Patent Grant
10871287
The present invention relates to a burner for a kiln, especially a rotary kiln, comprising
The last decade has seen a still increasing interest in substituting conventional fossil fuels with alternative fuels, such as biomass and/or waste-derived fuels or a mixture or fossil fuels and alternative fuels for environmental as well as financial reasons.
Examples of burners of the above type are:
Additional burners for alternative fuels are disclosed in e.g. WO 2012 054949 and DE 102007060090.
In general, the ideal characteristics of a rotary kiln burner are:
The object of the present invention is to provide a burner having the above characteristics and allowing for adapting the mixing of secondary air into the primary air in order to obtain an optimum flame shape and combustion of the fuel or mixture of fuels in question.
The above object is obtained by providing a burner of the invention for a kiln, especially a rotary kiln, comprising
A single orifice outlet forming a flat jet air outlet is to be understood as a flat jet air outlet formed by a single orifice in much the same manner as a single orifice nozzle is a nozzle having a single outlet.
The term multiple orifice outlet forming a flat jet air outlet is to be understood as a flat jet air outlet formed by a number of adjacent orifices in much the same manner as a multiple orifice is a nozzle having multiple orifices, and a flat multiple orifice nozzle is a nozzle having multiple adjacent orifices forming a flat spray or stream.
The formed flat jet air outlet has a general, oblong shape independent of whether it is formed by a single orifice or a number of adjacent orifices, the orifices being preferably arranged on a straight line.
The major axis of the single orifice outlet is the longest transverse axis through the orifice forming the outlet, and the minor axis is the longest axis perpendicular to the major axis.
The major axis of a multiple orifice outlet is the longest transverse axis through the orifices forming the outlet, and the minor axis is the longest axis perpendicular to the major axis.
The fan-shaped jet air stream ejected from the flat jet air outlet provides a barrier against secondary air entering the flow of fuel when the major axis of the flat air outlet is arranged essentially tangentially to the closed line on which the primary air jet outlets are arranged. However, when the minor axis of the outlet is arranged tangentially to the mentioned closed line, essentially no barrier against the secondary air is provided. The barrier against secondary air can be changed by selecting the corresponding intermediate positions of the major or minor axis of the flat jet air outlet. By choosing the correct orientation of the flat jet air outlet for the fuel in question, it is advantageously possible to optimize the flame and the shape thereof in order to obtain the desired combustion. As an example, lower flat jet air outlets can be adjusted or set to allow hot secondary air to pass the barrier formed by adjacent flat outlets to prevent fuel dropping out at the bottom or lower portion of the flame.
The above possibility of obtaining flame optimization is improved by an increased number of flat jet air outlets.
Hence, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality or a majority of the outlets or all of the outlets of the first primary air outlets comprise a single orifice outlet or multiple orifice outlet forming a flat jet air outlet having a major axis and a minor axis and being configured to eject an jet air stream having a flat fan pattern with a predetermined fan angle.
Thereby, it is advantageously possible to adapt the orientation of the plurality or all of the flat jet air outlets to obtain the desired barrier or no barrier, and thereby obtain an optimization of the flame shape and length and combustion efficiency.
The first primary air jet outlets can advantageously be essentially equally spaced along the closed line.
According to an additional embodiment of the invention, the ratio between the length of the major axis and the minor axis of the flat jet air outlet configured to eject an air stream having a flat fan pattern is at least 1.5:1, such as at least 2:1, 2.5:1 3:1, 3.5:1, 4:1, 4.5:1, 5:1 or 10:1 and preferably less than 20:1.
At present, a typical ratio is considered to be about 2:1 to 5:1.
The angle of the fan-shaped air stream ejected by the flat jet air outlet can be between 10° and 90°, especially 10° to 75°, 15° to 60°, 20° to 50° or 25° to 45°.
The speed of the fan-shaped air stream ejected by the flat jet air outlet can be between 100 and 300 m/s, such as 150 to 250 m/s.
The closed line on which the first primary air jet outlets are arranged can have any desirable shape. Thus, the primary air jet outlets can be arranged with a shape essentially similar to the outlet opening of the burner outlet or arranged essentially concentrically with the axis of a circular burner body.
