EPA-650/2-73-033a




October 1973               Environmental  Protection Technology Series
                   fill  >-a$sii.  m



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                             DISCLAIMER

    This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from
the Environmental Protection Agency under contract number 68-02-0216.
The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or
policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,  nor does mention
of trade names,  commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement
by the U.S.  Government.

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                                    EPA-650/2-73-033a
AERODYNAMIC  CONTROL OF  NITROGEN
    OXIDES  AND  OTHER  POLLUTANTS
    FROM FOSSIL  FUEL  COMBUSTION
VOLUME I.  DATA ANALYSIS AND SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS
                        by

              D.R. Shoffstall and D.H. Larson

                Institute of Gas Technology
              IIT Center, 3424 South State Street
                 Chicago,  Illinois 60616
                 Contract No. 68-02-0216
               Program Element No. 1A2014
                  ROAP No. 21ADG47
            EPA Project Officer: David W. Pershing

                Control Systems Laboratory
            National Environmental Research Center
          Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
                    Prepared for

           OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
          U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
                WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460

                    October 1973

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This report has been reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency and




approved for publication.  Approval does not signify that the contents




necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Agency, nor does




mention of trade names Or commercial products constitute endorsement




or recommendation for use.

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                        TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                   Page
INTRODUCTION                                                       1
SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS                                         2
Input-Output  Test Results                                             2
In-the-Flame Mapping                                                 2
RESEARCH INSTALLATION                                           3
GENERAL CHARACTERIZATION OF  THE FLAME                     4
DATA  ANALYSIS  AND  DISCUSSION                                    8
Baffle  Burner                                                         8
    "Intermediate" Flame Baffle  Burner                               8
    "Short"  Flame Baffle Burner                                     18
Movable-Block Swirl Burner  (I. F. R.F. Design)                       27
Flat-Flame Burner                                                   38
Boiler  Burner                                                       46
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS                                           57
                                  11

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                           LIST OF FIGURES

Figure No.                                                          Page

    1-1       Toroidal Recirculating Cell for a Typical Type I
             Flame                                                    6

    I-Z       Steady Pear-Shaped Recirculating Cell for a Typical
             Type  II Flame                                            7

    1-3       Assembly Drawing of Axial-Flow Burner  With
             Ported Swirl  Baffles                                      9

    1-4       Modified Gas  Nozzle Construction                        10

    1-5       Normalized NO Concentration as a  Function of
             Excess  Air                                              12

    1-6       Radial Profile for NO  at the  5-cm  Axial  Position        13

    1-7       Normalized NO Concentration as a  Function of
             Excess  Air                                              15

    1-8       Radial Profile for NO  at the  5-cm  Axial  Position        16

    1-9       Temperature  Profile Across Furnace With  Gas Input
             of  2546 CF/hr and  5. 0-cm  Axial Probe Position         17

    I-10      Normalized NO Concentration as a  Function of
             Excess  Air                                              19

    1-11      Normalized NO Concentrations as a Function of
             Excess  Air                                              21

    1-12      Radial Profile for NO  at the  7. 6-cm Axial  Position     22

    1-13      Radial Temperature Profile at the  7. 6-cm  Axial
             Position                                                 23

    1-14      Radial Profile for NO  Concentration for  the Short-
             Flame Baffle  Burner  Using the Axial Nozzle  at a
             7. 6-cm Axial Position                                   26

    1-15      Diagram of a Movable-Block Swirl  Burner               28

    1-16      Arrangement  of Swirl Generating Blocks in the
             Movable-Block Swirl Burner                             29

    1-17      Normalized NO Concentration as a  Function of
             Excess  Air                                              31

    1-18      Normalized NO Concentration as a  Function of
             Excess  Air                                              32
                                   111

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                       LIST OF FIGURES, Cont.

Figure  No.                                                           Page

    1-19     Normalized NO Concentration as  a  Function of
             Excess  Air                                               33

    1-20     Normalized NO Concentration Profiles as  a
             Function of Swirl Intensity and  Excess Air on the
             Movable-Block Swirl Burner With Gas Nozzle  in
             the  Exit Position                                          34

    1-21      Normalized NO Concentration Profiles as  a  Function
             of Swirl Intensity and Excess Air on the  Movable -
             Block Swirl Burner With  Gas Nozzle in the  Throat
             Position                                                  35

    1-22      Radial Profile of  NO Concentration  at the 12. 7-cm
             Axial Position for the Movable-Block Swirl Burner
             With Intermediate Intensity                                36

    1-23      Radial NO Concentration Profile for the  Movalbe-
             Block Burner at an Axial Probe Position of 12.7
             cm  and Set for Intermediate Swirl Intensity,  Gas
             Nozzle  in Throat  Position,  and a Gas Input  of
             2008 CF/hr                                     '          37

    1-24      Radial Temperature Profile  at the  12. 7-cm  Axial
             Position                                                  39

    1-25      Cross-Sectional View  of the  Flat-Flame  High-
             Intensity Burner                                          41

    1-26      Normalized NO Concentration as  a  Function of Excess
             Air  for the Flat-Flame  Burner                            43

    1-27      Radial NO Concentration Profile for the  Flat-Flame
             Burner  at  a  12. 7-cm Axial  Position                      44

    1-28      Radial Temperature Profiles for  the  Flat-Flame
             Burner  at Axial Positions of 12.7,  69,  and  130 cm      45

    1-29      Guide-Vane Boiler Burner                                47

    1-30      Method  for Measuring Guide-Vane Angle for Boiler
             Burner                                                    48

    1-31      Normalized NO Concentration as  a  Function of Excess
             Air  (Boiler Burner  With a 30-deg Angle Vane
             Setting; Gas Input,  3020 CF/hr)                           49
                                   IV

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                       LIST OF FIGURES,  Cont.

Figure No.                                                          Page

   1-32      Normalized NO Concentration as a  Function of
             Excess  Air (Boiler  Burner  With a 40-deg  Angle
             Vane Setting;  Gas Input,  3040 CF/hr)                    50

   1-33      Normalized NO Concentration as a  Function of
             Excess  Air (Boiler  Burner  With a 60-deg  Angle
             Vane Setting;  Gas Input,  3040 CF/hr)                    51

   1-34      NO  Concentration Versus  Swirl  Number                  53

   1-35      Radial  Profile for NO  at a  60-deg Vane  Angle
             Setting                                                   54

   1-36      Radial  Temperature Profile                              55

   1-37      Radial  NO Concentration Profile for the  Movable-
             Block Burner at an Axial Probe Position of 12. 7 cm
             and Set for Intermediate Swirl Intensity, Gas Nozzle
             in  Throat Position,  3.  6%  Excess Oxygen,  and a.
             Gas Input of 2008 CF/hr                                 58

   1-38      Radial  CH4  Concentration  Profile  for  the Movable-
             Block Burner at an Axial Probe Position of 12. 7 cm
             and Set for Intermediate Swirl Intensity, Gas Nozzle
             in  Throat Position,  3.  6%  Excess Oxygen,  and a Gas
             Input of 2008  CF/hr                                     59

   1-39      Radial  O2 Concentration Profile for the Movable-
             Block Burner at an Axial Probe Position of 12. 7 cm
             and Set for Intermediate Swirl Intensity, Gas Nozzle
             in  Throat Position,  3.  6%  Excess Oxygen,  and a Gas
             Input of 2008  CF/hr                                     60

   1-40      Radial  Temperature Profile at the 12. 7-cm Axial
             Position                                                 61

   1-41      Radial  Profile of Axial Velocity  at the 12. 7-cm
             Axial Position                                           62

   1-42      Infrared Spectra Band  Locations                          63

   1-43      NO  Concentration  Correction Factors  for Gas
             Samples Containing  CaH4 and/or C3H6                     65

   1-44      Unsteady  Pear-Shaped  Recirculating Cell                 69

   1-45      Kidney-Shaped Recirculating  Cell                         70

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                          LIST OF  TABLES

Table No.                                                          Page

   1-1       Flame  Characteristics                                   5

   1-2       Mass Spectrometer Laboratory Analytical Report —
             Natural Gas Sample                                    24

   1-3       Mass Spectrometer Laboratory Analytical Report —
             Gas Sample for Short-Flame  Baffle Burner Axial
             Gas Nozzle                                             25

   1-4       Mass Spectrometer Laboratory Analytical Report —
             Gas Sample for Movable-Block Swirl  Burner            40

