Air conditioning engineer’s car explodes

CHINA: A video has been published supposedly showing a car carrying refrigerant cylinders exploding when driving along a road in eastern China.

The dramatic video, said to have been shot in the city of Jiaxing in Zhejiang Province on August 17, shows a front windscreen flying out and doors being blown open after a flash burst out of the white SUV.

According to local reports, the motorist named Li carried three “Freon” cylinders in his car while on his way to fix air-conditioners for customers when the explosion happened.

While “Freon” is a Chemours (formerly DuPont) trade mark for its HCFC refrigerants like R22, it is commonly used erroneously as a generic term for all HCFC and HFC refrigerants in many countries. They are also non-flammable which casts doubt on the driver’s claim that the gas may have leaked out if the valve on the cylinder had not been tightened.

But there’s a distinct flash at the point of explosion and the boot (trunk) seems to show signs of scorching. Was it a hydrocarbon or A2L refrigerant, or was it an acetylene cylinder explosion?

Either way, it highlights the potential dangers of transporting compressed gases in unsuitable vehicles and without the necessary safety precautions.

The driver was lucky to walk reportedly unharmed.

The case is under further investigation.