Geek woman news story of possible interest...

[James Knott]

Dave Cramer wrote:
>> l is not intended to explode.  Even in piston engines, explosions are
>> undesirable.  What you want is a fast moving flame front.  If the fuel
>> exploded quickly, as happens with high explosives, your engine wouldn't
>> last very long.  With turbine engines you want a steady, continuous
>> burning, not an explosion.  Back in the days when jet aircraft were
>> being introduced, one of the selling points was fuel safety.  One
>> promoter even had a convincing demo.  He'd stand in a puddle of jet fuel
>> and drop lit matches into it.  He'd then challenge a jet opponent to do
>> the same with the gasoline fuel used in piston aircraft.  No one
>> accepted the challenge.  ;-)
>>
>>
>>   
> Yeah, diesel fuel can do the same thing, and now they are running 
> biodiesel which is essentially vegetable oil.

Jet fuel (kerosene), automotive diesel and heating oil are very similar 
petroleum distilates and can often be interchanged.
>
> Fairly harmless stuff until the right conditions are introduced.

The "right" conditions depend on how much vapour is in the air, as the 
liquid forms are harder to ignite.  The higher volatility of gasoline 
makes it more dangerous, as more vapour is likely to be present.  The 
fuel injectors in engines are used to create a mist that will burn 
easily.  Incidentally, turbines and diesels are tolerant of a wide 
variety of fuels.  The fuels commonly used are selected for the various 
practical reasons.




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