   1-5       Vane-Angle Setting Versus Swirl Number for
             Boiler  Burner                                          46

   1-6       Mass Spectrometer Laboratory Analytical Report —
             Gas Sample for Boiler  Burner                          56

   1-7       Time-Averaged Directional  Flow Data Obtained at
             the 12. 7-cm Axial  Position                             67

   1-8       Time-Averaged Directional  Flow Data at the
             30. 5-cm Axial Position and Obtained  Using a
             Hubbard Probe                                          68

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                            INTRODUCTION
     This volume  of  the  final report for EPA Contract No. 68-02-0216
presents  a  synopsis  of data collected  from investigating  the  relationship
between  combustion,  aerodynamics,  and pollution emission characteristics
of industrial burners.   Five  types  of  industrial burners  were studied.
These were  a)  a  utility  power boiler burner, b)  a high-intensity or flat-
flame  burner,  c)  a movable vane burner design  developed by the Inter-
national  Flame  Research Foundation,  d) an  axial  flow  burner,  and e) a
partial baffle burner  of  a  design widely used in  steel reheat furnaces.
The  utility boiler burner was  scaled down to fit  our experimental  system.
The  aerodynamic  characteristics of  each burner  were  investigated in con-
nection with their influence  on the  combustion  process and on pollution
emissions.   The  research was divided into  two categories:
1.   Input-output tests  in which the  nitric oxide (NO) concentration in the
     flue  (as  well  as other flue gas  components)   was measured  as a
     function of  changes  in combustion conditions,  such as percent excess
     oxygen  (air),  preheat  temperatures  of the  combustion air,  and firing
     rate  of natural gas.
2.   Point-by-point in-the-flame  tests  were made  to measure gas species
     concentrations,  temperatures, and velocities  (magnitude  and direction),
     in an attempt to  determine  where and how the NO was being formed.
     A companion  publication  (Volume  II) presents all  of  the  raw data and
data plots collected  during  the program.   Volume II also gives  a detailed
description  of the experimental  facility, including dimensional descriptions
of the hot-modeling  furnace,  the cold-modeling furnace simulator,  samp-
ling  probes,  instrumentation,  and the  test burners.

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                     SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS

    From our analysis of the  data obtained in  this study (Volumes I and

II), we were  able  to  reach the following  broad conclusions.  A compre-

hensive listing of the more specific conclusions reached  for  each burner

tested is  given  at  the  beginning  of  the  section  discussing that burner.

Input-Output Test Results

1.   Type II*  flames with radial gas injection as  produced  by the  axial
    burner and the boiler burner with  radial gas nozzle  will have peak
    NO concentrations at an excess air level of  11% or  less.

2.   Type I* or Type II flames with axial gas  injection,  axial burner,
    swirl  burner,  or flat-flame burner with axial gas nozzle will produce
    their maximum NO emissions at an  excess air level greater  than 22%.

3.   Although  for  all the burners tested the  concentration of  NO increases
    with  increasing  preheat temperature  of the combustion air, the mag-
    nitude  of the incremental  change is dependent on the type  of  burner
    and the method  of  gas  injection.

4.   Changing from axial  to radial  gas  injection consistently  resulted in
    an increase in the NO  concentration,  which could be as  large as
    600 ppm.

In-the-Flame Mapping

1.   All NO radial profiles  measured for  flames  with Type I flow patterns,
    typified by axial gas  injection,  resembled  an upside  down  script "m"
    (LA/U) in  shape,  while  Type II flow patterns, typified by radial gas
    injection,  resembled  a "W" in shape.

2.   For burners  with a Type  II flow pattern,  more than 50%  of the flue
    NO concentration is formed in the  burner  block.

3.   Because  only  50 to 80% of  the  flue NO concentration was  measured
    in the  flame  for both  Type  I and Type II  flow patterns,  we postulate
    that secondary NO formation occurs  either through  a continuation of
    the nitrogen-oxygen type  reactions  or because  of thermal  decomposi-
    tion of
•K
   A  complete description of Type  I and Type II flames is given  in the
   section,  "General  Characterization  of the  Flame, " beginning on page 4.

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                      RESEARCH INSTALLATION
    All burners investigated were end-wall mounted on a  5x5x15 foot
cast refractory furnace.   The combustion air  was heated  (100° to 600°F)
in an insulated electric preheater.   Flue-gas  samples were withdrawn
through a water-cooled stainless-steel probe and approximately  50 feet
of Teflon tubing into  the various  instrumentation  remotely located from
the furnace.   Concentrations  of  CO,  CO2f CH4,  and NO were measured
by multirange  nondispersive infrared analyzers (NDIR).   An  electrolytic
analyzer was used to measure oxygen.   The output  signals from the NDIR
analyzers were time-averaged electrically and displayed on  digital volt-
meters.   Flow direction and  magnitude in the  furnace were measured
with both a five-hole  pitot probe  and a Hubbard  probe.  The pressure
differentials between  probe tip holes  used for  determining flow direction
and velocity are measured with  an electrical transducer.   The signal from
the transducer  is analyzed and displayed  on a  multirange  electronic
manometer.
    Temperatures are measured  on a high-velocity  suction pyrometer
containing  a Ft — Pt  13%  Rd thermocouple which has  been calibrated
against flow rate  through the tip.   Output voltages  from the  thermocouple
are read  directly by  a  millivolt  electrometer.   Volume  II of this  report
presents more  detailed information on the installation.

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           GENERAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE  FLAME
     Table 1-1  gives a synopsis of the work being reported.   The first
two  columns of the table give the burner type  and the  kind of gas nozzle
being investigated.   The  characteristic flame  type of the  burner-nozzle
combination is  listed in column  3.   Columns 4 through 8 give the condi-
tions at which the furnace was set during the in-flame  studies, with the
final two columns giving  NO  radial-profile  data.
     A general aerodynamic characterization of the burners can be made
by defining types of flow patterns observed  in  the  flame.   A  flame may
be divided into four zones of interest:  1) the methane-rich  central forward
flow zone,  2)  the combustion air forward flow zones,  3) the  internal
reverse flow zones, and  4) the secondary recirculation zones.  For the
Type I  flame shown in Figure 1-1, the methane-rich jet flows along the
axis of the burner  and has a velocity large enough to penetrate the in-
ternal reverse-flow regions,  which are  represented by  the  lobes  on  each
side of the burner's axis.  The combustion air circulates  around the out-
side edge  of each of the  reversal lobes.   The  (— • — • —) lines  in
Figure  1-1  represent the boundary  layers between  the forward flow of the
combustion air and the secondary recirculation patterns  of  the combustion
products.   Characteristics  of Type I flames  found during our investiga-
tion  are 1) a long,  lazy,  and luminous flame;  2)  a high  methane  concen-
tration,  not only  on the axis  of  the  burner but also in the internal re-
circulation lobes; and 3)  in general,  the  stoichiometric ratio  of fuel and
air accompanied  by peak temperatures  occurring  on  the  outside edge of
the internal recirculation lobes.
     The Type  II  flame is  characterized by inability of the central methane
jet to penetrate  the  internal recirculation zone, as is  shown  in Figure
II-2.   This flame type can be generated  either by introducing the  gas
radially with respect to the  axis  of  the burner or  by having an air flow
with such  a large tangential-velocity  component that  it  attaches to the wall
of the burner  block and encloses a large toroidal vortex reverse  flow
zone  situated on the axis  of  the  burner.   This  pattern  enables a matching
of highly turbulent  intensity  zones with zones  of high fuel  concentration,
resulting in a  large combustion  intensity.  Characteristics  of the Type  II
flame are 1)  a short,  translucent flame  and  2) approximately 95% of the
combustion's  occurring in the burner block.

