[56036] in North American Network Operators' Group
Re: manhole covers
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Marshall Eubanks)
Fri Feb 21 20:51:02 2003
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 20:50:21 -0500
Cc: Allen Hamner <hamner_a@wvwc.edu>, nanog@merit.edu,
Bob Perkinson <perkinbob@yahoo.com>
To: Sean Donelan <sean@donelan.com>
From: Marshall Eubanks <tme@multicasttech.com>
In-Reply-To: <Pine.GSO.4.44.0302201731020.8917-100000@clifden.donelan.com>
Errors-To: owner-nanog-outgoing@merit.edu
The interesting thing is that this happens every few weeks (at least -
sometimes multiple times per week), and generally they don't know why.
Not in Adams Morgan. Not in Foggy Bottom. Not even
in Georgetown Heights. Only in Georgetown, Its become a local joke.
Regards
Marshall Eubanks
On Thursday, February 20, 2003, at 05:43 PM, Sean Donelan wrote:
>
> Check out Georgetown in Washington DC, the exploding manhole capital of
> the world. They have a lot of experience with exploding manholes, from
> many different causes. The most recent incident was in the last couple
> of
> days. There is a lot of energy in being pumped into utility lines. A
> short circuit can release that energy into the underground vaults, and
> blow the manhole cover a considerable distance.
>
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33073-2003Feb19.html
>
> The Washington Post also has a special report covering exploding
> manholes
>
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/metro/specials/manholes/
>
>
>
> On Thu, 20 Feb 2003, Allen Hamner wrote:
>
>> I am a chemist who consults with the mayor of Bluefield WV where an
>> incident two weeks ago (a cold day) blew a 70 pound iron cover 10 feet
>> from an conduit tunnel containing several public untility lines. We
>> believe we can exclude a natural gas leak. Rumor has it that hydrogen
>> is involved, which may arise by electrolysis (?) or pyrolysis of
>> insulation (?). A previous incident had done no damage but this
>> explosion destroyed a nearby plate-glass window.
>>
>> There is no coal in the area so mine gas seepage is excluded. Sewer
>> gas is tentatively not an issue. The source of the spark is unknown.
>>
>> I would like to participate in the exchange on this topic.
>>
>> Allen Hamner (Ph.D.)
>> hamner_a@wvwc.edu
>
>
T.M. Eubanks
Multicast Technologies, Inc.
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