Background
Recently, considerable attention and efforts have been directed to the reduction of nitrogen oxides resulting from the combustion of fuel. This is especially true in the area of large furnaces or boilers such as used by the power generation utilities which utilize coal as their main fuel source. In a typical arrangement for burning coal in a large boiler, several burners are disposed in communication with the interior of the boiler and operate to burn a mixture of air and pulverized coal. The burners used in these arrangements are generally of the type in which a fuel-air mixture is continuously injected through a nozzle so as to form a single, relatively large flame. As a result, the surface area of the flame is relatively small in comparison to its volume, and therefore, the average flame temperature is relatively high. However, in the burning of coal, nitrogen oxides are formed due to the reaction of nitrogen present in the combustion-supporting air with oxygen. The formation of nitrous oxides is a function of flame temperature. When the flame temperature exceeds 2800.degree. F., the amount of nitrogen removed from the combustion-supporting air rises exponentially with increases in the temperature. This condition leads to the production of high levels of nitrogen oxides in the final combustion products, which is undesirable.
Nitrogen oxides are also formed from the fuel bound nitrogen available in the fuel itself, which is not a direct function of the flame temperature, but is related to the quantity of available oxygen during the combustion process.
Disclosure of the Invention
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a burner assembly which operates in a manner to considerably reduce the production of nitrogen oxides in the combustion of fuel.
It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide an improved burner for use in a furnace which burns a pulverized coal-air mixture and which has an adjustable inner burner tip which provides proper fuel flow velocity at the burner outlet.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved burner nozzle of the above type in which the adjustable nozzle tip is designed to deliver the fuel in multiple streams and various patterns, more specifically, fuel-lean and fuel-rich zones to create stage-type combustion.
The present invention provides a new and improved coal burner which reduces formation of nitrogen oxides (hereinafter NOx) in a combustion zone of a large industrial boiler/furnace such as used by the utility industry. The disclosed burner can be retro-fitted to many existing boilers without major modifications.
The disclosed burner creates outer fuel-lean patterns which create a proper ignition point, stabilize the resulting flame, and control the formation of NOx. The improved burner further creates inner fuel-rich patterns which are somewhat confined or controlled by the outer fuel lean patterns. A stage-type combustion thereby occurs, creating the ability to control the peak flame temperature, the rate of combustion, and the formation of NOx.
When the fuel quality and conditions change, a burner tip can be adjusted to various positions to change the fuel-lean and fuel-rich flame pattern to maintain optimum NOx levels and combustion performance. In the illustrated embodiment, the burner tip can be manually adjusted from outside the combustion zone.
In its broader aspects then, a burner embodying the present invention for use with a pulverized coal furnace comprises an annular passage having an inlet for receiving a pulverized coal and air, and an outlet for discharging the mixture for ignition. A plurality of blade-like members are spaced radially at the outlet. The members are shaped and arranged to form the fuel-rich zones and fuel-lean zones as the mixture is discharged at the outlet.
In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the plurality of blade-like members comprises a set of main blades and a set of secondary blades disposed in alternating relationship with the main blades. Both main and secondary blades are skewed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the burner to thereby impart a rotational moment to the fuel streams. In the disclosed embodiment, the main blades are planar in shape and are disposed at an angle that is less than the angle at which the secondary blades are skewed. In the illustrated embodiment, the main blades are skewed at an angle of substantially 15.degree..
The secondary blades are skewed at a greater angle which, in the illustrated embodiment, is substantially 25.degree.. In addition, in the preferred embodiment, the secondary blades are twisted and have an uniformly varying surface extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge which is non-planar. With the disclosed construction, converging fuel-rich channels are defined between a main blade and one adjacent secondary blade and diverging, fuel-lean channels are formed with the main blade and its other adjacent secondary blade.
At least a portion of the burner that includes the burner tip is mounted for sliding movement towards and away from a combustion zone. Adjustments, which in the illustrated embodiment comprise control rods, extend outside the combustion zone and are capable of manipulation by the operator to adjust the position of the burner tip relative to the outlet to adjust combustion rate, flame pattern, etc.
