Patent Application
20180135853
A feedstream combustion device for combusting a fuel feedstream having one or more burners, where each burner comprises a mixer having a first mixer segment and a second mixer segment that mixes a first air feedstream and a fuel feedstream received at a first air intake of at a first mixer segment inlet end and mixes a second air feedstream received at a second air intake defined by an annular space between the external surface of the first mixer segment at the and the internal surface of the second mixer segment with the first air feedstream and fuel feedstream.
Systems for combusting waste gas may be employed in conjunction with operations collecting fossil fuels, such as mining or drilling, to burn off flammable gas which accumulates alongside fossil fuels in order to prevent pressure buildup of the flammable gas that can damage equipment used to collect fossil fuels. Burning of the flammable gas occurs to convert harmful hydrocarbons and other gases into the safer products of combustion, carbon dioxide and water. To ensure as complete a conversion as possible during combustion, a waste gas combustion system should allow ample mixing of the flammable gas with a source of oxygen, such as air, to promote as complete a combustion as possible.
A broad object of the invention can be to provide a burner for combustion of a fuel feedstream in the operation of a feedstream combustion device comprising a mixer to mix a fuel feedstream and an air feedstream, where the mixer includes a first mixer segment that narrows from the first mixer segment inlet end, where the fuel feedstream and a first air feedstream mix to the first mixer segment outlet end and a second mixer segment that has a second mixer inlet end, where the insertion of the first mixer segment outlet end into the second mixer segment inlet end defines an annular space between the external surface of the first mixer segment and the internal surface of the second mixer segment, where a second air feedstream mixes with the fuel feedstream and the first air feedstream.
Another broad object of the invention is to provide a method for combusting a fuel feedstream in the operation of a feedstream combustion device which comprises mixing a fuel feedstream with a first air feedstream in a first mixer segment, where the first mixer segment narrows from the first mixer segment inlet end, which defines the fuel feedstream intake and first air feedstream intake, to the first mixer segment outlet end, and mixing the fuel feedstream and first air feedstream with a second air feedstream in a second mixer segment, where the first mixer segment outlet end inserted inside of the second mixer inlet end defines an annular space between the external surface of the first mixer segment and the internal surface of the second mixer segment, defining a second air feedstream intake.
Naturally, further objects of the invention are disclosed throughout other areas of the specification, drawings, photographs, and claims.
Referring generally to
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In particular embodiments, the first mixer segment passage (17) can, but need not necessarily, narrow approaching the first mixer segment outlet end (12), as shown in the examples of
In particular embodiments, the configuration of the first mixer segment internal surface (16) at the first mixer segment inlet end (11) can be generally square, rectangular, or other polygonal cross-section; circular, oval, or the like. The first mixer segment internal surface (16) can, but need not necessarily, be inwardly recessed or indented approaching the first mixer segment outlet end (12), which can reduce the cross-sectional area (20) of the first mixer segment passage (17) approaching the first mixer segment outlet end (12) or the first mixer segment outlet area (19) at the first mixer segment outlet end (12)(as shown in the illustrative examples of
Now referring to the illustrative example of
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The first mixer segment (10) and second mixer segment (13) can comprise steel, stainless steel, titanium, ceramic, or other material which does not melt, deform, or substantially fatigue when exposed to repeated cycles of normal burner operation at temperatures in the range of about 1000° C. to about 3000° C., or the range of temperatures associated with the combustion of fuel feedstreams (2) extracted from gas or oil wells.
