Two weeks on from the last MNM update on the IFRF’s 16th International Members’ Conference “Combustion and sustainability: new technologies, new fuels, new challenges” which takes place in Boston in June, the programme continues to take shape and organization begins in earnest.

Dr. Kaoru Maruta, Professor at The Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University, and the leader of the Japanese Combustion Institute, has been confirmed as a keynote speaker, and joins MIT Professor J. Beer, who will deliver the first plenary lecture, “Fossil Fuel Power Generation in a Carbon Constrained World” and Professor Klaus Hein, who will address “Sustainable Energy Supply and Environment Protection-Strategies and Technologies in Europe”.

Whilst late abstracts are still being accepted, the major topic areas remain:

• Fuel characterization: bio-, fossil, secondary fuels
• Ash/mineral matter and related problems
• Oxygen combustion and other technologies for CCS
• New combustion concepts and their application
• Ultra low NOx boilers and heaters for different applications
• Matching for new/revamped/upgraded applications: flame and combustion chamber matching for new or revamped furnaces; burner-boiler matching for new or upgraded boilers
• Flares for Oil&Gas and other sectors
• Combustion modeling Verification &Validation (comprehensive codes and sub-models)
• Diagnostics and in-flame measurement techniques
• Gas turbines

A full three day programme which kicks off on Monday 8 June at the Hilton Boston Back Bay Hotel, will include various opportunities for socializing including a formal dinner on the Tuesday evening, preceded by a relaxing expedition to the historical centre of Boston.  For those who will be able to spend a little time in the city after the conference, useful links to sightseeing venues can be found on the Conference website as well as information about registration.  A draft programme will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

In planning their trip to the United States, some delegates may be interested to know that the 3rd Global Fuels Conference will take place 15-16 June 2009 in Toronto – looking specifically at alternative fuels for the cement and lime industries. The conference and exhibition will focus on markets, procurement, handling, processing and combustion of alternative fuels in the cement and lime industries: around 150 delegates from more than 35 countries are expected to attend.