Articles tagged with Combustion
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a method to predict pressure-dependent chemical reaction rates, enabling better combustion efficiency and reduced emissions. This breakthrough has the potential to improve automotive vehicle design and address climate change.
Research published in Global Biogeochemical Cycles analyzed rain samples from Bermuda to investigate the origin of oceanic nitrogen. The authors found that certain nitrogen isotopes likely represent ammonium recycled from the ocean rather than inputted from human activities.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum developed a new type of catalyst that can facilitate two opposite reactions: electrolysis of water and combustion of hydrogen with oxygen. This catalyst has the potential to make regenerative fuel cells and rechargeable metal-air batteries more cost-efficient.
A recent study published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics found that atmospheric carbon monoxide levels have been declining in Greenland since the 1970s, despite a global increase in vehicle emissions. The research suggests improvements in combustion technology, such as catalytic converters, may have driven this decline.
Researchers at ETH Zurich developed an internal combustion engine that achieves fuel efficiency of less than 2.4l per 100km while emitting less than half the CO2 compared to traditional engines. The natural gas-diesel hybrid engine uses sophisticated control engineering and innovative electronic combustion control.
Researchers at MIT have elucidated a 37th type of chemical reaction, crucial for understanding climate-affecting aerosols and human physiology. The reaction involves the decomposition of complex organic molecules and has significant implications for combustion reactions in engines.
Researchers at the University of Granada have developed a self-compacting concrete using ash from olive pruning residue pellets, reducing time and costs. The new concrete has a higher compression strength than conventional concrete without requiring additional filler materials.
The study provides insight into hydrocarbon combustion and atmospheric chemistry, confirming fast reactions and first-time measurements with water. The findings validate theoretical predictions and supply critical targets for validation in predicting Criegee intermediate reactions.
Soft robots designed by Harvard researchers can leap up to a foot in the air using small explosions of methane and oxygen. This fast-acting system could aid in search and rescue missions. The robots' jumping ability is made possible by a simple valve system and the brief, high-energy explosion.
A Pitt engineering research team is developing quantum-computing algorithms to model turbulent combustion, a challenge in aerospace. The US Air Force has awarded a five-year grant for this project.
Researchers have developed a comprehensive three-dimensional model to predict droplet size and spray characteristics in effervescent atomization. The study reveals the influence of operating conditions and liquid properties on atomization performance.
A study suggests that hydrogen fluoride gas (HF) is the primary form of fluorine released from domestic coal in endemic areas, leading to severe cases of fluorosis. This new understanding may change current knowledge on the pathogenic mechanism of coal burning endemic fluorosis.
A study of 1,133 children in the Czech Republic found that indoor coal use was associated with a half-inch shorter height at age 36 months compared to households using other fuel sources. Exposure to coal smoke may also impair growth through mechanisms such as endocrine disruptors.
Professor Matthew Oehlschlaeger at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has received the PECASE award for his research on combustion chemistry of aviation fuels. He aims to understand fuel combustion chemistry for alternative and traditional aviation fuels.
A Harvard-Tsinghua University study measures atmospheric CO2 and carbon monoxide levels in Beijing, showing a trend towards cleaner, more efficient combustion since the 2008 Olympics. The findings support China's official energy efficiency goals and provide valuable insights into combustion processes.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will present several awards at the 46th Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit. These include the AIAA Air Breathing Propulsion Award to Bobby Berrier for his contributions to propulsion airframe integration, and the AIAA Propellants and Combustion Award to David G. Lilley fo...
Researchers have found that biofuel combustion is more complex than previously thought, with diverse chemical reaction networks and the formation of toxic emissions. The study used a combination of laser spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and flame chemistry modeling to explore decomposition and oxidation mechanisms.
Dr. Walter O'Brien, director of Virginia Tech's CTRP, has developed a novel ignitor for combustion and supersonic flows, which may be useful in Mach 5 or hypersonic speed vehicles. Aerojet has donated $50,000 to support students in designing a scramjet combustion simulator that will be tested at Mach 2.4.
A new institute will focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving combustion efficiency in marine diesel engines, which emit significant pollutants. The research aims to produce lab-scale prototype technology that can be scaled up for testing in full-size engines.
Researchers at MIT have developed a pressurized oxy-fuel combustion system that reduces energy penalty and increases efficiency of carbon capture systems for power plants. The technology aims to make carbon sequestration more practical and affordable, helping to curb global climate change.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics will honor outstanding achievements in rocket propulsion systems, unsteady combustion, ground testing, and engineering through various awards. The winners include William Sirignano, Vigor Yang, Stan Powell, Frederick Schauer, David McGrath, Suresh Aggarwal, and Cynthia Obringer.
