Trash Can Fire Tornado: Does It Really Happen?

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SUMMARY

The phenomenon of a trash can fire tornado occurs due to the interaction between the rotating motion of the trash can and the airflow dynamics around the fire. When the trash can is stationary, air flows directly to the fire; however, when it rotates, it redirects airflow, creating a vortex that enhances combustion. This rotation lowers the pressure at the base of the flame, increasing the influx of fresh air, which in turn intensifies the fire's size and heat output.

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RubinLicht
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Why does this happen?



When the trash can is not moving, the air gets drawn in through the mesh and flows more or less straight to the fire. I'm thinking that a rotating trashcan "pushes" the wind in the direction that it's rotating, so that the wind no longer blows towards the fire, but "around" the fire. is this correct?
 
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but also, the fire tends to get much bigger once it starts spinning, why is that?
 
RubinLicht said:
but also, the fire tends to get much bigger once it starts spinning, why is that?
I think the pressure at the bottom of the rotating flame (vortex) becomes lower and that increases the flow of fresh air to the burning fuel,
 
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