Check out Georgetown in Washington DC, the exploding manhole capital of the world. They have a lot of experience with exploding manholes, from many different causes. The most recent incident was in the last couple of days. There is a lot of energy in being pumped into utility lines. A short circuit can release that energy into the underground vaults, and blow the manhole cover a considerable distance. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33073-2003Feb19.html The Washington Post also has a special report covering exploding manholes http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/metro/specials/manholes/ On Thu, 20 Feb 2003, Allen Hamner wrote:
I am a chemist who consults with the mayor of Bluefield WV where an incident two weeks ago (a cold day) blew a 70 pound iron cover 10 feet from an conduit tunnel containing several public untility lines. We believe we can exclude a natural gas leak. Rumor has it that hydrogen is involved, which may arise by electrolysis (?) or pyrolysis of insulation (?). A previous incident had done no damage but this explosion destroyed a nearby plate-glass window.
There is no coal in the area so mine gas seepage is excluded. Sewer gas is tentatively not an issue. The source of the spark is unknown.
I would like to participate in the exchange on this topic.
Allen Hamner (Ph.D.) hamner_a@wvwc.edu
The interesting thing is that this happens every few weeks (at least - sometimes multiple times per week), and generally they don't know why. Not in Adams Morgan. Not in Foggy Bottom. Not even in Georgetown Heights. Only in Georgetown, Its become a local joke. Regards Marshall Eubanks On Thursday, February 20, 2003, at 05:43 PM, Sean Donelan wrote:
Check out Georgetown in Washington DC, the exploding manhole capital of the world. They have a lot of experience with exploding manholes, from many different causes. The most recent incident was in the last couple of days. There is a lot of energy in being pumped into utility lines. A short circuit can release that energy into the underground vaults, and blow the manhole cover a considerable distance.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33073-2003Feb19.html
The Washington Post also has a special report covering exploding manholes
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/metro/specials/manholes/
On Thu, 20 Feb 2003, Allen Hamner wrote:
I am a chemist who consults with the mayor of Bluefield WV where an incident two weeks ago (a cold day) blew a 70 pound iron cover 10 feet from an conduit tunnel containing several public untility lines. We believe we can exclude a natural gas leak. Rumor has it that hydrogen is involved, which may arise by electrolysis (?) or pyrolysis of insulation (?). A previous incident had done no damage but this explosion destroyed a nearby plate-glass window.
There is no coal in the area so mine gas seepage is excluded. Sewer gas is tentatively not an issue. The source of the spark is unknown.
I would like to participate in the exchange on this topic.
Allen Hamner (Ph.D.) hamner_a@wvwc.edu
T.M. Eubanks Multicast Technologies, Inc. 10301 Democracy Lane, Suite 410 Fairfax, Virginia 22030 Phone : 703-293-9624 Fax : 703-293-9609 e-mail : tme@multicasttech.com http://www.multicasttech.com Test your network for multicast : http://www.multicasttech.com/mt/ Status of Multicast on the Web : http://www.multicasttech.com/status/index.html
On Fri, 21 Feb 2003, Marshall Eubanks wrote:
The interesting thing is that this happens every few weeks (at least - sometimes multiple times per week), and generally they don't know why.
Not in Adams Morgan. Not in Foggy Bottom. Not even in Georgetown Heights. Only in Georgetown, Its become a local joke.
Well of course we know why, its the St. Elmo's Fire ;). allan -- Allan Liska allan@allan.org http://www.allan.org
At a University I "consult" for, this is a common problem, their 34.5kv lines, which incidentally travel the same hole as their fiber optics, blow open about once a month, due to failing old power lines. Get used to it, and make money off of it, is all I can say.... At 20:59 2/21/03 -0500, you wrote:
On Fri, 21 Feb 2003, Marshall Eubanks wrote:
The interesting thing is that this happens every few weeks (at least - sometimes multiple times per week), and generally they don't know why.
Not in Adams Morgan. Not in Foggy Bottom. Not even in Georgetown Heights. Only in Georgetown, Its become a local joke.
Well of course we know why, its the St. Elmo's Fire ;).
allan -- Allan Liska allan@allan.org http://www.allan.org
participants (4)
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Allan Liska -
blitz -
Marshall Eubanks -
Sean Donelan