Abstract: A gas burner apparatus for discharging a mixture of fuel gas, air and flue gas into a furnace space of a furnace wherein the mixture is burned and flue gas having a low content of nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide is formed is provided. The burner tile includes at least one gas circulation port extending though the wall of the tile. The interior surface of the wall of the tile includes a Coanda surface. Fuel gas and/or flue gas conducted through the gas circulation port follows the path of the Coanda surface which allows more flue gas to be introduced into the stream. The exterior surface of the wall of the tile also includes a Coanda surface for facilitating the creation of a staged combustion zone. Also provided are improved burner tiles, improved gas tips and methods of burning a mixture of air, fuel gas and flue gas in a furnace space.

Abstract: A gas burner apparatus for discharging a mixture of fuel gas, air and flue gas into a furnace space of a furnace is provided. The burner tile includes at least one gas circulation port extending though the wall of the tile. The interior surface of the wall of the tile includes a Coanda surface. Fuel gas and/or flue gas conducted through the gas circulation port follows the path of the Coanda surface which allows more flue gas to be introduced into the stream. The exterior surface of the wall of the tile also includes a Coanda surface for facilitating the creation of a staged combustion zone. Also provided are improved burner tiles, improved gas tips and methods of burning a mixture of air, fuel gas and flue gas in a furnace space.

Abstract: A gas burner apparatus for discharging a mixture of fuel gas, air and flue gas into a furnace space of a furnace wherein the mixture is burned and flue gas having a low content of nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide is formed is provided. The burner tile includes at least one gas circulation port extending though the wall of the tile. The interior surface of the wall of the tile includes a Coanda surface. Fuel gas and/or flue gas conducted through the gas circulation port follows the path of the Coanda surface which allows more flue gas to be introduced into the stream. The exterior surface of the wall of the tile also includes a Coanda surface for facilitating the creation of a staged combustion zone. Also provided are improved burner tiles, improved gas tips and methods of burning a mixture of air, fuel gas and flue gas in a furnace space.

Abstract: A gas burner apparatus for discharging a mixture of fuel gas, air and flue gas into a furnace space of a furnace wherein the mixture is burned and flue gas having a low content of nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide is formed is provided. The burner tile includes at least one gas circulation port extending though the wall of the tile. The interior surface of the wall of the tile includes a Coanda surface. Fuel gas and/or flue gas conducted through the gas circulation port follows the path of the Coanda surface which allows more flue gas to be introduced into the stream. The exterior surface of the wall of the tile also includes a Coanda surface for facilitating the creation of a staged combustion zone. Also provided are improved burner tiles, improved gas tips and methods of burning a mixture of air, fuel gas and flue gas in a furnace space.

Abstract: A method of operating a flare assembly is provided. If it is determined that the injection of primary steam into the combustion zone is necessary to achieve smokeless operation, primary steam is injected through a steam injector assembly into the combustion zone. If it is determined that steam is not necessary, an alternative gas is discharged though the steam injector assembly into the combustion zone. In one embodiment, the alternative gas is heated. In another embodiment, if it is determined that steam is necessary, a maximum allowable flow rate of steam is calculated, and the flow rate of steam is modulated to achieve smokeless operation and avoid a flow rate of steam in excess of the maximum allowable flow rate of steam. A flare assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A flare apparatus for burning combustible gases. A flare tip unit comprises an inner member and an outer member defining an annulus therebetween. The annulus defines an annular gas passage through which combustible gas passes. Air moved by a motive force, preferably steam, passes through the inner member and a steam/air mixture exits an outlet of the inner member. The combustible gas and an air/steam mixture mixes in a premix zone between the inner member outlet and the exit opening of the outer member. The combustible gas/air/steam mixture is ignited for burning in the atmosphere above the exit opening. The flare apparatus may include a plurality of flare tip units.

