Abstract: A method of combustion in a furnace comprising a firing zone and an exhaust zone, three oxidants and fuel comprising the steps of: introducing fuel into said firing zone; introducing a first oxidant into the firing zone; introducing a second oxidant into the firing zone; and introducing a third oxidant into the exhaust zone; wherein during said step of introducing a first oxidant, the step of introducing a second oxidant, and the step of introducing a third oxidant occur.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for injecting natural gas in an RTO. The RTO may be, for example, a known type that has a rotary distributor, a center section divided into pie-shaped segments above the rotary distributor, a heat exchanger section above the center section, and a combustion chamber above the heat exchanger. According to an aspect of the invention, the system introduces gas into segments of the center section in a sequenced manner via cycling on/off control valves. In a particular embodiment, the natural gas is injected at a specific location of a respective segment within the center section that is past the rotary distributor seals and directly under the bottom of the heat exchanger bed. According to the injection sequence, the injection of natural gas into the segment commences when the segment begins to receive inlet waste gas streams, and injection ceases before the flow through the sector changes or stops.

Abstract: A furnace, firing pattern and method of operating a heater that employs a combination of hearth burners and wall burners for the cracking of hydrocarbons is described. The firing pattern leads to improvements in the uniformity of the coil metal temperatures and vertical heat flux profiles over the firebox elevation. The hearth burners operate with a stoichiometric excess of air while the wall burners operate with less than the stoichiometric amount of air.

Abstract: Method for homogenizing the heat distribution as well as decreasing the amount of NOx in combustion products when operating an industrial furnace with at least one conventional burner using air as an oxidant. An additional oxidant including at least 50% oxygen gas is caused to stream into the furnace through a lance. The total amount of oxygen supplied is balanced against the amount of fuel being supplied through the air burner. Firstly, the combination of at least 40% of the supplied oxygen is supplied through the additional oxidant, the lance is arranged at a distance from the air burner of at least 0.3 meters, and the additional oxidant streams into the furnace through the lance with at least sonic velocity, and secondly the additional oxidant is supplied only when the air burner is operated at a certain lowest power or at a higher power.

Abstract: A method is provided to facilitate combustion in a furnace having at least one burner, an inlet, an outlet, and sidewalls and a crown defining a combustion chamber for the furnace, the method consisting of identifying a region of the combustion chamber where a furnace atmosphere therein requires an increase in oxygen for combustion in the furnace atmosphere, and providing fresh oxygen to the region at a controlled flow rate for the combustion, wherein the fresh oxygen provided causes circulation of the furnace atmosphere for combining existing gases and existing oxygen of the furnace atmosphere with the fresh oxygen provided to the region for combustion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing air flow to a boiler of a power generating unit using advanced optimization, modeling, and control techniques. Air flow is optimized to maintain flame stability, minimize air pollution emissions, and improve efficiency.

Abstract: A combustion system for combusting air and fuel includes a primary combustion zone configured to produce combustion gases from the air and the fuel and an intermediate air zone downstream from the primary combustion zone. The intermediate air zone is configured to inject an intermediate air stream into the combustion gases. The combustion system further includes a burnout zone downstream from the intermediate air zone, wherein the burnout zone is configured to inject an overfire air stream into the combustion gases, and at least one hybrid-boosted air injector within at least one of the intermediate air zone and the burnout zone. The at least one hybrid-boosted air injector is configured to substantially simultaneously inject a boosted air stream and a windbox air stream into the combustion gases.

Abstract: A combustion method and apparatus which produce a hybrid flame for heating metals and metal alloys, which hybrid flame has the characteristic of having an oxidant-lean portion proximate the metal or metal alloy and having an oxidant-rich portion disposed above the oxidant lean portion. This hybrid flame is produced by introducing fuel and primary combustion oxidant into the furnace chamber containing the metal or metal alloy in a substoichiometric ratio to produce a fuel-rich flame and by introducing a secondary combustion oxidant into the furnace chamber above the fuel-rich flame in a manner whereby mixing of the secondary combustion oxidant with the fuel-rich flame is delayed for a portion of the length of the flame.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for the combustion of liquid fuels, including a means of using an oxygenated gas in a combustion zone, applicable to steam boilers, which produces a longer, more uniform and cooler oxygen flame than a conventional oxygen flame. According to the invention, the liquid fuel is injected into the combustion zone in atomized form, the fuel being atomized by bringing a stream of fuel into contact with a stream of atomizing fluid, and: prior to its atomization, the liquid fuel has a viscosity of at least 30×10?6 m2/s, the stream of fuel is brought into contact with the stream of atomizing fluid only in the combustion zone, and oxygenated gas is injected into the combustion zone in stages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing air flow to a boiler of a power generating unit using advanced optimization, modeling, and control techniques. Air flow is optimized to maintain flame stability, minimize air pollution emissions, and improve efficiency. An optimizer determines optimal setpoint values for manipulated variables associated with the power generating unit by using a model to minimize the value of a cost function while observing at least one constraint associated with operation of the power generating unit.

