Using water-filled tubes in a metal tank or enclosure, they create power by converting water into steam through thermal energy, which is used to power equipment. Better quality safety standards and information allow the National Board to better serve the industry and the public. Whole houses can be leveled. JSTOR (September 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) This article contains a list of steam boiler explosions such as railway locomotive , marine transport (military and civilian), and stationary power. A boiler explosion is a catastrophic failure of a boiler. It is highly successful and later becomes the modern TV. | Soomaali A steam explosion can occur in any kind of a water heater, where a sufficient amount of energy is delivered and the steam created exceeds the strength of the vessel. The number of explosions in this decade was 411, the fatalities were 639 together with 782 injured. A boiler explosion is a catastrophic failure of a boiler. R. S. . Boiler explosions are destructive failures of steam boilers. 59% Non-critical 35% Critical 3% No Leak Found But we had: 7 Dissolving Tank Explosions 4 Smelt Water Furnace Explosions Boiler Location Next, let's have a look at where did the incidents. One type is a failure of the pressure parts of the steam and water sides. The steam is under immense pressure that requires precise operating methods to prevent boiler explosion. T +9120 - 66308333/ 66308340, Mobile no : +91 97654 92017 Specification of Rupture Disk Burst Pressure, Steam Traps Affect Boiler Plant Efficiency, Steps to Safety: Guide for Restarting Boilers After Summer Lay-Up, Stress Corrosion Cracking of Steel in Liquefied Ammonia Service - A Recapitulation, System Design, Specifications, Operation, and Inspection of Deaerators, Temperature And Pressure Relief Valves Often Overlooked, Temperature Considerations for Pressure Relief Valve Application, The Authorized Inspector's Responsibility for Dimensional Inspection, The Effects of Erosion-Corrosion on Power Plant Piping. -St Mary's Hospital, Pennington Avenue, Passaic, New Jersey: Cleaver Brooks boiler Explosion 7/15/2006. The first is the breakage of the boiler barrel itself, through weakness/damage or excessive internal pressure, resulting in sudden discharge of steam over a wide area. " When the [discharge] valve was suddenly opened at a pressure of 235 pounds [235psi or 1,620kPa] the boiler gave way, the iron being twisted and torn into fragments and thrown in all directions. -Givaudan Corporation, Delawanna Avenue, Clifton, New Jersey: Portable Fire Tube Boiler Explosion (1990s). In a fraction of a second, as hot water flashes to steam, everything turns to darkness and destruction. Steamboat and railway boiler explosions were not uncommon in the 19th and early 20th Centuries. On the 24th ult. SS Ada Hancock, a small steamboat used to transfer passengers and cargo to and from the large coastal steamships that stopped in San Pedro Harbor in the early 1860s, suffered disaster when its boiler exploded violently in San Pedro Bay, the port of Los Angeles, near Wilmington, California on April 27, 1863 killing twenty-six people and injuring many others of the fifty-three or more passengers on board. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. 10/15/2021. So the general public only hears about the occasional explosive disaster associated with a pressure-vessel failure. In all applications, maintaining the proper water level is essential for safe operation. 289 perature of more than 205O Fahrenheit." Under these circum- stances, the boiler-plate, softened by heat and forced downwards by pressure, must inevitably collapse, unless instantaneous protec- tion from the intensity of the fire be afforded. Standard physics laws of temperature and pressure are used to measure the explosive potential of boilers and pressure vessels. 2 or No.5, Midland Railway 363 (ex Bristol and Gloucester Railway 7. Instead, the length of wood indicates the area of the leak or, preferably, the clear path around the leak and the personnel can be shown a path to safety. ", For a short status of European steam users' associations and boiler insurance companies c. 1897, see, This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 01:53. "[6], Boiler explosions are common in sinking ships once the hot boiler touches cold sea water, as the sudden cooling of the hot metal causes it to crack; for instance, when the SSBenlomond was torpedoed by a U-boat, the torpedoes and resulting boiler explosion caused the ship to go down in two minutes, leaving Poon Lim as the only survivor in a complement of 54 crew.