Abstract: A gas burner apparatus for discharging a mixture of fuel gas, air and flue gas into a furnace space of a furnace wherein the mixture is burned and flue gas having a low content of nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide is formed is provided. The burner tile includes at least one gas circulation port extending though the wall of the tile. The interior surface of the wall of the tile includes a Coanda surface. Fuel gas and/or flue gas conducted through the gas circulation port follows the path of the Coanda surface which allows more flue gas to be introduced into the stream. The exterior surface of the wall of the tile also includes a Coanda surface for facilitating the creation of a staged combustion zone. Also provided are improved burner tiles, improved gas tips and methods of burning a mixture of air, fuel gas and flue gas in a furnace space.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides an automatic control system that includes an optical image capture device as part of an imaging system. In another aspect, the invention provides an imaging system that can control a flame generation system utilizing an optical image capture device in connection with a computer system, including software (and corresponding algorithms), and related apparatus as necessary. The system can be used to control various aspects of flame generating equipment such as flares, burners, pilots and other combustion equipment. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of flames, for example, can be carried out. In another aspect, the invention provides a specific methodology for using the inventive image sensing control system.

Abstract: A gas burner apparatus for discharging a mixture of fuel gas, air and flue gas into a furnace space of a furnace wherein the mixture is burned and flue gas having a low content of nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide is formed is provided. The burner tile includes at least one gas circulation port extending though the wall of the tile. The interior surface of the wall of the tile includes a Coanda surface. Fuel gas and/or flue gas conducted through the gas circulation port follows the path of the Coanda surface which allows more flue gas to be introduced into the stream. The exterior surface of the wall of the tile also includes a Coanda surface for facilitating the creation of a staged combustion zone. Also provided are improved burner tiles, improved gas tips and methods of burning a mixture of air, fuel gas and flue gas in a furnace space.

Abstract: A flare apparatus for discharging and burning flare gas in the atmosphere is provided. The flare tip includes a flare gas conduit having a flare gas discharge opening and a combustion air conduit having a combustion air discharge opening. All of the flare gas to be flared is discharged through the flare gas discharge opening into a unified column of air discharged through the combustion air discharge opening. The flare gas discharge opening and the combustion air discharge opening are positioned with respect to one another such that flare gas discharged from the flare gas discharge opening is discharged inwardly into combustion air that is discharged from the combustion air discharge opening and admixed therewith. Essentially all of the discharged flare gas is admixed with discharged combustion air or external atmospheric air outside of the flare apparatus thereby preventing internal burning. A method of flaring a mixture of flare gas and combustion air is also provided.

Abstract: A burner assembly for and method of combusting fuel gas in a furnace is provided. The burner assembly includes a burner tile having a burner throat disposed therethrough. Combustion air is conducted through the burner throat into a combustion zone in the furnace. A pilot assembly is used to generate a pilot flame within the burner throat. Fuel gas is injected into an ignition zone located outside the burner throat and ignited therein. The pilot flame generated in the burner throat can be used to ignite the fuel gas in the ignition zone. The ignited fuel gas is admixed with combustion air in the combustion zone. The burner assembly can be operated without admixing a significant amount of fuel gas with combustion air in the burner throat, which can help control the formation of undesirable nitrogen oxides (NOX).

Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring and controlling the percent stoichiometric oxidant in the pyrolyzing section of incinerators are provided. The methods and systems rely on measurements of the oxygen concentration and temperature of the gases within the pyrolysis section and mathematical relationships between these values and the percent stoichiometric oxidant.

Abstract: Compact low NOx gas burner apparatus and methods for discharging fuel gas and air mixtures into furnace spaces wherein the mixture is burned in folded flame patterns and flue gases having low NOx content are formed are provided. A burner apparatus of the invention is basically comprised of a housing having a burner tile attached thereto and means for introducing air therein. The burner tile has an opening therein with a wall surrounding the opening which extends into a furnace space. The exterior sides of the wall are divided into sections by radially positioned baffles with alternate sections having the same or different heights and slanting towards the opening at the same or different angles. Primary fuel gas mixed with flue gases and air is discharged through the burner tile. Secondary fuel gas is discharged adjacent to the external slanted wall sections whereby the secondary fuel gas mixes with flue gases in the furnace space.

