Gasluft

Gasluft is a term used in German-speaking technical contexts to describe the mixture of a gaseous fuel with air that is prepared for combustion. It encompasses the relative amounts of fuel and oxidizer, as well as the quality and uniformity of the mixing prior to burning. In engineering practice the gasluft mixture is commonly characterized by the air–fuel ratio or by the equivalence ratio (lambda), which compares the actual mixture to the stoichiometric reference that would achieve complete combustion.

The composition of a gasluft mixture depends on the fuel. For hydrocarbon fuels, the stoichiometric air–fuel ratio is fuel-specific; for natural gas, which is mainly methane, the stoichiometric ratio is about 17:1 by mass, while for gasoline it is around 14.7:1. Real systems typically run with some excess air (lean mixtures) to ensure complete combustion and to control flame temperature and emissions. Conversely, rich mixtures may be used for higher power but increase fuel consumption and pollutant formation. The flammability of a gasluft mixture is bounded by the fuel’s explosive limits, which vary by fuel; for methane in air, the flammable range is roughly from about 5% to 15% methane by volume in air.

Control and measurement of gasluft are essential for safety and efficiency. Mixing occurs in burners, mixers, or inlet systems, and is regulated by valves, mass flow controllers, or premixers. In engines and turbines, lambda sensors and feedback control adjust the gasluft ratio to maintain desired performance and emissions.

Applications include domestic gas appliances, industrial burners, gas turbines, and engines, where a stable, well-controlled gasluft mixture is crucial for reliable combustion.