The prototype burner design was the work of researchers at the Energy Laboratory's Combustion Research Facility under the direction of Janos Beer, professor emeritus of chemical and fuel engineering.
Nitrogen oxides are precursors of acid rain and smog.
This form of combustion in conventional burners is achieved in physically separated regions of a combustion chamber. It also allows full oxidation of combustibles by means of vigorous mixing of the residual fuel with the burner airflow. Following mathematical modeling and experimental studies at MIT, ABB-CE Services Inc. scaled up and developed the design to a commercial product.