Research and Development Programmes in Industrial Combustion - Success or Fail -A case study

Abstract

The conversion of primary energy by combustion is about 82% of the total energy of Latin America. Industrial processes are often energy demanding, especially those based upon burning of fuels for direct heating or power generation. The conversion by fi ring inevitably generates and emits pollutants to the atmosphere. Over the last few years several new environmental requirements have been observed in Latin America in order to regulate such emissions, not only but also from stationary industrial sources. The harm to public health, local and global effects such as changes in climate and the loss of manufacturing competitiveness in this new scenario, indicate that conversion by combustion will be much questioned around the world in the near future. So there are important drives for investment in cleaner-burning technologies and energy effi ciency improvements. Governments, private sector and non-governmental organizations indicate investment programs in those areas. This paper discusses a study of management model of R+D+I programs called the four-chair model. It shows a case study in which several aspects are addressed, considering local development demands, energetic resources and “real life” energy demands for population. Finally indicates potential technologies in industrial combustion at various levels from basic, emerging technologies up to frontier knowledge.