My wood stove has a glass window. There are numerous interesting things that happen when various types and shapes of wood burn. I noticed a new one this week.
I have much brush that I continue to cut and pile out of the way, or I cut many pieces into proper length for the stove. The image on the top right here shows one such piece. Along the main stem are nodes where shoots (or branches) appear. On this piece only one small branch is still there. Others have been cut or fallen off. The arrangement of the branches around the circumference varies. The length between these nodes varies by plant, but are similar in any one plant. Here the inter-node distance is about one inch. A branch like this one is shown burning in the photo taken through the glass window of the stove.
When a piece of wood is added to the fire the heat causes gases to leave and burn – the flame. When all the gases are expelled, the flaming stops and the red glow of a solid remains.
On this occasion the flames appear to be coming at equal intervals along the stem. I suppose this is at each of the nodes. However, I did not watch as this pattern developed. It looked like this when I first noticed. I’ll have to introduce a few more pieces and watch to see how it develops.
Research is such hard work.
I need to rest.
Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John