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Disasters - Names | ||
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| Date: | 19th September 1855 |
| Colliery: | Kibblesworth |
| Cause: | Boiler explosion |
| Lives Lost: | 1 |
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| Description | |
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Extracts From Coroners' Inquests After Sundry Boiler Explosions.
1. — Boiler Explosion at Kibblesworth Colliery, County of Durham.
An explosion occurred at this colliery on the 19th September 1855, by which a poor man was killed, and the circumstances under which it happened seemed to afford a good opportunity of scrutinizing the causes which had preceded this calamity.
The establishment consisted of five cylindrical boilers, each thirty feet by six feet, loaded on the safety valve, as they expected, at 35lbs. per inch.
The boilers were all intercommon in regard to the steam and feed pipes, having the necessary stop-valves also well fitted up with float apparatus and safety-valves, and managed by steady men. The explosion happened too, at eight o'clock, a.m. The night and day man had changed at six o'clock, and reported that all was in the most satisfactory state at that time. After a long and patient investigation before Mr. Hudson, the Deputy Coroner, a verdict was brought in of accidental death, and in order to put people on their guard against such an oversight as was supposed to have brought about this mishap, I published pretty extensively the following exposition, in order to put persons upon their guard.
"To the Editor of the Newcastle Journal.
Sir, — By this explosion an unfortunate young man lost his life, for the boiler was rent into three pieces and driven 150 yards from the place. It very seldom happens that a clear elucidation of the immediate cause of these explosions is arrived at, but in this case it was discovered that the feed valves belonging to two of the boilers had been open at the same time, and as proof was given that two hours previous to the explosion all the five boilers were in a perfect working state, no ordinary boiling could have diminished the water to such a dangerous extent. There was, therefore, no room to doubt that, in consequence of the two valves being open, the water in the boiler which exploded had been primed or driven into the neighbouring boiler, and in consequence the former had become heated tip to redness, whilst it was also obvious that the engineer was at the time in the act of turning on water, which is a very common and natural course to take. I have, therefore, deduced from these examinations some instructions which I will endeavour to make public, as to the course which ought to be taken when a boiler is discovered to be in a dangerous state for want of water :—
1st. — Not to attempt to pull out the fire, because, whilst that is doing, the heat will be more intense, but to set open the fire door, and deaden the fire with green coals, if damp so much the better.
2d. — To close the pipe communications with the other boiler; but leave the damper open.
3d. — To set open the discharge steam valves; and not to introduce any water until all is cooled down.
If the proprietors of collieries and manufactories would cause these simple rules to be circulated amongst their operatives, it would tend to warn them what to do in so critical a moment, instead of being left to the natural but dangerous expedient of introducing water."
Since publishing the above remarks, I have reason to believe that the opening of the steam-valve, under such a dangerous state of things, would not be the most prudent course, because the sudden rush of the steam might have a tendency to raise the water of the boiler up against the heated plate, and also to convey to the steam itself (perhaps liquified by extreme heat) so violent a motion, as to produce explosion. I therefore conclude, that beyond insulating the boiler and cooling it down, the less violent change made the better.
See also: A1855-55
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