I'm using a piezoelectric igniter (brand name, Lightnin' Bug, sold for acetylene torches) which I bought specifically so I wouldn't have to keep matches around the kitchen. I've tried it on my stove, it won't work, on a butane lighter, on a paper towl soaked with ether. Nothing lights! I'm astonished.
Is the ignition energy for acetylene THAT MUCH lower than that of producer gas, that these sparks won't light anything else...? I know that the spark TEMPERATURE should be high enough, and I had read of a piezo device being used to ignite wood alcohol, that's why I figured it would have to work. 10 points to the one who can clear up this mystery for me.
(In the meantime, please don't be worried, on my behalf. I've gone back to using matches for the time being, there are no kids or pets in the house and I'm not leaving flammables around. I'm in no danger of fire or explosion.)
2007-02-11 01:36:38 · 7 answers · asked by cdf-rom 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
I had the same experience.
Apparently the gas main gas is a lot less potent than acetylene.
If you burn both acetylene and the gas from the gas main without enough oxygen you get about ten times the carbon from the acetylene.
I think the ignitor you are using was designed for the extremely rich ultra flammable mixture of oxygen and acetylene that a torch has and just won't work with the less flammable mixture found in a stove. Remember oxygen is only 21 percent of the make up of normal air but the torch gets 100 percent oxygen.
This undoubtedly makes a big difference.
2007-02-11 01:57:51 · answer #1 · answered by Simon says 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well let's just say that it does not take much for acetylene to ignite... yes it will ignite extremely easy.
Our stove has those igniter things, I don't know if it's the same thing as the piezoelectric ones... this one goes click click click..
Our stove does that sometimes too though, the thing keeps sparking but no ignition, but if I fan it a little with my hands, it ignites.
It's almost like maybe the gas needs more oxygen to ignite easier or fanning it, causes the gas to go where the spark is.
I know it sounds strange, you'd thing there's gas everywhere around the burner as soon as you turn it on.
2007-02-11 01:48:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Acetylene has a double covalent bond which releases a lot more energy than the single bonds of common flammable substances (which is why it is used for welding: it produces a higher temperature flame), so once it is heated enough, by a small spark, that energy heats and ignites the gas around it, so you can get by with lower sparking.
2007-02-11 01:55:00 · answer #3 · answered by CLICKHEREx 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps there is too much gas coming out at once, the colder the gas is (exiting first), is harder to ignite. It's also harder to light with wind factors... Maybe if you turned down the gas coming out at a time, it would light easier.
2007-02-11 02:27:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because you are sniffing the gas and leaving none to be ignited
2007-02-11 01:44:26 · answer #5 · answered by nathan l 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i dont know dood, go to 7-11 havent you ever heard of a microwave.
gawd.
2007-02-11 01:40:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes microwave
2007-02-11 01:43:14 · answer #7 · answered by avant1991 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