IC 8187 Compressor And Related Explosions

Air compressor explosions that are caused by the ignition of combustible vapor mixtures cannot be explained by a single reaction mechanism or sequence of events. Explosions have been caused by the sudden release of large quantities of lubricating oil, by the rapid vaporization of oil that had accumulated slowly in high-pressure piping, and by the production of decomposition products from carbonaceous deposits. Ignitions can be caused by the heat produced in a catalytic reaction, in a compression process, or when a shock wave is propagated through a combustible vapor-air mixture. The frequency of these ignitions can be minimized by establishing proper maintenance and cleaning schedules. Further study is needed to satisfactorily correlate the various factors involved in compressor explosions.