EP2138765B1 - Method of combustion - Google Patents

Method of combustion Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2138765B1
EP2138765B1 EP09170949.3A EP09170949A EP2138765B1 EP 2138765 B1 EP2138765 B1 EP 2138765B1 EP 09170949 A EP09170949 A EP 09170949A EP 2138765 B1 EP2138765 B1 EP 2138765B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
gas
zone
annular zone
burner
oxygen
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP09170949.3A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2138765A2 (en
EP2138765A3 (en
Inventor
Albert D. Larue
William J. Kahle
Alan N. Sayre
Sarv Hamid
Daniel R. Rowley
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Babcock and Wilcox Co
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Babcock and Wilcox Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Babcock and Wilcox Co filed Critical Babcock and Wilcox Co
Priority to EP09170949.3A priority Critical patent/EP2138765B1/en
Priority to DK09170949.3T priority patent/DK2138765T3/da
Priority to PL09170949.3T priority patent/PL2138765T3/pl
Publication of EP2138765A2 publication Critical patent/EP2138765A2/en
Publication of EP2138765A3 publication Critical patent/EP2138765A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2138765B1 publication Critical patent/EP2138765B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23D—BURNERS
    • F23D1/00—Burners for combustion of pulverulent fuel
    • F23D1/02—Vortex burners, e.g. for cyclone-type combustion apparatus

