A chlorate candle, or an oxygen candle, is a cylindrical chemical oxygen generator containing a mix of sodium chlorate and iron powder. When ignited, the mixture smolders at about 600 °C (1,112 °F), producing sodium chloride, iron oxide, and about 6.5 man-hours of oxygen per kilogram of the mixture. It releases oxygen at a fixed rate. The mixture has an indefinite shelf life if stored properly; candles stored for 20 years have shown no decrease in oxygen output. The oxygen is released by thermal decomposition. The heat is supplied by the burning iron. The candle must be wrapped in thermal insulation to maintain the reaction temperature and to protect surrounding equipment.
Potassium and lithium chlorate, and sodium, potassium and lithium perchlorates can also be used in oxygen candles.
An explosion caused by one of these candles led to the deaths of two Royal Navy sailors on HMS Tireless, a nuclear-powered submarine, under the Arctic on March 21, 2007. The candle had become contaminated with hydraulic oil, which caused the mixture to explode rather than burn.
Read more about this topic: Chemical Oxygen Generator
Famous quotes containing the words oxygen and/or candle:
“All the oxygen of the world was in them.
All the feet of the babies of the world were in them.
All the crotches of the angels of the world were in them.
All the morning kisses of Philadelphia were in them.”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)
“We say God and the imagination are one . . .
How high that highest candle lights the dark.”
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)