Flamethrowers are a class of devices designed to propel streams of fire. There are multiple ways in which this can be accomplished however, there are two main types of flamethrowers; electric and inert propellant.
Electric Flamethrowers
Electric flamethrowers are typically handheld, a tank is fixed to a body along with a fuel pump, spray nozzle, and igniter. Fuel flows from the tank through the pump and out the nozzle where it is atomized. The droplets of fuel pass through the igniter creating a stream of fire. The igniter is usually either a propane torch fixed in front of the nozzle or two electrodes that generate a powerful electric field.
The Prometheus Industries Big Boy Flamethrower is an electric flamethrower which features our plasma vortex ignition. The plasma vortex ignition stands above the competition as it's the only flamethrower on the market that has a field of plasma, not just one small arc. This allows our flamethrower to ignite a much higher quantity of the diesel fuel.
Inert Propellant Flamethrowers
Inert propellant flamethrowers work similarly. The body of an inert propellant flamethrower consists of two tanks fixed to a frame, one tank holds an inert gas such as CO2 or Nitrogen, this gas is used to propel the fuel and is pressurized. The second tank holds the fuel.
The two tanks are connected via a regulator which controls the amount of inert gas used to pressurize the fuel. The second tank also connects to the torch, which contains the spray nozzle and igniter. Inert gas pressurizes the fuel pushing it out and into the torch where it passes through the spray nozzle and into the igniter. The igniter like electric flamethrowers is a propane torch, although in some cases it can consist of pyrotechnic cartridges.
Propane Flamethrowers
The term “Propane Flamethrower” is a misnomer. Propane is not liquid at atmospheric pressure and will always emerge as a gas that is highly flammable. A propane torch is not capable of projecting flames any distance that would qualify them as flamethrowers.