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to a method of combustion which achieves low NO x emissions by supplying oxygen directly to the center of the burner flame in a manner so as to create a fuel rich internal combustion zone within the burner flame and accelerate fuel combustion.
  • NO x is a byproduct produced during the combustion of coal and other fossil fuels.
  • Environmental concerns regarding the effects of NO x have prompted enactment of NO x emissions regulations requiring sharp NO x emission reductions from industrial and utility power plants in several countries including the United States.
  • Current commercial methods and apparatuses for reducing NO x emissions have been successful in lowering NO x emissions from the levels emitted in previous years; however, further advances, beyond those of currently known methods and apparatuses, are needed to maintain compliance with current NO x emissions regulations.
  • a variety of low NO x burners are commercially available and widely used to fire pulverized coal (PC) and other fossil fuels in a NO x reducing manner as compared to conventional burners. Examples of such burners are The Babcock & Wilcox Company's DRB-XCL ® and DRB-4Z ® burners. Common to these and other low NO x burner designs is an axial coal nozzle surrounded by multiple air zones which supply secondary air (SA). During operation, PC suspended in a primary air (PA) stream, is injected into the furnace through an axial coal nozzle, as an axial jet, with little or no radial deflection. Ignition of the PC is accomplished by swirling SA, thereby causing recirculation of hot gases along the incoming fuel jet.
  • PA primary air
  • a fraction of the SA is supplied to an air zone in close proximity to the coal nozzle and swirled to a relatively greater extent than the SA supplied to the other air zones to accomplish ignition.
  • the remaining SA from the burner is introduced through air zones further outboard in the burner utilizing less swirl, so as to mix slowly into the burner flame, thereby providing fuel rich conditions in the root of the flame.
  • Such conditions promote the generation of hydrocarbons which compete for available oxygen and serve to destroy NO x and/or inhibit the oxidation of fuel-bound and molecular nitrogen to NO x .
  • NO x emissions can further be reduced by staged combustion, wherein the burner is provided with less than stoichiometric oxygen for complete combustion.
  • a fuel rich environment results at the burner flame.
  • the fuel rich environment inhibits NO x formation by forcing NO x precursors to compete with uncombusted fuel in an oxygen lean environment.
  • Combustion is then staged by providing excess oxygen to the boiler at a point above the burner wherein the excess fuel combusts at a lower temperature, thus precluding the production of thermal NO x as the combustion occurs at a lower temperature away from the burner flame.
  • Staging also serves to lessen oxygen concentrations during the combustion process which inhibits oxidation of fuel bound nitrogen (fuel NO x ).
  • Oxygen for staged combustion is normally provided in the form of air via air staging ports, commonly called Over Fire Air (OFA) ports, in a system utilizing low NO x burners.
  • OFA Over Fire Air
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,697,306 to LaRue and U.S. Patent No. 5,199,355 to LaRue disclose low NO x burners that may be combined with air staged combustion methods to further reduce NO x emissions.
  • low NO x burners tend to form long flames and produce higher levels of unburned combustibles.
  • Long flames are not always desirable as they may be incompatible with furnace depth or height, and can impair boiler operation by causing flame impingement, slagging, and/or boiler tube corrosion.
  • EP 1306614 A1 discloses a solid fuel burner and combustion method using solid fuel burner. It discloses a combustion method according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • US 5,231,937 discloses a pulverized coal burner, pulverized coal boiler and method of burning pulverized coal.
  • the present invention solves the aforementioned problems associated with delayed combustion produced by typical low NO x burners and introduces a new method of combusting fossil fuels to further reduce NO x emissions in commercial and utility boilers.
  • the present invention is considered a method of reducing NO x emissions in a center air jet burner comprising, providing a burner having an axial zone concentrically surrounded by a first annular zone, providing the axial zone with a first gas comprising oxygen, wherein the first gas exits the axial zone at a velocity between about 25 m/s (5000 ft/min) and about 51 m/s (10,000 ft/min), providing the first annular zone with a carrier gas comprising a pulverized coal, wherein the carrier gas exits the axial zone at a velocity between about 15 m/s (3000 ft/min) and about 25 m/s (5000 ft/min).
  • FIG. 1 there is shown a schematic sectional view of a burner.
  • Axial pipe 6, defining an axial zone 25 therein, is concentrically surrounded by a first annular pipe 3 wherein the area between the two pipes defines a first annular zone 11.
  • feeder duct 9 Radially interposed between a portion of first annular pipe 3 and axial pipe 6 is feeder duct 9 such that axial pipe 6 and windbox 51 are in fluid communication with opposite ends of feeder duct 9.
  • secondary air is supplied by forced draft fans (not shown), preheated in air heaters (not shown), and under pressure to windbox 51.
  • Feeder duct 9 in turn provides secondary air from windbox 51 to axial pipe 6, at a rate controlled by damper 10.
  • An air flow measuring device 12 quantifies the secondary air flowing through feeder duct 9.
  • a pulverizer (not shown) grinds coal which is conveyed with primary air through a conduit connected to a burner elbow 2.
  • An igniter (not shown) may be positioned on the axis of the burner, penetrating elbow 2, plug 5, and extending through axial pipe 6.
  • a flow conditioning device 30 may be used to disperse the coal to increase the rate at which it interacts with the secondary air.
  • Flow conditioning device 30 may consist of swirl vanes and/or one or more bluff bodies to locally obstruct flow and induce swirl.
