Self-heating hot pot causes smoke sensor alarm? Experts remind us to use the heating package strictly according to the instructions.
In recent years, self-heating instant hot pot has become a best-selling food, which has both the delicious taste of hot pot and the rapidity of instant food, and is deeply loved by consumers.
However, when eating self-heating hot pot, many foodies have encountered a "strange thing". When using self-heating hot pot, an alarm is often triggered.
This article picture "Political and Legal Channel" micro signal
The netizen named @ Grandpa even caused a smoke alarm because he used a self-heating hot pot in a German hotel, and also attracted the German fire brigade and was eventually fined.
In order to find out why the self-heating hot pot will cause the alarm, the reporter bought several self-cooking products that are common in the market. On the outer packaging of a product, the reporter found the introduction of the special heating package for food and the instructions for use.
Investigation on journalists’ purchase of various products
The spontaneous combustion package contains aluminum powder.
On the outer packaging of several self-cooked products purchased by the reporter, only one of them indicates the components of the heating package, showing that the main components are calcium oxide, aluminum powder and sodium bicarbonate, and the main reason why the self-heating package can heat itself is that calcium oxide reacts with water to generate calcium hydroxide and release a lot of heat. It is worth noting that after aluminum powder reacts with water, it will produce a small amount of hydrogen.
Shang Zhaocong, Executive Deputy Director of National Chemical Product Safety Quality Inspection Center:
We have done a lot of experiments. After that, basically, each heating package can produce 40 liters of hydrogen at standard atmospheric pressure, so the combustion limit of hydrogen in the air is 4% to 75.6%. If the content exceeds 4%, then hydrogen will cause the risk of combustion or explosion.
According to experts, hydrogen is a combustible and reducing gas. Pure hydrogen burns quietly in the air, while impure hydrogen may explode when burning. Experts told reporters that in a relatively closed state, many people use this heating package together, which requires special attention to avoid hydrogen deflagration. In this regard, the person in charge of the manufacturer said that there was absolutely no danger, and at the same time admitted that it was indeed the trace hydrogen generated when the heating package was heated.
Aluminum powder reacts with water to produce hydrogen.
Manufacturer’s response: No danger.
Person in charge of heating package manufacturer:
It doesn’t matter. If it’s dangerous, it can’t be so hot in the market. Don’t think so dangerous, these big companies are doing it every day.
The heating package generates heat when it meets water.
Incomplete reaction will have hidden dangers.
In order to verify the safety of self-heating products, the reporter randomly opened two self-heating products for testing.
The heating bag used for the first time generates heat quickly after it meets water. Not only that, the reporter also found that putting the same heating bag into water repeatedly can also generate heat.
The reporter then cut off another reusable heating bag and threw it into the garbage bag, and then poured a small amount of water. It can be seen that after the heating bag meets the water, the garbage bag gradually expands, and the chemicals in the heating bag also boil in the bag after meeting the water. Experts said that it is a safety hazard to discard the heating package at will before it is uncertain that it will release all the heat.
He Shaopeng, National Chemical Product Safety Quality Inspection Center:
For example, if we throw it in the trash can or it rains, the rain will generate hydrogen when it enters the trash can, and then in a semi-closed environment, for example, if cigarette butts or other fire sources are introduced, there may be risks of explosion or burning.
The heating package in the closed space meets water.
Expansion and explosion of mineral water bottle
Subsequently, the reporter tested the explosion possibility of the heating package. The reporter cut open the unused heating bag and poured the gray chemicals inside into the mineral water bottle. It can be seen that these chemicals begin to boil when they meet water, and the heat generated makes the bottle body change obviously.
In fact, many self-heating products have operating instructions and safety reminders on the outer packaging, such as "Be careful of steam burns", "Don’t let children operate independently", "Only add cold water", "When your hands are wet, please don’t touch the heating bag", "If you need air transportation, please check it with luggage", which also shows that there will be great safety hazards if you use this kind of products improperly.
Experts gave five suggestions for use:
1. The vent hole on the cover of "self-heating food" should not be blocked, otherwise it will easily cause explosion;
2. Be sure to use the heating package in strict accordance with the instructions to avoid accidental injury;
3. If you use a glass dining table at home, it is best to add a heat insulation pad under the "self-heating food";
4. "Self-heating food" belongs to aviation dangerous goods, so don’t carry it or check it by plane;
5. "Self-heating food" should be kept out of children’s reach to prevent danger.
(The original title is: "Online consumption of self-heating hot pot causes smoke sensor alarm? The reporter also bought a few boxes … ")