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                                          Table I-1.    FLAME  CHARACTERISTICS
                                                                            Flame Characterization
       Burner Type
Axial,  Intermediate Baffle
Axial,  Short  Baffle
Swirl.  Movable Block
Flat Flame
Boiler


Gas Nozzle

Axial


Radial


Axial


Axial

Axial
ntermediate
A'irl Intensity)

Axial


Radial


Flame Gas Input.
Type CF/hr

I 2147


II 2547


I 2190


I 2190


I 2008


II 2010


II 3049


Wall
Temp, °F

2570


2680


2570


2524


2453


2480


2534


NO in Flue Oz in
(Normalized), ppm Flue, %

255 2.6
(286)

741 1.7
(800)

189 2.9
(215)

325 3.0
(369)

111 3. 6
(130)

89 4.4
(109)

283 1.9
(308)
NO
Preheat Position,
Temp, °F cm
0
570 18
30
0
510 16
45
0
315 21
54
0
515 21
54
0
12
45
0
24
54
0
270 27
34
Profile
Concentration.
ppm
( 160)
54
142
502
344
666
142
6°
174
202
121
276
5
13
40
79
89
92
242
136
265
                                                                                                                                   B-83-1308

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                                 t
                                 9
                                                »
                                                 •
                                 MEAN FLOW
                                 DIRECTION
                  STREAM  LINES

                  REVERSED AXIAL FLOW REGION

                  BOUNDARY OF RECIRCULATING REGION

                  STAGNATION  POINT


                                  A-83-II97
Figure 1-1.   TOROIDAL RECIRCULATING CELL FOR
             A TYPICAL  TYPE I FLAME

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                                  MEAN FLOW
                                  DIRECTION
                STREAM LINES
                REVERSED AXIAL FLOW REGION
                BOUNDARY OF  RECIRCULATING REGION
                STAGNATION POINT

                              A-83-II94
Figure 1-2.  STEADY  PEAR-SHAPED RECIRCULATING
       CELL FOR A  TYPICAL TYPE II FLAME

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                  DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Baffle Burner
     Figure 1-3 illustrates the design of the baffle burner.   The  gas nozzle
lies  parallel  to and  along the  axis  of the burner.   It  is inserted into the
ceramic baffle,  thus ensuring that  the  gas  will  enter  parallel to the axis
of the baffle  burner.  Combustion air enters perpendicular  to the axis
and  passes through  the six ports in the baffle,  which impart a  swirl to
the air in some designs.   Two  of these baffle  ports  can be seen in
Figure  1-3  with their axes parallel to the axis of the burner.  Air  exiting
from the  ports as illustrated would have an axial velocity component
only, resulting in a  "long" flame.  To shorten  the flame  length,  a  radial-
and  tangential-flow component must be  added to the combustion  air  vel-
ocity.   This  is accomplished by using  a  baffle where the  combustion-air
ports are  rotated relative to the axis  of  the burner.   For the  "intermediate"
flame  length  baffle  the  rotation  orientation  of  the  ports  is 12  degrees and
for the "short" flame  length,  24 degrees.  Figure 1-4 shows  the  gas
nozzle modifications needed  to  achieve  radial  gas injection for the baffle
burner.   Basically the  nozzle end is  capped and a series of holes are
drilled  radially in the tube wall.
   ^Intermediate"  Flame  Baffle  Burner
     Based on  an  analysis  of the input-output  data for  the  intermediate-
flame baffle,  we  determined the following:
1.   As expected,  both increased gas  input  and increased preheat  temper-
     ature  significantly increased NO  emissions.   The change  in  NO
     emissions was more  strongly  affected by  changes in preheat temper-
     ature.  On the average,  NO emissions increased 300%  for  a 600°F
     preheated air  temperature  increase and 25% for a 800  CF/hr increase
     in gas  input.
2.   The emissions of NO  as  a function of the percent of excess  air
     (oxygen)  showed the characteristic  "bell-shaped" relationship.   For
     the radial gas nozzle, the  NO  emissions peaked  at  about  2%  oxygen
     (10%  excess  air).   This  peak shifted to higher  excess-air levels
     when the  gas-air mixing  rate  was  decreased (longer flames).
3.   We found  that the  slow mixing  gases of a long flame  generally  pro-
     duce  one-third as  much  NO as the fast-mixed gases of  a very  short
     flame.   When the  burner nozzle was modified so  that the combustion
     mixing was slowed down,  the  flame length increased from about 2
     feet to over 13  feet,  and the NO concentration decreased from  an
     average of 700 ppm to 200 ppm.

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    "A" PIPE SIZE
    GAS NOZZLE
                             ll-l/4-in.-OD
                             BAFFLE
                                                   18 in.-
                                        2 In.
                                        in.
                      ll-l/2-in. DIAM PORT
                                       I
SEAL BETWEEN
GAS NOZZLE a BAFFLE
AND BAFFLE 8 BODY WITH
R a I 3000 OR EQUAL
'D" DIAM
                                                                   A-I03-I462

                                                                   NO SCALE
BAFFLE
a. LONG FLAME
b. SHORT FLAME
c. INTER. FLAME
AIR PRESSURE FOR
40,000 SCF/hr at 850 °F
3.25 in. we
18 in. we
14 in. we
ii.ii
A
1-1/4 in.
3/4 in.
1 in.
"B"
6 in.
5 in.
8 in.
"C"
2-3/8 in.
2-3/8 in.
3-7/8 in.
"D"
13 in.
16-1/2 in.
13 in.
Figure 1-3.  ASSEMBLY DRAWING OF  AXIAL-FLOW BURNER
                 WITH  PORTED SWIRL BAFFLES

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     SCH 40-NOMINAL PIPE SIZE. A
                                             C  DIMENSION
PIPE THREAD
SI2E."B"





BAFFLE
LONG FLAME
SHORT FLAME
INTER FLAME










S





'A"
i
1/2
3/4
— j \
I J — •-) r*— 1/2 in.
~l 1
I SILVER SOLDER
4 '*-. 	 ' END CAP
r i
I '
"o"
i
5ft Oin.
x-PORT Dl/
	 / SIX ECU/
/<£-- 	 ~O^ SPACED (
"B" "C" "D" "E" ff ^<^
1 I.Z5!g;gf 5 7/32 U U
1/2 0.75 !g go 4 7/32 U //
3/4 1.0 +°-°° 5-1/2 7/32 	 	 DO FIRST \\ //
~ ^^^•'S^ -^^V
                                                                             fl.93-860
Figure 1-4.   MODIFIED GAS  NOZZLE  CONSTRUCTION

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4.   We also found that the change in NO emissions  as a result of  chang-
     ing gas  input is larger at higher preheat temperatures.   Increasing
     the gas  input from 2300 CF/hr to 3100  CF/hr at  a  100°F preheat
     temperature generally resulted in a 75-ppm increase in NO.  How-
     ever,  increasing the  gas the same amount  while using  450°F preheated
     air resulted in an average  NO  emission increase  of 150  ppm.
     The flame  from the axial burner with the intermediate baffle and the
axial gas nozzle exhibited a Type I directional  flow  pattern.   The burner
block had  a  2. 7-degree divergent angle with a  16. 5-cm  radius  at the  in-
side edge  of the furnace wall.
     Typical  measured NO concentrations  in  the flue  as a function of
percent excess  oxygen (air) using the  axial burner,  intermediate-flame
baffle,  and axial gas nozzle are shown in Figure 1-5.    These  data were
gathered at a 2147  CF/hr gas  input  for  combustion  air preheat  temper-
atures of 100°,  270°, and  570°F.   The NO concentrations presented  in
this paper as input-output test results were  normalized  by  dividing the
weight of the flue products at the stoichiometric mixture of fuel and air
into the measured concentration of NO,  and  multiplying  this ratio by the
weight of the flue products for  the input  conditions under which the  mea-
surements were taken.
     Each curve in Figure 1-5 displays a  different  positive slope for the
change  in  normalized NO concentration vs.  percent  of excess  oxygen.
Note that no point  of inflection  is shown  by  these  curves.   Measured
concentrations  of carbon monoxide greater than 100  ppm are  denoted by
listing their  numerical value in parts  per million  next to the appropriate
data point.
     Figure 1-6  represents the  radial  profile  for NO  concentration in the
flame and  the  secondary recirculation zone at an axial position  of 5 cm
from the front wall  of the furnace.   The data were  collected at a gas
input of 2147 CF/hr with 2. 6%  excess oxygen in the flue and a 570°F
preheat temperature of the combustion air.   The NO concentration has a
maximum  value of 162 ppm on  the axis  of the burner.   The  concentration
decreases  to a  minimum  of 56  ppm  at an 18-cm radial position and then
increases  in value to 144 ppm in the secondary recirculation zone.
Assuming  a  symmetrical  NO concentration profile  close  to  the  axis  of
the burner,  a  shape of the profile would  resemble a "W. "   The central
                                   11

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   400
               PREHEAT
             TEMPERATURE,
                  »F
                O 570
                A 270
                O 100
   300
o.
O.
6

o
UJ
N
OC  200
o
    100
                                         NOTE.DATA OBTAINED USING AXIAL
                                              BURNER, INTERMEDIATE BAFFLE,
                                              AND AXIAL NOZZLE. GAS INPUT,
                                              2147 CF/hr
    60
                                   3         4

                                  02 IN FLUE,%
          1  Figure 1-5.  NORMALIZED NO CONCENTRATION
                    AS A FUNCTION  OF  EXCESS AIR
                                                                     A-53-742
                                     12

-------
w
Q
n
X
o
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     » VS NO,
     161.18
     159.05

     154.80
     152.6B
     150.56
146.tl
144.19
142.C6

rnrsr
I 35.69
1>3.57
111.44

127. 19
125.07
122.95
120.82
118.70
116.58
114.45
112.33
110.2C
10U.CB
105.96
103.83
101.71
 19.56
 13.21
 11.C9
 ob.S6

 P4.72
 12.59
 30.47
 If. 35
 Ft.2?

