A system, comprising: a fuel source; a housing defining a boundary of a combustion zone configured to be operatively coupled to the fuel source and to support a combustion reaction of a fuel from the fuel source; a first electrode and a second electrode, each configured to apply electrical energy to the combustion reaction, wherein at least a portion of the housing is conductive, and functions as the first electrode; and an electrical power source that is: operatively coupled to the first electrode and to the second electrode; and configured to drive an electrical circuit formed by the first electrode, the combustion reaction, and the second electrode and to thereby apply electrical energy to the combustion reaction sufficient to cause agglomeration of combustion particulates produced by the combustion reaction, and to form thereby agglomerated combustion particulates; wherein the combustion reaction includes a flame; and wherein the first electrode or the second electrode is configured to be in at least intermittent electrical contact with the combustion reaction or the flame to form the electrical current circuit; characterized in comprising: a sensor configured to sense at least an average particulate mass of the agglomerated combustion particulates; and a controller operatively coupled to the electrical power source, the controller being configured to: automatically control the electrical power source to apply the electrical energy to the combustion reaction; detect a sensor value from the sensor; and automatically control the electrical power source to apply the electrical energy, at least in part responsive to the sensor value, sufficient to produce agglomerated combustion particulates having an increased average particulate mass, as compared to an average particulate mass of combustion particulates produced by the combustion reaction in the absence of the electrical energy. a fuel source; a housing defining a boundary of a combustion zone configured to be operatively coupled to the fuel source and to support a combustion reaction of a fuel from the fuel source; a first electrode and a second electrode, each configured to apply electrical energy to the combustion reaction, wherein at least a portion of the housing is conductive, and functions as the first electrode; and an electrical power source that is: operatively coupled to the first electrode and to the second electrode; and configured to drive an electrical circuit formed by the first electrode, the combustion reaction, and the second electrode and to thereby apply electrical energy to the combustion reaction sufficient to cause agglomeration of combustion particulates produced by the combustion reaction, and to form thereby agglomerated combustion particulates; wherein the combustion reaction includes a flame; and wherein the first electrode or the second electrode is configured to be in at least intermittent electrical contact with the combustion reaction or the flame to form the electrical current circuit; operatively coupled to the first electrode and to the second electrode; and configured to drive an electrical circuit formed by the first electrode, the combustion reaction, and the second electrode and to thereby apply electrical energy to the combustion reaction sufficient to cause agglomeration of combustion particulates produced by the combustion reaction, and to form thereby agglomerated combustion particulates; wherein the combustion reaction includes a flame; and wherein the first electrode or the second electrode is configured to be in at least intermittent electrical contact with the combustion reaction or the flame to form the electrical current circuit; a sensor configured to sense at least an average particulate mass of the agglomerated combustion particulates; and a controller operatively coupled to the electrical power source, the controller being configured to: automatically control the electrical power source to apply the electrical energy to the combustion reaction; detect a sensor value from the sensor; and automatically control the electrical power source to apply the electrical energy, at least in part responsive to the sensor value, sufficient to produce agglomerated combustion particulates having an increased average particulate mass, as compared to an average particulate mass of combustion particulates produced by the combustion reaction in the absence of the electrical energy. automatically control the electrical power source to apply the electrical energy to the combustion reaction; detect a sensor value from the sensor; and automatically control the electrical power source to apply the electrical energy, at least in part responsive to the sensor value, sufficient to produce agglomerated combustion particulates having an increased average particulate mass, as compared to an average particulate mass of combustion particulates produced by the combustion reaction in the absence of the electrical energy.