A Bunsen burner is a type of gas burner commonly used in laboratories for heating, sterilization, and combustion purposes. It was named after Robert Bunsen, a German chemist who introduced it in 1855. The primary function of a Bunsen burner is to combine a flammable gas, such as natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas, with controlled amounts of air before ignition, producing a hotter flame than would be possible using ambient air and gas alone.
The main components of a Bunsen burner include:
- Base: A flat base that provides stability for the burner.
- Barrel or Chimney: A straight tube extending vertically from the base, through which the gas and air mixture flows.
- Gas Inlet: Located at the lower end of the tube, it allows the supply of flammable gas.
- Air Hole: Positioned near the bottom of the chimney, just above the gas inlet, it enables the pre-mixing of air and gas before combustion occurs at the top of the chimney.
- Collar: Regulates the openings in the sides of the tube, controlling the amount of air that can enter and mix with the gas.
The Bunsen burner works by forcing a mixture of air and gas, optimally about 1 part gas to 3 parts air, to the top of the tube, where it is ignited with a match. The hottest part of the Bunsen flame is found just above the tip of the primary flame. The flame can be adjusted by varying the amount of air and gas entering the burner through the collar and gas inlet, respectively.
Other burners based on the same principle as the Bunsen burner exist, such as the Teclu burner and the Meker burner. The Teclu burner provides better mixing of air and fuel and can achieve higher flame temperatures than the Bunsen burner, while the Meker burner has more openings for larger total cross-section, admitting more air and facilitating better mixing of air and gas.