 71 .97
 •-9.br>
 (.7.73
 c,5.f>C

 61 .35
 55.23
                   AXIAL BURNEf^lMERf'iCUIE BAFFLE CUARU PROBE . JEPT .  29.197?
                 5."CC
                 3.CCC
                                                       18.0CC   21.CCC   24.CCT
                              RADIAL POSITION,  cm

  Figure 1-6.    RADIAL  PROFILE  FOR NO AT THE  5-cm AXIAL  POSITION
  (Intermediate-Flame  Baffle  —  Axial Gas  Nozzle — Gas  Input,  2147 CF/hr —
                  Preheat Temperature,  570°F — 10%  Excess Air)

-------
point of inflection  of the "W" shape  would be on the axis of the burner
and  would contain  a higher concentration of NO than the two  end points
of the "W" corresponding  to NO concentrations in the  secondary  recircu-
lation zone.
     Figure 1-7 gives  the  normalized NO  concentrations as a  function of
percent  excess oxygen in the flue  for the "intermediate" flame baffle
burner with  the  radial gas  nozzle  at a  gas  input of 2335 CF/hr and com-
bustion air preheat temperatures of  100°,  295°,  and 570°F.   Because of
the improved mixing conditions with radial  gas injection,  the minimum
amount of excess air needed for proper combustion  (defined as a flue
concentration of carbon monoxide below 100 ppm)  decreased by approxi-
mately 5% from the amount needed with  axial gas injection.   Each curve
in Figure  1-7  shows that  the point of maximum NO concentration shifts
toward higher  percentages of excess oxygen as the air preheat temperature
is increased.  In addition,  the  values  of the  measured NO  concentrations
have  increased by as much  as  650 ppm from the levels measured with
axial gas injection.
     A NO concentration profile for the  axial  burner with  an intermediate-
flame  baffle  and radial gas  nozzle is plotted  in Figure 1-8.   These  data
were derived at a higher  gas input of  2547 CF/hr with 10% excess  air
at a 510°F preheat  air temperature.   On the  axis  of the burner the mea-
sured  NO concentration was  502 ppm.   The  concentration value decreases
to a minimum of 346 ppm at a 16-cm radial position  and  then increases
to a rather constant value of 655 ppm in the  secondary recirculation zone.
A symmetrical distribution of the  NO profile  about the axis  of the  burner
again  displays a "W"-shaped curve.   However, unlike  the  profile produced
by axial gas injection  (Figure 1-6), the maximum NO  concentrations oc-
curred in the  secondary  recirculation zones  (at the ends of the W) rather
than on the axis of the burner  (corresponding to the central peak of the
W).
     A radial  temperature profile for the  furnace  conditions listed in
Table  1-1 is shown in  Figure 1-9.   The temperature is relatively con-
stant in front  of the burner  block  at about 3080°F.   At a 28-cm  radial
position,  the  temperature begins to decrease  rapidly until  the secondary
recirculation  zone  temperature  of  2600°F is  reached at a radial position

                                   14

-------
 900
 800 —
                                      PREHEAT
                                    TEMPERATURE.
                                         °F
300
                  NOTE: DATA OBTAINED USING AXIAL
                        BURNER, INTERMEDIATE  BAFFLE,
                        AND RADIAL NOZZLE. GAS INPUT,
                        2335 CF/hr
      ,4000
200  —
 100
    0
 2         3

02 IN FLUE,%
                                                A-53-740
Figure 1-7.   NORMALIZED NO  CONCENTRATION
        AS A FUNCTION OF EXCESS AIR
                         15

-------
                                                    PIFFLE - mri»L NCZZLE - SKINLESS -•<. ?c   ic1 2.'?
cr-
E
P.


w
Q

X
O

u
t—I

H
M
2
                                             13.JCO
                                                                        so.scr
                                                                                     39.6CC
                                             RADIAL POSITION,  cm


                  Figure 1-8.   RADIAL PROFILE  FOR NO AT  THE  5-cm AXIAL POSITION
                         (Intermediate  Flame Baffle  — Radial Gas  Nozzle  — Gas Input,
                       2547 CF/hr — Preheat Temperatures, 510°F -  10"^  Excess Air)

-------
   3100
   3000
   2900
<  2800
cr
ui
Q.
5
UJ
   2700
   2600
   2500
NOTE: DATA  OBTAINED USING  AXIAL
      BURNER. INTERMEDIATE  BAFFLE
      AND RADIAL NOZZLE.
                 8
            12
16
20
40
44
48
                                              52
                                  24    28    32    36

                                  RADIAL POSITION, cm

Figure 1-9.   TEMPERATURE  PROFILE  ACROSS  FURNACE  WITH GAS

     INPUT OF 2546 CF/hr AND 5. 0-cm AXIAL PROBE POSITION
56
6O


 A-II2-IO68

-------
of 40 cm.   The  slight decrease  in temperature between  the  axis  of the

burner  and the  12-cm radial position may be caused by  the  central in-

ternal recirculation zone.

    "Short" Flame  Baffle Burner

    Based on an analysis of the  input-output data for the short-flame
baffle,  we determined the following:

1.  As  expected,  both increased gas  input and increased preheat temper-
    ature  significantly increased NO emissions.   The change in NO  emis-
    sions  was more strongly  affected by  changes in preheat temperature.
    On  the average, NO emissions  increased 200%  for  a 550°F preheat
    air temperature increase and 20% for a 500  CF/hr  increase in  gas
    input.

2.  For the radial  gas nozzle,  the  emissions of NO as  a function of the
    percent of excess  air (oxygen) showed the characteristic "bell-shaped"
    relationship.   The NO emission  peaked at about 2%  oxygen  (10% ex-
    cess  air).  This  peak shifted to higher excess  air levels when the
    preheat air temperature was  increased.

3.  We found that  the  slow  mixing gases  of  a  long  flame generally pro-
    duce  one-half as  much  NO as  the fast mixing gases  of  a short flame.
    When  the burner  nozzle was modified so  that the combustion mixing
    was slowed down,  the flame length was  visually observed to  increase
    and the NO decreased from  an  average of 730  to 400 ppm.

    Typical normalized NO  concentrations in  the  flue as a function of

percent excess  oxygen and combustion air preheat temperature  for the

"short" flame baffle burner with a radial gas nozzle are shown in Figure
1-10.   This is a Type II flame.   The gas input during these  meas-

urements  was 2593  CF/hr.   In comparison  with the  flue analysis data

for the  "intermediate" flame baffle  burner (Figure  1-7),  there is an increase

in the measured NO concentrations  from  the "short" flame  baffle burner

for the  100° and 300°F air preheat temperatures.   Characteristically,  the

maximum  NO concentrations occur at higher percentages of  excess air

as the preheat temperature  of the  air is  increased.

