How to Spark?

most applications have a pilot light and thermo couple that keeps the gas line open in case the flame gets blown out to stop the house/factory from filling with gas.

So you can start it and you can take a chance and go with no emergency shutoff, but no inspector will approve the installation

Another vague question that we have to guess at!

First you need the right concentration before you can ignite it and I suspect you may not have that at all times because it is an unwanted byproduct of your operation. In that case, in simplified form, you want to flow the gas mixture, and some air past a flame that is fueled separately. That will make sure that most of the methane will be consumed even when it is far below the concentration required to burn on its own.

If I misread your question and it is concentrated enough there are inumerable ways to ignite it with a spark or by other means - some however are dangerous and some will not pass safety standards.

You have to be more specific in your question and furnish us with more details.

There is no one answer fits all in your situation and youy need to contact an oil and gas exploration comapny for this!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As you've supplied very little context (none, actually), we're left having to second-guess your question's objective. More info at this point would help us help you.

What volume/rate of methane are you burning? A lot? What concentration? Pure? Is it mixed with any other gases? What application? Heating? What source? Mineshaft? Commercial/industrial?

But especially: Why "spark it one time?" Why this particular constraint?

How about "no spark at all?" Would no spark at all do? Have you considered, say, flameless catalytic burning? Would something like this perhaps meet your needs?

Talk to us!

Best regards and happy new year,
-e

europium:

I thought of this thread when I read your related posting in Masu's Energy thread. Hope it helps him. The catalytic combustor looks very interesting for many possible applications.

But as you say, his question is so vague as to be almost entirely meaningless.

It seems English is not your first language, however I congratulate you for sending this question translated as best you can. Please do not become discouraged if we tell you "We do not understand your question" and please continue to post questions, and replies to our questions. Technical translations are very difficult, and I know this from my 31 year career in 68 countries. I suggest for next time (or post again this time), put English first and the question again in your native language below the English. Someone may speak your native language.

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All assumptions are based on: The methane gas is in sufficient oxygen : fuel ratio to burn and I also assume you know that methane burning as an open flame (such as a flare) will continue to self re-ignite (automatically) as long as the combustible methane supply is present.

Assumption # 1: You have methane gas and want it to burn, self re-igniting (automatically) with a constant never ending supply of methane. Perhaps: Without a visible open flame for emissions purposes (World Bank Emissions Guidelines for Open Flame vs. Combustion Process) or for visual purpose (people do not want to see an huge open flame and report you are wasting energy) or safety purpose (no commercial value of the methane; a way to dispose of it) or as a flameless fuel source. Then answer number 4 and 5 are perfect.

Assumption # 2: You have methane gas from time to time and want to ignite it without using a open flame, or constant open flame. Then hydrocarbon and oxygen sensors are required (to alert you that a combustible mixture is now present) and a spark igniter (such as seen at the base of space shuttle launches) is required, or a 'hot surface igniter' such as utilized in modern HVAC systems to ignite natural gas in heating units. Electric 'hot surfaces' become hotter than an open flame (pilot flame) and sparks are several hundred times hotter than an open flame. Both sparks and hot surfaces can be switched on / off as required.

Hope this helps.

When evaluating any or all of the excellent responses above, please remember that the Lower Explosive Limit of Methane in air is about 4% and the Upper Explosive Limit is about 15%. Shortcuts are potentially lethal. The safety devices outlined in the other posts are a must. Gas mixtures in the explosive range must be diluted before ignition.

There are engineered solutions to Methane Drainage available especially for coal mining and coal seam gas energy, when I find links I'll post them. In the mean time search "Methane Drainage".