Abstract: The present invention is a method for determining the optimum operating practice for an industrial process. The methodology includes a combination of process control steps and data analysis techniques to investigate responses to controlled “black box” process inputs, e.g., coal and air feeds for coal-fired furnaces in the case studies above. A unique time-dependent perturbation is applied to individual process feed streams to give a signature in the data that permits the filtering and detection of various measured responses, e.g., continuous emission monitor readings for NOx, SO2, CO2, CO, and opacity for regulated electric utility furnaces. The perturbation is implemented using the plant control system. Individual control signal set points are perturbed for each piece of equipment supplying process inputs of interest. As a result, complex commercial processes can be evaluated for optimization without changing the normal configuration of the system.

Abstract: A device for optimizing coal-air proportions entering a furnace is disclosed. The invention generally comprises a burner nozzle having two ends and an outer tube forming a perimeter of the burner nozzle; an entry spool having a rear wall and defining an inlet port at one of the ends of the burner nozzle; an inner tube formed within the burner nozzle; an annular blade chamber defined between the outer tube and the inner tube; and, a blade formed within the blade chamber configured as an extension of the rear wall of the entry spool, the blade twisted to form a spiral around the inner tube, wherein fuel particles can be separated from a primary air stream and collected on the blade to form a coal-concentrated stream for entry into the furnace. As a result, three separate streams are injected into the furnace, thereby minimizing NOx through the concentration of solid fuel.