- Author
- Eiseman, J. H. | Smith, F. A. | Merritt, C. J.
- Title
- Effect of Altitude on the Limits of Safe Operation of Gas Appliances.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC
- Journal
- Journal of Research of the National Bureau of Standards, Vol. 10, 619-637, January 1933
- Report
- RP 553
- Keywords
- gas appliances | altitude | safety
- Abstract
- The effects of altitude have been determined, from sea level to 11,000 feet, on the limits of safe operation of nine different gas appliances operated with a mixed city gas and in one case with propane. It was found that the maximum safe gas rate, in B.t.u. per hour, is reduced by 3 to 4 per cent of the safe rate at sea level for each thousand feet of elevation. This reduction is about the same for all of the appliances tested with the exception of the radiant heaters which are more affected than the other types. Data are presented from which preliminary estimates may be made of the size of the flue passages necessary at various altitudes for certain types of appliances. Other data show the effects of changes of altitude on the injection of primary air, the efficiency of the top burner of a range, the lifting of the flame from the ports, and the operation of pilot flames of both the "blue-flame" and "yellow-flame" types. The effect of altitude in reducing the amount of gas that can be burned completely in a calorimeter was found to be the same with propane as with mixed city gas. It is concluded that the effects would have been the same had the comparison been made with other appliances or other gases. Curves are presented which summarize the results quantitatively.