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Show Introduction The Gas Research Institute (GRI), Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and the U.S. Department of Energy Offices of Advanced Industrial Concepts and Basic Energy Sciences, have committed to merge practical combustion systems and fundamental combustion research by creating the Burner Engineering Research Laboratory (the BE R L). This laboratory, possibly the first of its kind, was conceived as a means for integrating advanced laser diagnostics into the study of off-the-shelf and p.rototype industrial burners of intermediate SIze. Traditionally, basic combustion research and the application of combustion in practical combustion systems have tended to follow somewhat different paths. Fundamental research has focussed on simplified representations of complex processes to identify specific chemical or physical phenomena. Applied research has tended to focus on the practical implementation of specific technologies to improve performance and efficiency. Hence, there is a recognized need to bridge the gap between these different paths, so that the insights of the fundamental researchers are available to the engineers, and so that the needs of the engineers are addressed by the research. GRr s approach to addressing the research needs, and to improving technology transfer between basic and applied combustion research is through the development of a combustion research laboratory supported by the advanced optical diagnostics developed and in use at SNL. While being capable of addressing issues important to applied engineers, through the simulation of specific boundary and operating conditions, this new laboratory will be distinguished by an ability to address specific research questions through a capability to do precise fundamental research. Energy and Environmental Research Corporation (EER) and the University of California at Irvine (UCI) are responsible for the design, construction, installation, and operation of the BERL. This program is being carried out in three phases comprising the design, construction and verification/operation 2 of the BERL. Presently, the program is in the third phase, with about two months remaining until the perfonnance and capabilities evaluation of the B ERL are completed and the laboratory fully operational. The B ERL is designed to accommodate gas-fired burners up to 3xl06 Btu/h with a baseline firing configuration of 1 x 106 Btu/h. A major emphasis has been placed on flexibility, both in terms of firing configuration and operating conditions. The BERL is housed in the Combustion Research Facility (CRF) of the Sandia National Laboratories at Livermore, California, to take full advantage of available advanced laser diagnostic techniques. Purpose of the BERL This program has two sets of objectives from which to be viewed. The first are the tangible goals which have been set for EER/UCI as deliverables for the program. These are: To design, construct and operate a Burner Engineering Research Laboratory (BERL) suitable for the investigation of specific areas relevant to natural gas combustion in burners. The new laboratory will be distinguished from other combustion test facilities in that a major role will be to facilitate effective communication between basic combustion research and the more practical aspects of burner development. In this role the BERL will: • serve as a test platform to evaluate combustion theories and to extend results obtained in the laboratories of G RI' s basic combustion research program and of others. • provide for fundamental analysis of practical gas burners using state-of-the - art laser diagnostics • enable GRI's contractors and others to evaluate potential designs for new combustion devices. The BERL is a part of more general, longer range goals, described below, which provide the focus and the scope for the current program. |