Referring primarily to
Further, the annular space (26) disposed between the first mixer segment external surface (27) and the second mixer segment internal surface (23) defines a second air intake (29) for ingress of a second air feedstream (6). The fuel feedstream (2) and the first air feedstream (5) introduced at the first air intake (28) and passing through a narrowing of the first mixer segment passage (17) can operate to produce a venturi effect to pull a second air feedstream (6) through the second air intake (29). The venturi effect, derived from the principle of continuity and the principle of conservation of mechanical energy, states that the velocity of a fluid passing through a constricted area will increase, and its static pressure will decrease, when the mechanical energy of the fluid remains constant. Thus, as the first mixer segment passage (17) narrows from the first mixer segment inlet end (11) toward the first mixer segment outlet end (12) (the first mixer segment outlet area (19) being constricted relative to the first mixer segment inlet area (18)), the velocity of the fuel feedstream (2) mixed with the first air feedstream (5) will increase approaching the first mixer segment outlet end (12), while the pressure of the fuel feedstream (2) mixed with the first air feedstream (5) will decrease at the first mixer segment outlet end (12). The increased velocity and the reduced pressure of the fuel feedstream (2) mixed with the first air feedstream (5) at the first mixer segment outlet end (12) can cause the second air feedstream (6) to flow into the second air intake (29) which comprises the annular space (26) between the first mixer segment external surface (27) and the second mixer segment internal surface (23).
The fuel feedstream (2) includes combustible compounds (also referred to as “fuel”) which can, but need not necessarily, flow from a gas or oil well, including natural gas which can be a mixture of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, sulfur dioxide, and lesser amounts of other hydrocarbons including ethane, hydrocarbons having more than three carbons, trace amounts of helium and other gases and the associated condensates, or combination thereof. The first and second air feedstreams (5)(6) can, but need not necessarily, be comprised of ambient atmospheric gases (also referred to as “air”) from the surrounding environment, or other fluid containing sufficient oxygen to combust the fuel feedstream (2).
In particular embodiments, the fuel feedstream (2) can be further characterized as having one or more of a fuel feedstream load (30), fuel feedstream pressure (31), and fuel feedstream flow rate (32), each of which can be adjusted to increase combustion efficiency or increase the actual yield of the combustion products. A combustion reaction can be defined as the exothermic reaction of fuel, oxygen, and heat to produce carbon dioxide, water, and heat. To provide heat for the combustion reaction, embodiments can include a pilot light. In some circumstances, the limiting reagent of a combustion reaction can be oxygen, so that an increase in the amount of oxygen available for reaction will also increase the actual yield of the reaction products. The utilization of the second air intake (29) to deliver the second air feedstream (6) to the mixer (4) can increase the amount of oxygen available for combustion of the fuel feedstream (2) by addition of a second amount of oxygen to the first amount of oxygen already contained in the first air feedstream (5) delivered to the first air intake (28). Moreover, the fuel feedstream load (30), fuel feedstream pressure (31), and fuel feedstream flow rate (32) can each be adjusted to increase or decrease the total amount of fuel (34) delivered to the mixer (4) in the fuel feedstream (2) in relation to the oxygen available in the first and second air feedstreams (5)(6) to approximate the stoichiometric coefficients of the combustion reaction, which more closely approximates a theoretical reaction yield of 100%.
The fuel feedstream load (30) can be defined as the amount of fuel in cubic feet delivered per hour per orifice (47) of the burner (1) (as further described below) which yields about 1200 British thermal units to about 3000 British thermal units; although embodiments of the burner (1) can be scalable to lesser or greater fuel feedstream loads (30). The fuel feedstream load (30) can include or be selected from the group consisting of: about 1300 British thermal units to about 1500 British thermal units, about 1400 British thermal units to about 1600 British thermal units, about 1500 British thermal units to about 1700 British thermal units, about 1600 British thermal units to about 1800 British thermal units, about 1700 British thermal units to about 1900 British thermal units, about 1800 British thermal units to about 2000 British thermal units, about 1900 British thermal units to about 2100 British thermal units, about 2000 British thermal units to about 2200 British thermal units, about 2100 British thermal units to about 2300 British thermal units, about 2200 British thermal units to about 2400 British thermal units, about 2300 British thermal units to about 2500 British thermal units, about 2400 British thermal units to about 2600 British thermal units, about 2500 British thermal units to about 2700 British thermal units, about 2600 British thermal units to about 2800 British thermal units, about 2700 British thermal units to about 2900 British thermal units, and combinations thereof.