    The flame from the  axial burner with the  short baffle and an axial

gas nozzle  exhibited a Type I directional  flow  pattern.   The  burner  block

had an  8. 9-degree divergent angle with a 21-cm radius  at the hot face.
                                   18

-------
   800
    700
   600
E
O.
O
UJ
N
cc
O
   400
   300
   200
    100
           4499,
         9780
                              TEMPERATURE PREHEAT
                                       °F
                             NOTE- DATA OBTAINED USING AXIAL
                                  BURNER, SHORT  BAFFLE,
                                  AND RADIAL NOZZLE.
                                  GAS INPUT, 2593 CF/hr
       0
 2          3

02  IN  FLUE, %
                                                        A-53-737
       Figure I-10.  NORMALIZED NO CONCENTRATION
               AS  A FUNCTION OF  EXCESS AIR
                               19

-------
     Figure I-11  illustrates normalized  NO  concentrations  for  a  2109 CF/hr
gas  input as a function of excess air and preheat temperature for  the
"short" flame  baffle burner  with  axial  gas  injection.   These graphs show
greater curvature  and higher concentrations of NO than those obtained
from the  intermediate baffle and  axial  gas  nozzle (Figure 1-5).   As was
the case  for the intermediate baffle,  the short-flame baffle  with axial  gas
injection  consistently produced  lower NO concentrations than with radial
gas  injection for  comparable levels  of  excess  air.
     A radial profile of the NO  concentration at  a 7. 6-cm axial  position
with 15%  excess  air  at a  3l5°F preheat temperature and a  2190 CF/hr
gas  input injected  axially is illustrated in Figure  1-12.   The maximum
"measured"  NO concentration occurs along  the axis of the burner with a
215  ppm  peak  concentration.   At the 21-cm radial position  a  minimum
value of 70 ppm is reached; the  concentration then increases  until it
reaches a rather  constant value of  172 ppm in the secondary  recircula-
tion zone.  This profile resembles a "W" with the central inflection point
higher than the two  end points.
     Figure 1-13  shows  the  radial temperature profile  for  the  same  set of
furnace conditions used when measuring the NO  profile  in Figure 1-12.
It  should  be noted that  a  "cold" temperature of  2070°F occurs at the  3-cm
radial position, which corresponds  to  the location of the maximum
"measured"  NO concentration.  The "hot" spots  (2680°F  and 2870°F) occur
at +15 and —15  cm.   (The stoichiometric ratio between  oxygen and meth-
ane  occurs between  the radial positions of  15  and 18 cm and  the radial
positions  of  —12  and —15  cm.)  The time-averaged NO  concentrations  at
these points are 142  and  129 ppm,  respectively.   The  central "cold"  spot
corresponds to  the  maximum methane  concentration,  whereas  the "cold"
spots at —18 and  +21 cm  are areas  of  relatively  high  oxygen concentra-
tions (8. 3%  and  10. 6%).
     To investigate the possible formation of hydrocarbons in the flame,
a grab  sample was taken at the 0-cm radial position and at a 7. 6-cm axial
position.   This sample was  analyzed using  a mass spectrometer; the  re-
sults are  listed in Table  1-2.   The  natural  gas used to fire the  furnace
was also  analyzed and is shown in  Table 1-3.   A comparison of these tables
reveals that 0. 4 mol %  of  ethylene  (CzFLi) and 0. 5 mol  % of acetylene
       were  formed  in the flame.
                                   20

-------
   500
   400
£
Q.
Q.
O
LJ
M
2
IT
O
   300
    200
    100
    50
             1,175
  PREHEAT
TEMPERATURE,
    °F
  O 515
  A 315
  D  90
                                       NOTE: DATA OBTAINED USING AXIAL
                                            BURNER,SHORT BAFFLE,AND
                                            AXIAL NOZZLE. GAS INPUT,
                                            2109 CF/hr
                                 02 IN FLUE,%

       Figure  1-11.   NORMALIZED  NO CONCENTRATION
                AS A FUNCTION OF EXCESS AIR
                                                                       6
                                                                    A-53-739
                                   21

-------
              SXIAL BU-INEK SHIIRT Sf»IM.ESi SHEPHEIO'S PRU6E. NOV.3, 1972
            7.60
                  -17.200   -2S.800
                                        -3.000
                                                8.4UO
                                                      19.800
                                                              3l.2!'0
                            RADIAL POSITION, cm
Figure  1-12.  RADIAL PROFILE FOR  NO AT  THE  7. 6-cm AXIAL POSITION
(Short  Flame Baffle — Axial Gas Nozzle  — Gas  Input,  2190 CF/hr —  Preheat
                    Temperature,  315°F - 3% Excess Air)

-------
            29
            28
            27
            26
         CNJ
          o

          UJ
          cr:
25
            24
          a.
          5
          LJ
            23
           22
            21  —
            20
       I
I
I	I
              65  55      35       15   5 0-5  -15

                           RADIAL POSITION,cm
                                          -35
                                                      A-I2Z-I233
Figure 1-13.  RADIAL TEMPERATURE PROFILE AT  THE 7.6 cm

   AXIAL POSITION (Short  Flame  Baffle - Axial Gas  Nozzle -

                 Gas Input,  2190 CF/hr — Preheat

           Temperature,  310°F - 3.3%  Excess Oxygen)
                                23

-------
                                    Table  1-2
                            MASS SPECTROMETER LABORATORY

                                  ANALYTICAL REPORT



M.iie,,.il  8933 Sample # 2  11/16/7Z	            Oale   11/17/7Z


                                                                          3289
        by                                       -            M. S.
                            Uol  X                                    Mol  '


                                                                     0.4
       C.l.hon Un,in.:ilP    .     4'°
       C.vhoii Diomde          2- ?
                             • 2
                                                Ethylene
                                                Ethyl


                                                Slyrenc


                                                Indene


                                                Napthalene
C.ilc. H. V., Bin SCF  	    Air i


C.ilc. sp U'(Alf  1.000)  ^^_^__^^^___      Approved by
       Argon                 "• 3	


       W.ilcr Vnpor        ___^^______


       Hplinin            _^_^___^_^__          Cyclopenladiene    _^_—_

                           \o (.                                       05
       Mctli.ine               JV- b	          Acetylene         	LL
                                                      TOTAL      10°-°
                                          24

-------
                                      Table  1-3
                             MASS SPECTROMETER LABORATORY
                                   ANALYTICAL REPORT

M.-Mrri.il   8933 Natural Gas from Pilot Plant                  0a|

        I by     -                                                 M. '
                                                                       11/8/72
                                                                             3238
       C.lrhnii Mnnni:H»
       C.lrhou I
       Argon

       Wnlcr Vapor

       Helium
       Elhniie
       IsolniUiiir
       Pcnl.ines
       Heiancs
C.ilc. H. V., Bin SCF

Cnlc. sp ijr (Air  1.000
                             Uol  X
                               '
                            91.74
                             3-93
                             0-
                             °-07
                             0. 06
                             0.03
                             0-02
                                                   Ethylenr

                                                   P'opylene
                                                   Butenes

                                                   Pentenes

                                                   Heienes
                                                   1,3-Buladiene

                                                   Ppiiladienes

                                                   Cyclopentadienp

                                                   Acetylene
                                                   Methyl Acetylene
                                                   Vinyl
                                                   Ethyl

                                                   Styrene

                                                   Indene
                                                         TOTAL
                                            Air I

                                            Approved by
                                                                         Mol  %
                                                                       100. 0
                                             25

-------
    Because the central peak  of the radial NO concentration profile
closely resembled the methane profile and because the maximum  NO  con-
centration occurred in one of the "coldest" regions in the flame,  the NDIR
analyzer  was investigated for  possible optical interference between NO
and another  molecule in the gas sample.
    We discovered that ethylene (CzH4) and propylene  (CjHf,)  would optically
interfere  with  the  optical analysis of NO concentrations by the NDIR tech-
nique.   The  intensity of the interference was  measured as 100  ppm of
ethylene (CzH^,  indicating a 2. 1 ppm  concentration of  NO, and 100 ppm
of propylene (CaHt) being analyzed as  1. 1 ppm of NO.   This analysis
indicated  that  a  correction  for  the NO data must be applied to measure-
ments  made  in regions of high hydrocarbon concentrations.   (A complete
discussion of the correction method  is  given  later  in this report. )  The
measured profile,  when  corrected (Figure 1-14),  is very  similar  in shape
to that  of the  corresponding temperature profile,  Figure 1-13.
    170
 E  150
 Q.
 Q.
 tr
 t-
 z
 UJ
 o
 o
 o
    130
110
    90
    70
                          I
                            I
I
            40     30    20     10     0     -10
                           RADIAL POSITION, cm
                                              -20
                  -30    -40
                                                           A-83-M90
     Figure  1-14.   RADIAL  PROFILE FOR NO CONCENTRATION
   FOR THE SHORT-FLAME BAFFLE BURNER USING  THE AXIAL
 NOZZLE AT A 7. 6-cm AXIAL  POSITION.  GAS INPUT,  2190  CF/hr;
          EXCESS OXYGEN,  3.0%; PREHEATED AIR,   315°F
                                   26

