Hot Oxygen Burner Supply Staged Combustion

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Solution Overview

Problem

The implementation of oxy-combustion in large glass furnaces is hindered by the high cost of oxygen, corrosion issues with hot oxygen, and maintenance challenges due to the wear of injection means and fuel degradation at high temperatures, which complicates the operation and efficiency of burners.

Innovation Solution

The method involves separate introduction of fuel and hot oxygen into the burner, with a small fraction of unheated oxygen used for primary combustion to stabilize the flame, and staged combustion to distribute oxygen progressively along the flame path, allowing for maintenance of fuel injectors without interrupting the operation of hot oxygen systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If oxy-combustion is implemented in large glass furnaces, then energy consumption is reduced and NOx formation is minimized, but the cost of oxygen increases and corrosion issues with hot oxygen arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidcorrosion of hot oxygen
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The oxygen supply system is segmented into multiple independent circuits: hot oxygen circuits for main combustion and cold oxygen circuits for pilot flames and maintenance periods. This segmentation allows the system to avoid circulating hot oxygen through entire pipe networks, reducing corrosion while maintaining energy efficiency benefits of oxy-combustion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Oxygen is preheated to high temperatures only immediately before combustion points where it is actively consumed, rather than circulating hot oxygen through long pipe journeys. This preliminary heating action minimizes the time hot oxygen is in contact with pipe materials, reducing corrosion while maintaining combustion efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of energy

If hot oxygen is circulated through pipes, then energy efficiency is improved, but wear of injection means and fuel degradation occur at high temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidwear of injection means
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates hot oxygen delivery to different burner zones into independent circuits, allowing maintenance of fuel injection components without interrupting hot oxygen supply to other zones. This segmentation enables reliability maintenance while preserving energy efficiency of continuous hot oxygen circulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between different oxygen supply modes: continuous hot oxygen for main combustion, cold oxygen for pilot flames and maintenance periods. This dynamic operation allows maintenance activities during low-risk periods while maintaining high energy efficiency during full operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of repair

If separate supply means for fuel and hot oxygen are implemented, then maintenance of fuel injectors can be performed without interrupting hot oxygen systems, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance of fuel injectorsVSAvoidseparate supply means
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The burner system is segmented into modular components with separate fuel and oxygen supply circuits. Fuel injectors can be removed and maintained independently from the hot oxygen circulation system, which continues to operate through dedicated hot oxygen circuits. This segmentation enables easy repair while the added circuit complexity is managed through standardized modular design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 approach reduces energy consumption, minimizes NOx formation, and facilitates easy and rapid maintenance of burners by isolating hot oxygen systems from fuel injection components, maintaining energy efficiency and compliance with emission standards.

Implementation Method 1

the use of oxygen at a high temperature, namely a temperature of several hundred degrees... the inventors in a previous unpublished application have proposed heat exchangers for heating the oxygen satisfactorily

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchanger: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

The combustion mode using oxygen or an oxygen-rich gas... is called 'oxy-combustion'... the energy of the combustion gases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP2294019B1Hot oxygen burner supply
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 AGC GLASS EUROPE SA
  • EP2294019B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~2b
  • EP2294019B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2294019B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to the supplying power to burners for oxy-fuel combustion glass melting furnaces, including a fuel injecting means and a hot oxygen power supplying means, the dispensing of oxygen being carried out so as to develop a staged combustion, a fraction of the oxygen being concurrently injected into the fuel, said oxygen being supplied essentially without heating prior to the supplying thereof into the fuel injecting means.