[7][8]. The water used in boilers was not often closely controlled, and if acidic, could corrode the wrought iron boiler plates. - Misfiring - Overheating of boiler due to loss of water circulation Yet another approach to examine the potential explosive force is the flashpoint conversion factor for water to steam. BOILER ACCESSORIES, THERMIC FLUID HEATERS & SPECIALTY FABRICATION. The state and the steam boiler in Britain, Winship, I.R. The crown sheet design included several alternating rows of button-head safety stays, which limited the failure of the crown sheet to the first five or six rows of conventional stays, preventing a collapse of the entire crown sheet. One of them is the failure of pressure parts of the steam and waterside. On one hand, they rarely are inspected for proper mechanical performance and structural integrity. Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is Copyright 2009-2022, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. [20] This can occur when crossing the summit of the hill, as the water flows to the front part of the boiler and can expose the firebox crown sheet. Fireboxes were generally made of copper, though later locomotives had steel fireboxes. View photos and incident reports belowthat detail boiler and air tank explosions from across the country: Loy-Lange Box Company catastrophic pressure vessel failure, Download a National Board Incident Report Form, Espaol One type is a failure of the pressure parts of the steam and water sides. Rakhoh Industries Pvt Ltd. Number of explosion incidents, by container type U.S. 2019 Number of explosive attacks, by area in 2013 Share of people who agree the world has become more dangerous by country 2018 As a result, the temperature in the tank will rise. There are two types of boiler explosions. There are four major categories of catastrophic failure which exists in the boiler itself. All of this is due to the power unleashed in a shock wave of energy as the pressure vessel explodes. Provided for the inspection of steam boilers in and around, The first boiler insurance company in the U.S. is established in. The last three of the latter batch were soon rebuilt as 0-4-2ST crane tanks. The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway(L&YR)class8 was a four-cylinder 4-6-0 express passenger locomotive designed by George Hughes introduced in 1908. Book: Great Britain. One type is a failure of the pressure parts of the steam and water sides. 0-7153-8305-1 . Once the lower explosive limit (LEL) is reached, any source of ignition will cause an explosion of the vapors. The NBIC, ASME, and others attempt to ensure safe boiler designs by publishing detailed standards. Washington, D.C., firefighters at the McCrory five-and-dime on Seventh Street N.W., after a lunchtime boiler explosion in the store's basement -- a disaster whose final toll was six dead and dozens injured. Great Western Railway accidents include several notable incidents that influenced rail safety in the United Kingdom. The L&YR Class 21 is a class of small 0-4-0ST steam locomotive built by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway for shunting duties. +9120 - 66308333 The second type is the collapse of the firebox under steam pressure from the adjoining boiler, releasing flames and hot gases into the cab. Here the resulting vapor explosion occurs when a liquid transforms quickly into a gas, causing a rapid pressure increase. box manufacturer ultimately resulted in three deaths in April, 2017. Normally, there are two types of boiler explosions: a furnace's fuel or air explosion and the failure of the pressure of the steam and watersides. The incident occurred at a noodles factory in Bela industrial area of Muzaffarpur, said Jayant Kant, senior superintendent of police. -Staten Island Ferry, Westfield II, FT boiler explosion: July 30, 1871. This hole is sealed with a metal of low melting point that flows away if a pre-determined, high temperature is reached. Introduced in 1863 by Ramsbottom, 26 were built in 18631865, 10 in 1870, 10 in 1872, and 10 in 1892. A less common reason is breakage of large numbers of stays, due to corrosion or unsuitable material. Steam Boiler Safety: Reckless management is the main cause of accidents. The air (which contains oxygen) collects in a layer near the surface of the water and greatly accelerates corrosion of the boiler plates in that area. The vessel is also impacted by damaged safety valves or water hammer. In Manchester, the "Association for the Prevention of Steam Boiler Explosions, and for effecting Economy in the Raising and Use of Steam" is formed and, eschewing direct regulation, advocates creation of trained inspectors. Three Employees Incur Burns And Concussion From Steam Releas. The Colliery Engineers Company (1900) Locomotive Boilers (I.C.S. Boiler barrels could explode if the internal pressure became too high. -Givaudan Corporation, Delawanna Avenue, Clifton, New Jersey: Portable Fire Tube Boiler Explosion (1990s). Such a dose of explosive power propagates the shock wave that inevitably does most of the damage to property and humans. There are two types of boiler explosions. -Givaudan Corporation, Delawanna Avenue, Clifton, New Jersey: Portable Fire Tube Boiler Explosion (1990s) -Ford's River Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan, Gas Boiler explosion, 6 killed 2/1/1999. There ha. In addition, they believed that much of the energy was in the steam. Under pressure the boiler strained to reach, as nearly as possible, the circular cross-section. Between 1880 and 1890 there were over 2000 boiler explosions in the United States. Monthly Boiler Room Checklist. There can be many different causes, such as failure of the safety valve, corrosion of critical parts of the boiler, or low water level. They survived into LMS ownership in 1923 and the last one was withdrawn in 1933. -Ford's River Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan, Gas Boiler explosion, 6 killed 2/1/1999. -1840 Henry R. Worthington invented boiler feed pump.. -1887 Robert Henry Thurston's book Steam Boiler Explosions in Theory, and in Practice is published, Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 10, Number 1456, 24 November 1855 p.2, col.5, Huddersfield Chronicle, 17 Dec 1873, p4, printed in Huddersfield, England, Lincolnshire Echo, 24 Aug 1907, p4, col3, printed in Lincoln, England, Directors minutes of North Lonsdale Ironworls Co, BDB47 box 16 at CRO, Barrow, Last edited on 23 February 2023, at 01:53, Learn how and when to remove this template message, New York Telephone Company building explosion, The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company, Gesellschaft zur berwachung und Versicherung von Dampfkesseln, "Explosion of a Steam Packet Boiler at Hull", "Abstract of the evidence at the inquest relating to the explosion of the boiler of the "Union" steam packet at Hull", "On the Explosion of One of the Boilers of the Union Steam Packet, at Hull. These boiler explosions were not unusual in the early days of steam power when serious accidents occurred on steamships, on locomotives and in factories. The stationary steam engines used to power machinery first came to prominence during the industrial revolution, and in the early days there were many boiler explosions from a variety of causes. In addition to the previously mentioned items, you can help improve boiler room safety by conducting the following monthly tests and checks: Inspect the air flow interlocks and fan. Corrosion along the edges of lap joints was a common cause of early boiler explosions. -Givaudan Corporation, Delawanna Avenue, Clifton, New Jersey: Portable Fire Tube Boiler Explosion (1990s) -Ford's River Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan, Gas Boiler explosion, 6 killed 2/1/1999. 0112300. -- a little over a week ago, a boiler explosion occurred at Lee . Inspect the temperature interlock or high steam pressure. Also improving safety is the increasing use of "package boilers." KMOV. A boiler is a tanker's heart, because it generates the power and the steam needed . The incident occurred when a pressure vessel catastrophically failed, fatally injuring one employee at the company. Boiler explosion! Consequently, it leads to a substantial force that causes hazardous boiler explosions. They decide not to follow the. Several written sources provide a concise description of the causes of boiler explosions: "The principal causes of explosions, in fact the only causes, are deficiency of strength in the shell or other parts of the boilers, over-pressure and over-heating. This type of failure is not limited to railway engines, as locomotive-type boilers have been used for traction engines, portable engines, skid engines used for mining or logging, stationary engines for sawmills and factories, for heating, and as package boilers providing steam for other processes. 1. However, its locomotive inheritance was much greater than just the 'A4 Class', it also produced highly successful mixed-traffic and freight designs. Of the 13 firebox collapses, four were due to broken stays, one to scale buildup on the firebox, and the rest were due to low water level. The NBR 224 and 420 Classes consisted of six steam locomotives of the 4-4-0 wheel arrangement built by the North British Railway (NBR) in 1871 and 1873. The usual cause of firebox collapses is that the boiler water level falls too low and the top of the firebox (crown sheet) becomes uncovered and overheats. Often referred to as "necking", this type of corrosion can reduce the strength of the staybolts until they are incapable of supporting the firebox at normal pressure. Early examples were spring-loaded, but John Ramsbottom invented a tamper-proof valve which was universally adopted. Boiler plates have been thrown up to a quarter of a mile (Hewison, Rolt). Boiler explosion pictures Salem, Massachusetts - November 2007 In the early morning of Nov. 6, 2007, a boiler explosion at the Salem Harbor generating station of Dominion Energy New England in Salem, Massachusetts resulted in the deaths of three employees. ASME formed, largely in response to calls for improvements in boiler safety, Required notice of a boiler