Persian King
Time Bomb
Posted by Amir (Tehran, Iran) on 6 October 2007 in Miscellaneous and Portfolio.
Fort Worth, TX
This is one of those ugly gas distribution tanks that help measure the amount of gas consumption for billing proposes. I have seen'em around the world in different sizes, shapes and colors.
They are usually unprotected, left on the walls, in the middle of grassy yard or sometimes in parking lots. The gas is usually in form of Propane, which is a three carbon based organic compound (C3H8) and highly flammable. One small ignition, spark or sudden pressure on the tank can set this potential bomb up on flames.
An explosion of a large tank, such as the one in this image can destroy many lives and properties; so why there are no innovations to create something safer is beyond me.
Note:
This image is bracketed HDR, comprised of five images. For more information on this method read yesterday's post.
See the original at Flickr
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e. from Washington DC, United States
Wow, cool. I didn't know that. Thanks for sharing! They really should invent something safer...
6 Oct 2007 7:49am
@e.: Thanks for coming by
Olaide from Fort Collins, United States
I have the High Dynamic Range from photomatix but i've never used it. I'll try making use of it now. Well this is stunning. Good job here.
6 Oct 2007 9:10am
@Olaide: You should try it, it' fun beyond regular shots
Wolfgang Prigge from Canada
I agree, there must be a better and safer way! Nice pic though...
6 Oct 2007 11:06am
@Wolfgang Prigge: Thanks
Makoto from Sapporo, Japan
Gas tank? Looks danger... But it's interesting for a photograph. Nice low-angle series.
6 Oct 2007 11:11am
@Makoto: Thanks friend
miu* from GA, United States
Hi,Amir.
It is the gas tank which seems to come out in the Star Wars.(movie)
6 Oct 2007 2:32pm
@miu*: Lol, I never thought of that
Daroru from Amagasaki, Japan
Scary story. Are they really that dangerous? Any accidents ever happen with them?
6 Oct 2007 3:12pm
@Daroru: I have heard few incidents that these little tanks exploded and caused great deal of damage, especially in earth quick zones.
@Dimitrios: Thanks for your comment
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
Cool shot. Looks like sci-fi. I believe this device though, besides metering flow, is also a pressure reducer and regulator. I'm not really up on natural gas systems, but I think the tank is an accumulator that stores a small amount of gas used to help regulate service pressure. The gas is distributed at a higher pressure and this pressure is reduced at the delivery point. I don't think there is enough explosive potential in the tank itself to do much to anyone who isn't standing right next to it if it goes off. Also, it should be sealed so that a spark cannot cause an explosion --which, of course, isn't to say that seals can't malfunction and make an explosion possible. Also, household gas has a oderant added to let people know when there is a leak. Usually, when you hear about a major gas explosion, it's not because a tank like this blew up, but because a large transmission line leaked and blew up or because a large volume of gas accumulated in a building, basement, etc, from a leak. Still, gas is dangerous, and I remember a consulting engineer who used to wear a T-shirt with a picture of a house exploding that said: Gas, it a BOOMING business (his uncle ran a fuel oil distributorship).
6 Oct 2007 3:57pm
@Twelvebit: Even if you consider lower pressure and few cubic feet of gas inside the tank, one explosion would not be limited to the tank itself, but will cause damage to linking pipes and will extend inward through them and will result in secondary and tertiary explosions.
But thanks for the heads up regarding pressures in those tanks.
Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom
Interesting construction, quite an ugly thing to have on your lawn, but makes a good photo. I like your HDR processing, good work.
Here in UK we don't have these as far as I'm aware, or not looking like that, as gas is pumped underground and straight into your home. The meter and regulator is usually a little box on the house wall. Gas used to be cheap here years ago, but not any more, I'm thinking of going back to electric heating and cooking, as gas prices are now stupidly high
6 Oct 2007 4:18pm
@Richard_Irwin: Wow, I did not know that you don't have these tanks. Russia is selling it's gas more expensive I guess, as the sole provider of natural gas in your your region.
@Lost Valley View: Thanks
Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States
This is an excellent shot of something so commonplace few would think of them as photo subjects, or even having an attractiveness of their own worthy of notice.
6 Oct 2007 8:31pm
@Viewfinder: You are way too kind to me, I certainly appreciate it
Shahab from Qazvin, Iran
Nice HDR photos you are posting these days!Keep it up buddy!
6 Oct 2007 9:36pm
@Shahab: Thanks a lot. Sure if I find something interesting I will.
Bron from Canberra, Australia
Like Richard our gas is delivered underground out of sight out of mind - but we have an electical substation outside our place and it's a box - not nearly as interesting as this Amir!
6 Oct 2007 10:46pm
@Bron: Good to know. Thanks for coming by
rverspirit from Mount Vernon, United States
Hey Amir,
If you make a comment at www.thecliffwalk.com ,I'tll give me your email address and we can stay in touch..
all the best ...e
6 Oct 2007 10:56pm
Quintino from Joane, Portugal
Help... help... there's an alien spaceship on the backyard... what? it ain´t... Amir, Amir... how many times must I tell you to stop playing with that old gas tank...
6 Oct 2007 11:17pm
amy from Rocky Mountain House, Canada
Firstly, the HDR is so great and makes this such a rich image. Secondly, this so resembles R2-D2 from Star Wars. And thirdly, we don't have these little tanks here either. We have a meter attached to the back of our homes.
7 Oct 2007 3:57pm
@amy: The one you have on the back of your house is basically the mini version of this. Thanks for coming
