Safety Tip

[Dr Bert]

Recently right after sandblasting some parts I was working at my bench when my air compressor exploded!!  The discharge pipe to the tank was red hot (a hole blew out of it) and the compressor pump head was blown apart.  In addition, the whole thing was on fire!
     The cause was determined to be carbon flakes from the disharge pipe (pump to tank) had collected in the check valve and entirely blocked air moving into the tank,  thus causing excessive heat and pressure.
     The unit is a 60 gallon-5 hp. Campbell-Hausfeld.  Had I not been there, my shop would be ashes.
      My advice--always turn off your air compressor when you are through for the day or night.  This was not a particular problem of the C-H unit, I'm sure it could happen with any unit with the top mounted check valve.

[Blake Malkamaki]

Did the safety valve stick? Just like on a boiler, the safety valves should be popped on a regular basis to test. Apparently the unloader or pressure switch must have failed too.

Blake

[Dr Bert]

Blake;  The air from the pump never got to the tank to pop the safety valve.  The pressure was confined entirely to the delivery pipe running  from the pump head to the top to the storage tank.
     On my compressor the sequence is  pump to the delivery pipe to the check valve into the tank.  
     The carbon flakes apparently came from burned oil escaping past the rings.

[Blake Malkamaki]

Ok, I understand it now. Many compressors I have seen have a safety valve in the line between the 1st and 2nd stage of the compressor. But even this may not have stopped your explosion.

Have you contacted Campbell Housfeld?

Blake

[Dr Bert]

Blake-- Sorry I didn't respond sooner!  No, I did not contact Campbell-Hausfeld-- compressor out of warranty.
     Exploded again yesterday.  Had cleaned check valve just hours before.  Replaced the discharge pipe and drilled a small hole in a fitting to permit air escape when it plugs again.  Ordered a new pump--hopefully it will arrive soon.