Abstract: A method to regulate overfire air passing through an overfire air duct and entering a flue gas stream in a combustion system including: directing overfire air into an inlet of the overfire air duct, passing the overfire air through the duct and discharging the overfire air into the flue gas stream in the combustion system; adjusting a flow rate of overfire air entering the inlet using a damper adjacent the inlet, and moving the damper parallel along an axis of the overfire air duct to increase and decrease the overfire air entering the inlet, wherein the damper has an open position at which the damper is extended out of the inlet and a closed position in which the damper is substantially in the inlet and blocking air entering the inlet.

Abstract: A direct sidewall vent system between a fuel-burning appliance in a first space and an external atmosphere, through a wall between the first space and external atmosphere. The direct sidewall vent system has a wall assembly that defines a first passage for communicating combustion gas generated through operation of the fuel-burning appliance to a first outlet through which the combustion gas is communicated to the external atmosphere. The wall assembly further defines a second passage for communicating makeup air from the external atmosphere to the fuel-burning appliance in the first space. The direct sidewall vent system further has an external portion that is situated within the external atmosphere and at which the first outlet is located. The external portion of the direct sidewall vent system has a top, a bottom, and spaced sides.

Abstract: A burner includes a first oxidant conduit to transmit a first stream of an oxidant; a solid fuel conduit having an outtake and surrounding the first oxidant conduit, thereby forming a first annulus to transmit a mixture of a transport gas and particles of a solid fuel; a second oxidant conduit surrounding the solid fuel conduit, thereby forming a second annulus to transmit a second stream of the oxidant or an other oxidant; and means for segregating the mixture proximate the outtake into a lean fraction stream and a dense fraction stream. The first stream of the oxidant exiting the first oxidant conduit combines during combustion with the lean fraction stream, thereby forming an inner combustion zone adjacent the outtake, and the second stream of the oxidant, or the other oxidant, exiting the second oxidant conduit combines during combustion with the dense fraction stream, thereby forming an outer combustion zone.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and reactor of chemical looping combustion involving at least two gases in a reactor in which: said at least two gases are conveyed to a reactor fluid inlet centre which is divided in at least two sectors; said at least two gases flow radially outward into an oxygen carrier bed that surrounds said fluid inlet center, said oxygen carrier bed comprising an active material, in which at least one reaction takes place between said active material and said at least two gases; effluents from said at least one reaction are conveyed to an outer compartment of the reactor, said compartment being divided in two sections by means of two radially extending partition walls, said fluid inlet centre, said oxygen carrier bed and said outer compartment are rotating relative to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting a metal load includes a furnace having a melting chamber with a hearth and a molten metal outlet. The apparatus further includes non-regenerative burners that are operative to fire into the melting chamber, and regenerative burners that also are operative to fire into the melting chamber. The method includes the steps of firing non-regenerative burners into the chamber to provide heat for melting the load, and also firing regenerative burners into the chamber to provide heat for melting the load.

Abstract: The invention relates to a staged oxyfuel combustion method in which a combustion chamber is injected with a jet of fuel inside a jet of primary oxygen gas which is introduced through a hole having a diameter D and a secondary oxygen gas which is introduced through a hole having a diameter d, which is positioned at a distance l from the hole for the primary oxygen gas. According to the invention, the jet of fuel emerges at a distance r set back from the wall of the combustion chamber. The oxygen-rich oxygen gas is pre-heated to a temperature of at least 300° C. The r/D ratio is between 5 and 20 or between 0.75 and 3 and the l/d ratio is at least 2.

Abstract: A burner includes: a body defining an interior cavity; a burning surface located in the body and defining, at least in part, the interior cavity; a defusing surface located on an exterior portion of the body; ports on the body extending through the defusing and burning surfaces and configured to provide fluid communication between the interior cavity and ambient air outside the body; and an opening larger than at least one of the ports, the opening providing fluid communication between the interior cavity and a space outside of the body. A method of burning a gas and reducing acoustic feedback in a combustion device are also described.

