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Burners


Photo courtesy of Lindstrand Balloons

Modern hot air balloons heat the air by burning propane, the same substance commonly used in outdoor cooking grills (Barbeques!).
The propane is stored in compressed liquid form, in lightweight cylinders positioned in the balloon basket.
The intake hose runs down to the bottom of the cylinder, so it can draw liquid out.


Photo courtesy of Lindstrand balloons

Because the propane is highly compressed in the cylinders, it flows quickly through the hoses to the heating coils.
The heating coil is simply a length of steel tubing arranged in a coil around the burner.
When the pilot starts up the burner, the propane flows out in liquid form and is ignited by a pilot light.
As the flame burns, it heats up the metal in the surrounding tubing.
When the tubing becomes hot, it heats the propane flowing through it. This changes the propane from a liquid to a gas, before it is ignited. The gas makes for a more powerful flame and more efficient consumption.

Burners come in single, twin, triple and quad.



Thanks to Lindstrand Balloons for allowing the use of their photos.

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