Function – How They Work

Aladdin lamps are simply magical. You may be wondering, just how exactly do they work? Each part is integral and they all work together to create a unique, bright, white, magical light. To learn more about each part, click here.

Function – How They Work

  • Fuel from the font soaks into the tails of the cotton wick; capillary action draws the fuel up to the top of the wick and into the burner
  • At the same time, oxygen is drawn in through the holes on the sides of the burner by the draft (or vacuum) created by the chimney; horizontal airstream feeds the outside of the wick
  • Air that enters the burner through the inner wick tube, travels through the holes in the flame spreader to feed the inside of the wick; vertical airstream to the inside of wick prevents the horizontal airstream from putting out the flame
  • The air mixes with the fuel (94% air/6% fuel), while the chimney continues to pull used air up and out of the chimney, which in turn draws more fresh oxygen into the burner as a continuous flow
  • When the top of the wick is lit, the fuel is ignited (not the wick) to create a flame, the air from the flame spreader causes the flame to burn hotter as a blue flame
  • The heat from the blue flame on the wick reacts with the element yttrium found on the mantle, causing it to incandesce or glow

Burner Draft Explanation