This paper investigates the effect of magnetic fields on the temperature distribution of laminar slot diffusion flames. Propane, butane and methane gas have been used as fuel. The behavior of these flames is experimentally investigated in the presence of non-uniform upward decreasing magnetic fields produced by a magnet assembly consisting of neodymium iron boron permanent magnets and grey cast iron prisms. The diffusion flames are influenced by the magnetic fields because the constituent gases are diamagnetic and paramagnetic in nature. The flow rates at which flame extinction occurs and at which soot formation is noticeable are noted. All the flames analyzed were non sooting flames. Holographic interferometry was used to obtain qualitative temperature distributions in the vicinity of the flames. By the application of non uniform magnetic field, it was observed that under certain conditions the temperature decreases, flame length decreases, and the flames become more brilliant. It was also observed that the temperature gradient outside the flame decreases by the application of magnetic field for most of the test cases. The flame shapes and heights produced with methane behaved significantly different than the flames produced with propane and butane. A detailed discussion on the reasons for the phenomena observed is provided in the paper.
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