Abstract: Compact low NOx gas burner apparatus and methods for discharging fuel gas and air mixtures into furnace spaces wherein the mixture is burned in folded flame patterns and flue gases having low NOx content are formed are provided. A burner apparatus of the invention is basically comprised of a housing having a burner tile attached thereto and means for introducing air therein. The burner tile has an opening therein with a wall surrounding the opening which extends into a furnace space. The exterior sides of the wall are divided into sections by radially positioned baffles with alternate sections having the same or different heights and slanting towards the opening at the same or different angles. Primary fuel gas mixed with flue gases and air is discharged through the burner tile. Secondary fuel gas is discharged adjacent to the external slanted wall sections whereby the secondary fuel gas mixes with flue gases in the furnace space.

Abstract: A remote staged furnace burner configuration includes placement of secondary fuel gas nozzles remote from burners. This configuration brings about an increased mixing of secondary fuel with furnace fuel gases. As a result, the temperature of the burning fuel gas is lowered and NOX formation is reduced.

Abstract: A remote staged radiant wall furnace burner configuration includes placement of secondary fuel gas nozzles remote from radiant wall burners. This configuration brings about an increased mixing of secondary fuel with furnace flue gases. As a result, the temperature of the burning fuel gas is lowered and NOX formation is reduced.

Abstract: A low NOx burner nozzle assembly for a radiant wall burner includes an elongated hollow burner tube and a discharge nozzle. The burner tube defines a conduit for supplying a mixture of fuel and air to a radiant combustion area of a combustion zone that surrounds the nozzle assembly. The discharge nozzle is mounted on the tube at the downstream end of the conduit adjacent the radiant combustion area and the same is adapted for directing the mixture of fuel and air into the radiant combustion area in an essentially radial direction. The discharge nozzle includes a plurality of flow directing members arranged in an array which extends circumferentially around the discharge nozzle, and the same are arranged to define therebetween a plurality of passageways which extend in a generally radial direction. The passageways are arranged so as to have different respective flow areas. The discharge nozzle also has an end cap to prevent axial flow of the primary air/fuel mixture.

Abstract: A continuously operating ultra-stable flare pilot for igniting a flammable fluid discharged from the open end of a flare stack and methods are provided. The flare pilot basically comprises a fuel-air mixture inlet conduit, a fuel-air mixture discharge nozzle attached to the fuel-air mixture inlet conduit and a wind shield having a lower end attached to the fuel-air mixture discharge nozzle or the fuel-air mixture inlet conduit. The wind shield has an open upper end which includes an upstanding wall portion facing the open end of the flare stack and the wind shield includes an outwardly extending wind capturing baffle attached to each of the opposite sides of the wind shield positioned substantially around openings in the wind shield through which captured wind can flow into the interior of the wind shield.

Abstract: A burner assembly for a furnace or like device having a firebox defining a combustion zone. The burner assembly includes a first annular tile defining a centrally located path for a flow of combustion air and a second annular tile concentric with the first annular tile. The second annular tile has an internal diameter which is larger than an external diameter of said first annular tile, and the second annular tile is positioned in surrounding relationship relative to at least a portion of said first annular tile so that a ring-shaped conduit is defined therebetween. The tiles are adapted for placement in the combustion zone of the furnace with the conduit in direct fluid communication with flue gases surrounding the combustion zone. The arrangement is such that combustion air flowing along said path induces a flow of flue gas through the conduit for entrainment by the flow of combustion air.

Abstract: A burner assembly for a radiant burner includes a burner tube structure in the form of an elongated burner conduit having spaced inlet and outlet ends. The conduit is adapted and arranged for directing a fuel lean gaseous mixture comprising a portion of the total fluid fuel to be combusted and oxygen therealong from the inlet end to the outlet end. The assembly also includes a main burner nozzle at the outlet end of the conduit, which nozzle has a central axis, a wall extending around a centrally located chamber therein, and a downstream end spaced from the outlet end of the conduit. The main burner nozzle is arranged and adapted for receiving the mixture from the conduit in the chamber and redirecting the same through a plurality of apertures in the wall and into a combustion zone in a direction transverse to the axis and at a velocity which is greater than the flame speed of the gaseous mixture.