BURNER UTILIZING OXYGEN LANCE FOR FLAME CONTROL AND NOx REDUCTION
A method of providing oxygen enriched fuel into a combustion atmosphere of a furnace includes injecting a fuel stream into the combustion atmosphere, and providing oxygen into the fuel stream during the injecting of the fuel stream into the combustion atmosphere. A fluid injection apparatus for a combustion atmosphere of a furnace is also provided and includes a housing having a space therein and a discharge orifice in communication with the space, a lance for oxygen disposed in the space and in communication with the discharge orifice, and an inlet duct for a fuel stream in communication with the space external to the lance.
The present embodiments relate to burners and lances that provide oxygen surrounded by a gas shroud to a furnace or melter.
Known oxy-fuel burners use fuel and oxygen streams. Fuel injectors or burners are also used in regenerative glass melting furnaces. The burners, such as gas burners, are typically pipes or lances with single hole nozzles. Low nitrous oxide (NOx) burners were developed which provided a dual impulse type function. That is, a central conduit with a higher velocity impulse jet has an outer annular jet at a slower velocity. Distribution of the jets is controlled by either of external or internal valves or adjustments of the two nozzles for the burners.
A higher velocity impulse of the burner provides more turbulence and rapid mixing of the gases, which thus shortens the flame and accordingly provides the flame with a higher concentration of NOx. Conversely, a lower velocity impulse produces less turbulence, less mixing and therefore a longer staged burner and flame which results in lower NOx emissions. These types of burners typically produce NOx at about or in excess of 850 mg/Nm3 at 8% O2, if no other NOx reduction equipment is employed. It is also common to use cooling air for off-side cooling on a non-firing side of the furnace regenerator.
What would be desirable to have, however, is burners producing NOx lower than 850 mg/Nm3 at 8% O2 with adjustable flame shape and higher heat transfer.
For a more complete understanding of the present embodiments, reference may be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing Figures, of which:
Before describing the present inventive embodiments in detail, it is to be understood that the inventive embodiments are not limited in their application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. The inventive embodiments can be used with all types of regenerative furnaces such as for example cross-fired and end-fired furnaces; under-port, side-port and through-port; recuperative furnaces; a hundred percent oxy-fuel furnaces; and air fuel furnaces including regenerative and recuperative furnaces which are partially boosted by oxy-fuel burners. As further examples, the embodiments can be used with a regenerative furnace such that injecting a fuel stream and providing oxygen can occur beneath at least one port of the regenerative furnace, or such can occur at a side of at least one port of the furnace; or the embodiments can be used in a recuperative burner hot air stream for a recuperative furnace.
Referring to
The injector body portion 12 can be made of steel, while the oxygen lance 16 is made of stainless steel, copper or a combination thereof. The fuel 32 can be selected from natural gas, producer gas, coke oven gas, syngas, methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, low calorific biomass, or any other commercially available fuel.
Referring still to
The apparatus 10 provides for the flame to be external to the lance but disposed internal to a shroud of the gas 32. The oxygen 17 is injected into the fuel stream 32 and may be injected into an interior or central region of the fuel stream.
Other exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in
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In
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The present apparatus 10 can be used with a recuperative burner and can have application in glass industries, as well as secondary steel/metals or cement industries. The oxygen injector apparatus 10 can be retrofitted to side-port and through-put regenerative furnaces.
The injected gas 32-532 can be provided to the oxygen stream 17-517 prior to the oxygen stream entering a regenerator or a furnace.
The oxygen injector apparatus 10-510 can be used individually or in combination with furnaces, such as glass melting furnaces either alone or with a regenerator(s) mounted to the furnaces.
The fuel 132-532 can also be selected from natural gas, producer gas, coke oven gas, syngas, methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, low calorific biomas or any other commercially available fuel.
Referring to
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By way of example, the oxygen injector apparatus 10 is shown mounted for a cross-fired application with respect to the regenerator furnace 60. Each one of the apparatus 10 provides an oxygen-gas flame front 80 which is surrounded by an air-fuel flame front 82.
In
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All of the elements of the oxygen injector apparatus 10-510 are constructed of metal, except for the seal 46. In many applications, the injected gas 32-532 will be provided, for example injected, into the oxygen stream 17-517, which may also be injected, before entering into a furnace or a regenerator.
It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary, and that one skilled in the art may make variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as described and claimed herein. Further, all embodiments disclosed are not necessarily in the alternative, as various embodiments of the invention may be combined to provide the desired result.
Claims
1. A method of providing oxygen enriched fuel into a combustion atmosphere of a furnace, comprising:
- injecting a fuel stream into the combustion atmosphere; and
- providing oxygen into the fuel stream during the injecting of the fuel stream into the combustion atmosphere.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing oxygen comprises injecting the oxygen into the fuel stream.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising mixing the oxygen and the fuel stream.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating turbulence in the fuel stream for mixing with the oxygen.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating turbulence in the oxygen for mixing with the fuel stream.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a flow rate of the oxygen for controlling a flow rate of the fuel stream to be responsive to a flow rate of the oxygen.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the injecting the fuel stream into the combustion atmosphere occurs prior to the oxygen entering the furnace.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing oxygen is to an interior of the fuel stream.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the furnace is a regenerative furnace and the injecting and the providing occur beneath at least one port of said regenerative furnace.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the furnace is a regenerative furnace and the injecting and the providing occur at a side of at least one port of said furnace.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the furnace is a regenerative furnace and the injecting and the providing occur in a middle of at least one port of said furnace.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the furnace is a recuperative furnace and the injection and the providing occur in a recuperative burner hot air stream for said furnace.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the furnace is an oxy-fuel furnace and the oxygen provided to the fuel stream is in an amount up to a hundred percent (100%) of the oxygen being provided into the fuel stream.
14. A fluid injection apparatus for a combustion atmosphere of a furnace, comprising:
- a housing having a space therein and a discharge orifice in communication with the space;
- a lance for oxygen disposed in the space and in communication with the discharge orifice; and
- an inlet duct for a fuel stream in communication with the space external to the lance.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a nozzle mounted to the housing at the discharge orifice.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the lance is adjustably moveable within the space to control a flow of the oxygen and the fuel stream into the combustion atmosphere.
17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the housing is mounted to at least one of an end wall, a sidewall, a crown, and a peep site hole of the furnace and the discharge opening is in communication with the combustion chamber of the furnace.
18. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a vortex member disposed in the space for creating turbulence of the fuel stream.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the vortex member comprises a swirler vane.
20. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a vortex member disposed at an interior of the oxygen lance for creating turbulence of the oxygen.
21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the vortex member comprises a swirler vane.
22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the fuel stream is selected from the group consisting of natural gas, producer gas, coke oven gas, syngas, methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, low calorific biomas or any other commercially available fuel.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 14, 2013
Publication Date: Jun 19, 2014
Inventor: Neil G. SIMPSON (By Eyemouth)
Application Number: 13/803,577
International Classification: F23L 7/00 (20060101); F23C 5/32 (20060101); F23D 14/32 (20060101); F23N 1/02 (20060101);