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“The Information Centre”of the

International Flame Research Foundation”

IFRF NETStructure and Modes of Operation

Peter RobertsDirector – IFRF NET

Workshop on Virtual Institutes Brussels – 28th September

2000

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The beginning

• 1998The Spirit of IJmuidenRoman Weber

• A co-operation between–Royal Dutch Iron

and Steel (KNHS)–British - BISRA –French – IRSID

• Steel industry research

1948The original research furnace at IJmuiden, NLon the terrain of KNHS

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Early development

• Mission - Flames for industry– Combustion equipment

• First fuel - “Heavy Fuel Oil”

• First industry:– Iron and Steel industry– Application of research results in industry by

industry• First National Committees:

– France, Netherlands and the UK

• Development through the National Committee structure

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Milestones

• 1955 - Pulverised coal research– Later Natural Gas, Biofuels, LCV gases, prepared

wastes• 1970 - 1975 - Low NOx burner research – US EPA

– First semi-industrial scale tests - First application 1977

• Late 1970s– Low NOx combustion/Poor-”New” fuels utilisation

• Mid 1980s - IEA Coal Sciences Programme– Canada, Germany, Netherlands and UK

• Early 1990s - Direct Iron making – Corus (Hoogovens)• Mid to Late 1990s – Oxygen and Regenerative

Combustion

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The Network

Industrial Member Organisations - IMO•Industrial fuel users - Fuels and industrial gas suppliers

•Combustion equipment/service providers - Associations

Academic Member Organisations- AMO•Universities Departments

Small MemberOrganisation – SMO•In development

Each Member Organisation•All Combustion people associated

•Registered as Individual Members

200 MOs

2,000 IMs

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International Technical Meeting Servicehttp://www.ifrf.net/ifrf_net/meetings.html• Face to Face Technical Meetings

– lifeblood of Communication - IFRF NET

• Open Domain– National Flame Days– 2000 AFRC International Symposium

September 17-21, 2000,Newport Beach, California, USAPreliminary Announcementand Call for Papers

– Present the results of yourRD&D to an “applied” audience

– http://www.afrc.uci.edu/• INFUB supported from

these pages

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IFRF Academyhttp://www.academy.ifrf.netEditor-in–Chief: Prof. Nick SyredRole of the IFRF

– Start at Under-graduate level– Utilise existing resources– Academic Member Organisations

• Hands-on Research Training – EuroFlam – Cardiff/IJmuiden/Pisa

– www.euroflam.net• Combustion Courses 2000 in Preparation

– Netherlands – September 2000– Australia – November 2000

• Bookshop – linked to the Combustion Centre• Combustion Information linked to the “Handbook”• Directory of Combustion Courses – AMO Group

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IFRF Combustion Journalhttp://www.journal.ifrf.netISSN 1562-479XEditor-in–Chief: Prof. Terry Wall• Role of the IFRF

– Encourage excellent research– “Prime objective of Journal is to further the

application of scientific principles in stationary combustion technologies, for large scale industrial heating processes, leading to clean and efficient fuel conversion”

• Proposed papers refereed to the highest standards• Only published electronically: abstracts–html – papers-

pdf – immediately after successful refereeing

• Proposals – journal@ifrf.net - see Guide to proposers

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The Combustion Centrewww.combustion-centre.ifrf.net

• Published: Communications Centre• Role of the IFRF

– Encourage excellent Technology• Basis for a “Technology Market Place”• Combustion Bookstore

– Combustion Science and Engineering - books– Combustion text books - Academy– Purchase via Amazon or Barnes&Noble

• Software - Research Equipment – Services• Technical Platform for IFRF Research Station

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Research ServicesThe IFRF Research Station BVhttp://www.research-station.ifrf.net

• Published: Communications Centre• Information: Research Station• Role of the IFRF

– Members Research Programme(s)• Mission – Facilities – Services – Training – Staff• Research:

– Basic Research– Applications Research– 1999 and 2000 Core Programme outlines on-line

»The IFRF Members’ Research Programme

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IFRF News Servicehttp://www.mnm.ifrf.netThe Monday Night MailISSN 1562-4781

• Published: Communications Centre – weekly– Web edition and email edition

• Role of the IFRF– Communication of developments at IFRF

• Published in Open Domain– Let the world see what is happening at IFRF and

elsewhere– In publishable synopsis form only

• Links to full information Members Domain provided– “Gateway” – can only be accessed

»by Registered Individual Members

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The Members Domainhttp://www.mod.ifrf.net

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The Members Domainhttp://www.mod.ifrf.net

