Technical Information

Flash Point vs. Combustion Point

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Flash Point vs. Combustion Point

The flash point of any volatile liquid is expressed by the lowest temperature at which that liquid can vaporize with the addition of an oxidizer (air) into an ignitable mixture with the assistance of an outside ignition source. Now, this does not mean that the mixture will continue to burn once the ignition source is removed; it only means that it will ignite with an outside ignition source. Continued burning of the volatile liquid is referred to as the Fire Point. The combustion or ignition point of a volatile liquid is significantly different. That is the point in which fuel is injected into a combustion chamber, at some point above autoigntion (around 500 degrees K.), where in it mixes completely with an oxidizer (air) and ignites. This takes place some where around 800 to 900 degrees K. This is only an estimate in temperature since temperature is affected by so many other variables, i.e., fuel type, air inlet temperature, load, engine design, etc. Again, this is only the combustion or ignition point, since combustion temperatures vastly exceed combustion or ignition point temperatures due to thermal heat expansion.

Flash Point vs. Combustion Point