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Portable Therapeutic Oxygen System Fire and Injury

The gas flow from a portable therapeutic oxygen system suddenly ceased, and an acrid odor was noticed by the patient. APTECH was retained by the product manufacturer to determine the cause of the failure. The components of the system, including a valve, regulator and pressurized oxygen cylinder, were dismantled, examined, and photographed. Carbon steel and brass surfaces showed evidence of exposure to high-temperature, corrosive gases. Also, several rubber seals were missing or damaged. These findings led to the conclusion that a brief, but intense, fire had occurred inside the valve, involving the rubber seal (the fuel) and the pure, high pressure oxygen. Possible sources of the ignition energy included a spark (frictional or static electrical) or adiabatic compression. The patient suffered temporary respiratory problems due to inhaling the gases from the fire.

Satish Almaula		Plant failure and root cause analysis; process and design engineering analysis; process technology development and testing; plant engineering, operations, maintenance and safety management; plant and process control system management.

Richard Schreiber, P.E.		Machinery and mechanical device failure analysis, mechanical testing, combustion and heat transfer, industrial fires and explosions, gas appliances.

Eric Sullivan, P.E.		Metallurgy, welding, failure analysis, fire and explosion investigations, equipment, piping.

Kimble Clark, Ph.D.		Failure analysis, heat transfer & thermodynamics, process plant equipment failures & explosions, fuel science, combustion, industrial fires and explosions.