Abstract: A combustion system and method for operating a combustion system, such as a furnace or boiler. The method includes providing a burner system having one or more burner elements configured to combust solid fuel and one or more oxygen providing devices configured to introduce oxygen into the near burner zone of one or more burner flames. A sensor is provided and arranged and disposed to measure a flame parameter in the near burner zone of the burner flame associated with one or more the burner elements. The flame parameter is measured with the sensor and an oxygen flow is determined in response to the measured flame parameter. Oxygen flow is introduced to one or more locations in the combustion system with the one or more oxygen providing devices.

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: The present application relates in general to an apparatus and to methods for testing the performance of an automotive catalytic converter under conditions simulating those which occur in motor vehicles over extended driving conditions. The application provides a novel swirl plate and a novel fuel injector which enable the burner to run stoichiometric for extended periods of time.

Abstract: A method for supplying heat to a melting furnace for forming a molten product using ash-containing fuels. A fuel having an ash component is introduced into a slagging chamber of a slagging combustor and at least partially combusted with a first oxidant mixture and a second oxidant mixture within the slagging chamber. Ash component is collected as a layer of molten slag in the slagging chamber. Slagging combustor gas effluent is passed from the slagging chamber of the slagging combustor into the combustion space of the melting furnace at high temperature to supply heat to form the molten product. Molten slag is withdrawn from the slagging chamber of the slagging combustor and may be selectively introduced into the melting furnace or not introduced into the melting furnace.

Abstract: A catalytic combustion apparatus is equipped with a reactor for catalytically burning a gas to be treated containing a combustible organic compound, which further comprises a condensate forming means for condensing a part of a gas after reaction in the reactor, to form a condensate, and a pH measuring means for measuring a pH of the resultant condensate. It is preferred that the catalytic combustion apparatus still further comprise a temperature adjusting means for adjusting a temperature of at least a catalyst-packed portion of the reactor based on data measured by the pH measuring means.

Abstract: A method for the efficient conversion of heavy oil to distillates using sequential hydrocracking in the presence of both supported and colloidal catalyst immediately followed by a high temperature-short residence time thermal treatment. The hydrocracker reaction products or a heavy oil and hydrogen donor diluent may be advantageously heated by direct contact with high velocity combustion products.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of combustion of a solid fuel stream with oxygen. The present invention includes introducing a first stream, comprising a first portion of substantially pure oxygen, into a first conduit. The present invention includes introducing a second stream, comprising a solid fuel stream and a conveying media, into a second conduit, wherein the second conduit is concentric with, and surrounding, the first conduit. The present invention includes introducing a third stream, comprising a second portion of substantially pure oxygen, into a third conduit, wherein the third conduit is concentric with, and surrounding, the first conduit and the second conduit. The present invention includes igniting the first stream, the second stream, and the third stream as they exit the first conduit, the second conduit and the third conduit, in such a way as to create a flame.

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: A method and apparatus relating to the combustion of a fuel with an oxidant in a heating furnace, wherein the fuel and the oxidant are delivered to a burner head. In a first method step fuel and oxidant are emitted from the burner head in close proximity to each other, so that combustion essentially takes place close to and at a small distance outward of the burner head, and until a temperature is reached in the furnace space that exceeds the spontaneous combustion temperature of the fuel. In a second method step the fuel and the oxidant are instead emitted from the burner head at a mutual distance apart, so that combustion takes place at a distance from the burner head corresponding to at least the diameter of the burner head and outward of the burner head.

Abstract: Inorganic fiber production burner apparatus and methods of use are disclosed. One burner includes a refractory block adapted to be in fluid connection with sources of primary oxidant and fuel, the refractory block having a fuel and primary oxidant entrance end and a flame exit end, the flame exit end having a substantially rectangular flame exit having a width greater than its height, the refractory block defining a combustion chamber and a second chamber fluidly connecting the combustion chamber and the flame exit end; and an oxygen manifold fluidly connected to the combustion chamber and adapted to route oxygen to the combustion chamber through a plurality of passages through the refractory block. This abstract allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure. It will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A method for operating a fuel-fired furnace including at least one burner is provided. The method includes channeling a first fluid flow to the at least one burner at a first predetermined velocity, and channeling a second fluid flow to the at least one burner at a second predetermined velocity during a first mode of operation of the at least one burner. The second predetermined velocity is different than the first predetermined velocity.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting a metal load includes a furnace having a melting chamber with a hearth and a molten metal outlet. The apparatus further includes non-regenerative burners that are operative to fire into the melting chamber, and regenerative burners that also are operative to fire into the melting chamber. The method includes the steps of firing non-regenerative burners into the chamber to provide heat for melting the load, and also firing regenerative burners into the chamber to provide heat for melting the load.

