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Show DEVELOPMENT OF A LOW NO BURNER FOR GAS-FIRED FIRETUBE BOILERS A W. V. Kri11, E. B. Merrick, J. P. Kesselring, and M. A. Friedman Energy and Environmental Division, Acurex Corporation 485 Clyde Avenue Mountain View, California 94042 ABSTRACT Low NO fiber matrix burners have been developed for use in gas-fired A firetube boilers. The fiber burner is a matrix of ceramic fibers vacuum-formed into the appropriate burner configuration. In operation, premixed natural gas and air pass through the fiber matrix and are ignited, burning only on the outer surface. The surface radiates energy flamelessly to the firetube wall, controlling the combustion temperature to levels below thermal NO formation temperatures. Two types of vacuum-formed ceramic fibers have been tested, showing NO emissions in the range of 10 to 20 ppm. These materials have been fabricated into subscale burners to characterize operating range and emissions and into full size burners for retrofit into a small firetube boiler. The burner fits into the first pass of the firetube boiler and occupies approximately the same volume as the conventional flame. Boiler tests have verified the low NO characteristics of the burner with concurrent poten- A tial for increased boiler efficiency. Additional testing will verify burner durability for implementation in existing boiler systems. 3-1 |