Question

What is the lower concentration limit (vol%) at which a mixture of ethanol in air can explode?

Answer 1

Answer:

Lower explosive limit (LEL) of ethanol = 3.3%

Explanation:

In the case of alcohol, ethanol presents certain fire hazards. Its momentary flash point is 55ºF (12.9ºC), while the momentary flash point of gasoline is -45ºF (-42.8ºC), and the E85 mixture ranges between -20ºF and -4ºF (between -28 , 9ºC and -20ºC), and has a wider range of flammability limits than gasoline. For emergency response teams, this implies that during a release of the typical ethanol / gasoline mixture, the fuel can be expected to behave like gasoline: It is heavier than air - as we mentioned earlier - and can produce vapors and form flammable mixtures in the air, under most environmental conditions.

General properties and comparison with other inflambles products:

Flash point momentary Gasoline = -45 ° F

Ethanol = 55 ° F

E 85 = between -20º and -4º F

Flammability limits

Lower explosive limit (LEL) of ethanol = 3.3%

Upper Explosive Limit (UEL) = 19%

Lower explosive limit (LEL) of the mixture E 85 = 1.4%

Upper Explosive Limit (UEL) 85 = 19%

Lower explosive limit (LEL) of gasoline = 1.4%

Upper Explosive Limit (UEL) = 7.6%

They have a wider range than gasoline