The number of first primary air jet outlets and the number of primary flat jet air outlets naturally depends on the size of the burner. However, 8 to 36 will usually be a suitable number, and 12 to 24 often a sufficient number, the number of flat jet air outlets being selected and arranged to obtain the desired shape of the flame as well as the desired combustion efficiency.
The at least one fuel channel can be used for supplying alternative fuel as well as a mixture of alternative fuel and fossil fuel. If so desired, the at least one fuel channel can also be used for supplying only fossil fuel. Additionally, the burner can comprise one or more additional fuel channels for transporting and ejecting additional fuel through respective fuel outlets at the discharge end. As an example, the at least one fuel supply pipe can be used for essentially solid fuel, and the additional channels for supplying respective additional fuels, such as gas, coal, pet coke and oil.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the spacing between the primary jet air outlets having a flat jet air outlet ejecting a flat jet air stream with a flat fan-shaped pattern and any intermediate primary air outlets is chosen so as to allow air streams ejected from neighbouring jet air outlets to at least essentially overlap when the major axes of the flat jet air outlets are arranged essentially tangent to the closed line on which the first primary air outlets are arranged.
In this way, an essentially complete barrier is obtained against a flow of secondary air past the first primary air jets and thus the possibility of changing the orientation of the ejected flat fan pattern in order to obtain the desired flow of secondary air past the primary air stream from the primary air jet outlets at the desired positions. As a result, the supply of secondary air towards the fuel flow and the amount thereof at different positions around the ejected fuel can be selected in order to obtain an optimization of the flame for the fuel or combination of fuels in question. It is thereby possible to provide a fuel rich zone for minimizing or reducing the formation of undesirable NOx.
In an additional embodiment the first primary air outlets are all flat jet air outlets configured to eject an jet air stream having a flat fan pattern and are all mutually spaced to allow fans ejected by neighbouring outlets to overlap when the orifices of the outlets are arranged essentially tangent to the closed line on which they are arranged.
In this way, the above possibilities and advantages are further improved as it is possible to adjust the flow of secondary air towards the fuel flow at several positions around the ejected fuel.
According to a further embodiment, the burner comprises an additional primary air channel comprising a swirl air-generating device with a number of additional primary air outlets, the additional primary air outlets being arranged, when seen towards the discharge end, inwardly of the first primary air outlets and being arranged on a second closed line, such as an circle, the swirl air-generating nozzle device being configured to eject a multi-point annular air stream of additional primary air from the additional primary air outlets.
The primary air ejected from the first primary air jet outlets and the additional primary air ejected from the additional primary air outlets are combined to a stream of axial air and swirl air.
Controlling the swirl air enables additional flame and the combustion adjustability and flexibility.
The additional primary air is ejected with a tangential velocity component that is higher than the tangential velocity component of the predominantly axially-ejected air from the primary air outlets.
In a further embodiment the first fuel outlet is an annular fuel outlet being arranged, when seen towards the discharge end, between the first primary air outlets and the additional primary air outlets and surrounded by the first primary air outlets and surrounding the additional air outlets.
The additional fuel outlet can be an outlet for coal or an outlet for gas. Further an annular outlet for gas and a preferably co-axially arranged annular outlet for coal can also be provided.
According to an additional embodiment the first fuel outlet is an essentially central fuel outlet being arranged, when seen towards the discharge end, inwardly of the additional primary air outlets and surrounded by the additional primary air outlets.
In a further embodiment the above embodiment further comprises an additional fuel outlet being an annular fuel outlet and being arranged, when seen towards the discharge end, between the primary air outlets and the additionally air outlets and surrounded by the first primary air outlets and surrounding the additional primary air outlets.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention alternative fuel or a mixture of alternative fuel and coal is supplied through the essentially central fuel outlet.
Finally, it should be noted that the outlets can, when seen towards the discharge end and in a direction from the outer surface of the burner towards the centre thereof, be arranged in the order: first primary air outlets, annular coal outlet, additional primary air outlets, annular gas outlet, and essentially central outlet for alternative fuel.
In an additional embodiment the essentially central fuel supply pipe and the additional primary air channel are retractable from a forward position in which the primary jet air outlet, the additional primary air outlets and the fuel outlet are essentially arranged in a common plane at the discharge end and a second position in which the fuel outlet and the additional primary air outlets are retracted and spaced from the plane of the primary jet air outlets.
