Ameer Randolph
In movies and video games, cars often blow up when their gas tanks are shot. However, this is a myth. For a fire to start in a gas tank, there would need to be a lot of oxygen present, which is usually not the case. Additionally, regular bullets are not powerful enough to ignite a fire in a gas tank. Diesel fuel, in particular, must be atomized and mixed with air in the right proportions for ignition. Therefore, simply applying heat to a pool of diesel is unlikely to cause it to ignite. However, if incendiary bullets are used, it is more likely for a fire to start.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Will a penetrating shot cause diesel fuel to ignite? | No, diesel fuel does not explode even when a blowtorch is pointed at it. |
| What is required for diesel fuel to ignite? | Diesel fuel must be atomized and mixed with air in the right proportions for a successful ignition. |
| What is the auto-ignition point of diesel fuel? | 210°C to 280°C (410°F to 536°F) |
| Can a bullet provide enough heat to ignite diesel fuel? | Conventional bullets do not generate enough heat to ignite diesel fuel. |
| Can incendiary or tracer bullets ignite diesel fuel? | Incendiary and tracer bullets can ignite diesel fuel. |
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What You'll Learn
Diesel fuel requires a high temperature to ignite
The flash point of a fuel is the temperature at which it emits enough flammable vapours to ignite when a source of ignition, like an open flame, is introduced. Diesel fuel has a mid-range flashpoint of over 52 °C (126 °F). This means that diesel fuel will likely be below its flashpoint unless it is in a particularly hot place. Diesel fuel has an auto-ignition temperature of 210 °C (410 °F).
Due to the high compression ratio of diesel engines, diesel fuel ignites from the pressure in the combustion chamber. By using pressure to raise the temperature in a diesel engine above the auto-ignition temperature, vapour is rapidly created and auto-ignited. However, this is not ideal for gas engines, as they have controlled pressures to prevent auto-ignition while still having enough pressure to rapidly convert gasoline to oxygen.
In popular culture, shooting a fuel tank is often depicted as causing an explosion. However, in reality, conventional bullets or tracer bullets do not generate enough heat or have enough surface area to diffuse the heat fast enough to ignite diesel fuel. White phosphorus rounds, such as those fired from an anti-tank sniper rifle, are capable of penetrating the outer shell and fuel tank wall of a vehicle and delivering enough heat to cause an explosion.
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Bullets don't generate enough heat to ignite diesel
In movies and TV shows, we often see that shooting a fuel tank makes it explode. However, in reality, this is not always the case. Conventional bullets or even tracer bullets do not generate enough heat to ignite diesel fuel. This was proven by the Discovery Channel TV show MythBusters, where they shot five bullets into the gas tank of a Cadillac, and there was no explosion or fire.
Bullets typically move at anywhere between 100 and 1000 m/s, and it will take them anywhere between 1/200 and 1/2000 of a second to move through a car's gas tank. This is not enough time for even a very hot bullet to cause a significant temperature increase in the fuel.
Diesel fuel has a higher flash point than gasoline, and it requires extreme pressure or temperatures to ignite. Gasoline, on the other hand, is more volatile under pressure and requires less pressure to ignite. Diesel engines have a higher compression ratio than gasoline engines, which results in higher pressure and temperature. However, the heat generated by a bullet is not enough to ignite diesel fuel.
While bullets may not ignite diesel fuel, they can still cause damage. In the case of a punctured fuel tank, the fuel can leak out and ignite if there is an external source of ignition, such as a flare or sparks from grinding. Additionally, in the case of aircraft, a punctured fuel tank can cause the fuel to ignite other parts of the plane, such as the control systems or the cockpit.
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Diesel fuel requires atomization and mixture with air to ignite
Diesel engines differ from gasoline-powered engines in that they use compression ignition instead of an ignition apparatus like a spark plug. In a diesel engine, only air is initially introduced into the combustion chamber. This air is then compressed at a ratio of 14:1 to 25:1, causing a rise in temperature. Near the end of the compression stroke, diesel fuel is injected directly into the cylinder. The injected fuel atomizes into small droplets, vaporizes, and mixes with the surrounding high-temperature, high-pressure air. As the piston moves closer to the top dead center, the mixture temperature reaches the fuel's ignition temperature, causing ignition.
The process of diesel combustion is primarily mixing-controlled, with some premixed combustion occurring due to the mixing of fuel and air prior to ignition. The basic premise of diesel combustion involves releasing the chemical energy stored in the fuel by making oxygen available in a specific manner. This process, known as mixture preparation, is crucial for facilitating combustion.
To ignite diesel fuel, both heat and oxygen are required. Conventional bullets or tracer bullets typically do not generate enough heat or have sufficient surface area to diffuse the heat quickly enough to ignite diesel fuel. However, white phosphorus rounds, such as those used in certain anti-tank/anti-aircraft sniper rifles, can penetrate the fuel tank and deliver enough heat to cause an explosion.
