The Mysteries of Ammonia!

[Grizzly]

I was talking to a Grey haired Security Gaurd recently.
Who turned out to be a Ex City of London Fireman.
Who's eyes lit up when I said I worked with Ammonia. He went on to tell me about how back in the 60's when introducing new recruits to Ammonia.
They would place a bucket of water on the ground.
Pour some liquid Ammonia on the ground about 2 feet away.
And watch first the evapourating Ammonia gas travel to the bucket. Followed slowly by a trickle of liquid ammonia.
So say along the floor and up and into the water.
Whats think then guys fact or fiction?
May I just say on behalf of the many others out there it certainly does find your moist bits.
Grizzly

[nh3wizard]

Sounds like fiction to me, as far as the liquid ammonia Traveling into the bucket

[hendry]

have not done that.

but, my last ammonia leaking job along with local fire brigade was the most memorable one.

the leak was during holidays in early feb 2007.
as early as 0700hrs i have received call from GM of the company.
by the time my technican arrive on site, keep-off lines have been put up. few fire engines has arrived on site.

white smokes are coming from the leaking poins. it is a hi-lo stage liquid pumped system.

accessibility was poor then plus others are not familiar with the place.

however, the main valves and branch valves were isolated along with others equipment. [practically the whole area is shutdown]

you know what ...
when i went in with only full facial mask with K2 filter, i came out with my lower body feel burning hot.

good experience then ... but scary ... the smokes looks as if you are in heaven ...

[Grizzly]

have not done that.

but, my last ammonia leaking job along with local fire brigade was the most memorable one.

the leak was during holidays in early feb 2007.
as early as 0700hrs i have received call from GM of the company.
by the time my technican arrive on site, police lines have been put up. few fire engines has arrived on site with few fire chief of nearby stations around.

white smokes are coming from the leaking poins. it is a hi-lo stage liquid pumped system.

accessibility was poor then plus fireman are not familiar with the place.

however, the main valves and branch valves were isolated along with others equipment. [practically the whole area is shutdown]

you know what ...
when i went in with only full facial mask with K2 filter, i came out with my lower body feel burning hot.

good experience then ... but scary ... the smokes looks as if you are in heaven ...

Hendry
Thanks for an interesting post allbeit a little scary!
In the U.K.
It's been a very long time since it was acceptable to deal with a leak using just a resperator.
Yes we have all, whilst working on plant walked away from a small leak donned a resperator and shut the relevant valve.
But a major leak should be a chemical suit and Breathing Apperatus.
Nowadays as a contractor should a situation occur. Company Practice is for us to advise only and let the fire Brigade deal with it.
Personnaly I would be willing to don a chemical suit and assist them. I've seen what they can do when left alone to it!
Yes we have all had some INTERESTING REACTIONS from the Fire Brigade, especially the retained/ Part time guys.
I will tell more in the New Year as I don't want to hog the forum. Suffice to say there have been some amusing situations.
Got to go the festivaties are nearly upon us.
Grizzly

[Andy]

have not done that.

you know what ...
when i went in with only full facial mask with K2 filter, i came out with my lower body feel burning hot.

good experience then ... but scary ... the smokes looks as if you are in heaven ...

Hendry

you might need some cream on that

Kind Regards Andy

[hendry]

Hendry

you might need some cream on that

Kind Regards Andy

yeah .. that's what the nurse says when i went for checkup.

