EnviroFlame INDUSTRIES : Lab & Field Test

Combustion is a chemical process in which a substance, called fuel, reacts rapidly with Oxygen and gives off heat. The source of oxygen is called the oxidizer, which can be a solid, liquid or gas. The internal combustion engines, found in modern motor vehicles, use air for a source of oxygen, which is a gas. The air contains 21% oxygen, 78% Nitrogen and 1% trace gases.

Gasoline and Diesel Fuel are Hydrogen-Carbon fuels. The various elements that make these fuels are called hydrocarbons.

To cause combustion to take place in the internal combustion engine the fuel is mixed with air and ignited. In a gasoline engine the source of ignition is a spark plug. In a diesel engine the source is compression. This results in the rapid expansion of the gas, which causes heat that is the kinetic energy (energy in motion) that drives the piston down and thus propels the vehicle. During combustion new chemical substances are created from the fuel and the oxidizer. These substances are called exhaust.

When the oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon atoms re-associate they form new substances, which include: H2O (water), CO2 (carbon dioxide), CO (carbon monoxide), VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and NOx (oxides of nitrogen).

Water (H2O) is one of the most abundant elements on earth and is essential for human life.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is the gas attributed for causing global warming. Carbon dioxide is one of the trace gases in the atmosphere. It is uniformly distributed over the earth's surface at a concentration of about 0.033% or 330 ppm. Commercially, CO2 finds uses as a refrigerant (dry ice is solid CO2), in beverage carbonation, and in fire extinguishers. The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased over the past century. CO2 is rising at a rate of about 1 ppm per year. The rise of CO2 could cause global climate changes, which are referred to as the greenhouse effect.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a gas that is clear, tasteless and odorless. Heavy concentration and lengthy exposure to CO is fatal to human beings. CO is caused by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that evaporate when exposed to air. VOCs are a contributing factor in air pollution. VOCs contain hydrocarbons (HC) that are lighter than air. These hydrocarbons mix with the NOx emissions to create Smog. Exposure to, or ingestion of, VOCs in high concentrations can cause various health effects, including cancer.

Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) molecules react to sunlight; turn reddish-brown and form ground level ozone or smog. NOx contain substances that are highly toxic and can cause lung damage or even death.

For combustion to occur three things must be present: fuel, oxygen and a source of heat or ignition. As a result of combustion, heat is released and exhausts are created. Heat is the primary purpose of combustion . For example; it is the energy to cook our foods and the driving force of the internal combustion engine. Combustion can be controlled or stopped by controlling the amount of fuel available, the amount of oxygen available, or the source of heat. Ideal or efficient combustion, is to generate as much heat as possible with the same amount fuel and at the same time to create the least amount in exhaust gases, such as VOC's, CO and NOx.

Introduction of Combustion

Introduction of
Combustion