Multiphase Burner Wet Gas Atomization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flare apparatuses face challenges in achieving smokeless and fallout-free flaring of wet gas, particularly at high flow rates and in offshore platforms, due to impractical air or steam supply and inefficient atomization of mixed gas and liquid streams, leading to heat radiation, smoke, and unburned hydrocarbon fallout, which pose environmental and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A multiphase burner design that splits the wet gas flow into two passages for intensive mixing with ambient air and fine atomization, using a serrated nozzle cap and bushing to enhance dispersion and reduce noise, allowing for self-sustaining ignition and efficient combustion even at high liquid fractions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air or steam is supplied to the burner for premixing upstream, then complete oxidation of wet gas is achieved, but the device complexity and operational impracticality increase at high flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The burner design allows the system to obtain its own combustion air from the ambient atmosphere through the high-velocity jet itself, eliminating the need for external air supply equipment. The jet creates its own mixing zone by entraining surrounding air, making the system self-sufficient for combustion air requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the premixing function from the traditional burner design by eliminating upstream mixing equipment. Instead of premixing air and fuel before combustion, the system allows direct injection of fuel into a high-velocity jet that automatically mixes with ambient air in the combustion zone
2Manufacturing precision
If existing atomization nozzles are used for wet gas, then liquid atomization is achieved, but the nozzles cannot handle mixed gas and liquid streams without a separator
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the gas and liquid phases into a single stream that flows through the burner together. The high-velocity jet creates conditions where both phases are atomized and mixed simultaneously without requiring separate handling systems or separators
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow parameters by creating a high-velocity jet that transforms the mixed gas-liquid stream into fine droplets and vapor. The high velocity and turbulence in the jet region enable effective atomization of both phases without mechanical separation or specialized nozzles for each phase
3Manufacturing precision
If existing atomization nozzles are used, then liquid component is atomized, but noise levels increase adversely affecting safety and working environment
Solution Approach 1:
The high-velocity jet itself serves as the atomization mechanism, using the kinetic energy of the flowing mixture to create fine droplets and vapor. This self-atomizing process eliminates the need for mechanical nozzle components that generate noise during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces mechanical atomization nozzles with a fluid dynamic atomization process. The high-velocity jet creates turbulence and shear forces that naturally atomize the liquid component without mechanical contact, thereby eliminating noise from mechanical nozzle operation
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 burner achieves smoke-free and fallout-free combustion of wet gas with reduced heat radiation and noise, operating effectively across a range of pressures and liquid content levels, ensuring cleaner combustion and improved mechanical durability.
Implementation Method 1
The design of such open-air burners is based on a maximum entrainment of ambient air into a high-pressure jet emitted through the burner head
Implementation Method 2
when a highly turbulent jet of combustible wet gas is created in an open-air burner
Implementation Method 3
The atomizing would be followed by mixing of the gas and atomized liquid with ambient air
Data Source
AI summary
A multiphase burner for flaring gaseous/liquid combustible mixtures is disclosed. The burner may include a hollow base with an inlet for receiving the combustible gas/liquid mixture as well as a distal end that may be coupled to or that forms a nozzle cap. The nozzle cap may form as first outlet. The base may be coupled to a central body and a hollow bushing that encircles at least part of the central body. The base may form a mouth disposed between the inlet and the central body. The mouth may be in communication with a first passage that extends from the mouth to the first outlet and between the bushing and the distal end of the base. The mouth may be in communication with a second passage that extends from the mouth to the second outlet and between the bushing and central body.