[Tycho]

Sounds like pure fiction

Ask him if the ammonia went into the bucket and closed the lid after itself too

---------------

Talk about burning, small cuts on your hands, sweating under the arms and in the crotch... very unpleasant


Was replacing a refrigeration pump a few years back, had drained it and taken off the flangebolts and foundation bolts, I was standing with one leg each side of the flange and tilted the pump over so the other guy could grab it... the remaining gas was aimed perfectly at my nether regions, can safely say it was a "burning sensation" after that I started attaching the vacuum pump a few minutes before taking the flanges apart

[paulbuckmaster@]

when i was doing my apprenticeship at the cold store it was all ammonia cant remember the tonnage but it was massive, and when i say cold store i mean warehouse freezer !!!
but i remember quite Afton on the old sterne compressor carbon gland seal would crack and ammonia pour out causing the whole industrial estate staff to cry finding the fire brigade spraying water into the air to absorb the ammonia ,
after a while you do get used to it i would often walk into the plant room with someone to find them bolting out the door "crying"
when taking oil out the system the ammonia would "roll" out the bucket and cause an eerie mist across the floor .oh memories

[josef]

Tycho lid, Andy cream, US Iceman plenum and tailwind.

[TXiceman]

I have had Petro Chemical customers flatly refuse to even consider Ammonia as it was too dangerous. Never mind the fact that they are process cyanide, phosgene, propane, propylene, ethane and several nasty oxide compounds.

Usually the plant safety and environmental experts get in the picture and they want every thing safe and green and have been sold a bill of goods by the local DuPont salesman pushing of all things R-134a.

If ammonia is so dangerous, sure a lot of dangerous food plants. I did get one petro chemical customer to visit a large pizza topping and meat processing plant. The plant had close to 5000 HP split between 2 engine rooms. They were clean, and no ammonia smell.

They came away impressed and finally did buy an ammonia system from me over the specificied "*****" design.

Ken

[US Iceman]

The only time I had a problem selling an ammonia system to a chemical plant was in a chlorine facility. There was no way they would touch it, so we ended up using R-22 (about 80,000 pounds).

[PaulZ]

Hi US Iceman
I think you will find the reason the chlorine facility wouldn't touch it is NH3 and Chlorine can form explosive compounds.
The same goes for silver, mercury, iodine and hypochlorites.
Paul

[US Iceman]

Hi Paul,

Yeah, I was aware of those problems. They told me they had those on site AFTER I suggested ammonia.

Oh well, it's better to find out earlier, rather than later.

[grump]

Hi Fellow HVAC/E/R My background in electrics was not without its dangers.I came into this industry in 1976 working with ammonia (Arkla Servel )also R22.Now i had to be aware that there were many hidden dangers ammonia vapour, phosgene, high pressure,moving parts,electric shock,liquid refrigerant,parking wardens.
Now i have a question, would you rather be exposed to ammonia vapour or phosgene gas?
In his contribution paulbuckmaster mentionend Sterne
Compressors where were they built? clue gods country, where many a good engineer was conceived
Grump

[Grizzly]

Phosgene gas is also known as Mustard Gas. That which was used in the First World War.
I don't know wether you can recover from a dose of it?
But I do know you can recover from A good dose of Ammonia Vapour. (B.T.A.G.TS)
OK Grump I will ask why Traffic Wardens?
Grizzly

[US Iceman]

...would you rather be exposed to ammonia vapour or phosgene gas?

Ammonia, no doubt about it. The human body can metabolize small levels of ammonia with no undue reactions.

[Tycho]

Phosgene gas is also known as Mustard Gas. That which was used in the First World War.

Grizzly

WROOOOOOOONG!!!!!

Phosgene gas IS NOT the same as mustard gas...

Phosgene is a mix of chlorine and carbon monoxide. It is colorless and odorless and it attacks the lungs, causing edemas... simply put, it drowns you in your own body fluids....

----------------

Mustard gas is synthesized by treating sulfur dichloride with ethylene.

copied from wikipedia: Mustard gas is a strong vesicant (blister-causing agent). Due to its alkylating properties, it is also strongly mutagenic (causing damage to the DNA of exposed cells) and carcinogenic (cancer causing). Those exposed usually suffer no immediate symptoms. Within 4 to 24 hours the exposure develops into deep, itching or burning blisters wherever the mustard contacted the skin; the eyes (if exposed) become sore and the eyelids swollen, possibly leading to conjunctivitis and blindness. According to the Medical Management of Chemical Casualties handbook, there have been experimental cases in humans where the patient has suffered miosis, or pinpointing of pupils, as a result of the cholinomimetic activity of mustard. At very high concentrations, if inhaled, it causes bleeding and blistering within the respiratory system, damaging the mucous membrane and causing pulmonary edema. Blister agent exposure over more than 50% body surface area is usually fatal.