  • Another flow conditioning device 13 may be positioned at the end of axial pipe 6 to provide more uniform flow to secondary air as it exits axial zone 25 into burner throat 8, and out into the furnace (not shown) in the form of a center air jet.
  • Flow conditioning device 13 can be vanes, perforated plates, or other commonly used devices to provide more uniform flow. In some cases, flow conditioning device 13 may provide swirl to the core air to further accelerate coal ignition and reduce emissions.
  • An aspect pertaining to the operational method of the present invention is the creation of a center air jet within with the fuel jet stream as it exits throat 8 and enters the furnace.
  • the center air jet will have a velocity exceeding that of the fuel jet so as to create a velocity gradient within the flame which promotes ignition of the fuel from the inside out utilizing the oxygen from the center air jet.
  • Optimum operating conditions occur when PA/PC exits the first annular zone at a velocity between about 15 m/s (3,000 ft/min) and about 25 m/s (5,000 ft/min), and more preferably between about 18 m/s (3,500 ft/min) and about 23 m/s (4,500 ft/min).
  • Optimum operating conditions further occur when secondary air exits axial zone 25 at a velocity between about 25 m/s (5,000 ft/min) and 51 m/s (10,000 ft/min), and more preferably between about 28 m/s (5,500 ft/min) and 38 m/s (7,500 ft/min).
  • Damper 15 controls the entry of additional secondary air to the burner assembly.
  • damper 15 allows secondary air to flow into a second annular zone 16 concentrically surrounding first annular zone 11, wherein the second annular zone 16 is defined as the area between pipe 3B and barrel 19.
  • Damper 15 further allows secondary air to flow into third annular zone 17 concentrically surrounding second annular zone 16, wherein the third annular zone 16 is defined as the area between barrel 19 and outside burner zone wall 38.
  • Damper 15 can be positioned to preferentially throttle secondary air to one zone over the other, or to supply lesser quantities of secondary air to both zones.
  • An igniter (not shown) may optionally be situated in annular zone 17, if not through pipe 6.
  • Optimal operating conditions for utilizing all three annular zones to provide secondary air for combustion occur when between about 20 percent and about 40 percent of the total oxygen provided to the burner by secondary air is provided through axial zone 25, more preferably between about 25 percent and 35 percent.
  • About 10 percent to about 30 percent of the total oxygen provided to the burner by secondary air is provided through second annular zone 16, more preferably between about 15 to about 25 percent.
  • About 40 percent to about 70 percent of the total oxygen provided to the burner by secondary air is provided through third annular air zone 17, more preferably between about 50 percent to about 65 percent.
  • Airflow measurement device 18 measures the secondary air flow through second annular zone 16 and third annular zone 17.
  • Optimum operating conditions occur when secondary air exits second annular zone 16 at a velocity between about 15 m/s (3000 ft/min) and about 23 m/s (4,500 ft/min), more preferably between about 16 m/s (3100 ft/min) and about 20 m/s (3900 ft/min).
  • secondary air exits third annular zone 17 at a velocity between about 28 m/s (5500 ft/min) and about 38 m/s (7500 ft/min) more preferably the velocity is between about 29 m/s (5700 ft/min) and about 34 m/s (6700 ft/min).
  • Optimal air shear conditions generally occur when the inner diameter of the axial zone is between about 23cm (9 inches) and about 51cm (20 inches), the inner diameter of the first annular zone is between about 38cm (15 inches) and about 76cm (30 inches), the inner diameter of the second annular zone is between about 51cm (20 inches) and about 102cm (40 inches), and wherein the inner diameter of the third annular zone is between about 56 and about 127 cm (between about 22 and about 50 inches).
  • Adjustable vanes 21 are situated in the second annular zone 16 to provide swirled secondary air prior to exiting second annular zone 16.
  • Other air distribution devices such as perforated plates and ramps may also be installed at the end of second annular zone 16.
  • Fixed vanes 22A and adjustable vanes 22B impart swirl to the secondary air passing through third annular zone 17.
  • vane 23 which may alternatively be placed in the middle of the air zone exit, deflects part of the air away from the primary combustion zone.
  • a gas comprising oxygen at a greater concentration than air may be utilized in place of all or part of the secondary air.
  • a hydrocarbon fuel other than pulverized coat may be utilized as fuel.
  • a center conduit may be placed within axial zone 25 such that axial pipe 6 concentrically surrounds the center conduit.
  • the center conduit may house an igniter, an oil atomizer or gas alternative, or a lance for introduction of concentrated oxygen or additional hydrocarbon fuel into the flame core either axially or by radial dispersion.
  • a plurality of center conduits may be placed within axial zone 25 such that axial pipe 6 concentrically surrounds each of the plurality of conduits.
  • the plurality of center conduits may provide concentrated oxygen in more than one stream, or at least one of the conduits may provide additional coal or other hydrocarbon fuel for combustion.
  • multiple feeder ducts and/or booster fans or conduits may be utilized to provide additional secondary air or oxygen to axial zone 25.
  • staged combustion is utilized with the burner and NO x reduction methods of the present invention to further reduce NO x emissions.
  • an alternative air ducting system may be devised wherein secondary air is ducted through outer wall 51B of wind box 51 and fed into axial zone 25 though the outer radius of an enlarged burner elbow or elsewhere to form a axial zone 25 in fluid connection with the windbox 51.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Pre-Mixing And Non-Premixing Gas Burner (AREA)
  • Fluidized-Bed Combustion And Resonant Combustion (AREA)
EP09170949.3A 2006-08-16 2006-08-16 Method of combustion Active EP2138765B1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP09170949.3A EP2138765B1 (en) 2006-08-16 2006-08-16 Method of combustion
DK09170949.3T DK2138765T3 (da) 2006-08-16 2006-08-16 Fremgangsmåde til forbrænding
PL09170949.3T PL2138765T3 (pl) 2006-08-16 2006-08-16 Sposób spalania

