In March, 1997, the laboratory smoothly passed the national evaluation. The remarks of the evaluation said that the laboratory developed extensive research on several important aspects of applied coal combustion theories, and praised its research achievements. Research on basic theories of coal combustion was completed. It covered procedures such as the pyrogenation of coal, ignition, coal tar combustion, and the form and effect of ash. The laboratory developed thorough research on heavy metal pollution, NO2 , and organic pollution, as well as SO2, and NOX. The laboratory has done thorough research on the theoretical model and the mathematical block of relative procedures in coal combustion. It also developed important software to put up digital stimulation of the practical flowage in the pot, heat transmission, combustion, and the production of pollution. The laboratory was at the forefront of research in China, and in some of the aspects, in a leading position in the world.

After the national evaluation, the laboratory started a new term of construction and development. It further definitized the research orientation, and established some concrete measures to promote the development of the laboratory. It concentrated on such aspects as "the research on the non-linearity problems in the course of combustion", "the extensive harness of the pollution let in the course of combustion", and "the development of coal oven Hotpoint technique and the application of computer in electric power systems". In 1999, the laboratory took on another important national basic research program (973) - the prevention and cure of combustion pollution: the regulation of the interaction between the multi-directional onflow flowage and its chemical reaction, the letting and restraining of heavy metal trace. The total sum of funds was over 9,000,000 yuan.

There are 28 faculty members in the laboratory, including 9 professors (of which 5 are doctoral supervisors), and 5 associate professors and advanced engineers. It also has over 60 doctor and master candidates.

The laboratory concentrates on the research directions definitized by the nation, and developed successful work in the following areas:

Research on the basic application theories of coal combustion: It is the key basic research to realize high efficiency and low pollution coal combustion.

Research on the application techniques of coal combustion: In order to solve a series of key technical problems in the running of coal ovens in our country, the laboratory energetically developed and researched application techniques of coal combustion to satisfy the growing needs of resources and environment protection in our country.

Now, the laboratory is working in the following fields:

1. the non-linearity problems in the course of combustion
   advanced description method of onflow flowage (including 2 directional flow);
   description of the construction of coal and the features of combustion;
   visualization and intelligent diagnosis of the working condition of the oven: research on new temperature measurement methods, diagnosis of the course of the flame;
   description of radiation and dregs producing features: new methods on radiation calculation, radioactive media in the coal powder oven (3 atom gas), stimulation of heat transmission, research on mineral substances behavior in the course of combustion;
   letting and restrain of coal combustion pollution: modeling and stimulation of the course of calcium spraying and desulfuration in the oven.

2. the extensive harness of the pollution let in the course of combustion:
   based on the integrative research of the new coal powder combustion techniques:
   production and interaction of all sorts of contamination in the CO2 circulation: the static combustion features of CO2 atmosphere condition (including experiments on the hot scale and the horizontal oven), relative calculation, and the construction of small CO2 atmosphere combustion experimental flat;
   the model description of the trace heavy metal transference and letting regulation during the combustion.

3. the development of coal oven heatpoint technique and the application of computer in electric power systems
   the testing and controlling of ovens and power stations;
   research system of dynamic testing the heating process.