Sirius Explosion Safe Metal Jerry Can

Stephen 13/12/2010 14:34:55

A fine can but be warned! i used this can to carry petrol for my generator in my campervan on a tour of australia. However before we were allowed to board the ferry to tasmania we had to dump the petrol and fill the can with tap water. on our return from tasmania the can was emptied of water and allowed to drain. It was then filled with 250ml of petrol and shaken. The contents were emptied and the can filled with 9 litres of unleaded petrol. for about a week the can was carried in an external locker at the rear of my campervan. On returning after a short walk a pool of about 1 litre of petrol was found under the locker. On opening the locker the jerry can was found to be nearly spherical, and clearly under immense pressure. The temperature was around 32°c. with some difficulty the lid of the jerry can was released (i estimate the pressure as over 10 bar). With the pressure released the rate of leakage was reduced to tolerable levels. The can was taken to the nearest fuel station for disposal (you would think a fuel station would know what to do with 8 litres of unwanted petrol - they didn't!). i assume the pressure built up by some chemical reaction between the can, the foil, petrol, the water and air.