Aspects of submerged combustion as a heat exchange method

The aim of the research is to identify and quantify those factors influencing the ignition and maintenance of a stable fully immersed flame for submerged combustion under a variety of operating conditions. Further to this, the effects of burner design are being assessed with a view to producing optimal designs for each application. Apart from factors influencing the design of submerged combustion burners, the question of process design must also be addressed, particularly with regard to the water and waste water industries. Submerged combustion has been used successfully to pasteurise sewage sludges prior to anaerobic digestion. Treatment methods such as this are now required in the US; as a result, interest has increased in the UK, leading to this research project