In order to get Jet-A fuel to explode it has to be agitated. You cannot just put a match to it, it won’t burn.
So what caused the fuel to explode?
No, it has to be compressed, thereby enriching the oxygen mixture.
You cannot just put a match to it, it won’t burn.
Kerosene will barely burn at sea level. If you throw a match into a pan of kerosene, 9 times out of 10 it will go out. That's because the vapors aren't explosive and cannot achieve explosive combustion, even at sea level pressure.
So what caused the fuel to explode?
Whatever caused the airplane to explode. I don't know what was the cause, but quite obviously fuel vapor wasn't it......
OK, as a firefighter, I can tell you that liquid fuels DO NOT EXPLODE. Only fuel vapour-oxidzer (O2 in this case) with the right molecular ratio/mixtures (and vapour pressures) will explode.
Jet fuel is sprayed into the compressed air section of a jet engine so that the droplets can sufficiently vapourize and BURN (not explode) in the presence of sufficient oxidizer (O2).
That center wing tank had been partially fueled for quite a while. I *seriously* doubt the air-fuel-vapour mixture above the liquid fuel in that tank was an explosive mixture.
I cannot rationally support the static discharge/explosion in a fuel tank theory.
The center tank was empty. Fuel didn't explode, fumes did.