In an alternate arrangement, the burner tip is removably mounted to a tapered section of a core member. The tapered section includes a plurality of radial ribs onto which the burner tip is slid. The alternate burner tip is maintained in position by an annular stop and a plurality of keys that are welded to outlet ends of the radial ribs. Ramp surfaces forming part of the fuel lean channels are defined by removable ramp locks. The primary and secondary blades each include ridges which mate with complementally formed recesses in each ramp block. The ramp blocks are preferably held in position by lugs forming part of the retaining keys. Each ramp block includes a bore adapted to receive the lug of a key. In the alternate embodiment, the primary and secondary blades extend outwardly from a hub portion which has a substantially uniform thickness. With this construction, thermally induced expansion and contraction in the burner tip does not produce excessive stress risers in the hub portion of the burner tip. Cooling slots are also provided in the core member section that supports the burner tip by which air is diverted to the hub portion of the burner tip to provide cooling.
The above and other features of the invention will be better understood from the detailed description that follows, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a burner constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention with portions removed to show interior detail;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of a burner nozzle forming part of the burner show in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the nozzle shown in FIG. 3; and
FIG. 4 is a sectional view, shown somewhat schematically, of the burner;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a stream dividing burner tip, constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a portion of a burner constructed in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 7 is an end view of the burner tip as shown in FIG. 5.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
FIG. 1 illustrates the overall construction of a burner assembly constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention and which is especially adapted for burning pulverized coal. The assembly includes a cylindrical core member 10, preferably centered with respect to an outer cylindrical housing member 12. An annular passage indicated generally by the reference character 14 is defined between the members 10, 12 and forms a flow path for a pulverized coal stream extending between an inlet indicated generally by the reference character 16 and an outlet 18. In operation, the outlet 18 opens into a combustion chamber forming part of the boiler. In large industrial boilers, a multiple number of burners may extend through a boiler wall (not shown) and extend into communication with the combustion chamber. As is known, as the pulverized coal stream exits the outlet 18, ignition occurs and the pulverized coal is burned in order to produce heat in the boiler.
In accordance with the invention, a stream dividing burner tip indicated generally by the reference character 24, is located near the outlet 18 and divides the pulverized coal stream into a plurality of alternating fuel-rich and fuel-lean fuel streams. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the burner tip 24 defines a plurality of channels 26, 28 positioned around the core member 10. During burner operation, the channels 26, 28 create the fuel rich and fuel lean streams, respectively. The channels 26, 28 are skewed with respect to the overall direction of flow in the annular passage 14 thereby imparting a rotational moment to the streams as they exit the nozzle.
In the illustrated embodiment, the channels 26, 28 are defined by individual main and secondary blade members 40, 42 which extend radially outwardly from the core member 10. Referring also to FIGS. 2 and 3, the main blade 40, in the preferred embodiment, includes a leading edge 40b (the edge nearest the inlet 16 to the nozzle) aligned with a radial vector 41 extending through a center line 56 of the core member 10. A trailing edge 40a (the edge nearest the outlet 16) is tilted at a predetermined angle .alpha. with respect to a radial vector 44. The main blade is skewed at an angle .beta. with respect to an imaginary reference plane aligned with the longitudinal axis of the core member as viewed in plan (shown best in FIG. 2). In the illustrated embodiment, the angle .alpha. and the angle .beta. are 20.degree. and 15.degree., respectively and as a result, a relatively planar section 40c extends between the leading and trailing edges 40a, 40b of the main blade 40.
In the preferred embodiment, the secondary blade 42 is twisted as compared to the substantially planar main blade 40. In particular, the secondary blade 42 includes a leading edge 42b aligned with a radial vector 46 and a trailing edge 42a aligned with another radial vector 48. The overall secondary blade is skewed at an angle .delta. with respect to an imaginary reference plane aligned with the longitudinal axis 56 of the core member 10 as viewed in plan (shown best in FIG. 2). In the preferred embodiment, the angle .delta. is substantially 25.degree.. As a result, a twisted or curved surface 42c, preferably uniformally varying extends between the leading and trailing edges 42a, 42b of the secondary blade 42.
