Abstract: A precombustor system (300) including an ignition chamber (301) having a front wall (308), a central axis, a diameter Dic, and an outlet (313) configured to discharge a product gas (315). The ignition chamber (301) includes a central ignition oxygen injector (307) configured to inject a first oxygen stream from the front wall (308) substantially parallel to the central axis, and a tangential primary fuel injector (303) configured to inject a primary fuel stream tangential to the central axis at a location an axial distance Xpf downstream of the front wall (308). The ratio Xpf/Dic is from 0.25 to 4.0. The central axis forms an angle a with a vertical line of less than or equal to about 45 degrees. The trajectory of the primary fuel stream forms an angle ? with a plane that is perpendicular to the central axis of less than or equal to about 20 degrees. A method for combustion is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of heating a charge material by controlling heat flux in a tilt rotary furnace is disclosed. Combustion by the burner forms a heat release profile including a high heat flux region. The positioning of the high heat flux region is controllable by providing a controlled amount of secondary or staged oxidant. The burner is configured and controlled to position a region of high heat flux at a position corresponding to an area requiring greater heating, such as the area of maximum charge depth in the furnace to provide substantially uniform melting and heat distribution.

Abstract: Burner assembly comprising (a) an elongated body having a periphery, a discharge end adjacent a combustion zone, and an axis, wherein the axis extends into the combustion zone; (b) one or more oxidant nozzles disposed at the discharge end of the elongated body and adapted to discharge a gaseous oxidant into the combustion zone; and (c) one or more fuel nozzles disposed at the discharge end of the elongated body and adapted to discharge a fuel into the combustion zone. At least one of the oxidant and fuel nozzles is characterized by a shape factor, ?, that is greater than about 10, wherein ? is a dimensionless parameter defined as ?=P2/2A where P is the perimeter dimension of the discharge opening and A is the area of the discharge opening.

Abstract: A precombustor having a chamber having a first end and a second end, and an inlet configured to deliver a substantially parallel flow of solid fuel surrounded by oxygen at the first end. The first end further includes a recirculation step and the second end fluidly communicates with a furnace. The inlet and the recirculation step are arranged to form a recirculation zone of at least a portion of the solid fuel and the oxygen. A combustion system and method for operating a combustion system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of operating a pyrolysis heater for reduced emissions of NOx and carbon monoxide. One or more wall burners, typically premix burners, are operated with more excess oxidant gas than one or more of the floor or hearth burners, which are typically non-premix burners. The invention takes advantage of different NOx emissions characteristics from different types of burners.

Abstract: A method of combustion and a reformer. The method includes combusting a fuel in a combustion region of an up-fired or down-fired reformer and forming non-uniform injection properties with a wall-bound burner. The combusting is performed in a combustion region by burners, wherein at least one of the burners is the wall-bound burner forming the non-uniform injection properties. The non-uniform injection properties generate a heat profile providing a first heat density proximal to a wall and a second heat density distal from the wall, the second heat density being greater than the first heat density. The non-uniform injection properties are formed by injection properties selected from an angle of one or more injectors, a flow rate of one or more injectors, an amount and/or location of oxidant injectors, an amount and/or location of fuel injectors, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: An oxy-fuel burner that co-fires liquid fuel and gaseous fuel to create a more luminous flame. The characteristics of a liquid fuel spray and the gaseous fuel and primary oxidant gas flows, as well as the geometry of the burner is adapted to shroud the liquid fuel from the primary oxidant until it exits a precombustor and to prevent the liquid fuel from contacting the walls of the precombustor.

Abstract: An oxy-fuel furnace and method of heating material in an oxy-fuel furnace are disclosed. The method includes combusting oxygen and fuel with an oxy-fuel burner arrangement in the oxy-fuel furnace forming combustion gases, and maintaining a vortex including the combustion gases within a central region of an enclosure of the oxy-fuel furnace. The oxy-fuel burner arrangement includes a plurality of high momentum oxy-fuel burners arranged at an angle to generate the vortex, the angle being greater than 15 degrees but less than 75 degrees with respect to a furnace wall boundary of the enclosure, an angular velocity of greater than 0.07 radians per second, or a combination thereof. The furnace includes an oxy-fuel burner arrangement including at least two high momentum oxy-fuel burners having high shape factor nozzle geometries, and an enclosure. The vortex increases convective heating within the enclosure and uniformity of heating within the enclosure.

Abstract: An oxy-fuel burner arrangement having a first conduit having a nozzle aperture with an aspect ratio, D1/D2, of greater than or equal to about 2.0. The first conduit is arranged and disposed to provide a first fluid stream, where the first fluid stream is a combustible fuel. The burner arrangement further includes at least one second conduit arranged and disposed to provide a second gas stream circumferentially around the first fluid stream, where the second gas stream includes oxygen. A precombustor is arranged and disposed to receive the first fluid stream and second gas stream where an oxy-fuel flame is produced. The geometry of the nozzle aperture and the cross-sectional geometry of the first conduit are dissimilar.