The fuel feedstream pressure (31) can be defined as the pressure of the fuel feedstream as it passes through an orifice (47) of the burner (1). The fuel feedstream pressure (31) can be less than 0.05 pounds per square inch to about 20 pounds per square inch; although embodiments of the burner (1) can be scalable to lesser or greater fuel feedstream pressure (30). The fuel feedstream pressure (31) can include or can be selected from the group consisting of: about 1.0 pounds per square inch to about 3.0 pounds per square inch, about 2.0 pounds per square inch to about 4.0 pounds per square inch, about 3.0 pounds per square inch to about 5.0 pounds per square inch, about 4.0 pounds per square inch to about 6.0 pounds per square inch, about 5.0 pounds per square inch to about 7.0 pounds per square inch, about 6.0 pounds per square inch to about 8.0 pounds per square inch, about 7.0 pounds per square inch to about 9.0 pounds per square inch, about 8.0 pounds per square inch to about 10.0 pounds per square inch, about 9.0 pounds per square inch to about 11.0 pounds per square inch, about 10.0 pounds per square inch to about 12.0 pounds per square inch, about 11.0 pounds per square inch to about 13.0 pounds per square inch, about 12.0 pounds per square inch to about 15.0 pounds per square inch, about 14.0 pounds per square inch to about 16.0 pounds per square inch, about 15.0 pounds per square inch to about 17.0 pounds per square inch, about 16.0 pounds per square inch to about 18.0 pounds per square inch, about 17.0 pounds per square inch to about 19.0 pounds per square inch, and combinations thereof.
The fuel feedstream flow rate (32) can be defined as the volume of fuel feedstream passing through an orifice (47) of the burner (1) in cubic feet over a period of time. The following tables illustrate a range of the fuel feedstream flow rates that can be achieved for various orifice configurations at various fuel feedstream pressures for particular embodiments. Depending on how many burners and corresponding orifices are employed, the fuel feedstream flow rate (32) can be about near zero cubic feet per hour to about several million cubic feet per day.
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As to other particular embodiments, the plurality of rail orifices (47), in whole or in part, can be configured as a plurality of circular orifices. Each of the plurality of circular orifices can be disposed in spaced apart relation along or across the fuel rail longitudinal axis (50) (whether in orthogonal or angulated relation to the fuel rail longitudinal axis (50)). The plurality of circular orifices can each have a diameter of about 1 millimeter (mm) to about 2 mm; although embodiments of the circular orifice can be scaled to lesser or greater dimensions. The diameter can include or be selected from the group consisting of: about 1.1 mm to about 1.4 mm, about 1.3 mm to about 1.5 mm, 1.4 mm to about 1.6 mm, about 1.5 mm to about 1.7 mm, about 1.6 mm to about 1.8 mm, about 1.7 mm to about 1.9 mm, and combinations thereof.
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Particular embodiments can further include inserting a flame front velocity stabilizer (35) proximate the second mixer segment outlet end (15), and stabilizing a flame front velocity in the second mixer segment (13). Particular methods of combusting a fuel feedstream (2) in the operation of a feedstream combustion device (3) can further include disposing in spaced apart relation a plurality of mixers (4), disposing a fuel rail (7) having a plurality of fuel rail orifices (47) below the plurality of mixers (4); correspondingly aligning each of with plurality of fuel rail orifices (47) each of the plurality of mixers (4), and delivering a fuel feedstream load (30) to the fuel rail (7). The method can further include disposing a plurality of mixers (4) in a plurality of discrete rows, correspondingly disposing each of the plurality of discrete rows including a plurality of mixers (4) to each one of a plurality of fuel rails (7). The method can further include connecting the plurality of fuel rails (7) to a fuel rail manifold (58) and dividing the fuel feedstream (2) between the plurality of fuel rails (7).
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As can be easily understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts of the present invention may be embodied in a variety of ways. The invention involves numerous and varied embodiments of a fuel feedstream combustion system and methods for making and using such a fuel feedstream combustion system including the best mode.
