Safety Knowledge in Daily Life 4: Tragedy | A Child Dies in a Refrigerator Explosion

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On the afternoon of August 21, inside a two-story brick house in Qiuyang Village, Meilin, Nan’an, Fujian, 8-year-old boy Xiao Zhi (a pseudonym) and his 6-year-old sister Xiao Hua (a pseudonym) lay on the ground, covered in burn marks, and ceased breathing forever. Upon inspection after the incident, the upper part of the refrigerator inside the room had been burned, its top had been blown off, and the wires connecting the refrigerator had also been damaged. 　　Many people didn’t expect that the refrigerator could explode. Why does this device, which seems quite safe, become so dangerous? Can a refrigerator explode? It might be the refrigerant causing the problem. According to experts, the refrigerant commonly used in refrigerators today is R600a (known in Chinese as isobutane; it is a colorless, flammable gas at normal temperature and pressure). Its amount ranges from 60 to 80 grams. When mixed with air in certain proportions, it can explode when exposed to an open flame, and the force of such an explosion is equivalent to that of half a grenade. When problems such as the refrigerator not cooling occur, the maintenance interface of the compressor must be disassembled; after the maintenance is completed, it must be welded back together. If not handled properly at this time, the open flame generated by the welding torch can also cause an explosion of R600a. Refrigerants are odorless, and leaks are not easy to detect; therefore, it is best not to place the refrigerator in areas with an open flame, such as the kitchen. 　　A tragedy was caused by a refrigerator explosion; there have been previous incidents of such explosions as well. http://img.proxx.xmtbang.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmmbiz.qpic.cn%2Fmmbiz%2Fianq03UUWGmKBiaFRAtInJGYgEuY433yBFl6ElcEXvJbVBK62riaeDSE4uhqf1ug02iaDcfxg7FZ0F5LficFyVdG1dQ%2F640%3Fwx_fmt%3Dpng A refrigerator exploded and caught fire in the early hours of the night; three people, including grandparents and grandchildren, managed to escape safely. Around 4 a.m. on July 19, 2016, a fire broke out suddenly in the residence at room 103, Building 3, Rose Lido, Sihong County, Suqian City, Jiangsu Province. It is understood that two elderly people and their grandson lived in that household; all three were fast asleep when a explosion suddenly occurred in the living room. When the elderly person rushed out to check, he discovered that the refrigerator in the living room was on fire and that the sofa had also caught fire. The three people left the scene immediately, and no one was injured. Suddenly, at around 10 a.m. on July 4, 2014, in an appliance repair shop in Gaozuo Town, Jianhu County, Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, a refrigerator that was under repair exploded, killing the repairman. This accident may have been caused by a welder’s welding work, which led to an explosion of R600a; when mixed with air in certain proportions, it can explode easily when exposed to an open flame. Ice exploded in the middle of the night; manufacturer pays 6,000 in compensation. Around 1 a.m. on a day in 2014, Ms. Zhong, who lived in Wuping, Longyan, was sleeping when there was suddenly a loud bang, accompanied by a smell of burning. When Ms. Zhong got up to check, she found that it was the refrigerator that had exploded. It was determined that the fire started at the compressor located at the bottom of the refrigerator, and the cause of the fire was a malfunction in the compressor, which led to the ignition of the refrigerator’s insulation material. Through mediation by the industrial and commercial authorities, the manufacturer compensated Ms. Zhong in a lump sum of 6,000 yuan. 　　On July 29, 2014, a refrigerator exploded in a villager’s home in Danjiangkou City, Hubei, triggering a fire that ignited the bedding on the bed nearby; subsequently, the entire house was burned down. Fortunately, no one was inside the house at the time of the incident, so no injuries were reported. These operations related to the refrigerator are very dangerous! 　　In fact, it’s not only the refrigerant in a refrigerator that can cause it to explode; some improper operations can also make a refrigerator dangerous! 1--Storing cola in the freezer × Storing bottled or canned liquids (especially carbonated drinks like cola) in the freezer poses a risk of the bottles or cans exploding. 　　This is because carbonated drinks contain a large amount of gas, and the solubility of these gases decreases as the temperature rises. On the other hand, aluminum cans for carbonated drinks and beer are sealed, and the volume of the drink expands when it freezes. 　　After removing carbonated beverages from the freezer, the gas substances in the beverage come out in large quantities in a short period of time, causing the pressure inside the can to increase; as a result, explosion can occur at the moment it is opened. 2--Storing flammable and explosive items in the refrigerator × When flammable and explosive substances such as alcohol or gasoline are kept in a refrigerator, the limited space inside the refrigerator can lead to the formation of explosive mixtures; sparks generated during startup can very likely cause an explosion or fire. 3--Do not place glassware at the outlets of the freezer or refrigerator compartment. × Glass bottles or containers should not be placed at the outlets of the air circulation systems in freezers or refrigerators, as this can cause the bottles to explode and pose a risk of injury to people. 4--Place other appliances on the refrigerator × Do not place or use appliances that generate electromagnetic induction, such as microwave ovens, rice cookers, and voltage stabilizers, on or around the top of the refrigerator. 　　This is because electrical appliances with electromagnetic induction can cause electromagnetic interference with the refrigerator’s cooling system, which in turn leads to the thermostat starting to function improperly, that is, the thermostat gets damaged. Furthermore, placing a microwave oven and a refrigerator together can cause resonance, which is harmful to the equipment. Prevent household appliances from exploding. Although it is a rare occurrence, this possibility cannot be ignored, as an explosion can pose a threat to lives once it happens. 　　And in addition to refrigerators, household appliances such as microwave ovens and washing machines can also cause fatal injuries if used improperly! 1 Microwave oven ★ Do not use metal containers: Metal containers such as iron, aluminum, stainless steel, and enamel placed in the oven can generate electric sparks when heated by the microwave waves, which in turn reflect those waves; this not only damages the oven but also prevents the food from being properly cooked. ★Avoid fried foods: High-temperature oil can splash and cause an open flame. In the event that a fire starts inside the furnace accidentally, never open the door; instead, turn off the power supply first, and wait until the fire is out before opening the door to cool down the area. ★Avoid heating foods with shells: Microwaves cannot be used to heat foods that have shells or skins, such as eggs and corn. ★Avoid excessive heating time: Microwave heating should not be done for too long, as this can easily burn the food and even pose a risk. ★Avoid using sealed containers: When heating liquids, use containers with wide openings, as the heat generated by heating food inside sealed containers does not dissipate easily, leading to high pressure inside the container and an increased risk of explosion. 2 Washing Machine ★ Do not open the inner drum while it is rotating: If the machine is still in motion, do not touch the inner drum, as a rapidly rotating drum can easily cause injuries to the hands. ★Some clothes should not be washed in a washing machine: Washing clothes containing solvents can pose an explosion risk ； If there is no dedicated washing program for down jackets, washing them in a washing machine can easily lead to an explosion.