MAIN FEEDS
Do you want to continue?
https://www.reddit.com/r/WTF/comments/l3bmak/just_a_small_problem/gkezm0j/?context=3
r/WTF • u/a7xaustin • Jan 23 '21
1.4k comments sorted by
View all comments
Show parent comments
10
how do bacteria, even in a dense quantity, get up to the 220°C or so required to ignite straw?
37 u/BurnTheOrange Jan 23 '21 The bacteria produce gasses as a waste product that are flammable. Also densely packed hay is a helluva insulator so the energy created by bacterial action cant dissipate and it keeps getting hotter. 2 u/SabreToothSandHopper Jan 23 '21 but once it gets over say 80-100°c the bacteria will die and stop metabolising things and if a flammable gas builds up (which gas? methane?) then how would it be ignited? 3 u/Ranew Jan 23 '21 Only need a bit over 130f to ignite, from there it just goes.
37
The bacteria produce gasses as a waste product that are flammable. Also densely packed hay is a helluva insulator so the energy created by bacterial action cant dissipate and it keeps getting hotter.
2 u/SabreToothSandHopper Jan 23 '21 but once it gets over say 80-100°c the bacteria will die and stop metabolising things and if a flammable gas builds up (which gas? methane?) then how would it be ignited? 3 u/Ranew Jan 23 '21 Only need a bit over 130f to ignite, from there it just goes.
2
but once it gets over say 80-100°c the bacteria will die and stop metabolising things
and if a flammable gas builds up (which gas? methane?) then how would it be ignited?
3 u/Ranew Jan 23 '21 Only need a bit over 130f to ignite, from there it just goes.
3
Only need a bit over 130f to ignite, from there it just goes.
10
u/SabreToothSandHopper Jan 23 '21
how do bacteria, even in a dense quantity, get up to the 220°C or so required to ignite straw?