Dangers of Unapproved Modification – NGV


Here’s an article from the Star.

Man killed in NGV explosion

By CHEN PELF YEEN and ALLISON LAI

MALACCA: Two brothers who converted a cooking gas tank into a natural gas kit for their van paid dearly when it exploded, killing one of them.

Mohd Hailmi Ishak, 25, from Kampung Duyong, and his brother Rosli Ishak, 30, from Taman Tiang Dua, had stopped at a PETRONAS petrol station in Batu Berendam at about 7.50pm on Friday to refuel.

Their worker Razali Md Zin, 31, was with them.

It is believed that Rosli, the driver, was refilling the van at the natural gas vehicle (NGV) stand while his younger brother was standing nearby when the blast happened.

The explosion shattered the front portion and two doors of the vehicle.

It shattered Mohd Hailmi’s left leg and ripped open his abdomen while Rosli and Razali escaped with light injuries.

You see a lot of this jury rigging work offshore, difference is, the jury rigging is engineered as opposed to ‘try and see lah’ philosophy. Thing’s I’ve done are:

  • Use a flange that had a higher than required rating.
  • Use a smaller than design size valve (it’s okay, the process flow had been reduced).
  • Use a process compressor for other than it’s intended use (don’t worry, risk analysis was performed).
  • Route liquid to different vessels (there’s a whole story behind this one).

This is where your engineering (and presentation and persuation) skills are called to the forefront.

2 Responses to Dangers of Unapproved Modification – NGV

  1. Pemuda IKS says:

    Salam perjuangan,

    My Sr PM was shocked to see the news. He kept on babling how it is not suitable to put a 3000-4000 psi medium in a 300-400 psi container. Can we call them idiots? Or just play the typical Malay tagline “kesian-diorang-tak-tahu”.

  2. JabbatheHutt says:

    Leave it to an engineer.

    NGV = methane…. high pressure
    LPG = propane+butane ….. medium pressure

    Use LPG tank on NGV = idiots

    anyway, jabba did not managed to use NGV to fuel the BBQ burner as it would be fundamentally stupid to do it…. no NGV where jabba is.

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