--------------------------

you were correct in the fact that Phosgene was used as a weapon in WWI...

I'm sorry, but it Pssses me of to no end when people mix these two up... they are not the same, never have and never will

[Grizzly]

WROOOOOOOONG!!!!!

Phosgene gas IS NOT the same as mustard gas...

Phosgene is a mix of chlorine and carbon monoxide. It is colorless and odorless and it attacks the lungs, causing edemas... simply put, it drowns you in your own body fluids....

----------------

Mustard gas is synthesized by treating sulfur dichloride with ethylene.

copied from wikipedia: Mustard gas is a strong vesicant (blister-causing agent). Due to its alkylating properties, it is also strongly mutagenic (causing damage to the DNA of exposed cells) and carcinogenic (cancer causing). Those exposed usually suffer no immediate symptoms. Within 4 to 24 hours the exposure develops into deep, itching or burning blisters wherever the mustard contacted the skin; the eyes (if exposed) become sore and the eyelids swollen, possibly leading to conjunctivitis and blindness. According to the Medical Management of Chemical Casualties handbook, there have been experimental cases in humans where the patient has suffered miosis, or pinpointing of pupils, as a result of the cholinomimetic activity of mustard. At very high concentrations, if inhaled, it causes bleeding and blistering within the respiratory system, damaging the mucous membrane and causing pulmonary edema. Blister agent exposure over more than 50% body surface area is usually fatal.

--------------------------

you were correct in the fact that Phosgene was used as a weapon in WWI...

I'm sorry, but it Pssses me of to no end when people mix these two up... they are not the same, never have and never will

Tyco
Many thanks for the info. I will never make that statement aka mustard gas again. I did not know it wan't and nor does / did any other syinkies I know!
It just proves the worth of the forum and that you are never to old to learn!
Cheers Grizzly

[grump]

Grizziy,Why traffic wardens, I worked in London 1962/2005 parking metres were introduced 1962 costing six old pence yes the old silver sixpenny piece for one hour by 2005 it was costing four pounds for one hour,maximum stay two hours.So when on a breakdown in central London, when no return was allowed to fill the meter it was best to pay for the maximum stay ,costing eight pounds.I carried a float of one hundred pounds in one pound coins.Now if you are on the roof of a high rise building,in the height of summer in central London under pressure to get the the system back on the air,while watching the clock to make sure you did not get an eighty pound parking fine,or a clamp which cost one hundred and twenty pounds plus the eighty pound fine,or return to find the vehile had been removed to a compound.The last time this happened to me was in Hackney,I went home that night by train returned the next day by train the cost excess of three hundred pounds to get my wheels back.Now this constitutes a danger to my sanity to the gangsters who control much of the parking in London,just go to one of the compounds to see for yourself the measures these craphats go to keep themselves safe. Grump

[grump]

Hi again Grizzly,I see you have been put in your place re mustard gas,now i have experienced both ammonia and phosgene,there is no contest whatsoever phosgene stops you dead it its tracks,in the days when you let the refrigerant go, fired up the oxy-acetaline in a confined space, it was one of the fasted learning curves i ever experienced,ie one never to be repeated. Grump

[ArthurLeigh]

WROOOOOOOONG!!!!!

Phosgene gas IS NOT the same as mustard gas...

Phosgene is a mix of chlorine and carbon monoxide. It is colorless and odorless and it attacks the lungs, causing edemas... simply put, it drowns you in your own body fluids....