Abstract: A premix burner arrangement for safely oxygen-enriching a premix air-fuel combustion system is disclosed. In the disclosed burner arrangement, a first conduit is arranged and disposed to provide a first gas stream. The first gas stream is a self-reactive or self-flammable premixture comprising air and a combustible gas. At least one second conduit is arranged and disposed to provide a second gas stream circumferentially around the first gas stream. The second gas stream includes oxygen. The premix burner arrangement is configured to combust or react the first stream at a temperature at least 1000° F. greater than the temperature of the second stream. A method and combustion system including the premix burner arrangement are also disclosed.

Abstract: A heating method for heating vessels, the vessels having enclosed spaces therein and controlling air ingress into the enclosed spaces through gaps. The method includes providing a lid structure for the vessel having the enclosed space, the lid structure having a burner assembly mounted therein. The burner is configured to provide a predetermined flame diameter. The vessel and lid structure are mated such that the gap is formed between the vessel and the lid structure. Fuel and oxidant are discharged from the burner assembly under conditions to provide the predetermined flame diameter and impart a flame velocity sufficiently large to create an outward gas flow from the enclosed space through the gap and control air ingress.

Abstract: A method of heating a charge material by controlling heat flux in a tilt rotary furnace is disclosed. Combustion by the burner forms a heat release profile including a high heat flux region. The positioning of the high heat flux region is controllable by providing a controlled amount of secondary or staged oxidant. The burner is configured and controlled to position a region of high heat flux at a position corresponding to an area requiring greater heating, such as the area of maximum charge depth in the furnace to provide substantially uniform melting and heat distribution.

Abstract: A method of combustion and a reformer. The method includes combusting a fuel in combustion region of an up-fired or down-fired reformer and forming non-uniform injection properties with a wall-bound burner. The combusting is performed in a combustion region by burners, wherein at least one of the burners is the wall-bound burner forming the non-uniform injection properties. The non-uniform injection properties generate a heat profile providing a first heat density proximal to a wall and a second heat density distal from the wall, the second heat density being greater than the first heat density. The non-uniform injection properties are formed by injection properties selected from an angle of one or more injectors, a flow rate of one or more injectors, an amount and/or location of oxidant injectors, an amount and/or location of fuel injectors, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A precombustor system to be used in conjunction with an oxy-fuel burner employing recycled flue gas is disclosed. A method of introducing streams into the precombustor to achieve desired improvements in flame properties is also disclosed.

Abstract: A heat transfer system having a a radiant source, a first heat exchanger configured to permit a first fluid to flow therethrough, and a thermal shield configured to provide controlled radiative heat from the radiant source to the first exchanger. The radiant source is a flame. The thermal shield is a second heat exchanger configured to permit a second fluid to flow therethrough or a non-contact thermal shield fabricated from a material arranged to provide controlled radiative heat exposure from the radiant source to the first exchanger. Oxy/coal combustion systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A precombustor having a chamber having a first end and a second end, and an inlet configured to deliver a substantially parallel flow of solid fuel surrounded by oxygen at the first end. The first end further includes a recirculation step and the second end fluidly communicates with a furnace. The inlet and the recirculation step are arranged to form a recirculation zone of at least a portion of the solid fuel and the oxygen. A combustion system and method for operating a combustion system are also disclosed.

Abstract: An oxy/coal combustion system and method include a furnace arranged and disposed to receive and combust a first solid fuel to form a combustion fluid, a convective section having one or more inlet devices, the convective section arranged and disposed to receive and combust a second fuel in the presence of the oxygen, and one or more heat exchangers arranged and disposed to exchange heat with the combustion fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and furnace for generating straightened flames in a steam methane reformer or ethylene cracking furnace where fuel-staged burners are used. Fuel staging may be used for reducing NOx emissions. Criteria for generating straightened flames are provided. These criteria relate to oxidant conduit geometry and furnace geometry. Techniques for modifying the furnace and/or burners to achieve these criteria are also provided.

Abstract: A burner system and method of operating a burner for reduced NOx emissions. The burner system comprises a flame stabilizer, at least one fuel staging lance, an actuated valve, a temperature sensor and a controller. The amount of fuel to the flame stabilizer relative to the amount of fuel to the fuel staging lances is controlled depending on furnace temperature and/or furnace production rate.

Abstract: An oxy-fuel burner that co-fires liquid fuel and gaseous fuel to create a more luminous flame. The characteristics of a liquid fuel spray and the gaseous fuel and primary oxidant gas flows, as well as the geometry of the burner is adapted to shroud the liquid fuel from the primary oxidant until it exits a precombustor and to prevent the liquid fuel from contacting the walls of the precombustor.