- First Name
- Mark
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2021
- Threads
- 101
- Messages
- 5,310
- Reaction score
- 9,977
- Location
- St. Jacob, IL
- Vehicle(s)
- 2021 Badlands | 2020 Escape
- Thread starter
- #1
You may have heard discussions here on the board or elsewhere about "mixture." In regards to internal combustion engines, mixture refers to the ratio of fuel to air that burns in the cylinder. To get the most power and efficiency from the engine, the mixture must be correct; too much or too little air and combustion will be suboptimal, or simply not occur at all.
The video below is from an old Mr. Wizard episode about grain storage facility explosions. In order for such explosions to occur the ratio (mixture) of grain dust to air must be conducive to combustion. Notice at around 40 seconds in the boy places the lit match directly into the lycopodium (the fuel) where it's extinguished. That's a too-rich mixture; the fuel smothers the flame. Then Mr. Wizard sprinkles the lycopodium over the candle, making the mixture just right for ignition. This is a great visual demonstration of why the mixture must be carefully controlled in your engine.
BTW, many think that when you blow out a match or candle you are blowing the flame away from the fuel (the candle wick or wood from the match). That's not the case. When you blow on an open flame you are increasing the amount of air concentrated around it, thereby rendering the mixture (remember, ratio of air to fuel) too lean to support combustion, and the flame goes out. Anyway, here's the video!
The video below is from an old Mr. Wizard episode about grain storage facility explosions. In order for such explosions to occur the ratio (mixture) of grain dust to air must be conducive to combustion. Notice at around 40 seconds in the boy places the lit match directly into the lycopodium (the fuel) where it's extinguished. That's a too-rich mixture; the fuel smothers the flame. Then Mr. Wizard sprinkles the lycopodium over the candle, making the mixture just right for ignition. This is a great visual demonstration of why the mixture must be carefully controlled in your engine.
BTW, many think that when you blow out a match or candle you are blowing the flame away from the fuel (the candle wick or wood from the match). That's not the case. When you blow on an open flame you are increasing the amount of air concentrated around it, thereby rendering the mixture (remember, ratio of air to fuel) too lean to support combustion, and the flame goes out. Anyway, here's the video!
Sponsored
