From: spike66 (spike66@attbi.com)
Date: Tue May 28 2002 - 21:55:34 MDT
Charlie Stross wrote:
>>I understood that they are pressurized but not to 1 atmosphere.
>>The pressure in the tank would be lower at cruise altitude than
>>on the deck. spike
>>
>
>Pedantic point: the cabin isn't pressurized to 1 atmosphere, either!
>Ever wondered why you need to swallow while the airliner's descending?
>
No Charlie, I didn't wonder, I realize the cabin pressure
is below 1 atmosphere in flight. What puzzles me is that a
fuel tank could explode if the pressure is below 1 atmosphere
and way rich in fuel, even given an ignition source. Kerosine
is much less explosive than gasoline, and we all know
what happens when we have insufficient compression in
one of the cylinders in a car engine, this with an
ideal fuel-air mixture. Mike what is the typical pressure
in a jet's tank at altitude? spike
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