----------------

Mustard gas is synthesized by treating sulfur dichloride with ethylene.

copied from wikipedia: Mustard gas is a strong vesicant (blister-causing agent). Due to its alkylating properties, it is also strongly mutagenic (causing damage to the DNA of exposed cells) and carcinogenic (cancer causing). Those exposed usually suffer no immediate symptoms. Within 4 to 24 hours the exposure develops into deep, itching or burning blisters wherever the mustard contacted the skin; the eyes (if exposed) become sore and the eyelids swollen, possibly leading to conjunctivitis and blindness. According to the Medical Management of Chemical Casualties handbook, there have been experimental cases in humans where the patient has suffered miosis, or pinpointing of pupils, as a result of the cholinomimetic activity of mustard. At very high concentrations, if inhaled, it causes bleeding and blistering within the respiratory system, damaging the mucous membrane and causing pulmonary edema. Blister agent exposure over more than 50% body surface area is usually fatal.

--------------------------

you were correct in the fact that Phosgene was used as a weapon in WWI...

I'm sorry, but it Pssses me of to no end when people mix these two up... they are not the same, never have and never will

Whilst you are of course correct to say that Mustard gas and Phosgene are not the same, unfortunately, you accidently omitted the words "made from" :
Phosgene is carbonyl chloride, [COCl2] , it can be made from a mixture of chlorine [Cl2] and carbon monoxide [CO]. Mustard Gas is ββ'-Dichloroethyl Sulphide, [ (ClCH2.CH2)2S ] and as you stated, can be made from ethylene [CH2:CH2] and Sulphur dichloride [S2Cl2] .

[Tycho]

Whilst you are of course correct to say that Mustard gas and Phosgene are not the same, unfortunately, you accidently omitted the words "made from" :
Phosgene is carbonyl chloride, [COCl2] , it can be made from a mixture of chlorine [Cl2] and carbon monoxide [CO]. Mustard Gas is ββ'-Dichloroethyl Sulphide, [ (ClCH2.CH2)2S ] and as you stated, can be made from ethylene [CH2:CH2] and Sulphur dichloride [S2Cl2] .

pfffft...

[Grizzly]

nike 123.
And in in your own words, Your point is?
Grizzly

[nike123]

nike 123.
And in in your own words, Your point is?
Grizzly

Maybe I am wrong, but reading articles here on RE about amonia my impression is that lot of ammonia guys think, that is safer to work with ammonia, because they could smell it, than with fluorocarbons. I was trying to add statistic to that perspective.

Maybe, I shouldn't reply to your post, yet, I have needed only respond to this thread.

[Josip]

Hi, nike123

Maybe I am wrong, but reading articles here on RE about amonia my impression is that lot of ammonia guys think, that is safer to work with ammonia, because they could smell it, than with fluorocarbons. I was trying to add statistic to that perspective.

Maybe, I shouldn't reply to your post, yet, I have needed only respond to this thread.

Seems we all make a little mess here

No you are not wrong.....your impression is ok, but that has no meaning it is safer to work with ammonia ....NO...definitely NOT safer......it is very very dangerous ....(by smell we only have an early warning) and only trained persons should attempt to do repairs or whatever......

.....work with ammonia is more dangerous then work with fluorocarbons what does not mean they are harmless.... .......there is no safety refrigerant...

it is only a question about different attitude when approaching to problem ......with ammonia I am always at red alert.......

No I don't think its safer than *****s BUT PEOPLE ADOPT A SAFER WORKING ATTITUDE TOWARDS IT, because the dangers are more obvious.
Because of these dangers I take more precautions when working with Ammonia than I might sometimes with *****s.

seems Grizzly explain that much better

Best regards, Josip

[Grizzly]

Nike
Thanks I now understand the point you are trying to make.
I do view Ammonia as safer BUT only in the fact that The dangers of Ammonia are more obvious than *****s. There for People approach it with caution thinking about their Helth and Safety.
No I don't think its safer than *****s BUT PEOPLE ADOPT A SAFER WORKING ATTITUDE TOWARDS IT, because the dangers are more obvious.
Because of these dangers I take more precautions when working with Ammonia than I might sometimes with *****s.
Therefore because of that point I sometimes state that ***** is more dangerous because it is taken for granted more often! Not because it actually is.
Grizzly

