Thermal Video of a Biogas Flame, Boise, Idaho
Biogas is typically a mixture of Methane and Carbon Dioxide that is the by-product of various production processes. It can be used as a fuel, but in cases where there production is insufficient to make for profit it is most often burned.
This is a thermal video of a biogas-fueled flame at an agricultural plant. I think that the most remarkable thing about it-aside from it's mesmerizing motion-is the distribution of heat in the flame. I had always thought that the hottest portion of a flame was at the base of the visible blue tongue, but if this admittedly anecdotal sampling is typical it appears the hottest portion is within the mass of the flame.
Consider that the actual flame doesn't really look like the thermal signature. The visible flame stops, but heat continues on so that the thermal signature is much larger. In this case it's several feet high.
Our FLIR is capable not only of thermal video (a rare capability) but also of thermal video up to about 3,600° F-not that we expect to be found spending much of our time around something that hot. It is useful in certain manufacturing processes to critique welding, etc., and to test jet engines. Food products, not so much.
L
April 14th, 2011 - 19:15
Leo, the hot part being mid flame is because there is no oxidizer delivered from the stack. It is a way to protect the top of the stack from excess heat.
Welding flame is usually a blend of the right combo to produce max heat. Pressure is needed to keep the burn just byond the tip or from creeping back up the hose to the source.
Gary
April 14th, 2011 - 19:43
Learning something new every day! Thank you!