About the Book

The phenomenon of combustion, seemingly so simple and present almost in all spheres of our lives, is a fascinatingly complex process that involves elements of chemistry, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics. In Understanding Combustion, the author takes on the task of revealing its myriad aspects for the benefit of a general reader with a background in science. The narrative introduces the reader to the process of combustion happening everywhere, in the domestic, industrial and scientific spheres and then goes on to explain the aspects of engineering design involved in the control of the process. From a simple candle flame to cooking stoves to combustion in hybrid rocket engines, the book looks at combustion in varied fuel media, examines the chemistry behind it, analyses the stability of the process and the modelling of combustion devices. In this revised edition, three new chapters on gasification of solid fuels, emission of pollutants and explosion and detonation have been included to expand the field of discourse to recent developments and also cover practical issues related to conservation of fuels and environmental degradation. This book would be of interest to students of science and technology.