Diagnostica ottica per lo sviluppo di sistemi di combustione a basso impatto ambientale

The simultaneous requirement of a more efficient combustion, characterised by a low environmental impact, is at present one of the challenges of major engagement for scientific community working in the field of combustion. An effective contribution to the solution of such a problem is furnished by a higher knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms governing formation and oxidation of pollutants. Optical diagnostics is one of the most relevant and powerful tools available to study combustion and combustion-related processes. After a brief overview of the major problems encountered in combustion and of the optical methods typically used, the application of optical techniques to study the formation of pollutants from combustion systems will be discussed. It will be shown as on this basis more "clean" combustors can be technologically developed.