This planning report, which has been published in the Members’ Research section of the website under Latest Reports, is entitled IFRF Solid Fuel Database – SFDB Phase 1.  To access the document directly, go to http://www.research.ifrf.net/research/chapter.html?cid=120

To summarise briefly, at the outset of the project, the realisation of the SFDB was preliminarily divided into three phases:

1. Collect data samples, organise these in simple electronic form, and circulate amongst IFRF Members for feedback and suggestions;

2. Create a fully flexible, efficient, secure and internet-based electronic database;

3. Fill the database with wide and reliable data, and equip it with mathematical tools.

The first phase has been initiated with the collection of all the data acquired in the past on the IFRF Isothermal Plug Flow Reactor.  This data (which mainly describes devolatilisation and char combustion) is being organised, together with basic fuel properties, into a suitable electronic format.  IFRF investigator Jarek Hercog is responsible for this project.

During this phase, which is expected to end in March, standardisation procedures for devolatilization, char preparation, char combustion and nitrogen release studies in experimental drop tube furnaces and entrained flow reactors will be proposed.  These proposals will be discussed in a technical meeting of the SFDB Working Group.

The creation of standardisation procedures will allow interested IFRF Member Organisations to participate in the creation of the SFDB and to share their results from similar contexts.

Several Member Organisations have already indicated their willingness to participate in the working group, which is scheduled to meet at the end of March.  Those Members will be soon contacted by the IFRF Director.  Other Members who wish to become involved in this project are warmly invited to contact IFRF Director Leonardo Tognotti.  To send a mail, go to http://mailgate.ifrf.net/staff/