Sandia exands combustion research work

The second phase of the Combustion Research Facility, recently unveiled at Sandia National Laboratories (Albuquerque, NM), will provide researchers with additional resources to investigate how fuels operate in a working engine. Alternative fuels such as bio-fuels will be of particular interest. Laser-based diagnostic tools have been key, and the new wing houses a picosecond laser for diagnosing molecular energy transfer during combustion. A new low-pressure flame lab will also be available, as will advanced 3-D laser imaging technologies. At a cost of $26.8 million, the new wing adds 16 labs and 32,300 sq ft to the existing 20-lab space at the facility.—W. Conard Holton