VIStA Combustor for Very Low NOx Emissions in Furnace and Boilers

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Title VIStA Combustor for Very Low NOx Emissions in Furnace and Boilers
Creator Breault, Ronald; Shukla, Kailash; Becker, Fred; McClaine, Andrew; Karan, Jay
Publisher Digitized by J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah
Date 1997
Spatial Coverage presented at Chicago, Illinois
Abstract The objective of the work reported on within is to optimize the low NOx combustion capabilities of the Vortex Inertial Staged Air (VIStA) combustor. The goal is to demonstrate ultra-low NOx production of less than 9 ppm with CO emissions of less than 50 ppm (both at 3% 02) while maintaining high efficiency, productivity, and ease of operation and maintenance. The VIStA combustor addresses both prompt and thermal NOx production. It reduces prompt NOx by partially reforming the premixed natural gas fuel and air in the first stage of the combustor to CO and H2. By operating the first stage of the combustor at optimum conditions, natural gas can be reformed to species which will not contribute to the formation of prompt NOx. The inertial combustion system is ideal for this purpose because it promotes very stable combustion over a wide range of stoichiometry and firing rates and aids in the reformation of the fuel. The VIStA combustor reduces thermal NOx production by providing a thoroughly mixed gas/oxidant composition in the first stage as a result of using premixed natural gas and air, and utilizing low excess air and high internal recirculation of furnace gases in the second stage. Laboratory tests of a non-optimized VIStA combustor have demonstrated that the VIStA combustion approach is capable of very low NOx levels. The subtask, upon which Thermo Power, John Zink and DOE have embarked, will optimize the combustor and demonstrate the technology at a 2-3 MMBtu/hr scale. The first prototype of the VIStA combustor's first stage has been assembled and testing is underway to verify design models. Computational Fluid Dynamic modeling of the combustor using Fluent (a product of Fluent, Inc.) is being performed to evaluate those design elements not easily modified on the prototype. Kinetic modeling is being performed by Reaction Engineering Incorporated (RED to determine the optimum first and second stage conditions. This paper describes the market needs for the burner, the objectives of the burner design effort, the features of the design, the subscale and pilot scale test apparatus and results, and some Computational Fluid Dynamic modeling results.
Type Text
Format application/pdf
Language eng
Rights This material may be protected by copyright. Permission required for use in any form. For further information please contact the American Flame Research Committee.
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ARK ark:/87278/s66m39f8
Setname uu_afrc
ID 13958
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s66m39f8