explosion to be sent to the Board of Trade within 24 hours of occurrence and established inquiry authorizations, The "Code for the Conduct of Trials of Steam Boilers", the first U.S. code for conducting boiler tests, is issued, Extended 1882 requirements to marine vessels, The ASME Boiler Code Committee issues "Standards for Specifications and Construction of Boilers and Other Containing Vessels in Which High Pressure is Contained", The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors, "Promote greater safety to life and property through uniformity in the construction, installation, repair, maintenance, and inspection of pressure equipment. [16][19] Even a well-maintained firebox will fail explosively if the water level in the boiler is allowed to fall far enough to leave the top plate of the firebox uncovered. The initial use of the fusible plug was as a safety precaution against low water levels in steam engine boilers, but later applications extended its use to other closed vessels, such as air conditioning systems and tanks for transporting corrosive or liquefied petroleum gasses. Other common causes of boiler explosions include: Faulty pressure relief valves Low water levels Boilerplate corrosion Boiler Explosions can be Catastrophic When a boiler explodes, this can result in devastating consequences for property and any person in the vicinity of the incident. Boiler explosions are of a particular danger in (locomotive-type) fire tube boilers because the top of the firebox (crown sheet) must be covered with some amount of water at all times; or the heat of the fire can weaken the crown sheet or crown stays to the point of failure, even at normal working pressure. One of the failures that showed the need for boiler laws was a boiler explosion that completely leveled the . The Pennsylvania was a side wheeler steamboat which suffered a boiler explosion in the Mississippi River and sank at Ship Island near Memphis, Tennessee, on June 13, 1858. The cause was traced to a poorly executed repair to the shell of one boiler; the patch failed, and debris from that boiler ruptured two more. One official Records report mentions the disaster reports 10 killed and 68 injured;[22] a later report mentions that 27 were killed and 78 wounded. Firebox explosions in solid-fuel-fired boilers are rare, but firebox explosions in gas or oil-fired boilers are still a potential hazard. Several operational situations can bring on the violent, deafening blasts that result when a buildup of pressure is suddenly released. Boiler Explosion of C&O T-1 #3020 on May 1948 Joe Dockrill shared Heritage Railway Magazine 's photo to the group: Railroad Engineering and Equipment Photos. THE GREAT LOCOMOTIVE EXPLOSION: A SOCIO-HISTORICAL EXAMINATION OF A TRAGEDY BY FARRELL L. TUCKER INTRODUCTION The following is an examination of the circumstances surrounding the great locomotive boiler explosion that occurred at the Southern Pacific Roundhouse in San Antonio, Texas. [23] Fox's Regimental Losses reports 29 killed. -Ford's River Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan, Gas Boiler explosion, 6 killed 2/1/1999. Answer (1 of 4): Since the earliest days of steam propulsion, when boiler design wasn't very far advanced, there were instances of boiler explosions in ships. After extensive research on boiler explosion accidents and causes behind boiler blasts,we collected few steam boiler safety precautions & tips for boiler maintenance staff. The result is devastating damage to anything in the vicinity. The Glasgow and South Western Railway (GSWR) 45 class is a class of eleven 2-2-2 steam locomotives designed in 1865, an enlarged version of his 40 class intended for express passenger duties. Operating personnel neglecting the proper guidelines and regular maintenance cause the risk of boiler explosion. Explosion depends on how the vessel fails, when it fails, and how close people or properties are when the rupture occurs. The primary reason for them is a faulty pressure relief valve. These conditions disrupt the temperature/pressure balance, causing the fluid (steam) system to seek out a new equilibrium. The Glasgow and South Western Railway (GSWR) 58 class is a class of six 0-6-0 steam locomotives designed in 1862. -St Mary's Hospital, Pennington Avenue, Passaic, New Jersey: Cleaver Brooks boiler Explosion 7/15/2006. Maharashtra, India. If neglected, corrosion and scaling cause weakening of boiler metal and the welds that seal the tank. Early on, pressure boiler failures were prevented largely by thickening the walls and tubes of a boiler. So in the case of a large locomotive which can hold as much as 10,000kg (22,000lb) of water at a high pressure and temperature state, this explosion would have a theoretical energy release equal to about 1,160 kilograms (2,560lb) of TNT. We manufacture a range of world-class quality products such as steam boilers, waste heat recovery boilers, thermic fluid