Date:         Wed, 26 Mar 2014 11:19:53 -0500
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Ethylene glycol can self-ignite at 782 degrees?
Comments: To: Michael <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <iFbR1n01X08X5Fr01FbTzl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

Hmmm...... .  Antifreeze is routinely used in solar hot water heaters deployed in freezing climates.  The heater uses a double circuit, one circuit to absorb light (and so heat) into an antifreeze containing fluid, and one containing the potable water that the antifreeze containing fluid then heats secondarily.  The heater is typically installed on the roof of a house or commercial building.  Any way around the fire risk of this?  

Does water have a combustion temperature?  I would think it would vaporize but not ignite when exposed to a combination of heat and oxygen.  

mcneely

---- Michael <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET> wrote: 
> It just needs to spray on a hot surface to ignite.  Everything has a combustion temperature, some things are lower and some things are higher.  Finely atomized metal will ignite explosively when the conditions are right, right?
>   As a side note, glycol has been banned in antifreeze building fire sprinkler systems, because of a recent fire where the system went off during a kitchen hood fire and the antifreeze burned so intensely that it killed several firemen.
> 
> Mike B.
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> > On Mar 26, 2014, at 11:21, "Chris S." <szpejankowski@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> > 
> > ... Surely someone has a torch, a crucible, and some 50/50 coolant mix to test this.
> > 
> > Scientifically curious are standing by...
> > 
> > Chris.
> > 
> > Wysłane z iPhone'a
> > 
> > Dnia Mar 26, 2014 o godz. 8:40 Pete O <pnoceanwesty@GMAIL.COM> napisał(a):
> > 
> >> Just read this on an RV site:
> >> 
> >> *A pinhole-size leak in a radiator or heater hose can spray antifreeze on
> >> hot engine parts. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol concentrate and
> >> water. When the water boils off, the remaining ethylene glycol can
> >> self-ignite at 782 degrees F. During your monthly fire inspection, check
> >> all hoses for firmness, clamp tightness, and signs of leaking.*
> >> 
> >> 
> >> Pete
> >> '87 Westy "JoesVan"
> >> '79 Westy "Aardvark"

--
David McNeely