Oxygen-fuel burner with adjustable flame characteristics

US6659762B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Étude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude · FR
• American Air Liquide, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Harley A. Borders · Lombard, US
• Mahendra Joshi · Katy, US
• Eric Streicher · Viroflay, FR
• Thierry Legiret · Paris, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 17, 2001
• Grant date: Dec 9, 2003
• Expiry date: Feb 12, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E20/34
• WIPO field: Thermal processes and apparatus
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An oxy-fuel burner generates a long, luminous, stable and adjustable flame temperature profile flame by incorporating separate, fuel and oxygen jets oriented in a unique geometry. In one preferred embodiment, the fuel is injected horizontally at medium injection velocity (50-200 m/s) while primary oxygen is injected underneath the fuel jet at supersonic velocity (300-500 m/s). The supersonic velocity oxygen jet (20 to 50% required for stoichiometric combustion) entrains fuel and furnaces gases in it's core for the primary flame development over the furnace load. The subsequent mixing of the fuel, primary oxygen and entrained furnace gases establish a low NOx, stable, long and luminous primary flame. The secondary oxidant, preferably air or low purity oxygen (50 to 80% of stoichiometric needs), is injected above the flame using one or more oxygen jets to create an oxy-fuel flame with adjustable flame characteristics. The secondary oxidant completes unfinished combustion of flame gases containing CO, H2, CH4, soot and HC. The horizontal injection angle for all jets allow delayed mixing and a much longer flame. Due to the massive furnace gas entrainment process, the resulting flame pr…