In order to define converging and diverging channel cross-sections, the blades 40, 42 are positioned at two different angles with respect to the overall directional flow along the annular passage. The primary blade 40 is positioned at a first angle .beta. which in the illustrated embodiment is approximately 15.degree. whereas the secondary blade is positioned at a greater angle .delta., which in the illustrated embodiment is approximately 25.degree.. As a result, the channel 26 has a converging cross-section as defined between the blade 40 and one of its adjacent blades 42 whereas the channel 28 has diverging cross-section as defined between the blade 40 and the other of its adjacent blades 42.
In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the diverging cross-section channel 28 creates a fuel lean stream. As seen best in FIG. 1, ramp-like surfaces 60 are defined in the fuel lean channels 28 near the outlet. These ramp-like surfaces 60 urge the fuel lean streams outwardly with respect to the center line 56 of the core member 10 as the streams are discharged from the tip. As seen in FIG. 1, similar ramp-type surfaces are not defined by the fuel rich channels 26 and as a result, these streams although including a rotational component are not urged outwardly with respect to the center line 56. As a result, a fuel lean zone produced by the outwardly directed fuel lean streams surrounds a fuel rich combustion zone formed by the fuel rich streams, during operation of the burner. The combination of a peripheral fuel lean zone surrounding a fuel rich zone provides combustion in which the formation of NO.sub.x is reduced.
In addition, the channels 26 which converge in cross-section as the pulverized coal stream traverses from the inlet to the outlet ends of the channels, tend to increase the velocity of the stream. On the other hand, the diverging cross-section of the fuel lean channels 28 tend to reduce the speed of the fuel lean stream. As a result, the rotational force imparted to the fuel rich stream is greater than the rotational force imparted to the fuel lean stream.
As seen in FIG. 1, the burner is self-supported by a mounting member 70 which is positioned centrally within the outer housing 12 by a plurality of radial support struts 72. A pair of control rods 74 extend into the support member 70 and are attached to the burner tip 24. The control rods 74 enable an operator to change the position of the tip assembly with respect to the outer housing member 12. In particular, the tip 24 can be moved toward and away from the combustion zone and can be extended such that the outlet end of the tip 24 is exposed beyond the end of the outer housing member 12. Conversely, the tip 24 may be retracted so that it is totally enclosed by the outer housing member 12. Movements of the tip with respect to the combustion zone allow the flame and rate of combustion to be adjusted by the operator.
Referring also to FIG. 4, the core member 10 is mounted for sliding movement with respect to the mounting member 70. Slide support members 76 enable sliding movement between the two members. Packing 78 is used to provide a seal between the members 70 and 10 while still allowing sliding movement. The control rods 74 are attached to blocks 84 which, in turn, are welded to the inside of the core member 10. The control rods 74 extend to the outside of the burner region and are accessible by the boiler operator. Suitable manipulating devices such as turn buckles or threaded adjustment members (not shown) can be used to move the control rods 74 longitudinally to extend or retract the burner tip.
Referring to FIG. 2, the secondary blade 42 includes a relieved portion indicated generally by the reference character 80. In particular, the leading edge 42b of the blade 42 does not directly meet the inner housing member 10. A portion is removed indicated generally by the reference character 80. The extent of the relieved portion is determined by the application and is used in order to provide fine adjustments to the fuel lean, fuel rich stream patterns.