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP09170949.3A EP2138765B1 (en) 2006-08-16 2006-08-16 Method of combustion
EP06254290A EP1892470B8 (en) 2006-08-16 2006-08-16 Method of Reducing NOx Emissions in a Pulverized Coal Burner

Related Parent Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06254290.7 Division 2006-08-16
EP06254290A Division EP1892470B8 (en) 2006-08-16 2006-08-16 Method of Reducing NOx Emissions in a Pulverized Coal Burner

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2138765A2 EP2138765A2 (en) 2009-12-30
EP2138765A3 EP2138765A3 (en) 2010-09-22
EP2138765B1 true EP2138765B1 (en) 2016-03-30

Family

ID=37564416

Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09151678.1A Active EP2051005B1 (en) 2006-08-16 2006-08-16 Burner with center air jet
EP09170949.3A Active EP2138765B1 (en) 2006-08-16 2006-08-16 Method of combustion
EP06254290A Active EP1892470B8 (en) 2006-08-16 2006-08-16 Method of Reducing NOx Emissions in a Pulverized Coal Burner

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09151678.1A Active EP2051005B1 (en) 2006-08-16 2006-08-16 Burner with center air jet

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06254290A Active EP1892470B8 (en) 2006-08-16 2006-08-16 Method of Reducing NOx Emissions in a Pulverized Coal Burner

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (3) EP2051005B1 (da)
AT (1) ATE497126T1 (da)
DE (1) DE602006019860D1 (da)
DK (2) DK2138765T3 (da)
ES (3) ES2358273T3 (da)
PL (3) PL1892470T3 (da)

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2933060C2 (de) * 1979-08-16 1987-01-22 L. & C. Steinmüller GmbH, 5270 Gummersbach Brenner zur Verbrennung von staubförmigen Brennstoffen
US4924784A (en) * 1984-02-27 1990-05-15 International Coal Refining Company Firing of pulverized solvent refined coal
DE3535873A1 (de) * 1985-10-08 1987-04-09 Theo Dipl Ing Burkard Verfahren zur no(pfeil abwaerts)x(pfeil abwaerts)-armen verbrennung mittels eines radikale bildenden mediums
DE69120441T2 (de) * 1990-03-07 1997-01-23 Babcock Hitachi Kk Kohlenstaubbrenner, Kohlenstaubkessel und Verfahren zum Verbrennen von Kohlenstaub
US5199355A (en) 1991-08-23 1993-04-06 The Babcock & Wilcox Company Low nox short flame burner
DE4325643A1 (de) * 1993-07-30 1995-02-02 Lentjes Kraftwerkstechnik Brenner zum Verbrennen von staubförmigem Brennstoff
US5697306A (en) 1997-01-28 1997-12-16 The Babcock & Wilcox Company Low NOx short flame burner with control of primary air/fuel ratio for NOx reduction
RS50092B (sr) * 2000-08-04 2009-01-22 Babcock-Hitachi Kabushiki Kaisha, Gorionik za čvrsto gorivo i postupak sagorevanja u gorioniku za čvrsto gorivo
DE10201558A1 (de) * 2001-01-18 2002-08-14 Alstom Power Boiler Gmbh Brenner zur Verbrennung von staubförmigem Brennstoff
US7225746B2 (en) * 2002-05-15 2007-06-05 Praxair Technology, Inc. Low NOx combustion

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2576008T3 (es) 2016-07-04
EP2051005A2 (en) 2009-04-22
EP1892470B1 (en) 2011-01-26
EP2138765A2 (en) 2009-12-30
DE602006019860D1 (de) 2011-03-10
DK1892470T3 (da) 2011-03-21
PL2051005T3 (pl) 2017-10-31
ATE497126T1 (de) 2011-02-15
EP1892470B8 (en) 2011-03-09
PL1892470T3 (pl) 2011-07-29
DK2138765T3 (da) 2016-07-25
ES2358273T3 (es) 2011-05-09
EP1892470A1 (en) 2008-02-27
EP2051005A3 (en) 2010-06-09
EP2138765A3 (en) 2010-09-22
PL2138765T3 (pl) 2016-09-30
ES2636594T3 (es) 2017-10-06
EP2051005B1 (en) 2017-06-14

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