-------
The "hot" regions (2680°F and  2870°F) of the  flame occur  at  +15 and
—15  cm while the  radial position of -1-15 and —6  cm  correspond to the two
maximum internal inflection points of the NO  profile.
Movable-Block Swirl  Burner  (I. F. R. F.  Design)
     Figure 1-15  shows  the  design of the  movable-block swirl burner.
The fuel  gas  is  introduced  through a 3/4-inch pipe  along the  axis  of the
burner.   The combustion air enters perpendicular  to  the axis  of the bur-
ner, passes through  an  array of swirl generating blocks,  and  exits into
a 0-degree angle burner block  with a 7. 6-cm radius.    The swirl gener-
ating blocks are arranged as shown in Figure 1-16.   There is a total  of
sixteen blocks;  eight  are fixed  to  the  burner,  and the  remaining eight
are  mounted on  a  movable  plate.   If the plate  is positioned in its  maxi-
mum clockwise rotation,  the  tangential entry channels are  completely
blocked.   Thus,  the  combustion air has  only an axial  velocity component.
However,  if the  plate is positioned at its maximum counterclockwise
rotation,  the  air  can enter  only through  the tangential channels.   If the
movable blocks are adjusted  to  some  intermediate  position, the  combus-
tion air  enters  with some combination  of  axial and  tangential velocity
components.
     The swirl burner was operated at  three different  swirl intensities
for  the input-output tests,  with  two gas nozzle positions for  each swirl
intensity.   For the first gas  nozzle position,  the nozzle tip was located
even with  the inside  edge of  the burner wall (hot face), while  in the second
position  the nozzle tip was  withdrawn into  the burner  block,  6 inches
from the  hot  face  wall.   (For the remainder of this report,  these posi-
tions will  be  referred to as the "exit position"  and "throat position, "
respectively. )   The input-output tests  were  conducted  at gas  inputs of
1578,  1976,  and 2382 CF/hr,  with between  10  and 80% of excess  air.
     The input-output  data from  the movable-block swirl burner showed
the  following:
•    The maximum measured  NO concentration  occurred at the lowest
     levels of gas  input (1578 CF/hr) and swirl  density.
•   At excess oxygen levels  below 6% ,  generally more NO was formed
    when the  gas  nozzle was in the throat position  than when it  was in
    the exit position.   Insufficient data are available  to evaluate the
    relative effect of burner  nozzle position when operating with more
    than  6(#- excess  oxygen.
                                   27

-------
                                                                                   CONNECTING FLANGE
oo
                                                              SWIRL GENERATOR
                                                                  BLOCKS
                                                                                  -12 in.

                                                                                   A-23-290
                       Figure 1-15.  DIAGRAM OF A MOVABLE-BLOCK SWTRL BURNER

-------
                              A-23-291


Figure 1-16.  ARRANGEMENT OF SWIRL GENERATING
  BLOCKS IN THE MOVABLE-BLOCK SWIRL BURNER
                          29

-------
 •    Increasing gas input  (and  consequently gas velocity)  always reduced
     the  normalized concentration of NO independent of swirl intensity
     and percent excess air, when the burner  was in the throat position.
     However,  when  the nozzle was in the exit position,  changing gas
     input had  little or no effect on the normalized NO concentration.
     This was  observed for intermediate and high  swirl intensity.  Insuf-
     ficient  data were obtainable for the case  of low  swirl  intensity.
     Figure 1-17 shows  normalized  NO  concentrations  as a function  of the
 amount of excess  air and the  gas  nozzle position  for  high  swirl "intensity
 (axial entry channels closed) with  a 1976  CF/hr gas  input.   Figures 1-18
 and 1-19 show  normalized NO concentrations as a function of excess air
 and gas nozzle position for  intermediate  and low swirl  intensities.
     A comparison of Figures  1-17,1-18,  and 1-19  at  8-22%  excess  air
 (the region of practical interest)  discloses several observations  concern-
 ing  the effect  of swirl on NO  production.   For the throat  and  exit gas
 nozzle  positions,  the minimum NO concentration (76  and 34  ppm) are
 generated by an intermediate  swirl intensity with  2%  excess oxygen,
 Intermediate  swirl intensity also produces  the maximum NO concentrations
 of  146  ppm with the gas  nozzle in  the  throat  position and  82 ppm with
 the  nozzle in the exit  position  at an excess air  level  of 22%.   Normalized
 NO  concentration profiles as a function of swirl intensity and excess  air
 are shown in Figure 1-20 for  the nozzle  in  the exit position and in
 Figure  1-21  for the  nozzle in  the throat position.

     Figure 1-22 displays  the radial NO concentration  profile at a 12. 7-cm
 axial position  for  intermediate swirl intensity with the gas nozzle in the
 throat position.   The data were collected at a gas input of 2008 CF/hr
 with 3.6% oxygen  in the  flue  and no air  preheat (100°F).

     The NO profile corrected  for the optical interferences of ethylene
and propylene  is presented in  Figure 1-23.  The  corrected data  are  rep-
resented on the NO transparency (Figure 1-37) by  the dashed line.  As
was the  case  for  the "short" flame baffle  burner,  the corrected NO  pro-
file  is similar  in shape with the temperature  profile.   The "hot" regions
of the flame (2309°F) occur  at  +11  and  —5 cm  while the radial  position
of -111 and —4  cm  correspond  to the internal peaks in the NO concentra-
tion profile.
                                   30

-------
      130
      no
      90
    o.
    ex
    O
    LL)
    N 70
    CE
    O
    Z
      50
      30
       10
            O THROAT

            V EXIT
                                3           4

                            02 IN FLUE,%
                                                      A-23-293
 Figure 1-17.   NORMALIZED  NO  CONCENTRATION AS A
FUNCTION OF EXCESS AIR  (Movable  Block Swirl Burner -
       High  Swirl Intensity - Gas Input,  1976  CF/hr)
                             31

-------
  170
  ISO
  130
  110
E
Q.
Q.
S 90
N
  70
  50
  30
   10
           O THROAT

           V EXIT
                               02INFLUE,%


     Figure 1-18.   NORMALIZED NO CONCENTRATION  AS A

   FUNCTION OF  EXCESS AIR (Movable-Block Swirl Burner -

      Intermediate Swirl Intensity — Gas Input,  1976 CF/hr)
  7



A-23-297
                                 32

-------
  170
  ISO
  130
  110
o.
O.
S  90
N
   70
   50
   30
   10
      123456
                                  02 IN FLUE,%


       Figure  1-19.   NORMALIZED NO CONCENTRATION AS A
      FUNCTION OF  EXCESS AIR (Movable Block Swirl  Burner -
             Low Swirl Intensity - Gas  Input, 1976  CF/hr)
A-23-296
                                   33

-------
   90
I. 80
Q.
O 70


S
tr
UJ
o
Q

UJ

N
   60
O  50
o
   40
   30
   20
    10
          % EXCESS AIR
0    8


A   14


D   22
                  LOW       INTERMEDIATE


                         SWIRL INTENSITY
                                HIGH
                                                       A-53-736
Figure  1-20.  NORMALIZED NO  CONCENTRATION PROFILES

AS A FUNCTION OF SWIRL INTENSITY AND EXCESS  AIR ON

     THE MOVABLE-BLOCK SWIRL  BURNER WITH GAS

              NOZZLE IN  THE EXIT POSITION
                              34

-------
    150
    140


 E
 Q.
 Q.
  -  130

 o
 UJ
 u
 2
 O
 Q
 UJ
 M
 ee
 O
 z
    120
110
    100
    90
    80
     70
                                                % EXCESS AIR

                                                 O   8%

                                                 A  14%

                                                 D  22%
                     LOW        INTERMEDIATE


                              SWIRL INTENSITY
                                              HIGH
                                                             A-53-738




Figure 1-21.   NORMALIZED  NO CONCENTRATION PROFILES

AS  A  FUNCTION OF SWIRL INTENSITY  AND  EXCESS AIR ON

      THE MOVABLE-BLOCK SWIRL BURNER WITH GAS

              NOZZLE IN THE THROAT POSITION
                                 35

-------
                        30      20       10
                         RADIAL POSITION, cm
-10
                                                         A-83-II89
-20
      Figure  1-22.  RADIAL PROFILE OF NO CONCENTRATION
   AT THE  12.7-cm AXIAL POSITION FOR  THE MOVABLE-BLOCK
  SWIRL BURNER WITH INTERMEDIATE INTENSITY.   GAS INPUT,
2008 CF/hr;  EXCESS OXYGEN, 3.6%; NOZZLE IN THROAT POSITION
                                  36

