Fluid Mechanics of a Shallow Fuel Layer Near a Burning Wick

Abstract

Equations of the kind used in lubrication theory have been developed in order to examine the fluid mechanics of a thin layer of liquid fuel near a burning wick. Under the simplifying assumption made, the problem can be characterised by two dimensionless parameters. An extinction condition is defined and the relationship between the parameter at extinction is obtained. Some numerical solutions are presented for the variations of surface tension and fuel depth with distance from the wick.