heaters, and boiler accessories. | Chinese/, Payment FAQs, program report, tax return information, Electricians, electrical installers and elevator constructors, Residential contractors, remodelers, roofers. -Dana Corporation, Paris Tennessee, 400 Hp fire-tube boiler explosion 6/19/2007. -1840 Henry R. Worthington invented boiler feed pump.. -1887 Robert Henry Thurston's book Steam Boiler Explosions in Theory, and in Practice is published. The Trend of Boiler/Pressure Vessel Incidents: On the Decline? Confederate Army Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union Army Gen. Ulysses S. Grant on April 9 at Appomattox, Va., ending the Civil War. Steamboat boilers The steamboat Sultana was destroyed in an explosion on 27 April, 1865, resulting in the greatest maritime disaster in United States history. Boiler Explosions" (For Years 1875-1876), Letter To The Secretary Of The Treasury, On The History and Causes of Steamboat Explosions And The Means Of Prevention, Steam-Boiler Explosions In Theory And In Practice, Chapter: The Statistics of Explosions, Safety-Valves: Their History, Antecedents, Invention and Calculation, On the Explosion of One of the Boilers of the Union Steam Packet, at Hull. In response to a brewery explosion, a private society is founded to offer boiler inspections to its members. No. Secondary Low-Water Fuel Cutoff Probe: Is It as Safe as You Think? -SS Helen McGregor, Boiler Explosion, Memphis, TN, February 1830. The presence of oxygen in feedwater or hot water leads to scale formation and corrosion in steam boilers. While deterioration and mishandling are probably the most common causes of boiler explosions, the actual mechanism of a catastrophic boiler failure was not well documented until extensive experimentation was undertaken by U.S. boiler inspectors in the early 20th century. However in the 20th century such explosions have been few and far between on the steam side which is what I believe the OP means? In this case, when the hot-water heater is connected to the city water supply on one side and the building hot-water service on the other, the check valve will shut off and no back pressure will go into the city side. While investing in steam boilers, plant managers ensure that the boiler promises efficiency, reliability, optimal combustion, and steam quality. Melt down This is a result of the heating surface metal reaching its melting point. Boston Stamping Company, under Seavey & Co. Hemingway Paint & Colour Manufacturers boiler explosion, IMechE formed, emphasizing the importance of specialized mechanical knowledge, particularly with respect to steam power (i.e., see also. The SL-1 nuclear reactor accident is an example of a superheated burst of steam. As with that class, the Midland had turned to American locomotive builders, as their own Derby Works had reached capacity, and was unable to produce additional engines at the time, and many British locomotive builders were recovering from an 1897-1898 labor dispute over working hours. The potential energy of the escaping steam and water are now transformed into work, just as they would have done in an engine; with enough force to peel back the material around the break, severely distorting the shape of the plate which was formerly held in place by stays, or self-supported by its original cylindrical shape. This article contains a list of steam boiler explosions such as railway locomotive, marine transport , and stationary power. It was the train crew that was almost always killed. In this case, when the hot-water heater is connected to the city water supply on one . Everyone stops moving immediately. Regular visual inspection, internally and externally, is employed to prevent this. Two people were in critical condition, and two others suffered non . It results in boiler explosion along with leakage of gases throughout the process plant. Galvanic corrosion was an additional problem where copper and iron were in contact. Boiler explosion is one such dangerous accident which is caused because of the following reasons: - Fuel dripping inside the furnace of the boiler. The SS Sultana in Helena, Arkansas, April 26, 1865 a day before her destruction by a boiler explosion. "[3], "Cause.