Burner Flow Restrictor for Balanced Reactant Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing burners used in syngas production often struggle to maintain a balanced flow of reactants, leading to inefficient combustion and suboptimal syngas production.
Innovation Solution
The burner design incorporates a plurality of burner units with concentric inner and outer pipes, each equipped with a flow restrictor that controls the flow of fuel and oxygen, ensuring a balanced and even distribution of reactants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional burners are used without flow restrictors, then the structure is simpler, but the flow balance of reactants deteriorates leading to inefficient combustion
Solution Approach 1:
The flow restrictor is segmented into multiple independent components: a central disk with inner openings for fuel flow control, outer openings for oxygen flow control, and cylindrical members that extend through the concentric pipes. Each segment can be independently adjusted to achieve precise flow balance between fuel and oxygen reactants.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow restrictor acts as an intermediary device installed within the burner assembly to mediate and balance the flow of reactants. It introduces a controlled resistance to flow through its structured openings and cylindrical members, enabling precise regulation of fuel-to-oxygen ratios without disrupting the overall burner architecture.
2Manufacturing precision
If flow restrictors with multiple openings are installed, then the flow distribution improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow restrictor employs a nested structure where the central disk is positioned within cylindrical members that extend through both the inner and outer pipes. The central disk with its pattern of openings is nested within the protective and structural framework of the cylindrical members, allowing complex flow distribution patterns to be achieved through layered, modular construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow restrictor features non-uniform distribution of openings with varying sizes, shapes, and densities at different locations on the central disk. This local variation in opening characteristics enables precise control of flow distribution patterns, creating regions of high and low flow velocity to optimize reactant mixing and combustion efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration results in more stable and efficient syngas production, achieving a desired H2:CO molar ratio and reducing reaction length, while eliminating the need for spark ignition systems.
Implementation Method 1
a flow restrictor configured to restrict flow of a first fluid, which is preferably the fuel gas, within the inner pipe and to restrict flow of a second fluid, which is preferably the oxygen gas, within the outer pipe
Implementation Method 2
Synthesis gas, or syngas, is a gas mixture primarily comprising hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) that can be used in various applications, including electricity generation and liquid fuel production. Syngas can be produced using a reactor in which a mixture of reactants, such as natural gas and oxygen, can be transformed into the syngas.
Data Source
AI summary
A flow restrictor for use on burners used for combusting gases includes a central disk and opposing cylindrical members extending from opposing sides of the central disk. The central disk includes a central portion having multiple inner openings extending through the central disk and a peripheral portion having multiple outer openings extending through the central disk. Each of the opposing cylindrical members surrounds the central portion and the inner openings of the central disk. The peripheral portion and the outer openings of the central disk are disposed outside of the cylindrical members. Each of the cylindrical members is designed to be attached to an open end of a pipe of a burner.