Build a better mousetrap and…it may take a while before the world gets rid of the old model.
Just ask Robert Cheng, Combustion Technology Group Leader in Berkeley Lab’s Environmental Energy Technologies Division.
Berkeley Lab's Robert Cheng
Over 20 years ago, Robert invented Low Swirl Combustion. In a nutshell, it’s a way to burn hydrocarbons and hydrogen efficiently, at a lower cost than traditional burners for heaters and power generation devices, with almost no polluting NOx and CO emissions, a.k.a greenhouse gases.
Cheaper.
Cleaner.
Dialed in to climate change. That’s great! Right?
The world did not beat a path to Robert’s door.
First, Robert’s invention defied traditional combustion theory. He had originally developed the burner as a way to stabilize flame for scientific study. The reduced emissions were a bonus. Yet when equipment manufacturers saw the “weak” flame, they didn’t think it would hold up in their large scale applications.
So, Robert sent burner hardware to companies so they could test it themselves. He has attended at least 70 industrial tests himself, some overseas, to answer questions and offer advice about using the burner for different devices.
But even with positive test results, manufacturers have to think carefully before instituting such a major change. Producing machines with new burners requires retooling factories, retraining workers, producing new installation and repair manuals, and a host of other very involved, very expensive (think multi-million dollar) changes. The financial and potential safety risk of introducing a new approach to consumers accustomed to traditional burners must also be considered.
Plus, only a small number of air quality jurisdictions require lower pollutant emissions than found in today’s heaters and power generators. Would customers switch out working equipment if they didn’t have to?
Robert Cheng's Low Swirl Burner unit.
Finally, some industries are just more accustomed to changing technology than others. A better way to build a cell phone or hybrid vehicle is generally met with more interest than a better way to build, well, a mousetrap, or a gas turbine, or an industrial air dryer, or anything else that customers believe is working fine just the way it is.
Yet Robert persisted.
He continued to meet with representatives of companies from multinational equipment manufacturers to 10-person firms making water heater parts. He networked far beyond research lab and university circles to meet decision-makers gathered at heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology conferences.
Why?
Robert gets that question a lot. His answer: “It’s my duty as a scientist to make the world a better place.” After all, his invention offers significant long-term benefits to the environment and human health.
His efforts paid off when Maxon Corporation licensed Low Swirl Combustion for industrial and commercial heaters. Hundreds of Maxon’s M-PAKT, SLS and Optima SLS burners incorporating his invention have been installed for applications such as industrial paint finishing, paper making, baking, textile production and grain drying—applications that benefit from the world’s lowest level of pollutant emissions.
Maxon’s decision to commercialize the burners serves as a strong endorsement for the adoption of cleaner technologies. No one can say, “It can’t be done.”
And Robert continues to encourage other companies to follow Maxon’s lead.
Berkeley Lab Tech Transfer is working with Robert and many other inventors to get their “better mousetraps” out in the marketplace where more people can benefit. Go here to find other available energy-related technologies.
