When the Chocolate Hits the Fan

[SIM-ple Jack 17,450]

A chocolate factory just blew up in Pennsylvania, killing 2 and injuring 7. The company specializes, I kid you not, in chocolate Easter bunnies. 2 weeks before Easter-

Ok, someone wanna explain to me what could possibly be in a chocolate factory that makes it go up like a nuke? Willy Wonka is not amused!

[rivit 3,402]

You've got to admit it gives another meaning to sprinkles.

Powders of various sorts can burn explosively - icing sugar can explode under the right conditions. Given we need fuel, heat and oxygen I'd bet on an electrical spark or a gas bottle or line giving up the ghost in an area with lots of particulate matter.  Its pretty spectacular and the viewpoint was pretty close.

[SIM-ple Jack 17,450]

I know grain silos are flammable. Never heard of cacao beans burning.

[PaPa-J 778]

I always thought that it was mainly the dust particles that are in the air which were flammable.

That was one heck of an explosion no matter what caused it.

[TheMurderousCricket 5,104]

I'm not sure if you ever watched "Equalizer 2" with Danzel Washington but near the finale he blows the guts out of one of the baddies by creating a flour whirlopool, then, setting this mix alight.

This is not an artistic license - like rivit said, any fine powder can be highly explosive under right circumstances.

I have also seen safety videos for woodmills that instruct workers to regularly clean and wipe all surfaces to eliminate the risk of a fire-induced explosion.

What is more, once an explosion occurs in a disorderly room, the resultant shockwave causes even more powder to be disturbed and raised into the air, quite literally, adding fuel to the fire and creating another, even more powerful blast.

And if that wasn't enough - try to peel an orange or a lemon next to some open fire (candle will do)...

[SIM-ple Jack 17,450]

8 hours ago, TheMurderousCricket said:

And if that wasn't enough - try to peel an orange or a lemon next to some open fire (candle will do)...

Of course, you know, you have forever changed the way I make my vodka tonics. Now I'll be holding a lighter while squeezing my lime.

8 hours ago, TheMurderousCricket said:

with Danzel Washington

Wow, can't believe that guy will be 70 next year. Only seen him in 4 movies- Fallen(highly under-rated), Training Day(deserved Oscar), Manchurian Candidate(tepid re-make), Taking of Pelham 123(unnecessary trash re-make). Fortunately never saw Magnificent 7 which would have probably  pissed me off.

8 hours ago, TheMurderousCricket said:

I have also seen safety videos for woodmills that instruct workers to regularly clean and wipe all surfaces to eliminate the risk of a fire-induced explosion.

Yea, always had to sweep up at the end of my shift when I worked in wood shops. I'm not as diligent in my own workshop.

[Leo -- 186]

On 3/25/2023 at 1:17 PM, SIM-ple Jack said:

Ok, someone wanna explain to me what could possibly be in a chocolate factory that makes it go up like a nuke?

If I had to guess some dust, likely sugar caused the explosion, seriously combustible dust is not a joke!