[nike123]

Nike
Thanks I now understand the point you are trying to make.
I do view Ammonia as safer BUT only in the fact that The dangers of Ammonia are more obvious than *****s. There for People approach it with caution thinking about their Helth and Safety.
No I don't think its safer than *****s BUT PEOPLE ADOPT A SAFER WORKING ATTITUDE TOWARDS IT, because the dangers are more obvious.
Because of these dangers I take more precautions when working with Ammonia than I might sometimes with *****s.
Therefore because of that point I sometimes state that ***** is more dangerous because it is taken for granted more often! Not because it actually is.
Grizzly

I totally understand you. I am electrician, and when I work with electrical equipment or installations I always disconnect them from power source. What could be safer than electrical equipment without electricity in them.
But peoples are prone to make mistakes and some things are more deadlier than other when you make mistake, no matter of all precautions.

So, my advice is, regardless you work with ammonia or fluorocarbons, be aware of electrical current and fools!

[Grizzly]

I totally understand you. I am electrician, and when I work with electrical equipment or installations I always disconnect them from power source. What could be safer than electrical equipment without electricity in them.
But peoples are prone to make mistakes and some things are more deadlier than other when you make mistake, no matter of all precautions.

So, my advice is, regardless you work with ammonia or fluorocarbons, be aware of electrical current and fools!

Using the Viking Edict....
We all agree then care should be taken ALLWAYS!
But it dosn't hurt to remind each other occationally does it!
Grizzly

[US Iceman]

If there are any beginners out there, they should be reading this thread and the material linked in the posts....

Josip said it best. There are no safe refrigerants. And when working on any refrigerant system you should be on red alert. Things happen when they are least expected.

[Buckiesr]

I am being told several different facts by those wishing to sell me compressors for my new cascade co2/ nh3 system. screw compressors slip and are not efficient for co2 and that screws are more efficient than recipts period. I here most if not all co2 systems in the UK use recips. Nestles built a cascade system in the US, it is considered to be a flop because while it works fine it is very inefficient. I am going to CA this weekend to visit an operating warehouse there and attend their open house. Both companies swear by their systems. Who has information to support one or the other or both? I ask the recip supporter why do you install recipts? he said the molecular weight of co2 is 44, nh3 is 17, co2 is more than 10 times heavier, I thought 17X10 =170 but maybe it isn't the same as regular math more like the rector scale earthquakes are rated on, each number is way more severe not just a little stronger. The other company's refrigeration guy is from Denmark, he seemed fine with a Mycom screw. He wants to fly us to Japan to visit the manufacturing plant and the new Wal-mart facility in operation. What say you all?

[Dan]

If you are referring to the Savannah, Ga Sam's club, I toured it prior to Grand Opening. I was favorably impressed with the installation, and the performance. The R404a rack was operating at about a -19 deg F suction which is comparable to direct expansion Sam's Clubs. The energy consumption is being monitored by a disinterested third party, as are some other installations of CO2 circulating supermarkets.

I haven't seen any of the audit results, which makes me wonder if the energy usage is not as good. If Walmart has a cold storage combo with CO2 and Ammonia, it lends credibility to circulating CO2 as a brine/refrigerant.

[The MG Pony]

I would much sooner have a hydrocarbon plant or an Amonia plant next to my home then any other! The hydrocarbon will sort its self out in quick order over the ground, and in fire it will simply flare off with little left over products of burning.

As with amonia, and in a leak I will smell it long befor there is danger, or in big leak a wet rag will get me to a safe area.

But with HFCs HCFCs, there will be little escap in event of fire, it will poisen the air in such a way that no simple wet rag will get you to safety as it flairs off, a larg leak will not be knoticed with out electrical sensors befor it is too late.

The oil we use is flammible all ready thus fire risk is a weak excuse, the toxicity of the byproducts makes toxicity a poor excuse. So in the end my trust lies with HC and NH3!

