HIGH-LUMINOSITY, LOW-NOX OXY-NATURAL GAS BURNER FOR GLASS FURNACES

摘要

A new high-luminosity burner system for oxy-gas furnaces offers a large improvement in energy efficiency and a significant decrease in NO_x formed per ton of product. The burner has been patented, modeled, tested at several scales, and is being commercially demonstrated at different firing rates on furnaces producing insulating fiberglass and flat glass. In this innovative burner, improvements arise from increased luminosity produced by forming and then consuming soot in the flame. Benefits include higher heat transfer to the load, lower flame and exhaust gas temperatures, and lower NO_x generation. A highly luminous flame with high radiant heat transfer is achieved with the high-luminosity burner by combining a preheating zone at the burner inlet and a flame zone with fuel-rich and fuel lean combustion in the furnace. The results of commercial prototype testing (heat transfer, temperatures, and emissions) and comparisons with baseline conditions with an older burner are presented.