The IFRF, in partnership with the BFRC  Flare Working Group, is organising the next Topic Oriented Technical Meeting (TOTeM 53) on the topic of Industrial flare environmental performance and emissions. The TOTeM will be held in the UK at Sheffield Town Hall on 22-24 June 2027, the same venue as for the last IFRF 2025 Conference.

The 3-day event will cover recent developments in:

• Results from methane destruction efficiency measurements in controlled conditions
• Destruction efficiencies of hydrogen and ammonia flares
• Flare technologies to maximise flare combustion and destruction efficiencies
• Regulatory requirements
• CFD modelling of industrial flares
• Optical diagnostics for flare performance monitoring

The event builds on the previous TOTeM 36 on the topic of flares, which was held in 2010 in Hawaii, USA  immediately following the American Flame Research Committee (AFRC) 2010 Pacific Rim Combustion Symposium. 

The choice of topic recognises that in the years since this earlier TOTeM, there has been a growing interest and commitment from various operating companies to address the issue of methane emissions from flares. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, has a significant impact on climate change, and its reduction is crucial to achieve global environmental goals. Companies across different industries are recognising the growing importance of mitigating methane emissions and are taking proactive steps to implement more sustainable practices. This commitment is driven by both environmental concerns and the increasing regulatory pressures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Format

The event will be a combination of keynote lectures, invited speakers, 3 round-table discussions and a poster session. The round-tables will cover the topics of:

1.     CE, DE, DRE definitions, measurement methods (hood, windtunnel, camera, drones)
2.     Flare technologies to achieve 98% or higher DE at turndown
3.     Flare optical diagnostics (VIS and NIR cameras, PFTIR, drones) for DE measurements

We will be inviting abstracts for oral presentations and posters in autumn. Full details of the TOTeM including registration and instructions for authors will also be available on our events page at this time. In the meantime, any questions or requests for further information can be directed to IFRF Administration.

Sponsorship   

The IFRF is a research and networking hub of the global industrial combustion community. The IFRF network extends from the Americas through Europe to Central and East Asia, and to Australia, covering the power generation, petroleum refining, iron and steel, cement, glass, and chemical industries as well as combustion equipment manufacturers, fuels and industrial gas producers and distributors, research institutes and universities. The BFRC has a similarly strong network more local to the UK.  

Sponsor organisations will be able to reach a highly targeted group of industrial engineers and academics by sponsoring the event. Our sponsorship packages offer a variety of benefits tailored to meet specific marketing objectives, elevate sponsor organisation brand and strengthen industry presence. Sponsors will have the opportunity to connect with key decision-makers, showcase their brand to a global community of scientists and engineers, and contribute to the advancement of combustion research. For further details, including sponsorship flyers, please contact IFRF Administration.