In a further embodiment the essentially central fuel supply pipe and the additional primary air channel are axially retractable over a length being 0.2-2.0, such as 0.5-1.5 times the diameter of the circle on which the additional primary air outlets are preferably arranged.
Changing the position of the fuel outlet and the additional primary air outlets offers a further possibility of optimizing the flame structure and shape of the fuel or combination of fuels in question.
In the forward position the additional primary air is ejected as a multi-point annular stream of jets, whereas in the retracted position, the jets ejected from the additional primary air outlets merge to form an annular swirling or rotating air stream. The fuel speed in the flame is thereby reduced.
The primary jet air outlets, including the flat jet air outlets, can be formed directly in a front plate of the burner.
However, it is at present preferred that the primary jet air outlets, especially the primary flat jet air outlets, are provided in respective nozzles comprising a nozzle body, preferably having an outer cylindrical portion and being arranged in a front plate of the burner.
This embodiment allows for a pre-adjustment or pre-setting of the orientation of the major axis of the primary flat jet air outlets in order to obtain the desired flame shape and combustion of the fuel.
In an additional embodiment, the primary air outlets, especially the primary flat jet air outlets, are provided in respective nozzles comprising a nozzle body, preferably having an outer cylindrical portion and being arranged at an outer end of respective air tubes.
According to an, at present, preferred embodiment the nozzles are angularly adjustable, such as essentially infinitely angularly adjustable.
As a result, the major axis of flat primary jet air outlets can be arranged in the desired position in relation to the closed line on which it is arranged, and the flat fan pattern thereby ejected in the desired direction.
The nozzles can be individually angularly adjustable.
According to an embodiment, the nozzles are angularly adjustable during operation of the burner.
The above embodiment allows for changing the direction in which the flat nozzle ejects the flat fan pattern and thereby for changing the flame to obtain an optimization of the flame.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the nozzles comprise an inner air duct comprising an inlet portion, preferably having a circular cross section, and an outlet portion gradually changing from the circular cross section of the inlet portion to the cross section of the flat jet air outlet with the major and minor axis, the inner air duct being angled, preferably along a line parallel to the major axis, the flat fan thereby being ejected from the nozzle in a plane that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the burner.
The angle between the inlet portion and the outlet portion of the nozzle can be 2°-30°, such as 3°-20°. Especially good results are expected to be obtained when the angle between the inlet and the outlet part of the nozzle is about 10°.
In the above embodiment of the invention, all flat fan nozzles are individually adjustable. As an example, the nozzles can, by angular rotation thereof, be adjusted to eject flat fan-shaped air sprays diverging or converging relative to the axis of the burner and additionally be adjusted to any intermediate position.
It is, however, also possible to configure the nozzles without any angling and so that the plane of the ejected flat fan is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the burner.
The present invention further relates to the use of a burner according to the invention in a rotary kiln for cement production and to a rotary kiln for cement production comprising a burner according to the invention.
Additionally, the burner 2 comprises an essentially central fuel supply pipe 9 for transporting and supply fuel to the flame 8 in the kiln chamber 4 through an essentially central fuel pipe outlet 10 at the discharge end 7. The fuel supplied through the supply pipe 9 can be both alternative fuel and fossil fuel and a mixture of alternative and fossil fuels. In addition to the central fuel supply pipe 9 with the central fuel pipe outlet 10, the burner can also comprise one or more additional supply lines with a supply line outlet at the discharge end 7 in order to supply fossil fuel to the flame. A number of high-speed first primary air jet outlets 11 are arranged at the discharge end. The air is supplied to the primary air jet outlets through a common tubular channel and/or through individual air pipes 12 and ejected through the first primary air jet outlets 11 being arranged, when seen towards the discharge end, along a closed line radially outwardly of the central fuel outlet 10 and surrounding the central fuel outlet, see especially
The figures disclose that all the first primary air outlets are flat jet air outlets 11 having a major axis ma and a minor axis mi and being configured to eject a flat jet air stream 13 having a flat fan pattern with a predetermined fan angle v, see also
The terms major axis ma and minor axis have been defined previously and are illustrated in
The nozzle 16 shown in
The angle between the inlet portion and the outlet portion of the nozzle can be 2°-30°, such as 3°-20°. In the embodiment shown it is about 5°.
