Kerosene wick lamp flame deformation in gradient magnetic fields

The behavior of a kerosene wick lamp flame in the presence of non-uniform DC magnetic fields has been investigated and the results of this experimental study are presented. It has long been recognized that magnetic fields can influence the behavior of diffusion flames as a result of the paramagnetic and diamagnetic properties of the constituent gases. Using an electromagnet consisting of two coils and cores to generate a horizontal magnetic field, a non-uniform upward increasing and decreasing magnetic field was applied to a kerosene wick lamp flame. The experimental results show that the influence of DC gradient magnetic field on diffusion flame structure deformation depends on the flame position in the increasing or decreasing magnetic field, the flame situation relative to the maximum of the absolute value of the gradient and the quantity of the gradient magnetic field. It was also observed that both flame front area and flame height decrease in the positive and negative gradient field below the maximum of the absolute value of the gradient. Also, increasing the absolute of the gradient of the square magnetic induction in the positive and negative gradient field above the maximum of the absolute value of the gradient cause to elongate the flame and increase in the flame front area and then the flame height and front area decrease. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.