[Lazarus]

The simple answer to all queiries on ammonia

from a commisioning / trouble shooting perspective

----try to align an open drive compressor with sparky jumping up and down on pack

let loose a little ammonia .... and smile while he runs out the door, whistle and finish up

[PaulZ]

Hi Lazarus
That works well with clients who want to watch everything you do.
Good trick is if they are hanging around get them to give you a lift with a head or side cover, one good wiff and I bet you don't see them for a while.
Paul

[Greengrocer]

In the early 70's I used to attend Willesden Tech (London) as part of my Frigidaire apprenticeship. A guy in my class worked for the Lyons Maid ice cream factory / distribution centre in Greenford - Big NH3 system.
We could smell this guy coming down the hall before we saw him. In class he was "billy no mates" because no one wanted to sit next to him and he continually scratched his "crown jewels". Come break time we'd go to the canteen and this guy had to have 6 spoons of coffee and 8 sugars in his drink before he could taste it. Boy was I glad that Frididaire didn't make any NH3 plant.

[US Iceman]

In the early 70's I used to attend Willesden Tech (London) as part of my Frigidaire apprenticeship. A guy in my class worked for the Lyons Maid ice cream factory / distribution centre in Greenford - Big NH3 system.
We could smell this guy coming down the hall before we saw him. In class he was "billy no mates" because no one wanted to sit next to him and he continually scratched his "crown jewels". Come break time we'd go to the canteen and this guy had to have 6 spoons of coffee and 8 sugars in his drink before he could taste it. Boy was I glad that Frididaire didn't make any NH3 plant.

I don't see where this has anything to do with ammonia systems other than the scratching the crown jewels part. Sweat and ammonia makes for an interesting case of diaper rash in the summer.

Other than that, the rest is guilt by association.

[Sergei]

In the early 70's I used to attend Willesden Tech (London) as part of my Frigidaire apprenticeship. A guy in my class worked for the Lyons Maid ice cream factory / distribution centre in Greenford - Big NH3 system.
We could smell this guy coming down the hall before we saw him. In class he was "billy no mates" because no one wanted to sit next to him and he continually scratched his "crown jewels". Come break time we'd go to the canteen and this guy had to have 6 spoons of coffee and 8 sugars in his drink before he could taste it. Boy was I glad that Frididaire didn't make any NH3 plant.

Probably, he didn't have shower for a few weeks. Any connections with ammonia refrigeration plant?

[Grizzly]

In the early 70's I used to attend Willesden Tech (London) as part of my Frigidaire apprenticeship. A guy in my class worked for the Lyons Maid ice cream factory / distribution centre in Greenford - Big NH3 system.
We could smell this guy coming down the hall before we saw him. In class he was "billy no mates" because no one wanted to sit next to him and he continually scratched his "crown jewels". Come break time we'd go to the canteen and this guy had to have 6 spoons of coffee and 8 sugars in his drink before he could taste it. Boy was I glad that Frididaire didn't make any NH3 plant.

I liked the comment Greengrocer, how many of us older "Stinkies" have stood in a plant room smelling of Ammonia.
And said to the new trainee "smell! what smell?"
My wife goes nuts for days after I have used my purge lines and returned them to the car.
She sometimes forgets that it is my working vehicle.
Grizzly

[Refrigerologist]

Try this one. The maintenance guy at our local dairy, well the only dairy, this is a small island. He used to cut an opening about 2 to 3" sq into the side of an old 1 gallon metal oil can. Put the lid on and then purge a little Ammonia into the can. After which he would take a liquid dropper and drip one small drop of water through the opening. The can would collapse in on itself!

[Oregon Jim]

I have worked with ammonia for more than twenty years now and still deal with it every day. I have about 20,000 pounds of ammonia in my small system. I'd like to address the original topic of NH3 "finding" the water in the bucket. Every expert will tell you ammonia is drawn to moisture, and given the right circumstance NH3 vapor will in fact "find" water. It isn't magic or even a fairy tale. I am certain the story was highly embellished to awe the novice, but it was based upon well documented fact. Ammonia likes water.

