Methane, the main component of natural gas, has an autoignition temperature of 580C / 1076F, whereas gasoline and diesel autoignite at approximately 250C and 210C respectively.
22.
Upon reaching the " threshold " temperature ( autoignition temperature ) the combustion process begins, with the release of heat sufficient to ignite the nearest areas.
23.
A material may have a relatively low autoignition temperature yet if its flash-point is above the ambient temperature, then the area may not need to be classified.
24.
In 1893, a mechanical engineer by the name of Rudolf Diesel approached Gustav with a patent for a " new kind of internal combustion engine employing autoignition of the fuel ".
25.
Ignition occurs as the temperature of the fuel / air mixture is taken over its autoignition temperature, due to heat generated by the compression of the air during the compression stroke.
26.
On the other hand, Diesel engines operate on the principle of compression ignition, so that a fuel which resists autoignition will cause late ignition, which will also lead to engine knock.
27.
Safeguards, such as current limiting by resistors and fuses, must be employed to ensure that in no circumstance can a component reach a temperature that could cause autoignition of a combustible atmosphere.
28.
To ignite, the fuel must have a low flash point, but in order to avoid preignition caused by residual heat in a hot combustion chamber, the fuel must have a high autoignition temperature.
29.
Ethanol, methanol, liquefied petroleum gas ( LPG ) and compressed natural gas ( CNG ) allow higher boost than gasoline, because of their higher resistance to autoignition ( lower tendency to knock ).
30.
The report indicated that the fire was caused by the autoignition of the contents of a cargo pallet, which contained " a significant number " of lithium type batteries and " other combustible materials ".
