Discussion Overview
The discussion centers around the question of why fire does not propagate back to a gas tank in scenarios involving natural gas stoves and potentially welding applications. Participants explore the conditions under which flames interact with gas streams and the physical principles involved.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Conceptual clarification
Main Points Raised
- One participant questions the coherence of the initial post, asking for clarification on the type of tank and the relevance of gasoline to welding.
- Another participant specifies that the discussion pertains to natural gas stoves and suggests that the absence of oxygen in the gas tank may prevent the fire from burning back.
- A later reply explains that in a Bunsen burner, the flame remains at the top of the tube due to flame speed, which is slower in certain conditions, and that if the gas flow is too low, the flame can indeed travel down the tube.
- Another participant adds that in a tank, the air above the fuel is saturated with fuel vapor, which may inhibit flame propagation, noting that flames cannot proceed if the temperature is lowered through certain materials.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express differing views on the mechanisms preventing flame propagation, with some agreeing on the role of oxygen and flame speed, while others introduce additional factors like fuel vapor saturation. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing explanations.
Contextual Notes
Participants mention specific conditions such as flame speed and the saturation of air with fuel vapor, but do not fully resolve the implications of these factors on flame propagation.