Lin Ma's project aims to understand turbulent combustion using advanced laser diagnostics, contributing to energy security and environmental sustainability. The research will improve the efficiency of devices such as engines, boilers, and power plants.
Princeton University will establish an energy research center with a focus on next-generation fuels and advanced engines. The center aims to optimize the design of clean fuels for transportation vehicles, tackling challenges of energy sustainability and global warming.
Researchers at Iowa State University are working on various combustion projects to improve engine performance. They aim to reduce emissions and increase efficiency by developing new technologies, such as diesel engines and computer models of gasoline engines.
Researchers at the University of Southern California have observed a clean three-way split in a molecule for the first time. The study uses a sym-triazine molecule and energizes its electrons to create identical and equally energetic parts.
A report by International Agency for Research on Cancer concludes that household coal combustion and biomass fuel emissions are carcinogenic to humans. The study emphasizes the need for adequate ventilation and alternative heating methods to reduce lung cancer burden globally.
Researchers at MIT have created an engine on a chip that could run 10 times longer than traditional batteries, powering devices like laptops and cell phones. The device is made of silicon wafers and features a tiny combustion chamber, turbine blades, and mini-generator.
Purdue engineers are developing advanced rocket technology that uses kerosene, eliminating the need for foam insulation. The research focuses on understanding combustion instability to create better computational models for designing rocket engines. This will enable more efficient and safer testing, reducing the risk of accidents and h...
The National Academies report highlights the potential benefits of using coal combustion residues in mine reclamation, including reducing landfills and neutralizing acid mine drainage. However, careful characterization and monitoring are necessary to minimize potential health and environmental risks.
Brookhaven scientists used sliced ion imaging to analyze energy flow during ketene fragmentation, a small molecule stand-in for complicated fuels. They found agreement with variational transition state theory predictions, refuting earlier work on the theory.
Researchers used 1,400 parallel processors to simulate octane's heat of formation, achieving a 75% sustained efficiency rate. The calculation took only 23 hours to complete, compared to 3.5 years and 2.5 terabytes for a single processor desktop computer.
Scientists have discovered a novel method to achieve spontaneous ignition and sustained combustion at room temperature using nanometer-sized particles of platinum. This breakthrough has significant implications for distributed power generation and military defense, offering a potential solution to the energy crisis with higher efficien...
Mazziotti's new method accurately represents electrons' positions in molecules, reducing computer power requirements. The breakthrough has applications in medicine, where it could aid in treating sickle-cell anemia, and in superconductivity research.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a new chemical sensor that can detect NOx pollutants with enhanced accuracy and rapid detection. The sensor uses an innovative filter to remove interference from carbon monoxide, allowing it to pick out specific gases from combustion exhaust.
Researchers at Cardiff University have developed new combustion processes that could significantly reduce pollution, thanks to a collaborative project with the University of Adelaide. The project uses advanced laser diagnostics to improve models for alternative fuel mixes.
A team of UC Davis students conducted experiments on formation of new materials by combustion in an electric field using NASA's 'Vomit Comet' aircraft. The low-gravity environment enhanced the effect of the electric field, creating unique properties in new materials.
Dr. Pfefferle, known as the 'father of catalytic combustion,' has developed a process to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from gas turbines. His inventions include the Microlith(r) catalytic reactor and RCL™ catalytic combustor, enhancing combustion efficiency and air quality.
Researchers used laser light to measure HCO and CH2 concentrations in natural gas flames, detecting toxic gases NO and NO2 at low levels. The technique offers a precise method for analyzing combustion processes, with potential applications in industrial settings.
Researchers at UC Riverside have received a $100,000 grant from the Department of Energy to investigate ways to improve the performance of hydrogen engines. The project aims to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, which are considered a criteria pollutant, and explore alternative methods for measuring low-level emissions.
Researchers at the University at Buffalo have performed simulations that mimic hydrocarbon combustion, demonstrating a defining feature of combustion and gaining insights into the two-way interaction between chemistry and turbulence. The work aims to develop more realistic models of fluid mechanics and chemistry involved in combustion.
A new patented technique uses titanium dioxide nanoparticles to bind and remove mercury from combustion exhausts, trapping the toxic metal with high effectiveness. The process leverages photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide to oxidize mercury, making it a promising solution for controlling mercury emissions.
Researchers developed a novel afterburner technology that increases waste consumption in marine incinerators by a factor of 3.2 while reducing carbon monoxide emission by the same amount. The technology also eliminated visible smoke emission during operation.