What happens if you increase air flow to a flame? What happens when you increase gas flow?

Question

If there is insufficient air flow to the flame, what color is it? Why?

Answer 1

Increasing air flow to a (gas?) flame may improve combustion inducing even more air flow and the flame will burn hotter (bluer and less yellow). Increasing gas flow may also improve combustion with the same effect. However the burner is designed for a given air/gas mixture and too great an increase in either may reduce efficient combustion.

The blue flame indicates complete combustion where the hydrocarbons of gas are converted into CO2 and H2O vapor. The yellow flame indicates incomplete combustion where the presence of incandescent carbon particles gives off (yellow) photons. When the flame is yellow, black soot will be deposited on a cool (metal) object held just above the flame.

Answer 2

If there is insufficent air flow to the flame, the flame will be yellowish and bright because some carbon particles are present and they give out light when heated. An oxidising flame (where there is enough or surplus air / oxygen) is blue and not very bright.

If the air supply is increased beyond a point, the flame dies off because it gets cooled by the air. If the gas flow is increased, you have a reducing flame and soot forms as already explained.

Answer 3

Air changes the flame's heat and appearance. As the ratio of air to gas changes the combustible mixture also changes. The blue flame is the hottest at the tip of the flame. The inner portion of the blue flame is cooler. I am not sure, but I think insufficient air makes the flame yellow.

Answer 4

Higher amount of complete combustion occurs, as there is more oxygen to the flame, i.e. lesser amount of CO is formed.

Answer 5

the flame gets bigger

Answer 6

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