It's probably a silly question, but I figure that if the gas is what is being ignited to produce the flame to cook the meat, and there's a constant stream of gas which is feeding the flame, what is stopping the flame from catching the stream itself and igniting the propane tank?
2007-05-23 13:53:42 · 6 answers · asked by weskingston 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
The propane is under pressure in the cylinder and flowing out via a regulator. Pure gas will not burn without air (oxygen) and it doesn't mix with the air until it gets to the burner.
The flowing propane gas in the line cannot ignite because it needs mixture of around 95% oxygen to 5% gas in order to ignite and that doesn't occur until the gas and air are mixed in the burner. The burner jet is a very small orifice and, as the gas is leaving it at a good velocity, no flame can possibly propagate backwards to the cyclinder.
2007-05-23 16:06:32 · answer #1 · answered by Norrie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Propane is very dangerous stuff. if you know you are having trouble with any part of the connections you should remove the propane tank and either work out what the solution is to this connection problem or have someone a gas fitter is best to come and repair this. still another option is to buy a new tank and a new BBQ. NOTE if you allow unburnt propane to leak out even slowly it will build up . the gas is heavy and it will be near the leak. there should be a smell but dont count on that . propane tanks are very similar to skud missles used by the irak military in the first gulf war. see dangerous stuff
2016-05-21 03:41:37 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because ignition process needs oxygen, and there is no oxygen inside propane tank. that's why the flame can not ignite the propane gas inside the tank
2007-05-23 14:03:21 · answer #3 · answered by Hanciong 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The flame cannot travel down the line or into the tank because their is no air in the line or tank to support combustion.
2007-05-23 14:39:48 · answer #4 · answered by gatorbait 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For a flame to appear you need to have a mixture of propane and oxigen. You simply don't have oxigen in the propane tank, so you can't hava an explosive mixture.
2007-05-23 14:03:01 · answer #5 · answered by dr_luj 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
propane by itself is not flammable. It must be mixed with oxygen in the air before it will burn.
Since the hose and the tank is pressurized, air cannot enter it to mix into a combustible mixture.
2007-05-23 14:41:54 · answer #6 · answered by eric.s 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