Re: [Phys-l] Ionization type smoke detectors.

[Bernard Cleyet <bernardcleyet@redshift.com>]

too cryptic;  slowed or stopped would involve transfer of energy to the 
particle likely resulting in further ionization increasing the current 
instead of a decrease. The e attachment is the dominant effect 
evidently.  Not incidentally, this corroborates the previous 
descriptions, as the attached es are still ions, just slower (less mobile).

Fixed (permanently installed) unvented heaters are illegal in CA.   We 
have a disconnected one in our century old house along w/ ancient, but 
vented floor heaters.  Someone removed the pilots and added a thermostat 
controlled valve.  When I crawl under the house to lite and unlite the 
new pilots, I think the old manual system was better.

I don't think it's intentionally designed -- either the flame speed is 
increased w/ reduced O2 or increased CO / CO2, or, more likely, 
insufficient O2 requires the combustion to occur later after the 
kerosene vapour has risen above the wick and mixed w/ more atmosphere.  
I never noticed any physio. effect.  Probably the flame is much more 
sensitive to depleted atmosphere than I, laudate deum.

bc


Brian Whatcott wrote:

> At 11:36 AM 9/28/2006, you wrote:  
>  
>
> > ... stopping the Alphas would have the
> > opposite of the intended effect, a "proof" of his explanation.
> >    
>
>
> Uh?
> Alphas are stopped in large carbon particles - Oh, all right,
> greatly slowed?
>
> ...  I discovered a very curious effect when I lived in an
>  
>
> > old flat in a depressed part of England.  I would use a liquid paraffin
> > heater when I ran out of coal. /// I discovered the heater would
> > flame out after a time.  /// I suspect if the heater was not self 
> > extinguishing w/
> > low O2 supply, I wouldn't be writing this.
> >    
>
>
> Kerosene unvented heaters are on sale at most hardwares in the US.
> The makers apparently take care to minimize the lethal  CO production
> (boasting of "blue flame") and the CO2 production is physiologically
> observable - unlike the O2 depletion.   This might be a factor in
> BC's survival.
>
>
>
> Brian Whatcott    Altus OK    Eureka! 
>
>
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