Oxygen And Propane Explode When Mixed

A small business owner had been using an oxy-acetylene cutting torch. In an effort to save money on rental charges for the oxygen cylinder, he was attempting to transfer the remaining oxygen into a propane cylinder. The cylinder was supposedly empty, but actually contained propane. He had rigged up a hose system linking the two cylinders. As soon as he cracked the oxygen valve open and began the transfer, an explosion occurred and he was killed.

Never mix compressed gases. Never attempt to transfer compressed gas into another cylinder. The oxygen in this case would have lowered the explosive limit of the propane. The oxygen was stored at a much higher pressure than the propane cylinder was made to withstand. When oxygen is stored, it must be separated from fuels and secured.