Methane Explosion in China - Man Seriously Injured by Exploding Manhole Cover after Lighting Firecracker

A father was very seriously injured by an exploding manhole cover in a China street after lighting a firecracker. (Article by Graham Smith of the Daily Mail on 16th February 2012). This should act as a warning to all biogas plant owners. Methane explosions occur rarely, but when they do the consequesnces are seldom minor, and can be tragic.

The pictures show how the shocking moment took place when a man is blown off his feet after lighting a firecracker on a manhole cover. The CCTV footage shows the man being thrown ten metres through the air by the force of the explosion. We have included the much of the text from the article. Please follow the Daily Mail link at the bottom of the page:

The blast, which took place on January 29 in Hunan province in China, was so powerful that his jacket was torn off his back.

Reckless: Bending down over a manhole, a man in Hunan province in China prepares to ignite a firecracker with a lighter in his hand as two young boys look on

Explosion: The manhole cover suddenly blasts skywards, hitting the man, identified only as Mr Cai
Powerful: The blast sends the man flying across the street and tore the jacket from his back

The man, identified only as Mr Cai, was severely injured in the incident.

Surveillance footage shows him playing with his son and nephew in a snow-covered street.

Bending down over a manhole with a lighter in his hand, he prepares to ignite a firecracker as the two young boys look on.

An explosion suddenly occurs, sending him flying across the street and the manhole cover shooting as high as four storeys into the air.

The boys escaped uninjured and local residents rushed Mr Cai to hospital.

He suffered facial burns and an inhalation injury and remains in a critical condition.

The explosion was believed to be caused by highly-explosive highly explosive methane biogas that had accumulated inside the sewer. The gas is produced by the biological breakdown of organic waste in the absence of oxygen.
Alternate view: The manhole cover (circled) shot up as high as the fourth storey of a neighbouring building
Shocked: The boys escaped uninjured while local residents and authorities rush Mr Cai to hospital
The manhole cover now has a block of wood on it to warn motorists and passers-by that it is damaged

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Japanese Toilet Manufacturer Bio-gas Bike Ride A Big Success

One of the biggest visitor traffic jumps we have ever experienced in the four years in which we have been running this blog occurred when we featured Toilet Maker TOTO's publicity campaign. No doubt many others who featured the story saw public interest peak. It certainly was a very effective campaign at raising awareness of biogas and anaerobic digestion in Japan, and must have been a welcome light relief from all the tragic and weighty events which JAPAN HAS HAD TO DEALWITYH SINCE THE AERTHQUAKE EARLIER THIS YEAR.

At one stage at the peak of the campiagn, our blog was receiving over 1,000 vists per hour according to Google's statistics!

So, we cannot help saying that "Toilet maker is flushed with success after bio-gas bike ride!!

Here is a quote from a recent article about the campiagn:

It's named Neo - part motorcycle, part toilet. Neo runs on eco-friendly biogas. Toto, the toilet company that created Neo, says the biogas that powers the bike was produced from sewage but is quick to point out that the rider does not not contribute to its supply. According to spokesman Kenji Fujita, it's a combination of livestock waste and household sewage, broken down and fermented to create fuel.

"The motorcycle carries two tanks which allow it to run for a total of 300 km at a speed of up to 70 km/h. It's a surprisingly nice way to travel." The toilet bike toured more then 1400 kilometers across Japan in an effort to promote the use of biogas. With a toilet for a seat and a giant role of toilet paper mounted on the rear, Ichie Tanaka, one of six volunteers who rode the bike says Neo definitely attracted attention.

"At first when I saw the bike, I was taken aback, but after riding the motorcycle, I found it quite interesting. It doesn't hurt at all and it's actually quite comfortable to sit on." Toto says while Neo may not run on human waste, it hopes future models will. The company says recycling human waste is a practical solution to the environmental problems caused by the use of fossil fuels.

The company believes it has come a long way toward achieving awareness about the use of biogas. Ichie Tanaka says she's is happy and relieved the journey is over. She says that while the bike was a pleasure to ride, after three long weeks - she is just plain pooped. Ben Gruber, Reuters.

Biogas is one of many forms of alternative energies being promoted as the way of the future, but no one has yet done it in the style of Japanese toilet manufacturer, Toto. The company has created a stir with what it calls its Toilet Bike Neo, a motorcycle that runs on biogas and looks like a toilet on wheels. Ben Gruber reported. ( Transcript )

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Bogas Plant Accident in Austria

At this blog we have recently had reason to question the UK industry's questionable practises by Biogas Plant installation and maintenance Contractors, and the Client's who appoint them, both of which have been seen to be less than perfect in the manner in which they are treating health and safety on Biogas Plant Sites.

(Please don't expect to see any safety problems in this video - we simply thought you might like to see some good examples of biogas plants.)

Here we have another example. Is this a coincidental occurence or a warning to te industry to tighten its Health and Safety procedures before we see some really nasty accidents?

26. 10. 11. A man from Vienna is recovering after plunging from a factory in Burgenland.

The worker fell off a biogas station in Güssing, well known for its eco-friendly approach to electricity and heating issues this morning (Weds). He was busy removing casing fragments when he slipped and fell, according to radio news. The worker was taken to a clinic in Oberwart by ambulance.

The incident occurred three days after the body of an elderly holidaymaker was discovered at a hotel’s inner courtyard. The man, 62, from Linz in Upper Austria is understood to have lost his balance on the balcony of his room at night before plunging to his death. No one witnessed the incident, police in the Styrian town of Arnfels said on Monday. They said a physician examining the body ruled out foul play.

The number of industrial fatalities decreased by 57 per cent between 1990 and 2010, according to a labour ministry spokesman. The office of Social Democratic (SPÖ) Labour Minister Rudolf Hundstorfer said in August that 90 people lost their lives at work last year.

Around 280,000 Austrians sustained injuries doing household chores in the same year, according to insurer Allianz Austria (2000: 230,000). Cuts are most common at 40 per cent, followed by bruises (21 per cent), according to magazine profil which presented the insurance company’s figures.

Austrian Times

Maybe, Austrians need to be more careful when not at work, as well! See our site at www.anaerobic-digestion.com .

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Biogas Plant Approved Near Diss Norfolk But Local Objections Remain

Campaigners have vowed to launch a judicial review after controversial plans to build a biogas renewable energy plant near their homes were approved. In this article from Cogeneration & On-Site Power Production Magazine, it is not clear why the local continue to object. Is this Nymby-ism at play or do they have a specific objection? I suspect that Cogeneration & On-Site Power Production Magazine must think not, or the article would contain that information?

(The video is not linked with the article, but we hope you find it interesting.)

Stephen Gordon, chairman of Kenninghall Parish Council, announced that objectors would not give up their 18-month fight following the decision by Breckland Council's planning committee yesterday.

About 30 residents from the south Norfolk village, near Diss, attended the meeting with placards and protest banners.

Greenshoots Energy Ltd had applied to build an anaerobic digestion unit on land off Garboldisham Road, which would be fuelled with locally grown maize, poultry litter and cattle slurry. The electricity created would be transferred to the National Grid. The plant would be linked to a combined heat and power (CHP) plant just over half a mile away at Crown Milling, off Heath Road, which would use the waste heat generated by the energy plant.

Both applications had been recommended for approval despite opposition from the parish council, North Lopham Parish Council and about 500 residents who had signed a petition.

James Alston, who runs Greenshoots Energy with fellow farmer Robert Gooderham, said creating anaerobic digestors helped farmers maintain the viability of their industry.

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