AC compressors actually exploding?

I've never heard of it happening, though a few years ago there was a scam where people were selling freon cans filled with propane. The propane will work in an a/c system, though if you were to have a spark one would imagine it could happen.

 

I had one. A wouldn't call it an explosion though. It cracked the housing and blew out all the refridgerent. A loud noise and a ot of mist, but lot like a grenade or anything.

 

HVAC techs typically work on home and commercial units. Truck AC service, APU service, reefer service, etc. is handled by truck mechanics. I've seen AC compressors fail in many different ways, but never actually explode. For that to happen... there'd have to be a blockage at the outlet, and the line connecting to the outlet would likely give before the compressor itself did.
Typically, I see a lot of DIYers who assume the only possible cause of insufficient cooling from their AC system must be a lack of refrigerant, and I see those who add refrigerant but never think to check to see where the leak is or to add PAG oil.
It's kind of crappy, because to properly diagnose an AC system, you want to do a refrigerant purity test, check system pressures with a manifold gauge, evacuate the refrigerant and weigh it, recharge it, retest the system pressures, and do a leak test (either with dyed HFC122A or with a halogen sniffer)... that gets quite expensive, and you're not going to see shade tree mechanics footing the bill to buy this equipment.

 

The AC compressor has a pop off valve so if there is a block age it just dumps the refridgerant, it looks like a fitting with a disc in it.
The government insurance company in BC tried for a long time to get a system with Propane to explode they could not do it, but made a vidio of a car filled with propane exploding.
When you get a system that is not working properly, you have to test the system, as to what is in the system and if mixed it is junk no one wants to add the mix to their system, and contaminate their machine. You have to remove all the fluid, and evacuate the system looking for a leak. Then if there is no leaks, you need to check the oil level, add some dye, then refill with the proper refrigerant, then test the system to be sure it all works.
If a system is made for 134A then that is what you add. not some cheap mix of crap that gets you going for a week. We had an extra machine and when someone brought in a unit with a mix it was classified as hazardous material and they were charged appropriately. I have broke many an AC hose especially on the older Peterbilts, never had one explode
Just a thought!

 

Down in Mexico and southern Texas, they put propane in the AC systems enstead of freon. Actually had it done to mine without knowing they did it. Never had any problems with that truck and actually cooled twice as good as any AC I've ever seen. It would frost the windshield in the summer from cooling so good.
But I wouldn't allow or recommend anyone doing it. Those mexicans are little gusty than me.

 

X2 for me. Punched a piston into the head n cracked it open on top of the lump.

 

I know a guy with 1 leg, He was fooling around with a walk-in freezer at a mom and pops eatery and it blew out and took his leg off. It wasn't because an acutal fire explosion but because of high pressure.

 

Yes it happens but it isn't like "BOOM!!" but as mentioned the case is pressurized beyond its limit, it cracks the case and oil sprays out with the freon. Many times it is a plugged line, had an R4 compressor (steel case) heat up so much from a plugged line that it melted the heater hose that was laying on it then seized when the coolant hit it.

There was a site out there that explained the black death of A/C compressors with pictures and a good explanation, some of which can cause a housing to become cracked if this gunk blocks the outlet.

As for APUs, a lot of them can be serviced by HVAC techs, and reefers are rather small versions of commercial freezers or at least the ones I had.