Editorial - Combustion Science - Achievements and Challenges in 21st Century

Abstract

Combustion has been the main source of energy for mankind for a very long time now. During this period, combustion science has made many remarkable discoveries and combustion research has resulted in better cars, more efficient power stations, the reduction of pollution levels and even in our ability to reach other planets. Although the energy situation in the world is rapidly changing, it seems that combustion will still remain our main energy source in the foreseeable future. Given the increasing public awareness of the environmental, economic and geopolitical aspects associated with the burning of fossil fuels it is inevitable that the sources of energy will need to be diversified and new fuels will have to be introduced into the market. This special issue of The Open Thermodynamics Journal contains articles which review some of the achievements of combustion science, in theory and modelling, and in the improvement of device efficiency, and which examine some of the major challenges that combustion science faces in the coming decades.