Why dont butane "torch" lighters work at high altitudes?
I have 2 rather fancy refillable butane lighters (one is a cigar type torch lighter and the other an "outdoorsy" windproof lighter) neither of which will work when I get above 10,000ft (3050 m). Both work rather reliably at about 7000ft (2134 m) and even better at sea level. I use high quality butane, but neither lighter seems to work at 10K, even if I adjust the amount of fuel the lighter gets. I'm curious of the science that makes it work at low altitude, but not at high altitude.
My thoughts also go to the amount of O2 at that level, but a cheap BIC brand butane lighter works fine (not a torch, but butane none the less). So I would think that being able to adjust the fuel should make that compensation, right?
The obvious first approximation is that since the relative amount of O2 available at 10,000 ft is sufficiently low that the butane gas-oxygen gas ratio is not one that is flammable.
It turns out that for some flammable gases to burn, the ratio of the fuel to O2 must be within a certain range.
Take a look at this article. It may be more info than you need but it goes into detail about this flammability range.
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 Vintage Designer Red Wine Bottle Cigarette Cigar Butane Refillable Lighter Torch  US $1.99
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 Tiger Windproof Cigar Torch Lighter Gold US $4.99
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 gold color butane cigar cigarette torch lighter US $7.99
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 Dual Style Flame Torch Cigar Lighter Pewter 2 flames US $9.99
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 1PC NEW AOMAI SCUBA TANK TORCH JET CIGAR FLAME LIGHTER GIFT US $4.39
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 THE CIGAR GOLF BAG Tubes Torch Lighter Cigar Cutter US $17.50
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 Luxury Silver 2in1 Ball Pen Cigarette Cigar Refillable Butane Gas Lighter Torch US $.99
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Vintage Designer Red Wine Bottle Cigarette Cigar Butane Refillable Lighter Torch US $1.99
|
Tiger Windproof Cigar Torch Lighter Gold US $4.99
|
gold color butane cigar cigarette torch lighter US $7.99
|
|
Dual Style Flame Torch Cigar Lighter Pewter 2 flames US $9.99
|
1PC NEW AOMAI SCUBA TANK TORCH JET CIGAR FLAME LIGHTER GIFT US $4.39
|
THE CIGAR GOLF BAG Tubes Torch Lighter Cigar Cutter US $17.50
|
|
Luxury Silver 2in1 Ball Pen Cigarette Cigar Refillable Butane Gas Lighter Torch US $.99
|
| Powered by phpBay Pro |
|
|
Vintage Designer Red Wine Bottle Cigarette Cigar Butane Refillable Lighter Torch US $1.99
|
Tiger Windproof Cigar Torch Lighter Gold US $4.99
|
gold color butane cigar cigarette torch lighter US $7.99
|
|
Dual Style Flame Torch Cigar Lighter Pewter 2 flames US $9.99
|
1PC NEW AOMAI SCUBA TANK TORCH JET CIGAR FLAME LIGHTER GIFT US $4.39
|
THE CIGAR GOLF BAG Tubes Torch Lighter Cigar Cutter US $17.50
|
|
Luxury Silver 2in1 Ball Pen Cigarette Cigar Refillable Butane Gas Lighter Torch US $.99
|
| Powered by phpBay Pro |
|
|
Vintage Designer Red Wine Bottle Cigarette Cigar Butane Refillable Lighter Torch US $1.99
|
Tiger Windproof Cigar Torch Lighter Gold US $4.99
|
gold color butane cigar cigarette torch lighter US $7.99
|
|
Dual Style Flame Torch Cigar Lighter Pewter 2 flames US $9.99
|
1PC NEW AOMAI SCUBA TANK TORCH JET CIGAR FLAME LIGHTER GIFT US $4.39
|
THE CIGAR GOLF BAG Tubes Torch Lighter Cigar Cutter US $17.50
|
|
Luxury Silver 2in1 Ball Pen Cigarette Cigar Refillable Butane Gas Lighter Torch US $.99
|
| Powered by phpBay Pro |