On 01-Oct-17 3:31 AM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 30/09/17 18:43, Tim Streater wrote:
One plus for hydrogen is that when it burns, the flame is not so
dangerous to be near (an explosion requires a mixture). This is because
the flame is not luminous, unlike a hydrocarbon flame which is, and
which therefore radiates a lot of heat sideways. You wouldn't have
wanted to be near one of those Buncefield tanks.

******** Tim.

Racing drivers ahve burnt to death because methanol burns with no flame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=MnDX4FpDAzQ

Its now fairly banned in the UK

Not from Historic Racing it isn't.
http://www.britishhistoricracingclub...cation-MWh.pdf
Methanol may be used in any class of machine (Pre 1973).
An orange day-glow disc (minimum 3 inches diameter) must be affixed on
or immediately adjacent to the Racing Number Plate on both sides of any
machine using methanol.

Nor from speedway / grass track.

Nor from Drag racing. Top Methanol Funny Car, Top Methanol Dragster
http://www.eurodragster.com/sprc/gettingstarted.html

I can't think of any racing class for bikes or cars that was using it
and has been stopped from using methanol in the last 30 years.

Seems to be easy to obtain in race fuel grade in UK.
http://www.trackstuff.co.uk/VP%20M1%20Methanol.htm
https://aaoil.co.uk/product/sunoco-r...ol-99-85-pure/
http://www.chemiphase.co.uk/methanol...ding-delivery/

The last supplier also lists dilution ratios for use in production of
BioDiesel. You could have a 1000L ICB delivered on your doorstep in a
few days, enough to make 5000L of BioDiesel.

But none of those re-fuel with quick fillers and a hot (running?)
engine. (Only the Yanks?)

Nitromethane used in "top Fuel" drag racing class and model IC engines
("glow plug") burns to produce Nitric Acid. That's a bit toxic, drivers
and fire lane crews wear gas masks.

Natural gas in domestic gas boiler will produce Formaldehyde during warm
up. The flame is "quenched" on the cold heat exchanger, the reaction
stops with highly toxic part products of combustion.

Many years ago my mum complained about a town gas leak venting from a
tubular gate post. A bloke from the gas co came and inspected it. He
wasn't bothered as it was vented and not collecting in an enclosed
space. With the exception of Hydrogen most gas fuels have to be in an
enclosed space to reach explosive mixture, otherwise they just
dissipate. Heavier fuel gases like propane will flow along the ground
and can then concentrate in drains which can then blow up.