OCR Text |
Show formation. Building on the basic infrared technology, GRI has developed two new low-NOx infrared burners. In one development with GRI, Eclipse Inc. has introduced a new radiant heating technology that enhances productivity in direct radiant drying and curing applications. The Eclipse Ultra-Radtm provides greater radiant heat release than previous infrared burners while emitting 50 percent less NOx. Ultra-Radtm has been successful in field tests conducted at several locations. It has been used in the production of polyethylene pipe, at a pulp and paper plant, and in paint drying. Alzeta Corporation's Pyrocoretm burner, first applied to firetube steam boilers, can also be shaped in a variety of ways to provide uniform heating for many low-temperature uses. A new, inward-fired configuration of this burner produces N O x levels of only 3 parts per million (ppm), compared with 50 to 100 ppm for conventional burners. The burner w a s field tested in a drying application at a Sunsweet Inc. prune processing facility, where it operated 24 hours a day for two seasons and demonstrated high productivity and product quality. In another application, the burner has demonstrated the ability to destroy over 99.99 percent of airborne volatile organic compounds while emitting less than 10 ppm of NOx. Summary Over the past several years GRI has been actively supporting development of low-NOx emitting combustion systems for industrial applications in anticipation of increased regulation of N O x emissions on a nation-wide basis as a consequence of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. While significant progress has been made, and many technologies are either in or very near production, additional R & D is planned to maintain gas as the fuel of choice for American Industry. 5 1-1 |