-------
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VS ^0,
131.31
126.73
126.16
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HI.':}
04.95
U2. )7
(7.22
14.65
12. 0»
69.50
66.92
04.35
61.77
59.20
56.62
54.04
51.47
46.69
46. 32
38.59
36.02
30.67
28.29
25.72
23.14
20.56
17.99
15.41
12.64
10.26
7.69
5.11
2.5*
-0.03
             KOVtlBlE BLOCK SKIRL BURNER -  INTtRMEOUIt SWIKL - STAINLESS SHEPHERD'S PROB6
        «P«  12.70
      N
  -15.000
          -9.000   -3.000
                         3.000
                                       \s
                                       15.000
                                               21.000
                                                      27.000
                                                             33.000
                                                                     39.000
                                                                            45.000
                          RADIAL POSITION,  cm
Figure  1-23.   RADIAL NO  CONCENTRATION PROFILE FOR THE
  MOVABLE-BLOCK  BURNER  AT AN AXIAL PROBE  POSITION
OF  12.7-cm AND  SET FOR INTERMEDIATE SWIRL INTENSITY,
       GAS NOZZLE IN  THROAT  POSITION,  3.6% EXCESS
            OXYGEN,  AND  A  GAS  INPUT OF  2008  CF/hr
                                      37

-------
     The radial temperature  profile at the 12. 7-cm axial position is shown
in Figure 1-24.   The methane central "cold" spot occurs at a  3-cm radial
position.   The  combustion-air "cold" spots correspond to radial positions
of—6 and +13 cm with  15.2  and 15.9% concentrations of oxygen,  respectively.
The  maximum temperatures  are measured  at +11  and —1-cm radial posi-
tions,  while the stoichiometric ratios of  fuel and air occur  at  +11.5 and
—5. 5 cm.
    A  visualization of these  variations  in temperature, velocity,  Oa,  CH4,
and NO as  a  function of radial position at the 12. 7-cm axial position  can
be aided by the  accompanying transparencies.
     To investigate the presence of higher hydrocarbons  in the  flame,  a
grab sample was taken at the —1. 0-cm radial position and a  12. 7-cm
axial position.   This  sample was analyzed  using  a  mass  spectrometer
and the results are listed in Table 1-4.   In addition  to the ethylene and
acetylene which  were measured for both  the axial burner "short"  flame
baffle  (Table  1-2) and the movable-block  swirl burner (Table 1-4),  the
swirl burner  also produced  0. 2 mol %  of propylene.
Flat-Flame Burner
    When penetration of the  flame into  the furnace is not desired,  a flat-
flame burner  can be used.   Figure 1-25  illustrates a partial cutaway  view
of a nozzle mixing burner of this  type.   The flat-flame  or high-intensity
burner  actually heats its  own  refractory  burner  block tile and  the re-
fractory surface of the  surrounding furnace wall, primarily  by convection,
from the high-velocity combustion  gases  thrown  sideways from the burner.
These  hot  refractory  surfaces then radiate  heat  to  the furnace  load.
Because the hot gases have  no final velocity component  along the burner
axis,  an extreme case  of Type II  flame pattern  results.
     The flat-flame burner was operated at three  different gas  inputs,  all
over a  range  of fuel/air ratios expressed as  percentage of oxygen  in  the
flue.   No changes were made in the burner nozzle position or  the  swirl
vanes in the burner housing  because these were  fixed by design.   The
                                   38

-------
14
               12
840
 RADIAL POSITION,cm
-4
-8
   Figure 1-24.   RADIAL TEMPERATURE PROFILE AT THE
   12. 7-cm AXIAL POSITION (Movable-Block Swirl Burner -
  Intermediate Flame Intensity — Nozzle  in Throat Position —
        Gas  Input, 2008  CF/hr -  3. 6% Excess Oxygen)
-12
                                                             A-23-301
                               39

-------
                              Table 1-4.
                       MASS SPECTROMETER LABORATORY
                            ANALYTICAL REPORT
          H'JJJ Furnaci- Product CJas
Maten.il Radial Position. -1 cm; Axial Position,   Oi11c    1/11/73
..--O- K.

Uol \
Nitrr)rjpii
C.lrhon Unnnicrtp _,,__.
Nil-,,™*™
Oiyrjpn '
3-8
L.Trlinn l)in«irt»
4 0
HyrlrnijPii . ,
0.6
Arijnn ________
W.llrr V.npnr
Hpliiini _________
12. 5 cm 3,.c.4
U Q 0,,,, Wn

Mol '.
_ Fthylfnt _





M-Bi-'-itliPiir
_ PPIII.II|IPI|P<, __._____^,
Cvrlonpnl^rtipup
31.8 0. 4
Fllnnp ' niarplulpnr
Prnp.T.p ° '
•••Diil.niP ,. 	 __. ,..,
Knlinl.iiir ... ,. _



IV 1 HIP*

_ Uplllyl A/-o|ylono _________________

_ Vinyl Arpfylfnp __________..,_,.

Tnl.ipnp ._.._

Flhyl Rpii7PiiP _ _,
Styrpup
Indenp


r.iir. H. v. Rh, ^rp
T.nlr. -;p ijr (Air 1,000)
_ Naplhalpnp
1000
Air fnnlpnt _

                                   40

-------
                   I DIA.-8 HOLES EQUALLY SPACED
                             STRADDLE it's AS SHOWN
f PIPE PLUG WHEN
  PILOT IS NOT USED
                                               ? BOLT 8  NUT
                                                 TACK WELD  HEAD TO FCE
       Figure I-Z5. CROSS-SECTIONAL VIEW OF THE FLAT FLAME HIGH-INTENSITY
                                                                                    BURNER
                                              41

-------
input-output  tests were conducted at gas inputs of 1670, 2010,  and 2394

CF/hr, with between 1. 0 and 7. 0% oxygen in  the  flue by volume.

    Figure 1-26 shows  the  normalized NO concentrations measured in

the flue  as a function  of excess air and gas input for the  flat-flame

burner.

    Based on the analysis of the input-output  results, we  concluded the

following:

1.  From 1. 0 to about 3. 75%  excess  oxygen in the  flue, the gas  input
    rate made  little difference  in  the  amount  of NO formed so long as
    the flame  had a visible  appearance of being flat.   Spot-check runs
    for NO in the flue  gases at gas inputs below  1670  CF/hr  (where the
    flame  lost  its flat appearance)  showed differences as gas  input was
    changed.   However, the flame  was very lazy  and concentration  read-
    ings erratic.  Definite  measurements  could not  be made,  only gross
    differences observed.   Consequently,  measurements at gas inputs
    below 1670 CF/hr were not pursued further.

2.  The  NO concentration  at all gas inputs and  excess air  levels  tested
    was  considerably lower  for  the flat-flame  burner  than  any  other
    "commercial type" burner  tested.   As the gas input was increased,
    the peak NO  concentrations  decreased in magnitude  and occurred at
    lower  percentages of excess oxygen.   We  postulate  that this  occurs
    because at higher  inputs the flame is  held closer to the burner block
    and  the wall  of  the furnace.   Because of  increased heat transfer,to
    these  walls,  the combustion area  is cooled.   This cooling  effect,  in
    turn,  tends  to reduce  the energy available to  the NO -forming reactions.
                                                         X

    The  NO concentration  radial profile at a 12.7-cm axial position is

given in  Figure 1-27.   We  observe very little  curvature or noticeable

shape  in this profile; however,  an increase  occurs in the  rra gnitude of

the average NO  concentration moving across the furnace from left to right.

Hydrocarbon correction of these data was  not  necessary.   The measured

data points can be considered to be within the interval concentration  level

of 74 ppm ±10.  The average  concentration of  this  profile is 77  ppm.

As  compared with the  flue  concentration of 88 ppm,  this would seem to

indicate  that most of the NO was formed during the  initial  combustion
processes  inside  the burner block.

