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Show Initial Test Results for a New Class of Regenerative Radiant Burners by John W. Bjerklie, MKE, Inc., Eugene B. Zwick, Zwick Energy Research Organization, Sherry K. Panahi, Southern California Gas Co. and Larry Watkins, SCAQMD. Abstract: The RRB concept and its potential advantages are described, the results of the development effort are shown and the significance of a completely developed RRB operating according to the sponsors' specifications is discussed. Tests showed that the NOx levels of this new class of high temperature, high efficiency, industrial regenerative radiant burners can be held much lower than 10 ppm, referred to 3% oxygen in the exhaust, at surface temperatures in the 2400 to 2600 F range and load temperatures in the 1700 to 1850 F range, with combustion air preheated to 1600 to 1700 F. Introduction The Regenerative Radiant Burner (RRB) a Pure Heat~ burner - utilizes combustion at the burner surface, operates in pairs with self contained regenerators, and is valved to provide cyclic action. The complete description is available in US Patent Number 4,850,862. In principle the combustion temperature need never be higher than the surface temperature, the surface temperature is at a level compatible with the controlled fuel-air flow rate, the load temperature, and the air temperature leaving the regenerator and entering the combustion zone. The maximum operable temperature would be limited only by materials properties and NOx emissions. While having theoretical promise to operate at relatively low NOx levels for a given firing rate by virtue of the surface and combustion temperatures being very close together and only hot enough to accomplish a given heating rate by radiation and convection to a given load temperature, it remained to be proven that the low NOx levels required by the sponsors - Southern California Gas Company, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and Zwick Energy Research Organization - could be obtained. The major objective of this project was to show that the RRB could show promise of meeting the following requirements: Overall heating efficiency Radiant heat delivery NOx levels = 80% > 30% of heat release < 10 ppm Presented at American Flame Research Committee, 1992 Fall International Symposium. October 19-21, 1992 Cambridge, MA |