I work at a college with Fire and EMT training. the guy in charge of those programs has been in the business a long time and seen all kinds of hairy stuff. I often quiz him on safety and especially vanagon propane system safety questions. I had told him tales of the Vanagons on fire and the propane tank venting, so he was interested to see that video as well. He said, "yep, it was doing what is was supposed to do." He also told me once there is an alternative definition of the acronym BLEVE used in his business: Big Loud Explosion Very Exciting. Another interesting thing about the pressure relief valve on gas tanks he has told me. If they encounter a tank on fire and venting, they do not want to put out the fire that is the venting gas burning. They want to cool the tank so that it stops venting. If they put out all the fire while the tank is still venting they have a bigger problem with all the gas building up. I was kind of impressed in that video that with all that fire and propane venting under the van that the gasoline tank held up. Surely the hoses going into and out of the tank would have burned off? Edward |
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