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The_Pip t1_j6cv6ni wrote

Side fact: Natural Gas is called that because the gas that was used in lights during the period of this traffic light was called Manufactured Gas. They made methane from coal, which is super easy to do. Later we found reliable sources of methane in the ground and piped it all over.

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Fast_Dare2041 t1_j6eptkh wrote

Town gas was primarily a 50/50 mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Sometimes, methane was added/created from the gasification process (which increases the energy density) but pure methane wasn’t commonly used until the 50s-60s when, like you said, natural gas began being drilled.

One advantage is that it’s also significantly less toxic than town gas, which is why Sylvia Plath-ing yourself is no longer really a thing.

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W_O_M_B_A_T t1_j6ff7py wrote

Coal synthesis gas /town gas contains significant amounts of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, water vapor along with minor amounts of a slew of other compounds. Methane content is typically only a few percent while the hydrogen content could be up you 55%.

The carbon monoxide made it highly poisonous. Looking back in hindsight, you'd be pretty foolish to cook with hydrogen cyanide gas which is also flammable, but has a similar toxicity level as carbon monoxide. There were many documented murders. All you needed to do was just turn the gas on in the victim's room while they were asleep, then go over to the pub and wait.

CO along with cyanide, ammonia, and certain nerve agents, is among the handful of toxic substances with the potential to kill in minutes, before rescuers are likely to arrive.

The hydrogen makes it uniquely explosive if it leaks into a confined, poorly ventilated space. Hydrogen has a much higher coefficient of thermal expansion than air, and has a wide range of mixture ratios with air in which it can burn. It can burn in as much as 90 H2 /10 air where most other fuel gases won't. Gas lamps were know to explode.

Hydrogen also has a unique tendency slowly to leak past o-rings, threaded pipe joints, gaskets, and packings that would contain other gases. It will also cause embrittlement of many materials like steels, cast iron, and many plastics. Stress induced cracks in threaded pipe fittings can be an issue, for example.

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Landlubber77 t1_j6csj7v wrote

"My word Gerald, it appears that illuminated traffic apparatus is ablaze."

"I do believe that indicates no right turn on red."

"Bloody well told, Gerald, mahvelous."

"Hmyyessss."

"Indubitably."

"Quite right."

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ngwoo t1_j6egnr4 wrote

I'm guessing in the UK not turning right on red is always the case

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Fondren_Richmond t1_j6eccq3 wrote

> "Bloody well told, Gerald, mahvelous."

This reads more like Lorenzo Lamas's dad than Edward Stratton III's.

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theflamingheads t1_j6csl5h wrote

It usually is a problem when there's a gas leak at the site of an erection, assuming there's someone around to be affected.

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Nemesis034 t1_j6e21l3 wrote

I often get a gas leak at the time of erection. Those affected don't usually stick around.

​

Imma see myself out..

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BillTowne t1_j6ee5jq wrote

Interesting fact: It was designed by the great grandfather of Elon Musk.

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