Flame temperature

Discussion on Stirling or "hot air" engines (all types)
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Crazyguy
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Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2015 10:39 am
Location: USA

Flame temperature

Post by Crazyguy »

I see lots of stirling engines on youtube running on an alcohol lamp.
Wouldn't a hotter flame give more power?
Isopropyl alcohol = 680F
Kerosene = 3801F
Ethanol = 3486F

I would choose kerosene since it's hotter and cheaper.
Does this make sense?
Ian S C
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Location: New Zealand

Re: Flame temperature

Post by Ian S C »

It would need to be under pressure if you use kero, and it burns like a plumbers blow lamp.
Ian S C
Crazyguy
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Location: USA

Re: Flame temperature

Post by Crazyguy »

Kerosene burns with a wick, just like an alcohol lamp.
Ian S C
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Location: New Zealand

Re: Flame temperature

Post by Ian S C »

But more often than not, with a wick it burns with a smoky flame. The soot left behind is Lamp Black, and very messy.
Ian S C
Crazyguy
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Location: USA

Re: Flame temperature

Post by Crazyguy »

Not in any kerosene burner I've seen. If the wick is adjusted properly it burns clean with no soot or odor at all.
Ian S C
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Location: New Zealand

Re: Flame temperature

Post by Ian S C »

You must have better kero than we do, once a pon a time, we could get power kero, lighting kero, and I'v forgotten what the third grade was. the stuff we have now smokes, and stinks, that's one reason a number of my motors run on LPG.
Ian S C
Crazyguy
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Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2015 10:39 am
Location: USA

Re: Flame temperature

Post by Crazyguy »

@ Ian sc
Yes the kerosene is called K-1 grade. The wicks are made from fiberglass cloth. Google kerosene heater and it will show the heaters we use to keep from freezing to death, when the power grid goes out.
Ian S C
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Location: New Zealand

Re: Flame temperature

Post by Ian S C »

There is another thread about temperatures of flames around about December/January 2011/12, might be worth looking at.
Ian S C
Wellington
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Re: Flame temperature

Post by Wellington »

Knowing which part of a flame is hottest and placing your object to be heated in that zone is very important for efficient heat transfer. Many people wrongly assume the center of a flame is hottest when in fact the hottest part is just above the pointed cone tip.

Has anyone ever tried diesel as a fuel and what would be the likely issues?

Wellington.
Ian S C
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Re: Flame temperature

Post by Ian S C »

The Swedish submarines with their Stirling Engines use diesel with oxygen to power the engines.
Ian S C
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