Development of the 5 ServicesTo be published end October 2000

• The Members’ Expertise Exchange– http://www.exchange.ifrf.net

• The Combustion Library– http://www.library.ifrf.net

• The Combustion Handbook– http://www.handbook.ifrf.net

• Combustion Trends for the Future– http://www.trends.ifrf.net

• The Members’ Research Programme– http://www.research.ifrf.net

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The Members’ Expertise Exchangehttp://www.mod.ifrf.net[http://www.exchange.ifrf.net]Objective: Technical exchange between

Individual Members

Status Quo: Valuable communications database200 Member Organisations< 1,000 Individual Members Registered – rising

Potential: Even More valuable technical resource200+ Technical Service Providers 2000 Combustion Engineers and Scientists

Development: Each Member Organisation- List of their available servicesEach Individual Member- list of Personal Expertise

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The Members’ Expertise Exchangehttp://www.mod.ifrf.net

Communications:

• Email– each personal profile has address and an “email pad”

• An email based “Closed Discussion Group” is being added– Message/query will go to all Individual Members

• Technical Advice Bureau will be retained– For more confidential questions, or;– If no expert can be located;– Handled directly by Superintendent of research;– Expert located for you within three working days

• Telephone – more expensive – but direct!

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The Combustion Libraryhttp://www.mod.ifrf.netA Web based libraryBased on a 50 year+ archivePresent Population: 305 Target Population: 1,000

Library Query PageSearch by author, reference, doc. number, keywords• List of document short profiles• Choose document – full profile

– Includes abstract– Form - further information on:

»Where it can be acquired from?» If IFRF Doc – cost?

– New IFRF reports (future)» direct download as a PDF file

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The Combustion Handbookhttp://www.mod.ifrf.net[http://www.handbook.ifrf.net]Editor in Chief - Neil FrickerApplied Combustion InformationDistilled from Research InformationFirst Publication: Mid-summer

The Micrograph conceptShort Explanations to “How do I …?” or “What is …?”

The first series is available to all - no restriction Designed primarily as a basic foundation of the Handbook Available to all – Including Individual Members

The second series contains more detailed information based on the results of more recent research and includes the bulk of the combustion engineering micrographs

– available to Individual Members of the IFRF only.

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Combustion Trends for the FutureDeputy Superintendent of Research - Tsuneaki NakamuraTOTeMs – Topic Oriented Technical Meetings• TOTeMs intended for determining “state-of-

knowledge” and trends with respect to given combustion related topics – Invited Presentations by International Experts

• TOTeMs are announced in the open domain but can only be attended by Individual Members

• The information presented at TOTeMs, the conclusions drawn and the recommendations made, are published in: “Combustion Trends for the Future”– Which way are events leading us?– Where do we want to go? – What information do we need

to meet the demands of the future?• This information is available only to

Individual Members

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The Copenhagen SessionTOTeM15

“Ash and Deposit Formation in Utility Boilers”Chairman: Flemming Frandsen

TOTeM16“Toxic Metals and Fine Particles from Combustion”

Chairman: Jost Wendt

Evening of Monday June 26th to Wednesday June 28th 2000Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby

IFRF Members Only

TOTeMs 2000

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The Paris SessionTOTeM17

“The Use of Oxygen for Industrial Combustion”Chairman: Jacques Dugué

TOTeM18“Intelligent - Combustion - Control”

Chairman: Jean-Bernard Michel

Evening of Monday September 25th toWednesday September 27th 2000

Abbaye des Vaux de Cernay

IFRF Members Only

TOTeMs 2000

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The Members’ Research Programmehttp://www.mod.ifrf.netSuperintendent of Research:Professor Mikko HupaResearch Information to serve the needsof the IFRF Member Organisations

Web ReportingProgress and results of the Members’ Research Programme reported regularly in the Members Domain“short but regularly” – as events occur

– html reports– PDF reports

Approved Research Reportswill be made available to membersvia the Combustion Library- Download as PDF

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Summary of Members Domain Services

Combustion Trendsfor the Future:

TheCombustion Handbook

TheCombustion Library

The Members’Research Programme

The Members’ Expertise Exchange•Member Organisations’ Services

•Members’ expertise database•The technical discussion utility•The Technical Advise Bureau

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The Mission of IFRF NET

• To provide industry with information on– combustion science and technology

• “Cradle to Grave” services– Cradle = Undergraduate students - Academy

• Transition to Individual Member– Post-graduate Student or Working Engineer

• Students and developing companies– Open Domain Services

• Combustion related industries/institutesAcademia - from post graduate level onwards– Members Domain Services

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How can I join the Club?

• Available only to Registered Individual Members• Individual Members are normally associated with:

– Member Organisations - National Committee Members

• How do I become a Member?– Is my Company/Institute already a

Member Organisation?» If yes – Get registered » If no - Join the Club

– Join your local National Committee• To join IFRF NET

– Go to: http://www.ifrf.net/network/member.html – Fill in the application form and leave the rest to

us!