Burner fuel mixer head for concurrently burning two gaseous fuels

Abstract

A burner fuel mixer head includes a primary housing and a secondary housing. The primary housing has a fuel / air mixing chamber with a mixed fuel gas inlet. The secondary housing has a fuel mixing chamber. A venturi throat with converging sidewalls is positioned in the mixed fuel gas inlet of the primary housing. A venturi nozzle communicates with a pressurized fuel gas inlet with a first end of the venturi nozzle extending into the fuel mixing chamber in axial alignment with the venturi throat. This forms a venturi, such that a pressurized flow of pressurized fuel gas through the venturi draws low pressure fuel gas from the fuel mixing chamber of the secondary housing through the mixed fuel gas inlet into the fuel / air mixing chamber of the primary housing.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a burner fuel mixer head for concurrently burning two gaseous fuels BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Most oil wells produce some low pressure raw gas. Formerly, this low pressure raw gas was vented to atmosphere or diverted to a flare pit. However, stricter environmental regulations have placed limits on venting and flaring, which has lead to the use of this low pressure raw gas as a fuel supply for firetube burners used in various oil processing equipment. Burning raw gas at low pressure (only 1 to 3 pounds per square inch) creates an unacceptable level of emissions. It also heats the firetube unevenly; over heating the close end of the firetube and not providing enough heat to the remote end of the firetube. Therefore, in order to use the low pressure raw gas as a primary fuel supply, the pressure is usually increased by mixing the low pressure raw gas with a reliable source of pressurized feed gas. The combustion ef...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003] What is required is a burner fuel mixer head that effectively feeds low pressure raw gas to the burner with pressurized feed gas.

[0007] Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the burner fuel mixer head, as described above, the quantity of low pressure gas produced varies from well to well. It is, therefore, desirable that some means be provided for adjusting the proportions of pressurized fuel gas and low pressure fuel gas. Even more beneficial results may, therefore, be obtained when the venturi nozzle is positioned in a pressurized fuel gas inlet passage and the venturi nozzle is axially movable in the pressurized fuel gas inlet passage, such that the venturi nozzle can be moved either toward or away from the venturi throat to adjust the relative proportions of pressurized fuel gas and low pressure fuel gas being fed through the mixed fuel gas inlet into the fuel / air mixing chamber.

[0010] It is also preferred that a venturi effect be created in the fuel / air mixing chamber so that it draws combustion air effectively. This is accomplished by providing the mixed fuel / air outlet of the primary housing with converging sidewalls.

Problems solved by technology

However, stricter environmental regulations have placed limits on venting and flaring, which has lead to the use of this low pressure raw gas as a fuel supply for firetube burners used in various oil processing equipment.

Burning raw gas at low pressure (only 1 to 3 pounds per square inch) creates an unacceptable level of emissions.

It also heats the firetube unevenly; over heating the close end of the firetube and not providing enough heat to the remote end of the firetube.

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