What is the flame temperature of a propane torch?

December 17, 2015

Gas burners are an indispensable assistant in the household, workshops and production shops, on a picnic and on hikes. Ease and ease of use have long given the primacy to gas appliances over other types. When choosing a burner, you should take into account the scope of application, the required power, as well as the maximum flame temperature. The last factor is especially important when performing more delicate types of work. Therefore, it is necessary to know the basic parameters directly related to the temperature distribution of the gas burner flame.

What determines the temperature of a gas burner flame?

A gas burner in a can and the flame temperature in it directly depends on the composition of the gas fuel, the ambient combustion conditions and the power of the equipment used. In this case, a direct relationship is observed between the calorific value of the gas and the temperature of the flame torch - an increase in the first indicator leads to an increase in the second.

When the process of mixing the fuel used with air occurs, the gas is completely consumed, which in turn increases the burning rate and increases the flame temperature. This indicator can be improved through additional use of air blast. For example, without the use of blowing, the maximum temperature regime is 1500 °C, but when using it, results up to 2200 °C are possible.

The temperature is also affected by the flame pattern. It is not homogeneous and is divided into three zones:

internal - is the shortest and has the lowest temperature indicators. It is in it that the gas mixture is heated, but without combustion;
The average reduction zone is the so-called light fire zone, in which the highest temperature is reached. Combustion already occurs here, but not at full power, due to the lack of oxygen and the presence of carbonaceous gas decomposition products;
bordering - characterized by the lightest flame, is oxidizing. The temperature of this zone is also high and due to excess air, complete combustion of the gas occurs.

Schematic representation of a gas burner flame

The first step is to figure out what parts the burner flame consists of.
This can be done using the simple diagram below. In this schematic diagram, the following flame areas are indicated by letters:

O – area of oxidizing flame; here the air-gas mixture burns completely, and an increased oxygen content is observed.
B – recovery area. Here the gas does not burn completely, since it does not have enough oxygen for this. As a result, it breaks down into molecules that are combustion products. It is they who burn out completely in the oxidizing flame.
A is the area in which the formation of the air-gas mixture occurs. Here the combustion process does not occur at all.

Gas cylinder burners: flame temperature

Today, burners that are attached directly to a gas cartridge are very popular. Depending on the method of fastening, they are divided into three main types:

Threaded ones that simply screw onto the cylinder. This method allows for directed combustion and a torch flame structure. To operate such devices, gas with a high propane content is used. The maximum flame temperature of a gas burner is 1800 degrees, but it can be adjusted by reducing or adding gas or oxygen supply using specially designed valves.
Collet. The most common burners capable of providing a flame temperature of up to 1500 degrees.
Piezoelectric, which are easy to ignite a flame and use for a variety of purposes. They are not intended for installation on gas canisters, but craftsmen often use just such devices. The flame temperature reaches the same one and a half thousand degrees.

Mini soldering torches

1st place – mini gas burner with soldering attachment

Designed for both heating medium-sized parts and for contact soldering due to the heating of the tip from the flame. A kind of soldering iron without wires. The gas tank capacity is 8ml. The flame temperature when filling with butane reaches 1300 degrees Celsius, and the tip temperature – 450 degrees. The flame length is adjustable from 4 to 6 cm. The burner length is 13 cm and the diameter is 1.5 cm.

small and inexpensive, the refill is enough to solder several medium-sized parts, there is a nozzle for contact soldering, it is easy to refill.

2nd place – gas micro burner

There is nothing in it except a tank with a filling valve and a nozzle with a gas supply regulator. The ZC57100 does not have piezo ignition and it is supplied unfilled, so you will also have to buy a gas cartridge - it will be suitable for lighters. In general, to solder two wires or heat heat shrink without a soldering iron, such a torch is enough. The burner is also about 20 cm long and weighs 43 g.

This is the cheapest burner that can be found and the price of such a micro burner is 200 rubles.

the cheapest, easy to refill.

small flame, the filling runs out quickly, there is no piezo ignition.

3rd place – mini gas soldering iron KVT XZ-1

This remarkable soldering iron from the gas powered brand features piezo ignition and comes in a case with a set of 4 soldering tips, a spool of solder, and a tip cleaning sponge. Thus, the declared power of the soldering iron for contact soldering is 137 W - this is a lot for a soldering iron with a length of 21 cm and a weight of 120 g. Electric soldering irons have never dreamed of such weight and size characteristics. This soldering iron is not positioned as a torch, but it can be used as a torch - the flame is pencil-type.

This soldering iron is good for everyone, except for the price of 2300 rubles, which is why it landed in 3rd place.

burner from a famous brand, easy to solder, set of components, good case, high heat output.

