Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a gas distribution system that allows for the rapid displacement of an extraneous gas in the distribution system by a primary gas. The gas distribution system utilizes a gas accumulator to aid in the rapid displacement of the extraneous gas. In one embodiment a flare pilot system uses the inventive distribution system to allow for the rapid purge of air from the flare pilot system by a fuel.

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 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: A thermal oxidizer is provided in which off-gases in a process stream are thermally oxidized within substantially the entire interior volume of an oxidation chamber. The thermal oxidation is conducted without the presence of a flame or with only a minor portion of the fuel being combusted in a flame.

Abstract: A low NOx burner for installation on a furnace wall. The burner has an elongated tube connected to a combustion air supply, the furnace side end of which mounts a combustion air spinner that is spaced a substantial distance from the furnace wall. A plurality of typically six elongated air ports extend through the wall from the windbox of the furnace into the combustion chamber and supply most of the required combustion air. Downstream ends of the air ports are spaced from the furnace wall as well as from the spinner, and they are configured to bias the discharged air flow towards the spinner. A plurality of first fuel gas spuds with fuel gas discharge orifices is arranged about the spinner and discharges fuel gas into the combustion chamber downstream of the spinner. A second fuel gas spud is disposed in pockets between adjacent pairs of air ports which are closed against the furnace wall so that no combustion air flows through the pockets.

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.