Simplified calculation of a laminar diffusion flame
Laminar diffusion flame

The aim of this paragraph is to show that, in a simple case, it is possible to completely determine the structure of a diffusion flame. This analysis, originally due to Burke and Schumann (1928), also introduces the concepts usually used to describe this type of flame.

This involves the study of a two-dimensional planar jet of fuel F, cocurrent with an infinite jet of oxidizer O (figure 8). Both jets are assumed to have the same initial unit flow rate ρu (i.e. ρ_FU_F = ρ_OU_O where ρ_F and ρ_O denote the densities of the fuel and oxidizer flows respectively, while U_F and U_O correspond to the velocities of these flows). This ideal configuration is not realistic, as it implicitly assumes an infinite flow of oxidant.