- #1
Majorana
- 60
- 36
- TL;DR Summary
- Is it possible to improve the flame produced by an ordinary candle? To reduce soot and raise the temperature?
Good day to everybody,
I'm wondering whether it could be possible to improve the quality and efficiency of an ordinary (wax/paraffin) candle flame.
These flames are relatively cold, and give off a substantial amount of soot (i.e. unused fuel).
I wish to raise the temperature of the combustion products in order to increase the quantity of thermal energy released by the candle.
I don't know whether it's possible to steer a candle flame from reducing (yellow) to oxidizing (blue).
I've heard of "simmer rings" - used with alcohol burners, not with candles - that produce a beautiful blue, hot flame (see attached picture).
I could not find the details of these rings, I don't know whether they can be built and work successfully when coupled to a candle.
There are widely diffused miniature butane torches, based on an inexpensive cigarette lighter, that produce an extremely hot, blue flame instead of the usual yellow flame of the lighter: but it works only because the butane in the lighter is under pressure so it can be used to draw in a substantial amount of air, producing a nice oxidizing flame. Nothing like the wax in a candle.
...Any idea about how to do the trick?...
I'm wondering whether it could be possible to improve the quality and efficiency of an ordinary (wax/paraffin) candle flame.
These flames are relatively cold, and give off a substantial amount of soot (i.e. unused fuel).
I wish to raise the temperature of the combustion products in order to increase the quantity of thermal energy released by the candle.
I don't know whether it's possible to steer a candle flame from reducing (yellow) to oxidizing (blue).
I've heard of "simmer rings" - used with alcohol burners, not with candles - that produce a beautiful blue, hot flame (see attached picture).
I could not find the details of these rings, I don't know whether they can be built and work successfully when coupled to a candle.
There are widely diffused miniature butane torches, based on an inexpensive cigarette lighter, that produce an extremely hot, blue flame instead of the usual yellow flame of the lighter: but it works only because the butane in the lighter is under pressure so it can be used to draw in a substantial amount of air, producing a nice oxidizing flame. Nothing like the wax in a candle.
...Any idea about how to do the trick?...