In embodiments of the invention where the flat fan air nozzles are individually adjustable, they can, by angular rotation thereof, be adjusted to eject flat fan-shaped air sprays diverging or converging relative to the axis of the burner and additionally be adjusted to any intermediate position.
The fan-shaped jet air streams 13 ejected provide a barrier against secondary air entering the flow of fuel when the major axis ma of the flat jet air outlets is arranged essentially tangentially to the closed line on which the primary jet air outlets are arranged and mutually spaced so that the formed jet air streams 13 overlap mutually as shown in
It should be noted that although it is shown that all the first primary jet air outlets are flat jet air outlets ejecting a flat jet air stream 13 having a flat fan pattern, this need not be the case. The use of a single or a number of flat jet air outlets ejecting a flat jet air stream 13 having a flat fan pattern may be sufficient in order to obtain the desired shape of the flame and the desired combustion of the fuel. However, the possibility of obtaining flame and combustion optimization is improved with the number of flat jet air outlets, and especially the possibility of providing a barrier against secondary air at desired points around the flame. Arranging a mixture of ordinary, i.e. point-shaped, jet air outlets and flat jet air outlets along the closed line is also a possibility.
As an example, every second outlet can be a point-shaped outlet and every second outlet a flat jet air outlet. If a complete barrier against a flow of secondary air past the primary air is desired, adjacent primary air outlets have to be arranged at a mutual spacing providing an overlap of air streams ejected from adjacent outlets independent of whether the primary air outlets are ordinary point-shaped outlets or flat jet air outlets.
In addition to the first primary flat jet air outlets 11, the shown embodiment of the burner also comprises an additional primary air channel 23 comprising a swirl air-generating device with a number of additional primary air outlets 22, the additional primary air outlets 22 being arranged, when seen towards the discharge end 7, on a closed line between the central fuel outlet 10 of the fuel supply pipe 9 and the primary air jet outlets 11 and surrounding the former and being surrounded by the latter, the swirl air-generating device being configured to eject a multi-point annular air stream of additional primary air from the additional primary air outlets, see
As shown in
It should further be noted that the central fuel outlet can be omitted and the burner thereby only supply fuel through the coal supply channel and coal outlet and/or through the gas supply channel and gas outlet.
The primary air ejected from the primary air jet outlets 11 and the additional primary air ejected from the additional primary air outlets 22 are combined to a stream of axial air and swirl air.
Controlling the axial air flow, swirl air flow and the ratio between them enables additional flame and the combustion adjustability and flexibility.
The swirling, additional primary air is ejected with a tangential velocity component that is higher than the tangential velocity component of the predominantly axially ejected air from the primary air outlets.
By comparing
Changing the position of the central fuel outlet 10 and the additional primary air outlets 22 offers a further possibility of optimizing the flame structure and shape for the fuel or combination of fuels in question.
In the forward position, the additional primary air is ejected as a multi-point annular stream of jets, whereas in the retracted position, the jets ejected from the additional primary outlets 22 merge to form an annular swirling or rotating air stream. In this way, the fuel speed in the flame can be reduced.
Finally, it should be noted that although the present invention has been described with reference to a burner for a rotary kiln for cement production, it is also useable for other types of kilns, and that the present invention also relates to a kiln comprising a burner according to the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 70875 | Dec 2015 | DK | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2016/081933 | 12/20/2016 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2017/108797 | 6/29/2017 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8230687 | Ziminsky | Jul 2012 | B2 |
| 8449292 | Knoch | May 2013 | B2 |
| 8500440 | Richardson | Aug 2013 | B2 |
| 10082289 | Holm-Christensen | Sep 2018 | B2 |
| 10295184 | Albright | May 2019 | B2 |
| 20100050912 | Mersmann | Mar 2010 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 19648981 | May 1998 | DE |
| 19648981 | May 1998 | DE |
| 0509581 | Oct 1992 | EP |
| 2811228 | Dec 2014 | EP |
| 2686681 | Jul 1993 | FR |
| 2706985 | Dec 1994 | FR |
| 2008077577 | Jul 2008 | WO |
| 2012084575 | Jun 2012 | WO |
| Entry |
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| International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Mar. 31, 2017, 10 pages. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20180363896 A1 | Dec 2018 | US |