In summary, diesel fuel requires atomization and mixture with air to ignite. The unique characteristics of diesel engines, including their use of compression ignition and mixture preparation, facilitate the ignition process by ensuring proper temperature and oxygen availability for combustion. While diesel fuel is not easily ignitable by conventional bullets, specialized ammunition can penetrate and ignite diesel fuel under certain conditions.
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Incendiary bullets can penetrate and ignite diesel fuel
Shooting a fuel tank is a common trope in fiction, especially in action movies, where it is often shown that a fuel tank will explode when shot at. However, in reality, this is not always the case. Conventional bullets or tracer bullets do not generate enough heat or have enough surface area to ignite fuels like diesel or jet fuel. Diesel fuel, in particular, is very difficult to ignite with a bullet, even with a blowtorch.
However, incendiary bullets are a notable exception. These bullets are designed to burn upon impact, causing intense heat and igniting any flammable materials in the vicinity. They were first used in World War I, with phosphorus as the primary incendiary charge, leaving a trail of blue smoke. These were known as "smoke tracers". During World War II, incendiary bullets became one of the preferred types of ammunition for use in interceptor fighters. They were highly effective against flammable hydrogen-filled zeppelins, for example.
Incendiary bullets are especially useful against armoured vehicles, as they can penetrate the thick armour plating and ignite the fuel, ammunition, or other combustible materials inside. This can incapacitate the vehicle or force its crew to abandon it. In one notable instance, a real-life fuel tank explosion was achieved using a minigun armed with incendiary rounds.
It is important to note that igniting fuel-air or gas-air mixtures can be unpredictable, and factors such as the amount of oxygen in the tank and the temperature of the bullet come into play. While incendiary bullets can penetrate and ignite diesel fuel, it is not a guaranteed outcome and depends on various factors such as the design of the bullet, the speed of the bullet, and the conditions in the fuel tank.
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Diesel fuel is safer to handle than gasoline
Diesel fuel is generally considered safer to handle than gasoline. This is because diesel is less volatile and has a lower vapour pressure, making it less flammable and less likely to ignite. Gasoline, on the other hand, is composed of lighter hydrocarbons, which are highly volatile and flammable. This makes gasoline vapours more hazardous and easier to ignite.
The difference in volatility between diesel and gasoline is due to their chemical composition. Diesel is composed of longer-chain hydrocarbons, typically ranging from 10 to 20 carbon atoms per molecule. These longer chains, often referred to as alkanes, are heavier and less volatile than the hydrocarbons found in gasoline. This difference in molecular weight significantly impacts the fuel's physical properties and combustion behaviour.
The process of fractional distillation illustrates the distinction between diesel and gasoline. During this process, crude oil is heated, and the resulting vapour rises through a distillation column. As the vapour cools, hydrocarbons condense back into liquid form at different temperatures, depending on their boiling points. Gasoline, being lighter and more volatile, typically condenses at the top of the column, while diesel, being heavier, condenses lower down.
The ignition methods for diesel and gasoline engines also differ. Gasoline engines use spark ignition, where a spark plug generates an electrical spark to ignite the mixture of gasoline and air. In contrast, diesel engines use compression ignition, where air is compressed to a high pressure, generating substantial heat. Diesel fuel is then injected into this hot compressed air, causing it to ignite spontaneously without the need for a spark. This difference in ignition method influences the design of the respective engines, with diesel engines typically built with sturdier components to withstand higher compression ratios.
The safety advantages of diesel fuel extend beyond its handling characteristics. Diesel engines, due to their compression ignition and higher torque, are often preferred for applications requiring pulling power and fuel economy. Additionally, modern diesel engines emit lower levels of CO2 and carbon monoxide than gasoline engines, contributing to their improved safety profile. However, it is worth noting that diesel fuel can be more expensive and that diesel engines may be noisier and more challenging to start in cold temperatures due to the absence of spark plugs.
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Frequently asked questions
Diesel fuel does not ignite easily, even when exposed to a blowtorch. Conventional bullets do not generate enough heat to ignite diesel fuel. However, white phosphorus rounds, like those fired from the Lahti L-39 Finnish 20mm Anti-tank/Anti-aircraft sniper rifle, can penetrate a fuel tank and deliver enough heat to cause an explosion.
Diesel fuel must be atomized and mixed with air in the right proportions to ignite. Diesel has an auto-ignition point, typically between 210°C and 280°C (410°F to 536°F).
In order for a fire to start in a fuel tank, there needs to be a significant amount of oxygen present, which is usually not the case. Regular bullets are not powerful enough to ignite a fire in a fuel tank. However, incendiary bullets are more likely to cause a fire.
In an episode of MythBusters, the team fired five bullets into the gas tank of a Cadillac, but it did not explode or catch fire. In Terminator 2: Judgment Day, a gas tank explodes after a crash due to a live wire sparking next to leaking fuel.
