What would a value less than 1 for Lambda indicate?

A value less than 1 for Lambda indicates more fuel than air in the combustion process. Lambda (λ) is a ratio that expresses the relationship between the actual air-fuel mixture and the optimal or stoichiometric air-fuel mixture for complete combustion.

When Lambda is equal to 1, the mixture is perfectly balanced, meaning there is just enough air for the fuel to burn completely. A Lambda value greater than 1 signifies a lean mixture, where there is more air than fuel, leading to more complete combustion with lower emissions. Conversely, when Lambda is less than 1, it means that there is insufficient air in the mixture relative to the amount of fuel present. This results in a rich mixture, which can lead to inefficient combustion, increased emissions, and potential carbon deposits in the combustion chamber.

In applications like internal combustion engines, understanding this parameter is crucial for optimizing performance and ensuring compliance with environmental standards. Thus, a Lambda value less than 1 directly indicates a situation where there is more fuel than air.