Solid Fuel Burner Guide Members for Ash Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solid fuel burners face issues with preventing components from being burnt by furnace radiation, ash deposition, and maintaining stable ignition and flame stability, particularly when used with coal, due to inadequate cooling and interference with hot circulating flows.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a solid fuel burner with a fuel nozzle, secondary and tertiary combustion gas nozzles, and guide members that direct secondary combustion gas flows to prevent radiation damage and ash deposition, while maintaining stable ignition and flame stability by creating separate circulating flows that draw in hot gases without disturbing the flame stabilizing zone.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a guide plate is provided at the end of a partition between pulverized coal nozzle and secondary air nozzle to control jet direction of secondary air flow, then the jet angle of secondary air flow can be made larger than the jet angle of tertiary air flow, but the guide plate directly receives radiation from the furnace and may be burnt

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejet angle of secondary air flowVSAvoidresistance to radiation damage
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A water-cooled guide plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the secondary air nozzle and the furnace environment. The guide plate includes a water supply passage that delivers cooling water to its outer surface, which directly receives radiation from the furnace. This mediator structure protects the guide plate from burning while maintaining its function of controlling the jet angle of secondary air flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide plate's thermal state is changed by introducing water cooling, transforming it from a dry, radiation-exposed component to a cooled, radiation-resistant component. The parameter change involves introducing a cooling medium (water) that alters the thermal parameters of the guide plate, enabling it to withstand furnace radiation while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If cooling air is ejected into the furnace from the flame stabilizing ring to cool it, then the flame stabilizing ring can be effectively cooled, but the cooling air may interfere with the formation of the circulating flow composed of hot air and pulverized coal in the vicinity of the flame stabilizing ring

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature of flame stabilizing ringVSAvoidcirculating flow composition
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling air ejection is segmented into multiple discrete cooling holes distributed on the flame stabilizing ring, rather than a single large opening. This segmentation allows cooling air to be ejected in a controlled manner that minimizes interference with the circulating flow while still achieving effective cooling of the flame stabilizing ring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling function is applied locally at specific points on the flame stabilizing ring where cooling holes are provided, rather than cooling the entire structure uniformly. This local quality approach allows targeted cooling of critical areas while minimizing disruption to the overall circulating flow pattern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If a large circulation zone is formed downstream of the collar to stabilize flame, then the flame can be stabilized, but ash may easily deposit on the collar when the burner structure is employed for solid fuel such as coal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame stabilityVSAvoidash deposition on collar
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful effect of ash deposition on the collar is extracted and addressed by providing a separate air passage that leads to the tapered part through the collar. This air passage enables cooling air to reach the collar and prevent ash deposition, separating the flame stabilization function (large circulation zone) from the ash prevention function (cooling air passage).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 effectively prevents component burning and ash deposition, maintains stable ignition and flame stability, and reduces NOx and unburned combustible contents in ash by optimizing the flow angles and cooling of guide members within the burner.

Implementation Method 1

a guide members that direct secondary combustion gas flows

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow guidance:

Implementation Method 2

cooling of guide members within the burner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection cooling: Convection

Implementation Method 3

creating separate circulating flows that draw in hot gases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCirculating flow: Convection

Implementation Method 4

burning a solid fuel such as coal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP2738461B1Solid fuel burner
Publication Date: 2016.09.14 MITSUBISHI HITACHIPOWER SYST LTD
  • EP2738461B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2738461B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2738461B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A first guide member (34) and, to the rear side thereof, a second guide member (35), for a secondary air flow (17), are provided in the outlet end part of a fuel nozzle (11) on a partition (29) which is the outer circumferential wall of the nozzle (11). The second guide member (35) is retained by a plurality of cooling fins (36) which are positioned uniformly around the entire circumference of the nozzle partition (29), and the first guide member (34) forms the secondary air flow (17a) and the secondary air flow (17b) conducted from the gap between the second guide member (35) and the partition (29) to the front surface side of the second guide member (35), into an outward flow from the centre axis of the burner, which can cool the front surface side of the second guide member (35) and prevents deposition of ash on it, thereby maintaining the fuel ignition and flaming stability at the burner outlet.