Pooh Bear <rabbitsfriendsandrelations@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> writes:
>> > What is E85? Is that fuel with 15 percent ethanol?
>>
>> E85 is 85% ethanol with 15% gasoline added, for cold weather starting
>> and so you can see any flames if it catches on fire. Unfortunately, it
>> also means fighting an E85 fire with water is less successful. Water
>> fire extinguishment is the reason Indy racing went from using a
>> cornucopia of fuels to mandating straight methanol only.
>I thought trying to extinguish a gasoline fire with water wasn't too
clever in the
>first place !
No it's not - flammable liquid fires generally require foam which smothers
the fire and cools the liquid at the same time, but you can you fine water
spray if the conditions are right since the spray will have the same
effects
as foam.
I wouldn't think having fuel with a small ethanol content is going to make
fire extinguishment much different than with current fuel mixtures, though
a
fuel which is primarily ethanol and/or methanol is certainly going to
require a different technique.
The biggest problem could come from the combination of the alcohol in the
fuel with the combustible materials that make up the car itself - all sort
of plastics, etc. which give off toxic smoke and fumes when heated and
oxidised.
It's a constant battle no doubt for car designers (even for Saab's tech
people) to come up with ways to implement features using materials that
effectively balance all the regular requirements of the automotive
environment with the risks and hazards that come about during acidents
and/or fires.
As an aside. We (local volunteer fire brigade) had a callout to a car fire
last night - a guys work ute loaded with tools and materials (he's a
self-employed carpet layer apparently) was stolen from where he lives
about
10 km north and torched just down the road from the fire station at the
start of the national park. Called out just before midnight - totally
engulfed when we arrived 7 minutes later. Lots of bush in the immediate
area
was also burning but the main concern now is that the car was torched over
a
mulch pile which is still smouldering almost 20 hours later since last
night
we couldn't get any water into that area as the base of the cabin and the
chassis were on the ground after the expensive alloy wheels melted onto
the
ground. 8-)
Might put the pics I took today when the salvage truck came to remove what
was left of the vehicle online somewhere for everyone to look at...
Craig.
--
Craig's Saab C900 Page at | Craig's Classic Saab Workshop - Sydney
.au
http://lios.apana.org.au/~c900
| http://www.classicsaab.net
and other
URL's
Email: c900@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
| For Saab 99/C900/9000 Enthusiasts
World-Wide!
Alternate: saabonaut@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
| Web-forums, galleries, library, links,
etc.
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