I thought that liquids can change state to solid or gas, depending on
temperature. Probably too simple an explanation for this discussion, and I'm
sure there are exceptions. Mercury for example.
Jim
ps:
Is Alberto heading your way? It missed central FL. Just a lot of rain here.


"Butch Davis" wrote in message
k.net...
There is a difference between a gas and a vapor? I thought there were
liguids, fluids, and gases. Fluids covering both bases? But with a
refrigeration background my thoughts are probably too simplistic.
Butch
"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On 12 Jun 2006 18:52:06 -0700, "
wrote:


wrote:
K. Smith wrote:

Only gases burn, no liquids no matter how flammable they are,
actually
"burn", all liquids that can burn only do so once they're fully
vapourised. It's the vapour that allows oxygen to be available to
support the combustion.


Are you sure that's correct?

I think diesel fuel is atomized, not vaporized, to support combustion.
The fuel can burn because each microdrop is surrounded by an atmosphere
that contains oxygen.

Never mind. Additional consideration arrives at a conclusion that
supports your theory;
the microdrops evaporate into the atmosphere of the cylinder
immediately prior to combustion. "Evaporate" as in material ceases to
behave as a liquid and begins behaving as a gas.

Nope - sorry.

Ever hear of dust explosions in grain elevators? The dust in the air
is a form of vapor, not atomized and they never change state. There
are essentially in the same form from start to finish.

Same with gas and diesel.

Diesel is a vapor as is gasoline - at no point in the combustion
process does it become a gas until acted upon by heat and compression.

Atomizing is only a function of breaking up the larger vapor particles
into small parts - it never changes form into a "gas".