RE: GAS Fuel Can
ORIGINAL: Jezmo ORIGINAL: thevirginian ORIGINAL: Jezmo In all reality there is NO difference in the level of difficulty lighting alcohol vs gasoline with an electric spark. Think spark plug. The same plug that lights off gas will light off alky. I've been flying RC just shy of 40 yrs. and control line for almost 45. In that time I've never seen an electric pump used on gas ignite. I have witnessed an electric pump ignite glow fuel (alky) and the young kid was severely burned. That's only one time in 40 yrs so I guess it's a risk that some choose to take. I use a manual pump for both my gassers and glows but that's just because I'm too dang lazy to charge the batteries to run the pump, not because of fear of fire. I figure I've got a better chance of getting whacked by some idiot talking on a cell phone while driving. Just my two cents. You cannot dispute the fact that gasoline evaporates at lower temps than alcohol, or? Every flammable liquid has a vapour pressure, which is a function of that liquid's temperature. As the temperature increases, the vapour pressure increases. As the vapour pressure increases, the concentration of evaporated flammable liquid in the air increases. Hence, temperature determines the concentration of evaporated flammable liquid in the air. Each flammable liquid requires a different concentration of its vapour in air to sustain combustion. The flash point of a flammable liquid is the lowest temperature at which there can be enough flammable vapour to ignite, when an ignition source is applied. Gasoline is designed for use in an engine which is driven by a spark. The fuel should be premixed with air within its flammable limits and heated above its flash point, then ignited by the spark plug. The fuel should not preignite in the hot engine. Therefore, gasoline is required to have a low flash point and a high autoignition temperature. The autoignition temp for gasoline is 689°F, for ethanol it is 475°F. There is your proof that gasoline(vapor) ignites much sooner than alcohol (vapor). |
RE: GAS Fuel Can
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ex...its-d_423.html
This link provides room temperature data for concentration level in the air for methyl alchohol and gasoline to burn or explode. Gasoline is explosive between 1.4% and 7.6% concentration in the air. Methyl alcohol (in our glow fuel) requires more concentration, at least 6.7% and up to 36% in the air. So, a very wet spill or flooded area of methanol is possibly very dangerous. In short, it takes much more methanol vapor in the air than gasoline vapor in the air to go boom. Glow Pumps - if you have methanol fuel leak inside an electric pump and pool/collect inside the electrical housing, it would be very "responsive" to a spark from a switch or brush motor. Some of the inexpensive gear pumps used for glow fuel electric pumps can be susceptible to internal leaks and could result in a bad day at the field. Very bad, actually, since methanol fires tend to be invisible. |
RE: GAS Fuel Can
ORIGINAL: thevirginian ORIGINAL: Jezmo ORIGINAL: thevirginian ORIGINAL: Jezmo In all reality there is NO difference in the level of difficulty lighting alcohol vs gasoline with an electric spark. Think spark plug. The same plug that lights off gas will light off alky. I've been flying RC just shy of 40 yrs. and control line for almost 45. In that time I've never seen an electric pump used on gas ignite. I have witnessed an electric pump ignite glow fuel (alky) and the young kid was severely burned. That's only one time in 40 yrs so I guess it's a risk that some choose to take. I use a manual pump for both my gassers and glows but that's just because I'm too dang lazy to charge the batteries to run the pump, not because of fear of fire. I figure I've got a better chance of getting whacked by some idiot talking on a cell phone while driving. Just my two cents. You cannot dispute the fact that gasoline evaporates at lower temps than alcohol, or? Every flammable liquid has a vapour pressure, which is a function of that liquid's temperature. As the temperature increases, the vapour pressure increases. As the vapour pressure increases, the concentration of evaporated flammable liquid in the air increases. Hence, temperature determines the concentration of evaporated flammable liquid in the air. Each flammable liquid requires a different concentration of its vapour in air to sustain combustion. The flash point of a flammable liquid is the lowest temperature at which there can be enough flammable vapour to ignite, when an ignition source is applied. Gasoline is designed for use in an engine which is driven by a spark. The fuel should be premixed with air within its flammable limits and heated above its flash point, then ignited by the spark plug. The fuel should not preignite in the hot engine. Therefore, gasoline is required to have a low flash point and a high autoignition temperature. The autoignition temp for gasoline is 689°F, for ethanol it is 475°F. There is your proof that gasoline(vapor) ignites much sooner than alcohol (vapor). As I stated initially in this thread, I personally use a hand cranked pump but not because of any fear. I just don't want the hassle of keeping up with the charging of batteries. I help folks fuel their planes that have electric pumps and feel quite safe. I am NOT going to over react to what others perceive as a hazard. Each has his/her own opinion and I think we have stated ours. I will continue enjoying this sport as I have for 45+ years and hope that you do as well. |
RE: GAS Fuel Can
I'm currently using the no-spill fuel can. Try it.
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