Refractory Burner Block Protects Metallic Injectors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial burners with non-refractory metallic injectors face reduced lifespan due to high temperatures, leading to increased costs and downtime, and existing solutions like refractory ceramic burner blocks and mixing devices can compromise fuel and oxidizer mixing efficiency, causing unstable flames and recirculation issues.
Innovation Solution
A burner design featuring a refractory burner block with a main passage and auxiliary passages for injecting agitating gas jets into the downstream section to enhance turbulence and mixing of fuel and oxidizer, reducing flame length and recirculation while protecting metallic injectors from high temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If metallic injectors are recessed in a refractory burner block to protect against high temperatures, then the lifespan of metallic injectors is improved, but the mixing of fuel and oxidizer becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The burner block is segmented into multiple functional zones: a protective refractory section that shields injectors from heat, and a separate mixing section with turbulence-promoting features. This segmentation allows the injectors to be protected while the fuel-oxidizer mixture achieves proper mixing in the designated mixing zone downstream.
Solution Approach 2:
A refractory liner or intermediary structure is introduced between the metallic injectors and the high-temperature combustion zone. This intermediary protects the injectors from thermal damage while allowing the fuel and oxidizer to mix effectively in the space between the liner and the combustion atmosphere.
2Stability of the object's composition
If mixing devices such as swirlers and vanes are positioned inside injectors or passages, then the mixing of fuel and oxidizer is improved, but the solid angle of jets increases requiring wider downstream section
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing function is extracted from the injector assembly and placed in a separate mixing section downstream. This allows the injectors to maintain a compact configuration with small jet solid angles, while the mixing occurs in a dedicated zone where space is available, eliminating the need to widen the downstream section.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing the width (lateral dimension) of the downstream section to accommodate mixing devices, the solution utilizes the longitudinal dimension by extending the mixing process downstream. This dimensional shift allows effective mixing without increasing the cross-sectional area of the burner block.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the opening of downstream section is restricted to limit heat radiation, then the protection of metallic injectors is improved, but the recirculation of combustion atmosphere increases
Solution Approach 1:
The downstream section is designed with non-uniform properties: the opening is restricted in the region exposed to direct radiation to protect injectors, while other regions maintain sufficient opening to prevent recirculation. This localized differentiation of opening characteristics allows simultaneous protection from heat radiation and prevention of combustion atmosphere recirculation.
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 design achieves efficient combustion with reduced flame length and improved mixing without the need for additional mixing devices, protecting metallic injectors and minimizing recirculation of combustion atmosphere, thus extending burner lifespan and maintaining combustion efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the metallic injectors are partially shielded from the high temperature in and the heat radiation from the combustion zone
Implementation Method 2
n Jets of agitating gas are injected into the downstream section via the n auxiliary openings so as to interact with the flow of main fuel and the flow of main oxidizer and to increase turbulence and mixing of the flows of main fuel and of main oxidizer
Implementation Method 3
combustion of fuel with oxidizer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Method and burner for combusting a main fuel with a main oxidizer, whereby flows of the main fuel and the main oxidizer are injected via an injector end, comprising at least one metallic injector, said injector end (100) being positioned in the upstream section of a main passage (260) of a refractory block and whereby multiple jets are injected into the downstream section (270) of the main passage (260) to increase mixing and turbulence of the flows of the main fuel and the main oxidizer.