The Center for the Simulation of Accidental Fires and Explosions (C-SAFE) focuses specifically on providing state-of-the art, science-based tools for the numerical simulation (Figure 1) of accidental fires (Figure 2) and explosions, especially within the context of handling and storage of highly flammable materials. The availability of simulations using this system will help to better evaluate the risks and safety issues associated with fires and explosions involving both hydrocarbon and energetic materials.

  The international transport of air pollution across the U.S. Mexico border is a growing problem. One major source of air pollution are the 100s of brick kilns in the area (Figure 3 - top). Low temperature burning with cheap waste fuels such as sawdust, pecan shells or scrap wood yield high particulate emissions. A pilot-scale kiln (Figure 3- bottom) was constructed at the U of Utah to evaluate different approaches for reducing emissions. Preheating the kiln to 1200 oF with natural gas produced an 80% reduction in total particles and a 77% reduction in CO. Higher kiln temperatures also yield smaller particle sizes.

Former graduate student, Eric Stewart, is shown igniting the fuel in the pilot-scale brick kiln (Figure 3- bottomFigure 3- bottom). Eric's thesis focused on finding ways of reducing emissions of CO and unburned hydrocarbons. Graduate students can study combustion as it relates to air pollutant formation and control using the pilot kiln and a variety of other unique pilot-scale facilities at the University of Utah. Funded by the Southwest Center for Environmental Research and Policy (SCERP).

The U of Utah is collaborating with the Desert Research Institute, Caltech, U.C. Riverside and Reactions Engineering International in developing advanced methods for the measurement of the size distributions and the chemical composition of particles down to the sub-micron range. The team is also determining the feasibility of using the advanced analytical measurements to characterize the chemical composition and size of particle emitted by a diverse range of sources at DoD facilities. Figure 4 shows measurements in progress on the emissions from aircraft ground equipment at the Hill Air Force Base. Funded by the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP).