ABSTRACT
Combustion can be thought of as a self-sustaining reactive flow, in which chemical energy is converted into heat. Thermochemistry, fluid dynamics, mass and heat transport, and chemical kinetics all play significant roles in combustion processes. System efficiency, be it in a steady-state flame, or a transitory process such as an explosion or internal combustion engine, is usually the prime issue in combustion. Efficiency is generally governed by the first three topics; detailed knowledge of the reaction kinetics of minor species is usually not needed for efficiency considerations.
