Dual Outlet Burner Flame Shape Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial furnaces, such as regenerative glass melting furnaces, face challenges in controlling NOx emissions due to high flame and furnace temperatures, with existing NOx control technologies being only partially effective in reducing NOx formation and emissions at the burner.
Innovation Solution
A burner design with separate control mechanisms for inner and outer nozzle gas jet velocities using flow adjustment and area adjustment valves, allowing for adjustable flame shape and reduced NOx emissions, is implemented. This design includes a movable intermediate tube within the burner to control the inner nozzle velocity and a contoured valve element to adjust the outer nozzle velocity, enabling independent control of gas flow through each nozzle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If high flame temperature is used in industrial furnaces, then thermal efficiency is improved, but NOx emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The burner divides the fuel gas flow into two separate nozzles (inner and outer), each with independently controllable velocity. This segmentation allows the combustion process to be divided into zones with different temperatures, enabling high overall thermal efficiency while controlling peak flame temperature to reduce NOx formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic control mechanisms (valves) that allow the gas jet velocity in each nozzle to be adjusted during operation. This enables real-time optimization of the flame shape and temperature distribution, allowing the system to maintain high thermal efficiency while adapting to conditions that minimize NOx emissions.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If existing NOx control technologies are applied, then NOx formation is partially reduced, but burner performance and efficiency are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates different local conditions within the burner by providing two nozzles with different gas jet velocities. The inner nozzle can be optimized for one combustion characteristic while the outer nozzle provides complementary characteristics, allowing local optimization of both NOx reduction and combustion efficiency without compromising overall burner performance.
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
The solution effectively reduces NOx emissions and increases efficiency by allowing for a selectively adjustable flame shape, focusing heat transfer, and optimizing gas flow, thereby improving thermal efficiency in industrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
a first valve, which is referred to herein as a flow adjustment valve (FAV), controls gas flow and gas velocity provided to an inner nozzle of the burner
Implementation Method 2
the gas velocity of the outlets being separately controlled using two valves
Implementation Method 3
a swirling device is provided to impart a swirl to the outer gas jet to swirl, which widens a flame shape
Implementation Method 4
industrial furnaces, such as regenerative glass melting furnaces, operate at high temperatures... to promote furnace and process thermal efficiency
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A burner includes a casing that encloses an outer plenum, the casing forming a fuel inlet and an outer nozzle at its end. An inner tube extends generally concentrically through the outer plenum and forms an inner plenum such that the casing encloses the outer plenum and the inner plenum. The inner tube forms an inner nozzle at its end. The inner nozzle is disposed generally concentrically with respect to the outer nozzle. A valve arrangement adjusts a fuel velocity separately through each of the outer nozzle and the inner nozzle to shape a flame created when the fuel is provided in an oxidant rich environment.