As such, the particular embodiments or elements of the invention disclosed by the description or shown in the figures or tables accompanying this application are not intended to be limiting, but rather exemplary of the numerous and varied embodiments generically encompassed by the invention or equivalents encompassed with respect to any particular element thereof. In addition, the specific description of a single embodiment or element of the invention may not explicitly describe all embodiments or elements possible; many alternatives are implicitly disclosed by the description and figures.
It should be understood that each element of a feedstream combustion device or each step of a method may be described by a feedstream combustion device term or method term. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. As but one example, it should be understood that all steps of a method may be disclosed as an action, a means for taking that action, or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each element of a burner may be disclosed as the physical element or the action which that physical element facilitates. As but one example, the disclosure of a “mixer” should be understood to encompass disclosure of the act of “mixing”—whether explicitly discussed or not—and, conversely, were there effectively disclosure of the act of “mixing”, such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of a “mixer” and even a “means for mixing.” Such alternative terms for each element or step are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.
In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with such interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood to be included in the description for each term as contained in the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition, each definition hereby incorporated by reference.
All numeric values herein are assumed to be modified by the term “about”, whether or not explicitly indicated. For the purposes of the present invention, ranges may be expressed as from “about” one particular value to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value to the other particular value. The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all the numeric values subsumed within that range. A numerical range of one to five includes for example the numeric values 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, 5, and so forth. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint. When a value is expressed as an approximation by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term “about” generally refers to a range of numeric values that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited numeric value or having the same function or result. Similarly, the antecedent “substantially” means largely, but not wholly, the same form, manner or degree and the particular element will have a range of configurations as a person of ordinary skill in the art would consider as having the same function or result. When a particular element is expressed as an approximation by use of the antecedent “substantially,” it will be understood that the particular element forms another embodiment.
Moreover, for the purposes of the present invention, the term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity unless otherwise limited. As such, the terms “a” or “an”, “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein.
Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to claim at least: i) each of the fuel feedstream combustion systems herein disclosed and described, ii) the related methods disclosed and described, iii) similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of these devices and methods, iv) those alternative embodiments which accomplish each of the functions shown, disclosed, or described, v) those alternative designs and methods which accomplish each of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplish that which is disclosed and described, vi) each feature, component, and step shown as separate and independent inventions, vii) the applications enhanced by the various systems or components disclosed, viii) the resulting products produced by such systems or components, ix) methods and apparatuses substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to any of the accompanying examples, x) the various combinations and permutations of each of the previous elements disclosed.
The background section of this patent application provides a statement of the field of endeavor to which the invention pertains. This section may also incorporate or contain paraphrasing of certain United States patents, patent applications, publications, or subject matter of the claimed invention useful in relating information, problems, or concerns about the state of technology to which the invention is drawn toward. It is not intended that any United States patent, patent application, publication, statement or other information cited or incorporated herein be interpreted, construed or deemed to be admitted as prior art with respect to the invention.
The claims set forth in this specification, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference as part of this description of the invention, and the applicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or a portion of such incorporated content of such claims as additional description to support any of or all of the claims or any element or component thereof, and the applicant further expressly reserves the right to move any portion of or all of the incorporated content of such claims or any element or component thereof from the description into the claims or vice-versa as necessary to define the matter for which protection is sought by this application or by any subsequent application or continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof, or to obtain any benefit of, reduction in fees pursuant to, or to comply with the patent laws, rules, or regulations of any country or treaty, and such content incorporated by reference shall survive during the entire pendency of this application including any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof or any reissue or extension thereon.
Additionally, the claims set forth in this specification, if any, are further intended to describe the metes and bounds of a limited number of the preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as the broadest embodiment of the invention or a complete listing of embodiments of the invention that may be claimed. The applicant does not waive any right to develop further claims based upon the description set forth above as a part of any continuation, division, or continuation-in-part, or similar application.
This United States Non-Provisional Patent Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/421,943, filed Nov. 14, 2016, hereby incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62421943 | Nov 2016 | US |
