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Maggie’s Motivational Pic Thread v2.0 - - New Rules - See Post #1

random-55.jpg
 
Wasn't inside, but remember seeing the huge temp meter on the front. -50° F

Back in 17 or 18 some guy using a torch caused and explosion causing 30 million in damage, as I recall.

I think I remember seeing that temp on the gauge about 1984, 30 mil damage, what did he do, melt down a coffee machine?
 
A contract worker using an oxy-acetylene torch caused an explosion at the McKinley Climatic Lab last July that resulted in US$30m of damage, a report by the US Air Force’s accident investigation board has found.


The incident, which occurred in the air-mixing facility next to the main laboratory on July 5, 2017, sent a plume containing methylene chloride, a potentially toxic refrigerant, into the atmosphere.

The McKinley Climatic Laboratory at the Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the largest controlled-environment facility in the world and has five testing chambers. The Laboratory’s main chamber is 252ft (77m) wide, 260ft (79m) long and 70ft (21m) high. The facility can simulate temperatures from -65 to 165˚F (-53 to 74˚C) and can reach -65˚F (-53˚C) in less than 24 hours.

The Climatic Laboratory is used to test aircraft and other equipment under realistic conditions before their use in extreme environments. Vehicles tested at McKinley include a C-5 Galaxy transport, the F-35 fighter, B-1 and B-2 bombers, and M1A1 tanks.

The report into the accident was published last week by the US Air Force Materiel Command Ground Accident Investigation Board. It reveals that sub-contractors were removing a corroded structural beam within Air Makeup Unit I in the air-mixing facility using an oxy-acetylene torch, next to coils of pipe containing methylene chloride, commonly called R-30.

The Air Makeup Units mix and condition the temperature and humidity of air before it is blown into the climate chambers. They use salt water as a dehumidifier and R-30 as a refrigerant.

Although stable at room temperature and pressure, R-30 can rupture or explode when exposed to heat. The resulting fire caused extensive damage to Air Makeup Unit I and an adjacent air handling unit. The fire was assessed to consume most of the approximately 4,000 gallons (15,000 liters) of refrigerant.