Meeting SCAQMD Rules 1109 and 1146 with Low NOx Burners

As reported previously, low NOx burners employing fuel staging combined with flue gas recirculation (FGR) have been developed to meet the strict emissions regulations mandated by the South Coast · Air Quality Management District (SCAQ11D) which oversees the Los Angeles area air basin. Specifically addressed have been Rille 1109 which effects existing process heaters over 40 million Btu/hr heat input in refineries and chemical plants and Rule 1146 which effects process heaters 40 million Btu/hr and less. Rille 1109 limitS emissions from the larger heaters to 0.03 lb of NOx per million Btu (approximately 25-28 PPM depending on fuel composition) and Rule 1146 limits emissions of the smaller heaters to 40 PPM (0.05 lb/MBtu).