4th place – gas burner IRIS BARCELONA

This torch is not only designed for soldering, welding, repairing electronic devices and jewelry. The flame of this burner is of course adjustable. Can be charged with a standard lighter gas cylinder. The flame length reaches 3 cm. The operating time is about 20 minutes. The flame temperature reaches 1300 degrees Celsius. The length of the burner itself is exactly 20 cm.

small size, piezo ignition, brand.

The length of the flame does not allow heating medium and large parts.

5th place – butane burner KVT X-220

It is positioned as a burner for construction and repair work. She looks very stylish. The knurled handle fits nicely in the hand. Has a piezoelectric flame ignition system. The capacity of the cylinder for highly purified butane is 22 ml. This amount of gas is enough for 110 minutes of continuous operation. The flame length is adjustable from 30 to 80 mm from a sharp wedge-shaped flame to a soft flame with yellow tongues. The weight was only 226 grams with a length of 14 cm.

a good option for desktop work, there is a stand, piezo ignition, and a comfortable handle.

It's bulky, you can't put it in your pocket, you can't fit it into a narrow place.

Dependence of temperature on fuel type

For domestic needs, two types of gas are used: natural and liquefied. Both of them are a transparent, explosive substance without color or odor. Therefore, to increase safety and the possibility of instant leak detection, ethyl mercaptan is added to the gas - a substance whose tart smell is felt by a person when he opens the gas tap. According to its chemical composition, natural gas consists of 98% methane and 2% of impurities that are represented sulfur, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

In private homes, dachas and in areas not equipped with a main gas pipeline, liquefied bottled gas is used. For this, two types of mixture are used: propane-butane with a ratio of 65/35 and butane-propane prepared in a ratio of 85/15. The flame temperature of bottled gas is slightly lower than that of natural gas, and never exceeds 1000 degrees.

Due to the difference in temperatures, each gas has its own gas equipment. However, many manufacturers of gas stoves running on natural gas equip them with jets and reducers necessary to convert the stove to bottled gas. If the stove is connected to a cylinder without these important devices, the burner will begin to emit a huge amount of soot and constantly go out.

In this case, you will need to immediately contact the gas service and under no circumstances switch the stove to another type of gas yourself.

The difference between propane and methane

Among the distinctive features of propane it is worth noting:

higher combustion efficiency, making it much more efficient than methane during welding;
high inertness of the gas, which allows it to more actively enter into various chemical reactions;
propane is safer than methane and has a narcotic effect;
When transporting propane, you do not need to use any special equipment; ordinary steel cylinders are sufficient.

In addition, propane is cheaper and easier to refill.

Gas burner flame temperature control

A value of 1800 degrees is ideal, for example, for welding metal workpieces, as well as for calcination, warming up in winter, or burning out individual sections of pipelines. For light alloy wheels and metals, you just need to choose a burner that can provide a directed effect.

But for other purposes this temperature may be excessively high. Therefore, we suggest that you follow the recommendations below:

For processing wood, a temperature of 700-800 degrees will be sufficient. Such a flame will allow you to successfully cope with wood burning and decorating wood products, kindling wood on a barbecue, in a fireplace or in a stove.
The maximum flame temperature is not required for working with glass, quartz, porcelain products, as well as with workpieces made of polymer materials. In addition, to process them, the flame must be directed and very thin.
A minimum temperature of 200-350 degrees is ideal for cooking on a camping trip or in the field. In addition, you need to set it to this value if you want to process poultry carcasses, create some original decoration for desserts, or give a dish a more pleasant color.

The quality and efficiency of the flame depends not only on temperature indicators. In addition, it is very important to achieve proper oxygen distribution. Otherwise, there will be a lack of air, which will ultimately lead to the accumulation of combustion products in the burner. Because of this, soot appears, which then settles on the parts being processed or the dishes being prepared.

The gas burner allows you to perform a different range of work using a controlled flame at elevated temperatures. The device is used to perform soldering, welding, and household tasks. Special models are used for tourism purposes for cooking and lighting a fire. The temperature of the gas burner depends on the type and design features of the product.

High temperature lamps

There are devices where MAPP gas is used instead of a propane-butane mixture. The flame temperature in these devices is 2200−2400°C. The main energy is concentrated in a cone, which is quite stable and has a pronounced boundary.
Such products are used for heating, bending and forging massive parts and high-carbon steels. High temperature allows for better tempering and hardening of metal.
As for welding and soldering, MAPP gas devices do an excellent job with stainless steel, and even thin parts do not overheat. Another advantage of MAPP is its low boiling point, which allows it to be used at temperatures of -20°C even in products without a heating circuit.

Goods for tourism and active recreation

It is much more economical than electric stoves or other modern household appliances for the kitchen. How high the temperature will be in the flame of a gas stove directly depends on the quality of the mixture used to operate the device. There are several types of natural fuels.