Turning now to FIGS. 5-7, an alternate embodiment of the burner tip is illustrated. In this embodiment, a stream dividing burner tip 24' is removably supported on a core member 10'. The core member 10' corresponds to the core member 10, shown in FIG. 4, and is slidably supported within a mounting member 70 (also shown in FIG. 4). The core member 10' also includes lugs 84' to which control rods 74 (shown in FIG. 4), are connected by which the core member 10' is moved axially in order to adjust the position of the burner as explained above. An outlet end 10a' of the core member 10a' tapers inwardly. An annular stop 100 is welded along the tapered portion 10a' and determines the innermost position of the stream dividing assembly 24'. A plurality of support ribs 102 are welded to the core member portion 10a' and serve as a support, as will be explained, for the burner tip 24'.
Referring also to FIGS. 3, the alternate stream dividing burner tip 24' also includes primary and secondary blades 40', 42', respectively. These blades are skewed at the same or similar angles as the blades 40, 42 shown in FIGS. 1-4. Similar fuel rich, fuel lean channels 26', 28' are defined between adjacent blades.
The stream dividing burner tip 24' includes a hub-like section 110 from which the blades extend. The hub-like section is of relatively uniform thickness, as seen best in FIGS. 1 and 3. In this alternate embodiment, ramp surfaces 60' are defined by replaceable ramp blocks 120. In the embodiment in FIGS. 1-4, ramp surfaces 60 an integrally cast into the assembly. As seen best in FIG. 7, the primary and secondary blades 40', 42' include respective ramp ridges or guides 130, 132 which mate with corresponding recesses 134, 136 formed in each ramp block 120.
The ramp block 120, as well as the stream dividing tip 24' are held in position by a plurality of locking keys 140. Referring to both FIGS. 5 and 6, the stream dividing tip 24' is slid onto the ribs 102 welded to the core member 10'. In the preferred embodiment, the tip 24' is pushed leftwardly (as viewed in FIG. 2) onto the core member 10' until the tip 24' abuts the annular stop 100. The keys 140 which include a short transverse lug 140a' are then welded to outer ends 102a (See FIG. 6) of the support ribs 102. As seen in FIG. 7, the lug portion 140a of the key 140 is inserted into an aperture 144 formed in each ramp block 120, thereby holding the ramp block in position. A lower end of each key 140 is then welded to an associated support rib 102. The welding locations are indicated by the reference character 148 in FIG. 7. In the preferred embodiment, the burner tip 24' is not welded to the keys 140 or to the support ribs 102. A slight axial clearance is provided so that movement due to thermal expansion can be accommodated in the tip 24', with respect to the core 10'. As seen best in FIG. 7, a channel 150 defined by a pair of raised lugs 150a formed on the inside of the hub portion 110 receive one of the support ribs 102. The coupling achieved between the lugs 150a and the rib 102 prevent relative rotation of the assembly 24', with respect to the core member 10', while allowing relative axial movement between two components.
As seen best in FIG. 6, cooling ports 160 are provided in the core member 10' and allow a small amount of combustion air to be diverted to the region between the core member 10' and the underside of the hub portion 110 of the tip 24', to provide cooling The openings 160 are defined by a triangular portion 160a and a transverse slotted portion 160b. It should be apparent because the ports are located in the tapered portion 10a' of the core member 10, air within the core member 10' will tend to flow straight ahead. By having the transverse, slotted region 160b downstream of the triangular portion 160a, and located at a diameter that is less than the diameter at which the triangular portions are formed, a sufficient flow of air out of the ports can be achieved.
The burner of the alternate construction can be easily serviced. The stream dividing tip 24' can be replaced by simply removing the keys 140 and then sliding the assembly 24' off the core member 10'. In addition, the individual ramp blocks 120 can be replaced, should that become necessary, or can be reused on a replacement burner tip 24'.
By slidably supporting the assembly 24' on the end of the core assembly 10', thermal expansion in the assembly can be accommodated since it is not rigidly attached or welded to the core member. By making the ramp surfaces part of a separate component, the hub portion 110 of the stream dividing burner tip 24' can be of a uniform thickness. With a uniform thickness, thermally induced expansion and contraction in the hub portion is substantially uniform, thereby reducing thermally induced stress levels or stress risers in the burner tip 24'.
Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it should be understood that those skilled in the art may make various changes to it without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.