Abstract: A fired process heater includes a radiant coil assembly having a radiant coil bundle with a radiant coil bundle inlet and a radiant coil bundle outlet, and a manifold support assembly fluidly connected to and configured to support the radiant coil assembly. The manifold support assembly has a manifold support inlet, a manifold support outlet, and a manifold support flow path in fluid communication with a manifold support coil bundle. The process fluid flows through both the radiant coil assembly and the manifold support assembly, with the manifold support assembly cooled by heat transfer from the process fluid while mechanically supporting the radiant coil bundle. Methods are disclosed in which the process fluid flows in either a downstream sequence through convection, radiant, then manifold support, or an upstream sequence through manifold support, convection, then radiant.

Abstract: A plugging resistant, highly stable free jet burner and method which provide Ultra-Low NOx emissions for any fuel using angular ejection, large ejection ports, auxiliary burner tips, and wide tip-to-tip spacing, and which also permit the use of a high-hydrogen or 100% hydrogen fuel to reduce or substantially eliminate carbon dioxide emissions.

Abstract: A vapor recovery method, system, and apparatus for extending the replacement period of the activated carbon or other adsorbent material used in a vapor recovery unit by alternating each of the one or more adsorption vessels used in the vapor recovery unit between a bottom-up adsorption mode, in which the inlet vapor stream flows upwardly through the adsorbent material, and a top-down adsorption mode in which the inlet vapor stream flows downwardly through the adsorbent material.

Abstract: A method and system in which a waste gas or liquid product is combusted or otherwise used at a well site or other source location to drive a generator to produce electrical energy which is then stored in a portable storage device, such as rechargeable battery or an array of rechargeable batteries, which can subsequently be transported, for example, to a charging station for vehicles or other electrical devices or systems, or to a delivery location for downloading the portable stored electrical energy to a power supply grid.

Abstract: A staged, lean pre-mix radiant wall burner having an internal staged fuel discharge tip and an internal flow diverter, and a method of using the radiant wall burner, which allow the combustion of a high hydrogen content fuel without the occurrence of flashbacks and which also provide reduced NOx emissions and allow a closer spacing of the burners when installed in a wall, floor, or ceiling of a fired heater in a multiple burner arrangement.

Abstract: A burner tip apparatus which is resistant to plugging, and a staged air method of operation which reduces the peak temperature of the flame of the burner tip to provide low levels of NOx and other emissions. The burner tip can be used as an auxiliary burner tip for stabilizing a main burner flame, or for other purposes.

Abstract: A burner apparatus and method which provide an increased amount of internal flue recirculation for reducing NOx emissions by ejecting a series of surrounding primary fuel streams and also ejecting on one or more subsequent series of surrounding fuel streams outside of the burner wall toward the burner combustion wherein each succeeding series of surrounding fuel streams must travel a greater distance to the combustion zone and each series of surrounding fuel streams must contact one or more radial impact structures provided on the exterior of the burner wall.

Abstract: A flow momentum enhancing device having an airfoil shape is used in a new or refurbished burner to increase the momentum of the burner combustion air stream and create a reduced pressure region which pulls inert products of combustion into the combustion process. The inert products of combustion mix with the burner air and/or fuel streams to lower the peak flame temperature of the burner and provide reduced NOx production.

Abstract: A burner apparatus for a furnace system and a method of burner operation wherein a non-symmetrical positioning of one combustion fuel discharge tip or a grouping of fuel discharge tips within the burner wall produces side-by-side lean and fuel rich combustion stage zones and also produces internal flue gas recirculation.

