EFFECTS IN DUFFUSION FLAMES BY RADIAL ELECTRIC FIELDS

Radial electric fields cause off-port diffusion flames to become shorter, broader and less luminous. In addition, the point at which burning commences on the fuel jet is displaced upward so that the region of isothermal mixing of air and fuel is lengthened. Quantitative measurements of this latter effect indicate that the changes depend on the ratio of the r.m.s. voltage to the radius of the cylindrical electrode for both a.c. and d.c. fields. For d.c. fields this parametric dependence is correctly predicted by a qualitative model based on the premise that forces arising from currents of ions in the system cause the changes in the flame. © 1969.