-Boiler explosions are always due to the fact that some part of the boiler is, for some reason, too weak to withstand the pressure to which it is subjected. In Manchester, the "Association for the Prevention of Steam Boiler Explosions, and for effecting Economy in the Raising and Use of Steam" is formed and, eschewing direct regulation, advocates creation of trained inspectors. -SS Helen McGregor, Boiler Explosion, Memphis, TN, February 1830. S-11, T Block, M.I.D.C.,Bhosari, PUNE - 411 026. Often, part of the vessel breaks away because the liquid is vaporizing to gas so rapidly. This article contains a list of steam boiler explosions such as railway locomotive, marine transport (military and civilian), and stationary power. Catastrophes occurred almost daily as thousands died. To prevent this, safety valves were installed to release the pressure at a set level. Flight Propulsion Laboratory Department, General Electric Company, Idaho Falls, Idaho", "Small model boiler explosion video Home Model Engine Machinist", "The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. Required fields are marked *. Although the boiler explosion rate is rare compared to boiler installations annually worldwide, it does not entirely eliminate the possibility of boiler explosion. There are two types of boiler explosions. Furniture, even several rooms from the point of the explosion, will become airborne. The rapidly expanding steam bubbles can also perform work by throwing large "slugs" of water inside the boiler in the direction of the opening, and at astonishing velocities. 4x5 inch glass negative. Before materials science, inspection standards, and quality control caught up with the rapidly growing boiler manufacturing industry, a significant number of boiler explosions were directly traceable to poor design, workmanship, and undetected flaws in poor quality materials. Several different attempts were made to cause a boiler to explode by various means, but one of the most interesting experiments demonstrated that in certain circumstances, if a sudden opening in the boiler allowed steam to escape too rapidly, water hammer could cause destruction of the entire pressure vessel: "A cylindrical boiler was tested and withstood a steam pressure of 300 pounds (300 psi or 2,068 kPa) without injury." At the time of the explosion, there were an estimated 150 employees on site; nearly one-third of them suffered from the explosion. Water heaters can explode with surprising violence when their safety devices fail. There are many causes for boiler explosions such as poor water treatment causing scaling and over heating of the plates, low water level, a stuck safety valve, or even a furnace explosion that in turn, if severe enough, can cause a boiler explosion. People in the same building or on a nearby sidewalk or parking lot can be injured or killed. Someone at a safe peripheral location at the incident scene cautiously holds up a broom handle or 2- by 4-inch board and waves it across the breach where the invisible but searing steam might be. 140985.01. The majority of locomotive explosions are firebox explosions caused by such crown sheet uncovering.[21]. More importantly, these acts and this new empowerment of the federal government set the precedent for its future role in consumer protection through the regulation ofprivate enterprise, paving the wayforfederal agencies like the Food and Drug Administration . -Dana Corporation, Paris Tennessee, 400 Hp fire-tube boiler explosion 6/19/2007. Precautions INFOGRAPHICS is embedded in the post to use as safety Manual. They are liable to fail through fatigue (because the inner and outer walls expand at different rates under the heat of the fire), from corrosion, or from wasting as the heads of the stays exposed to the fire are burned away. However, in the SL1 example the pressure was released by the forced ejection of control rods which allowed the steam to be vented. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) was founded in 1880 in response to boiler explosions that became common with the use of steam power. Further improvements continued in the 20th century. Firefighters and other well-trained emergency personnel follow important protocols for identifying flows of superheated material. A vessel without power is known as a dead ship. The second kind is a fuel/air explosion in the furnace, which would more properly be termed a firebox explosion. WHY BOILER EXPLOSIONS CAUSE INJURY AND DEATH Atmospheric Pressure of 15 PSI. The Hull Paragon Rail accident was a rail crash that took place at Hull Paragon railway station. An excess of steam was often cited. Amazingly, the ship managed to drop its anchor and safely stop. The massive destruction caused is an example of what. Steam boilers are an integral asset in any manufacturing and processing unit. Break or open this boiler to the atmosphere, x 1,800 = 360,000 instant PSI 100 lbs Boiler Pressure = 180,000 lbs. -Givaudan Corporation, Delawanna Avenue, Clifton, New Jersey: Portable Fire Tube Boiler Explosion (1990s). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Preventing a Boiler Explosion. A catastrophic explosion of a high-pressure vessel at a St. Louis, Mo. Hewison (1983)[10] gives a comprehensive account of British boiler explosions, listing 137 between 1815 and 1962. BROWSE & SEARCH | BUY THIS PHOTO | BUY DIGITAL IMAGE Log in or register Original Run on the Bank? The number one way to prevent a boiler explosion is to ensure that the boiler is regularly inspected and maintained by trained individuals. -Ford's River Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan, Gas Boiler explosion, 6 killed 2/1/1999.