Course Overview
The dominance of fire is one of the most significant achievements of mankind. For thousands of years, the controlled use of fire was focused on domestic applications. The tremendous relevance of combustion became apparent at the latest with the start of the industrial revolution. The enormous amounts of energy which human society needs today, are largely provided by the thermochemical energy conversion of fossil fuels. However, these undeniable advantages are offset by immense risks due to pollutants for any type of applications. The increase in the greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere is also largely due to its generation during the combustion of fossil fuels. Modern-day mobility is also inconceivable without combustion technology. Hence, on the theme of safe thermochemical energy conversion in the face of climate change, it is proposed to create awareness among academic and scientific community about basic theoretical background of controlled combustion with minimal emission.
Combustion is an interdisciplinary area with interaction of thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, and fluid mechanics. A basic understanding of these areas of knowledge is necessary for implementation in practical combustion systems. The lectures aim to provide an in-depth understanding of safe thermochemical energy conversion amidst the challenges posed by climate change. Mastery of fire has historically transformed human society, from domestic uses to powering the industrial revolution. Today, the thermochemical conversion of fossil fuels is central to meeting global energy demands, but it brings significant risks, including pollutant emissions and the increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide – a major greenhouse gas. Uncontrolled combustion can also lead to catastrophic fires and explosions. With these viewpoints, the lectures will cover the interdisciplinary nature of combustion, integrating thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, and fluid mechanics. The participants will learn about the process of breaking chemical bonds in chemical energy carriers to release thermal energy, which can be used directly or converted into mechanical work. The complex interactions between chemical reactions and physical processes (such as heat conduction & diffusion) will be discussed, highlighting how turbulence can enhance combustion rates. Advancements in experimental and numerical techniques, such as laser-based diagnostics and Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS), will be explored, showing how they improve the efficiency of combustion systems. The goal is to expose the participants with the knowledge to optimize renewable energy use, reduce emissions, and ensure safety in industrial processes, contributing to sustainable energy solutions in the face of climate change.
The course is organized in two modules (A & B) emphasizing fundamental theory of combustion, experimental diagnostics methods of combustion research, numerical modellings for combustion, fundamentals of explosion protection during combustion, pollution and emission controls during combustion. The topics in “Module A” will cover the basic concepts of combustion, thermochemistry, chemical kinetics, reactive systems, premixed and diffusion flames. In “Module B”, the participants will be exposed to advanced topics involving combustion diagnostic systems, numerical modellings, explosion protections mechanisms, pollution and emission aspects during a combustion process. In the discussions in both modules, the participants will be familiar with various applications (engines, gas burners) of combustion. The exposure to the course can be utilized to optimize the use of renewable energy sources in the future to encourage zero carbon emission of pollutants that leads to green combustion. In addition, the safety assessment of industrial processes involving combustion systems can be effectively controlled.
Course participants will learn these topics through lectures, tutorials and exposure to numerical modelling packages of combustion. Also, the case studies and assignments will be shared to stimulate research motivation of participants.
