Bob,

I was pretty sure it could happen in open air but it was a mix 
of propane, butane and ethane not just propane as I remembered 
from: 
http://archive.theeagle.com/region/localregional/042802explosionsider.htm.

Ethane will detonate in air and probably set off some of the 
other gases. I a valley full of the stuff there would be all 
kinds of concentrations and once a detonation started I expect 
it would trigger every thing in its reach that would detonate 
and burn most of the rest. Not something I would want to see.

But for a 2 liter bottle oxygen and acetylene flood filled from 
a torch sounds like the most practical solution. If you want a 
safer one put the exact amount of carbide in a gelatin capsule 
to release the amount of C2H2 for the air in the bottle and drop 
it in after the bottle is almost buried, screw the lid with the 
igniter on and finish the burial and go on to the next one.

BOB BARNS wrote:
 > Gordon,
 >   The little I have read ( 
http://www.aardvark.co.nz/pjet/pde.shtml  )
 > suggests that something other than the correct fuel-air ratio 
is needed
 > to cause detonation.
 > Bob
 >
 >
 > Gordon Couger wrote:
 >
 >> Bob,
 >>
 >> A propane air mixture will detonate if the mix is just right 
it is
 >> used as fuel in detonation engines. The fuel to air ration 
is lot
 >> narrower and the conditions more critical than hydrogen or 
actetyene.
 >>
 >> Gordon
 >
 >
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