Abstract: Heating provided by a burner that combusts hydrocarbon fuel can be provided at a sequence of different heat transfer rates by adjusting the total oxygen concentration of oxidant streams fed to the burner. A burner with which the method can be practiced is 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 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: A low emissions burner includes a diffusion burner surrounded by an annular array of premix burners. The diffusion burner operates at maximum swirl air flow and at a low constant fuel rate to reduce NOx emissions. The diffusion burner provides a stable swirling diffusion flame. An annular array of premix burners surrounds the diffusion burner and provides a non-swirling premix flame about the diffusion flame to advantageously provide a higher heat content about the periphery of the burner flame to facilitate industrial drying processes using the burner. The diffusion burner flame maintains the premixed flame stabilized. Water injection nozzles are provided each of the premix and diffusion burners.

Abstract: The present invention includes an integrated fuel processor subsystem incorporating a thermal combustor, a catalytic combustor, a quasi-autothermal reactor (QATR) and a air-fuel-steam (AFS) mixer to provide a range of operating modes exhibiting performance between that of a pure steam reformer and a pure autothermal reformer to increase the flexibility of the fuel processor to handle transient system demands such as cold starts, suppress emissions and carbon formation and improve efficiency.

Abstract: The ultrasonic solution separation apparatus oscillates an undiluted solution containing a target material at an ultrasonic frequency to produce mist, and collects the mist to collect a target material containing liquid that contains the target material with higher concentration than the undiluted solution. The ultrasonic solution separation apparatus includes an atomization chamber that oscillates the undiluted solution at an ultrasonic frequency by using a plurality of ultrasonic oscillators to produce the mist; and a collection portion that aggregates and thus collects the mist produced in the atomization chamber. The atomization chamber is divided into a plurality of divided chamber sections so that the ultrasonic oscillators are disposed in the respective divided chamber sections. The ultrasonic oscillators oscillate the undiluted solution supplied into the divided chamber sections to produce the mist.

Abstract: Emissions of NOx and CO are reduced from combustion devices such as coal-fired furnaces by increasing the stoichiometric ratio of burner(s) having a lower average temperature and increasing the stoichiometric ratio of burner(s) having a higher average temperature.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing the NOx emission of fossil fuel burners. The method creates fuel-rich and fuel-lean zones within the boiler to enhance the removal of NOx species by creating a plurality of NOx reducing precursors.

Abstract: Methods for cyclone boiler flame diagnostics and control, including methods for monitoring the operating state of a cyclone furnace using linear and nonlinear signal analysis techniques, including temporal irreversibility and symbol sequence. Adjustments may be made in the air flow distribution to optimize performance. Signals for the main flame and lighter scanners are relatively independent, thereby allowing for independent control of the primary air flow to the burner and secondary air flow to the barrel.

Abstract: Combustion of hydrocarbon fuel is achieved with less formation of NOx by feeding the fuel into a slightly oxygen-enriched atmosphere, and separating air into oxygen-rich and nitrogen-rich streams which are fed separately into the combustion device.

Abstract: A direct gas-fired burner assembly is disclosed in which a two-stage flame is produced. A gas manifold is attached to two baffles with apertures disposed therein. The apertures are designed such that a fuel rich zone occurs near the manifold, while a lean zone occurs away from the manifold. At high fire, the apertures create a negative pressure zone which draws the gas away from the burner thereby allowing a primary flame to burn. The primary flame in the fuel rich zone ignites a secondary flame in the lean zone. Because a flame is burning throughout the entire combustion zone, the flame does not move out past the baffles, the flame remains smaller and cooler, and a lower output of pollutants is achieved.