Among them:. Important: before buying a gas stove, you need to check its equipment, and whether there are special jets that can ensure the correct operation of the nozzle in the desired mode.

If the equipment was initially purchased for one type of gas, but during operation it needs to be changed, then you need to check whether the kit includes additional parts that will help to correctly install the equipment. Violations during installation of even the smallest and seemingly insignificant part can lead to improper operation of the gas stove. For example, it will start to smoke heavily, or the fire will constantly go out.

Rexant GT-19

Fuel type – propane-butane mixture.
The connection is collet.
Flame temperature – 1400 ºС.
Gas consumption – 80 g/hour.
Overall dimensions – 153x40x57 mm.
Weight – 135 g.

Rexant GT-19 is a compact and convenient burner designed for connection to standard gas cylinders using a collet connection. The model can be used for a variety of jobs involving flame processing, including removing old paint, lighting fires, barbecues and stoves, soldering pipe connections, and insulating wires using heat-shrinkable materials. Thanks to the built-in piezoelectric element, ignition is carried out with one touch.

After two minutes of warming up, the burner can be held at any angle, based on the characteristics of the work being performed. The design provides the ability to adjust the flame, which ensures economical fuel consumption. Recommended continuous operation time is no more than 30 minutes. It should be remembered that the burner is a subject of increased fire hazard. It is prohibited to be transported on public transport or left unattended while working. During operation, the device requires minimal human intervention. Maintenance comes down to periodically cleaning the burner from contaminants that could lead to clogging of the nozzle.

Operating principle and features

The user receives an even torch, the power of which is controlled by a special valve. Due to this, the temperature at which it heats up changes depending on the thickness of the material and the tasks being pursued.

The device is more cost-effective for welding and cutting than massive, expensive equipment.

The range of uses is so wide that the product is even used for disinfecting wooden hives, treating animal cages, roofing, and so on..

The burner is ignited with matches, a lighter or an open fire source. This option is cheaper than models with installed piezo ignition. This element leads to combustion after pressing the button, which provokes the appearance of a spark, which ignites the gas jet.

A burner is a popular tool, so developers strive to improve the design and increase functionality. The market offers several types of such equipment:

Gas soldering iron.
Cutter.
Burner for tourism.
Blowtorch.

Kinds

A burner is a popular tool, so developers strive to improve the design and increase functionality. The market offers several types of such equipment:

Gas soldering iron.
Cutter.
Burner for tourism.
Blowtorch.

A blowtorch is one of the types of burners . Shows high temperature and is used for processing metal, plastic and other durable materials.

Each type differs in appearance (design, color , packaging) and purpose. These features are taken into account before purchasing, since this directly determines the final result of processing and ease of use.

How is the efficiency obtained from gas combustion?

When choosing a gas boiler, you should pay attention to the technical data sheet. It indicates the efficiency factor, for example, 93 or 91%. But this does not mean that the efficiency will really be that way. In fact, the formed heating system has an efficiency that tends to 0. The faster the heat leaves the room, the faster the indicator will approach 0%. If this is due to the increased thermal conductivity of building structures, then it is possible to insulate them efficiently. You can use mastic, sealing rubber bands, heat-insulating material and double-glazed windows with a standardized distance between the glasses. But it is worth remembering that infiltration cannot be avoided. First of all, it is provoked by a gas boiler, which requires air to burn gas.

Combustion chamber of heating equipment

Gas boilers differ primarily in the design of the combustion chamber. It comes in two types:

open;
closed.

The open chamber is a fairly simple combustion device. It looks like this: above the burner there is a heat exchanger in the form of a coil of thin copper tubes. Thanks to the open design, the air required for the combustion reaction is supplied to the point of ignition of the gas from the environment.

As a rule, there is enough air from the room (provided good ventilation is organized). But there are wall-mounted models with air intake from outside, for which a special hole is mounted in the wall. Open combustion chambers require a chimney.

Most often it is installed for models of floor-standing gas boilers, and was also used to complete an old-style boiler (in this case, ignition was carried out by a pilot burner).

Combustion chamber design diagrams

The closed combustion chamber is distinguished by the design of the heating block. The heat exchanger is located above the burner. The unit body is closed, combustion air is pumped by a fan installed in the chamber. Coolant is passed through the double walls of the chamber, heating it, increasing the efficiency of the boiler. The gas is burned almost completely, the combustion products are removed by a coaxial pipe under air pressure.

What does it depend on?

The burner temperature is determined by the chemical composition of the gas and the power of the product. During the research, it was possible to establish that the temperature parameters of the torch depend on the calorific properties of the gas mixture.

