Flame holders in engines create a small area of reduced activity to prevent high wind from blowing out the flame, allowing for steady fuel combustion. Design factors vary, with careful calculation of fuel/air mixture needed for optimum performance. Engine malfunction can occur if the flame goes out, so careful engineering and pilot training are necessary. […]
Flame polishing melts material with a hot flame to create a smooth surface, commonly used on acrylics and glass. It’s faster than polishing and can remove scratches. The torch can have different tips for different surfaces. Flame polishing is the process of creating a smooth surface on a material by lightly melting it with a […]
The “eternal flame” on JFK’s grave has only been shut down twice in 55 years due to a group of Catholic schoolchildren accidentally dousing it with holy water and a flood damaging the transformer. JFK was the only Purple Heart recipient and Pulitzer Prize winner to be elected President, and donated his salary to charity. […]
Flame detectors use optical sensors to detect flames and are used in hydrogen stations to prevent fires. There are seven types including ultraviolet, infrared, UV/IR, IR/IR, IR/IR/IR, visible sensors, and video cameras. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. A flame detector is a type of device that uses optical sensors to detect flames. […]
Flame emission spectroscopy is a destructive chemical analysis technique that observes energy emitted by excited atoms returning to their ground state. The method identifies spectral signatures of different elements with a sensitive detector. The process involves creating a sample aerosol or placing a small sample in a holder in the flame. The emission is magnified […]
Flames are created by mixing fuel and oxidizer under heat. There are two types of flames: diffusion and premixed. Flames are used for heating and cooking, and have been important in human history. Flames can reach high temperatures and are created by exothermic chemical reactions. Flames can be dangerous and cause fires, but efforts are […]
Gravity shapes flames into teardrops on Earth, while in space flames take on a round shape due to the expansion of heated gas in all directions. Fireballs in space are dimmer than Earth’s flames, with NASA studying them in the SOFBALL experiment. Smoke detectors on spacecraft are placed in ventilation systems. Gravity influences the shape […]
Materials used in construction can burn due to their organic nature. Flame spread tests, such as the tunnel test, evaluate the rate of combustion. Standards are used to compare materials, with zero flame spread achieved by asbestos fiber cement board. Building codes use flame spread ratings to determine fire-resistant materials. Cost of fireproofing may depend […]
A flame ionization detector (FID) detects hydrocarbons in a gas sample by creating a charged current between a flame jet and an electrode. The FID is connected to a gas chromatograph to analyze the sample’s chemical composition. The FID is commonly used in pharmaceutical manufacturing and pesticide analysis but can only detect organic compounds. A […]
A flame spectrophotometer measures light emitted or absorbed by atoms to determine the chemical composition of substances. It works best for metals and can measure quantities down to parts per million. The equipment is simple but requires precise calibration. Spectroscopy has a long history and has been used to build machines based on the flame […]
Flame emission spectroscopy is a destructive chemical analysis technique that identifies elements based on their distinct spectral signatures. A sample is aerosolized and pumped through a flame, causing energy emission that is detected and recorded. The process can be used for calibration and identifying unknown compounds. Some compounds have recognizable emissions visible to the naked […]