Abstract: A combustion system equipped with one or more carbonaceous fuel burning combustors (e.g., slagging Cyclone combustor) and adapted to minimize nitrogen oxide (NOx) formation during staged combustion operation by selective introduction of oxygen through at least one of the combustors to create a hot sub-stoichiometric combustion zone by reducing the diluent effect of nitrogen and other inert gases present in the oxidizer/air. A method of operating the combustion system of the invention with reduced NOx emissions is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved staged combustion method useful with oxy-fuel combustion and in a furnace which contains a charge, wherein substoichiometric combustion and low velocity injection of fuel and primary and secondary oxidant are carried out in an orientation which forms a reducing atmosphere proximate the charge surface.

Abstract: A method for combusting fuel in a fired heater having one or more burners, the method. comprising: (a) combusting at least a portion of the fuel in the. presence of an oxidizer in the burners,. generating heat and producing a flue gas; and (b) recycling at least a portion. of the flue gas to. the burners;. wherein step (a) and step (b) are conducted in a manner such that the combusting takes place in a combustion regime represented. by 4,500?7554.8?933.72x+64.960x2+0.47705y?0.55680z1579.22,500; W wherein w represents a mole fraction of oxygen. in the oxidizer, x represents a recycle ratio of the flue as measured in moles of flue gas/mole of oxidizer; wherein y represents a temperature of the. flue gas in Fahrenheit recycled to the burners; and wherein. z represents a heating. value of the fuel in Btu/scf LHV.

Abstract: A device and a method for flame stabilization in a burner (10), includes a burner housing at least partially enclosing a burner volume, into which may be introduced via at least one fuel line, fuel, and via at least one air feed means, air, forming an air/fuel mixture spreading in a preferred flow direction, which may be ignited in a combustion chamber (11) connecting downstream of the burner housing to form a stationary flame (13). Upstream of the flame (13), a catalyst arrangement (1) is provided through which an air/pilot fuel mixture (4), separate from the air/fuel mixture, is flowable.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus comprising: a combustion chamber; a primary fuel input conduit for supplying a fuel to the combustion chamber; a secondary input conduit for supplying a combustion gas to the combustion chamber; and combustion gas supply means, wherein the combustion gas supply means is adapted to switchably supply one of air and an oxygen rich gas to at least the secondary input conduit.

Abstract: A new burner apparatus and method of combusting fossils fuels for commercial and industrial application is provided wherein the new burner apparatus achieves low NOx emissions by supplying oxygen to the center of the burner flame in as manners so as to create a fuel rich internal combustion zone within the burner flame.

Abstract: A burner includes separate fuel and oxidant conduits. The fuel conduit has inlet, transitional, and outlet sections, and the oxidant conduit has inlet and outlet sections. The cross sectional flow area of the fuel transitional section varies from an initial cross sectional flow area at the fuel intake to a different cross sectional flow area at the fuel outtake, and the cross sectional flow area of the fuel outlet section is substantially uniform. At least some of the oxidant inlet section is spaced around substantially all of at least a portion of at least one of the fuel inlet, transitional, and outlet sections. The cross sectional flow area of the oxidant outlet section is less than or equal to the cross sectional flow area of the oxidant inlet section and is substantially uniform, and at least some of it is spaced around substantially all of at least a portion of the fuel outlet section.

Abstract: The melting of glass batch materials by at least one sub merged burner generating a flame within the molten batch materials. At least one gas inlet separate from the burner is close enough to the burner to interact with the flame. The separate influx interacts with the flame of the burner to regulate it, thereby reducing the risk of molten materials entering the burner.

Abstract: A fuel-air mixer includes an annular shroud, inner and outer counter-rotating swirlers, a hub separating the inner and outer swirlers, a center body extending axially along the annular shroud, a fuel shroud disposed radially outwardly from the outer swirler circumferentially around the annular shroud, and a radial swirler disposed downstream of the inner and outer swirlers, the radial swirler being configured to allow an independent radial rotation of a second gas stream entering the annular shroud from a region outside a wall of the annular shroud separately from a stream flowing through the inner and outer swirlers, the radially rotating second gas stream entering the annular shroud at a region adjacent an outer wall of the annular shroud.

Abstract: A combustion boiler for burning fuel and producing heat to generate steam. A method of minimizing discharging of nitrogen oxides from a combustion boiler comprising the steps of spraying a reducing agent into an overfire air stream and supplying the overfire air stream to the combustion boiler. Vaporizing the sprayed reducing agent at least within about 0.1 seconds of the sprayed reducing agent entering the combustion boiler and reacting the vaporized reducing agent with the nitrogen oxides within the combustion chamber to reduce the nitrogen oxides and minimize discharge of nitrogen oxides from the combustion boiler.