FLOX
FLOX is a combustion process developed by WS Wärmeprozesstechnik GmbH.
History[]
In experiments with industrial gasoline engines conducted in April 1990, Joachim Alfred Wünning found that when combustion occurred at a temperature greater than 850 °C, the flames were blown away. His discovery led to the invention of what he called FLOX-Technology, a name derived from the German expression "flammenlose Oxidation" (flameless oxidation). The advantages of this technology attracted funding for a project at Stuttgart University called FloxCoal, a programme aiming to engineer a flameless atomizing coal burner.
Technology[]
When combustion occurs, NOx is formed at the front of the flame: suppression of peak flame offers the theoretical possibility of reducing NOx production to zero. Experiments with FLOX-Technology have established that it can reduce the amount of NOx generated by 20% in the case of Rhenisch brown coal, and by 65% in the case of Polish black coal.
The role of combustion temperature in NOx formation has been understood for some time. Reduction of the combustion temperature in gasoline engines, by reducing the compression ratio, was among the first steps taken to comply with the U.S. clean air act in the 1970s. This lowered the NOx emissions by lowering the temperature at the flame front.
References[]
External links[]
- Tanja Ellinghaus (2011-11-11). "Brenner ohne Flamme". Technology Review (in German).
- list of article at WS Wärmetechnik
- Combustion