Abstract: A burner apparatus for a fired heating system and a method of burner operation. The burner provides stable operation when burning gas fuels having heating values ranging from low to high and accommodates sudden wide changes in the Wobbe value of the fuel delivered to the burner. The burner apparatus includes a plurality of exterior fuel ejectors and has an exterior notch which extends around the burner wall for receiving and combusting a portion of the gas fuel. At least a portion of the hot combustion product gas produced in the exterior notch is delivered through channels formed in the burner wall to the combustion area at the forward end of the burner. As the Wobbe value of the gas fuel decreases, one or more outer series of addition ejectors can be automatically activated as needed to maintain the amount of heat output desired.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring the status of one or more pilot flames or of the main flame in a flare system. A collimator, quartz light tube, or other receiver is positioned near the combustion zone and receives an image which is transmitted via a fiber optic line to an analyzing sensor which is located at a safe distance from the flare system. The fiber optic line preferably extends through a pilot gas line, a flame front generator line, or other protective conduit so that the fiber optic line can be cooled and purged by pilot gas, instrument air, or other cooling gas media which is continuously delivered through the conduit.

Abstract: A burner apparatus for a furnace system and a method of burner operation. The burner has a series of fuel ejection structures which at least partially surround the burner wall for ejecting fuel into a combustion region projecting from the forward end of the burner wall. The ejection structures preferably eject fuel outside of the burner wall at alternating angles. Further, the burner apparatus preferably includes at least one additional series of fuel ejection structures which is spaced radially outward from the first series of ejection structures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing a retractable thermocouple at the upper end of a flare stack for sensing a flare pilot burner flame. The apparatus comprises: a portable mounting structure; two pair of opposing drive wheels having non-metallic contacting surfaces; a first set of offset straightening rollers having non-metallic contacting surfaces for straightening the thermocouple in a first plane; and a second set of offset straightening rollers having non-metallic contacting surfaces for straightening the retractable thermocouple in a second plane different from the first plane.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing a retractable thermocouple at the upper end of a flare stack for sensing a flare pilot burner flame. The apparatus comprises: a portable mounting structure; two pair of opposing drive wheels having non-metallic contacting surfaces; a first set of offset straightening rollers having non-metallic contacting surfaces for straightening the thermocouple in a first plane; and a second set of offset straightening rollers having non-metallic contacting surfaces for straightening the retractable thermocouple in a second plane different from the first plane.

Abstract: A burner apparatus for a furnace system and a method of burner operation. The burner has a series of fuel ejection structures which at least partially surround the burner wall for ejecting fuel into a combustion region projecting from the forward end of the burner wall. The ejection structures preferably eject fuel outside of the burner wall at alternating angles. Further, the burner apparatus preferably includes at least one additional series of fuel ejection structures which is spaced radially outward from the first series of ejection structures.

Abstract: A low NOx burner and method wherein (a) combustion air flows through the interior of the burner in a manner effective for drawing an amount of inert flue gas diluent from the fired heating system into the combustion air stream, preferably via one or more induction channels provided through the burner wall, and/or (b) air or an inert gas is discharged into the induction channel(s) in a manner effective for delivering flue gas into the combustion air stream.

Abstract: A burner and combustion method for a radiant wall heating system wherein each burner fuel ejector is positioned such that at least a substantial portion of the burner combustion air is discharged from an area beyond the ejector located the greatest distance from the radiant wall.

Abstract: An improved combustion assembly including a venturi mixer and a combustion tip attached to the discharge end of the venturi divergent section. The improvement comprises eliminating abrupt contractions and sudden expansions of the interior flow passage at the venturi mixer and combustion tip interface.

Abstract: An improvement for an ejector having at least one discharge port effective for delivering a flow of fuel into a heating system such that flue gas in the heating system is entrained in the flow of fuel. The improvement comprises the ejector having an aerodynamic shape effective for increasing entrainment of the flue gas in the flow of fuel at the region of discharge adjacent the discharge port.

Abstract: A burner and method for reducing NOx emissions from process heaters, boilers, and other heating systems having flue gases present therein. The inventive burner and method preferably involve the single stage combustion of fuel gas which is ejected outside of a burner wall in free jet flow such that at least a portion of the flue gas is entrained in the fuel gas as it travels to a combustion zone at the forward end of the burner wall. Air or other oxygen-containing gas is preferably delivered to the combustion zone via an interior passageway. The inventive burner preferably comprises a plurality of ejectors positioned outside of the burner wall and preferably also comprises one or more exterior impact structures positioned to assist in further mixing the flue gas with the fuel.