I have been a refrigeration engineer for more than 20 years and I am trained as a HazMat responder to deal with ammonia releases, and frankly I find it to be terribly exciting more than anything. Ammonia isn't the boogie man everyone makes it out to be. I'll be rebuilding NH3 pumps and valves, replacing old pipe, moving thousands of pounds of ammonia around the system , and giving my compressors a good going over during the next few weeks before production.

I LIKE AMMONIA!

[Contactor]

Hell yeah!

[nubbin]

it's not the refrigerant that is dangerous, it is the idiot with the wrench. Rented a house with a Arkla gas AC, called landlord for service. he called his company for service. When the idiot could not solve the problem, he stuck a tube of lip balm under the sail switch. I noticed the safety violation and called the land lord but he had already paid for the "service".
I think NH3 is safer. NH3 is not used in the local residential market leaving R22 and the like. Sometimes I run into R22 that pops-out of an oil trap when brazing. Hate that, because I know what it does.

[Grizzly]

Your never too old to learn!
Whilst purging off a faulty EVRA 20 (Hot Gas Line Solenoid Valve).
I managed to find a little pocket of liquid Ammonia which sprayed out,when I broke the seal between the armature and body.

No problem I thought as I was prepared and had carefully loosened the bolts, diagonally.
So whilst holding my breath I snapped shut the valve and made a Hasty retreat to-wards the plant room door.

Having reached the safety of the fresh air outside the plant room. I took a big gulp of Air.

About the same time as I realised that the fresh air stank of Ammonia, a precious part of my anatomy started to burn. Burn maybe not, but it was getting rather warm in that region!

Only then did it dawn on me that the stream of liquid Ammonia had saturated
the waistband of my overalls.
Which now having found a heat source was boiling off.
So instead of fresh air I was breathing high concentrations of Ammonia vapour.

By this time the 2 site engineers that had led the rapid Exodus from the plant room.

Were doubled up in laughter at the sight of yours truly jumping up and down gasping for air.
Whilst trying to rip my overalls off!!
I did laugh eventually once I had got my breath back.
Despite this minor setback. The valve was fixed (which had a perforated diaphragm).

And the Engineers gave me a nice bag of Crabs Claws packed in ice for supper. (It's a Ice Plant!)

Grizzly

[TXiceman]

Reminds me of a like experience about 30 years ago. A technician and I were bleeding down a line section is a closed engine room, exhaust fans running max speed, and we had on the ammonia mask to go in and break the control valve loose after the line was depressurized (mostly). It was August in North Carolina and hotter than hades. About the same time we both dropped the wrenches and bailed out, headed to the emergency shower and were fighting as to who got to strip the overalls and save the "family jewels" first. I was the large one and got the shower, the tech, dragged a box over and was cooling himself in the emergency eye wash.

We got a big whoopie from the ladies on break at the back dock. Working with ammonia is so interesting...no telling what you will have to do day to day.

Ken

[Grizzly]

Reminds me of a like experience about 30 years ago. A technician and I were bleeding down a line section is a closed engine room, exhaust fans running max speed, and we had on the ammonia mask to go in and break the control valve loose after the line was depressurized (mostly). It was August in North Carolina and hotter than hades. About the same time we both dropped the wrenches and bailed out, headed to the emergency shower and were fighting as to who got to strip the overalls and save the "family jewels" first. I was the large one and got the shower, the tech, dragged a box over and was cooling himself in the emergency eye wash.

We got a big whoopie from the ladies on break at the back dock. Working with ammonia is so interesting...no telling what you will have to do day to day.

Ken

"Ken" is Scottish slang for understand and as they say you have been there and had the teeshirt Iceman.

Yep!
It can be interesting and I am sure there are lots of the guys out there that can relate to both stories?

I just posted it because it's yet another amusing story.
With a happy ending!
Grizzly