After combining the fuel with air, the gas is consumed critically, so the combustion intensity increases. By using an additional air source, you can increase the temperature you get at the burner. Without blowing, the value reaches 1500 degrees; access to auxiliary air flow gives an increase of up to 2200 degrees. The temperature differs in different parts of the torch :

Internal . This is a short zone with little heating.
Average . In this area, the temperature of the flame from the gas burner reaches its limit, but the fire does not open completely, which is due to a lack of oxygen and the release of decay products.
Bordering . Visually characterized by a bright fire with high efficiency.

Cheap burner models are structurally the same. Expensive ones are equipped with additional elements that increase technical characteristics and ease of use.

To perform welding and cutting, special requirements are placed on the composition of the gas mixture, since the temperature regime of the product depends on it.

Features of application

Thus, pyrolysis gas has a slightly lower degree of heat transfer than natural or liquefied gas. Therefore, for the correct operation of various types of heating and kitchen equipment when using it for proper, more intense combustion, it is necessary to increase its supply.

In kitchen equipment, for example, jets can be drilled out for this purpose. In this case, a furnace using pyrolysis gas will work in the same way as using natural gas. That is, the intensity of fuel combustion will be the same. Also, to transfer various types of equipment to another type of gas, its firmware often changes. In cars that run on this type of fuel, the fuel system is completely replaced.

Temperature conditions of different types of burners per cylinder

You can purchase a burner online or at a hardware store. It is better to give preference to the second option, since the buyer can consult with an experienced seller, he will select the appropriate option depending on the tasks set by the user. The product range includes models that differ in temperature conditions:

Refillable. They are characterized by small dimensions and thoughtful shape, as well as ease of use and a piezoelectric element. This type does not apply to the cylinder variety of gas burners.
On a collet can. They are a source of powerful flame with an average outlet temperature of 1500 degrees.
Threaded. Propane accounts for the lion's share of the fuel, due to which the temperature in the combustion zone is 1800 degrees. Advanced models are equipped with systems for mixing air with a propane mixture.

Some burners are equipped with autonomous heating of the combustible mixture, which increases the angle of use.

Adjustment

The cleanliness of the cut depends on the correct flame setting . Oxygen treatment is carried out with a slightly oxidized or normal torch. The carefully adjusted flame of cutters with concentric nozzles is surrounded by a cutting stream of oxygen. The core of the torch in each section should be symmetrical and not differ in brightness.

Cutting with a torch with the mouthpiece moved cannot be carried out, as this will lead to heating of the edge, which will negatively affect the quality of the cut. The use of self-centering mouthpieces increases the ease of use of such equipment, because the device makes the flame symmetrical.

Sometimes the movement of the gas mixture is hampered due to clogging of the channel, which divides the torch into streams and leads to loss of stability. Such a product not only reduces the quality of processing, but also reduces productivity. Flame adjustment is based on creating a symmetrical flame of the required power in relation to the oxygen cutting jet.

A normal flame is ensured with the valves slightly open, which makes it possible to make adjustments during operation. When acetylene and oxygen are fully open, an excessive amount of the former is observed. Smooth closing of the acetylene valve leads to stabilization of the process.

Gas combustion air

If you take air from the common ventilation duct, this will have a bad effect on the operation of the system. This is due to the fact that the ventilation duct has common walls with the bathroom, kitchen or toilet. If the temperature outside is negative, then after a while the temperature in the ventilation duct will be 1 degree, and in the room adjacent to the duct there will be an uncomfortable atmosphere. Agree, it is unpleasant to be in a cold bathroom or cook in a cool kitchen. Therefore, it is not advisable to take air from the general ventilation duct.

Recommendations for work

Gas burners function as an autonomous source of large thermal energy . By regulating power and adjusting temperature conditions, the scope of application of the device is significantly expanded, it includes:

processing of fusible metals (burning, calcination, heating) - using a directional torch with a temperature of at least 1500 degrees;
working with wood - creating patterns, firing finished products;
tourist purposes - you can give preference to compact models with low temperature parameters.

When using a gas burner, it must be taken into account that a lack of oxygen leads to heat losses and the accumulation of decomposition products from the combustion of the gas mixture. These phenomena provoke the appearance of soot and excessive glow, which affects the quality of cutting, welding, and melting.

Supercharged lamps

The design and purpose of ejector blowtorches is more specific. These devices are used for processing non-ferrous metals. Due to their high temperature and ability to regulate the flame, these devices are excellent for soldering and hardening of metals, and other heat treatments that require high temperature accuracy and a strictly defined cone.

The specifics of the application seriously adjust the size of the nozzles and burners. Miniature devices are used for soldering thin metal and jewelry. Mid-class torches have a cone thickness of 3-9 mm; they are more suitable than others for electrical soldering of cable joints, aluminum and copper tubes.