powered. The Gas car catches fire (happens more often than you would probably believe) The radiant heat and gas spilling from the gas fire sets the CNG car on fire... It doesn't take much direct flame impingement on a pressurized vessel to cause it to fail... and when it does, the result is what you see.

These incidents are not to common right now because of the number of CNG/Propane/Hydrogen powered cars on the road, but I assure you if the number of these cars sold goes up, you WILL start seeing these reports on the news.

This incident was caused by an arsonist pouring gasoline on the cars. While it does remove the chance factor of such a wreck occuring (in this incident) It does dramatically display what would happen if such a wreck were to occur.

If you've never seen a car fire start or burn.. I'd highly suggest you goto youtube and look up car fire. It goes from smoldering to fully involved in seconds.

Right Lane Cruiser · #10 12-03-2007, 11:10 AM

That answers my question and confirms my fear. Thank you, Blake!

I certainly hope no one ever has to experience this first hand.

At least in the typical (non arsonist induced) fire, there would likely be a LITTLE time to clear the area. Either way I really don't want to be using tech that can actually do what Hollywood shows too often in action flicks.

Thanks for sharing, Blake!! It is important to be aware not only of the risks but the magnitude of the consequences.