Abstract: The digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) technique is used to measure the velocity distribution of gas flows around diffusion flames under the gradient magnetic field. The velocity distribution in the presence of the magnetic field is compared with that in the absence of the field. The results show that the gas is accelerated, and then the flame becomes sharper and more brilliant immediately when the gradient magnetic field acts on the flame. The experiment quantitatively verifies the existence of convection flows of gas induced by the gradient magnetic field, furthermore the convection flow promotes the combustion in diffusion flames.

Key words: combustion, magnetic field, DPIV, diffusion flame, convection