Burner or ignition systems are essential for the operation of industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and energy, as they facilitate the ignition of fuels to generate heat, energy or perform key processes. Their use in mining, manufacturing, construction and transportation, among others, ensures the continuity of operations.
However, one of the problems faced by these industries is to maintain stable and efficient combustion in poor gas mixtures within porous media, without the flame going out or escaping into the atmosphere. These gases are characterized by their low proportion of fuel to air, making ignition difficult.
Another challenge is that existing systems are most effective with rich gas mixtures, which have a high fuel content relative to air, facilitating ignition and maintaining stable combustion. This limits the possibility of new applications, for example, in case the industry seeks to reduce its emissions.
The University of Santiago de Chile has been working to solve these problems by developing an ignition system for gaseous fuel mixtures using magnetic induction. This project was led by Dr. Valeri Bubnovich, academic and researcher of the Faculty of Engineering, together with an expert research team.
“The system we propose is simpler and more effective than current alternatives, since it converts electrical energy into heat directly, raising the temperature to the level necessary for ignition and super adiabatic combustion,” explains the researcher.
Given these characteristics, he adds, the technology is ideal for other industrial applications, where fuel is limited, expensive or where the environmental impact needs to be reduced.
Another point highlighted by the academic has to do with the environmental and economic advantages this development offers to companies. He explains that “by working with more diluted gas mixtures, there is less fuel consumption, significantly reducing operating costs and polluting emissions. Magnetic induction is also a clean and reliable method for generating heat.
He also points out that the versatility of the system makes it an attractive option for industries that need to optimize fuel use, such as energy, chemicals and manufacturing.
Currently, this Usach technology has a patent granted in Chile, a process that has been supported by the Office for Technology Management Office (DGT) of the Vice Rector's Office for Research, Innovation and Creation (Vriic).
To learn more about the University's technology portfolio, interested parties can access the web page of the Technology Management Office.