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Member Videos / Re: Model Engine running just off a naked flame
« Last post by BillTodd on Today at 03:32:49 AM »That runs really well 
They are fascinating engines. They actually work using a phase change between the fourth state of matter , called plasma, and a gas .
The flame (or at least the blue part) is so hot the molecules are ripped apart in to charged ions in a very low density plasma. When they cool , they rapidly condense into a hot gas that is relatively much denser causing a partial vacuum.
The plasma cools entirely through radiation, so polishing the inside of the bore will make a few more photon to bounce back into the plasma and keep it hot . That'll allow a bit more of the good stuff into the cylinder before the valve closes.
Also it's important that the hot gas can escape the cylinder as the piston comes up . The vavle should spring open to allow this.

They are fascinating engines. They actually work using a phase change between the fourth state of matter , called plasma, and a gas .
The flame (or at least the blue part) is so hot the molecules are ripped apart in to charged ions in a very low density plasma. When they cool , they rapidly condense into a hot gas that is relatively much denser causing a partial vacuum.
The plasma cools entirely through radiation, so polishing the inside of the bore will make a few more photon to bounce back into the plasma and keep it hot . That'll allow a bit more of the good stuff into the cylinder before the valve closes.
Also it's important that the hot gas can escape the cylinder as the piston comes up . The vavle should spring open to allow this.