    The  radial temperature  profiles for axial  positions  of 12. 7,  69,  and

130 cm are displayed  in Figure 1-28.   At the  12.  7-cm  axial position,  a

minimum occurs  on  the axis of the burner where  the main contributions

would  be  caused by  recirculating gases.   There is only an 80°F  difference

between  this minimum temperature and the maximum temperature which

                                   42

-------
              110
OJ
                                                                                           I
              90
           E
           o.
           a


           O
           r

           o
           UJ
a:
O
    70
              50
                                                                O 1670 CF/hr


                                                                A 2010 CF/hr


                                                                O 2394CF/hr
              30
                                                       3            4


                                                          02 IN FLUE, %
                                                                                                         A-53-743
                         Figure  1-26.    NORMALIZED NO  CONCENTRATION AS A FUNCTION

                                  OF EXCESS AIR FOR THE FLAT-FLAME BURNER

-------
RP
               FLAT FLAME BURNER - STAINLESS SHEPHERO.S PROBE
          »P- 12.70
                                                    12.000
                                                           24.000
                                                                   36.000
                                                                           48.000
                                                                                   60.000
     Figure  1-27.    RADIAL  NO  CONCENTRATION PROFILE FOR
   THE  FLAT FLAME BURNER  AT  A 1Z. 7-cm  AXIAL POSITION
                                          44

-------
Ul
                 27
              CVI

              O


              X


              LU


              ^
              £ 25
              Q.
                 24
                          WALL TEMPERATURE:  2510 °F
                     AXIAL POSITION, cm
                                                            I   I
                              55
35          15     5  0  -5   -15


        RADIAL POSITION, cm
-35
-55
                                                                                              A-53-741
                      Figure 1-28.   RADIAL TEMPERATURE PROFILES  FOR  THE FLAT

                      FLAME  BURNER AT AXIAL POSITIONS OF 12. 7,   69, AND  130 cm

-------
occurs  at  a  Z4-cm radial position.   The  radial temperature profiles  at
the 69 and 130-cm axial positions are essentially  the  same,  maintaining
a fairly  constant  value  of 2480°  ± 20°F.
Boiler Burner
    A guide-vane  boiler burner  is illustrated in Figure  1-29.   The com-
bustion air enters perpendicular to the axis of  the burner and then passes
through a  register  of guide zones  which impart a  degree of swirl dependent
on their orientation before  entering the burner  block.   Figure 1-30 illus-
trates how the angle  of the guide vanes is  measured.   The  burner block
has a 30-degree divergent angle with a 45-cm diameter exit into the fur-
nace.  All the tests presented here were  conducted using radial gas  in-
jection with  a gas throughput of 3040 CF/hr.
    Normalized NO concentrations in the  flue as  a function  of excess air,
combustion air  preheat,  and vane-angle setting  are given in Figures  1-31,
1-32,  and  1-33.   In Figure  1-31  at a  30-degree vane-angle  setting, the
NO curves have  very little  curvature and are similar  in intensity to  the
short-flame  baffle burner with the axial gas nozzle (Figure  I-11).  For  a
40-degree  vane-angle setting  (Figure  1-32),  there  is a  large (52%) increase
in the magnitude  of the peak  NO  concentration for the 530°F preheat
temperature as compared with a  31%  increase  in  peak concentration  for
the 270°F  preheat.  Figure 1-33 displays  the normalized NO concentra-
tion  in the flue for a 60-degree  vane-angle setting.   For the 265° and
530°F preheat temperatures,  the  shape and magnitudes  of the NO profiles
remain relatively unchanged from  those obtained at a 40-degree vane-
angle setting.  However, for ambient air temperature, the nitric oxide
has a positive slope whereas  for the40-degree angle  vane it had no slope.
    The  swirl numbers corresponding to the  vane-angle  settings investi-
gated during this project are listed in  Table 1-5.
             Table  1-5.   VANE-ANGLE SETTING  VERSUS
               SWIRL NUMBER FOR BOILER BURNER
                   Vane Angle,  deg    Swirl Number
                          30                0.52
                          40                0. 71
                          60                1.22
                                   46

-------
                                                  A-83-II99
Figure 1-29.   GUIDE-VANE BOILER BURNER
                       47

-------
Figure 1-30.   METHOD OF MEASURING GUIDE
     VANE ANGLE FOR BOILER  BURNER
                       48

-------
   500
E  400
Q.
Q.

o"

Q
iH  300
O
2  200
    100
                          2         3
                           %  02 IN FLUE
                                                    550°F PREHEAT
                                                    285°FPREHEAT
5         6

    A-63-934
     Figure 1-31.   NORMALIZED NO CONCENTRATION AS A
    FUNCTION  OF  EXCESS AIR  (Boiler Burner With a 30-deg
           Angle Vane Setting; Gas Input,  3020 CF/hr)
                                49

-------
    750


    700
   600
 E
 o.
 o.
 •»
O
UJ
N
   500
   400
g  300
   200
    100
                                                   530°F PREHEAT
                          234

                           % 02 IN FLUE
265°F PREHEAT
                                                    85°F  PREHEAT
    5         6

       A-63-933
     Figure 1-32.   NORMALIZED NO  CONCENTRATION  AS A
     FUNCTION OF EXCESS AIR  (Boiler Burner With  a  40-deg
           Angle Vane Setting; Gas Input,  3040 CF/hr)
                                50

-------
   700
   600
I 500
 »
o
z
o
M  400
o
z
   300
   200


   150
                                          530°F  PREHEAT
265°F PREHEAT
                                          85°F PREHEAT
                          2         3
                          %  02 IN FLUE
   4         6

       A-63-932
 Figure  1-33.  NORMALIZED NO CONCENTRATION AS  A
 FUNCTION OF EXCESS AIR  (Boiler Burner With a 60-deg
       Angle Vane Setting; Gas Input,  3040 CF/hr)
                           51

-------
    Figure  1-34  presents a set of curves plotting normalized NO  concen-
trations  versus swirl number.   All the curves were drawn for  2%  excess
oxygen with  each curve representing a different air preheat  temperature
whose values are labeled.   There is no  appreciable  difference between
the curves shown in Figure 1-34  and the curves  which would represent a
3% excess oxygen level.   From Figure 1-34 we  conclude that the  swirl
number producing the maximum  concentration of NO,  independent of the
preheated air temperature,  would be 1.0.   The swirl number corresponds
to a 53-deg  vane angle.
    The  radial NO  profile is plotted in Figure 1-35 for the boiler burner
with a 60-deg  vane  angle setting.  These data were  collected at a 3039
CF/hr gas input with 8% excess  air at a Z70°F preheat  temperature.  On
the axis  of  the burner the measured NO concentration was 242  ppm.
The concentration value  decreased to a minimum of  136 ppm at a 27-cm
radial position and  then  increased to a rather  constant value  of 260  ppm
in the secondary recirculation  zone.   A  symmetrical  distribution  of  the
NO profile would produce a "W"-shaped  curve.

    The radial temperature profile in  Figure 1-36 shows a shape  char-
acteristic of Type II flames.   It  has a relatively flat maximum,  2840°F,
across the  central  portion of the burner block, and  then falls to  a con-
stant  temperature  of 2560°F in the  secondary recirculation zone.   The
large temperature gradients occur in the region of forward  flow out of
the burner block, with  the  maximum temperature plateau  corresponding
with the internal recirculation zone.
    Table  1-6  presents a chemical species  analysis of a grab sample
taken in the furnace at a 12.7-cm axial position and  a  30-cm radial
position.   This radial position was selected because the flame  displayed
a  Type II flow pattern with a region of forward  flow  within  the radial
positions of  24 cm  and 34 cm.   Hydrogen and carbon monoxide were the
only combustibles measured.   By comparison, the Type I flames, investi-
gated for combustibles  within the furnace (Tables 1-2 and 1-4),  not only
contained hydrogen  and  carbon monoxide  but also  methane,  ethane,  pro-
pane,  normal-butane, ethylene,  propylene,  and acetylene.
                                   52

-------
    800
    700
    600
Q.
O.
 »
O
z

O
HI
N

-------
               BOILER BURNER - RADIAL CAS NOZZLE - BLUNT STAINLESS PROBE
         AP= 12.70
   -I?.000
           -4.800
                          9.600
                                 16.800
                                        2<.,000
                                                                     52.800
       Figure 1-35.   RADIAL PROFILE FOR NO  AT A 60-deg
VANE ANGLE SETTING  (Boiler  Burner - Gas Input,  3039 CF/hr -
           Preheat Temperature,  270°F -  8% Excess Air)

-------
    29
    28
CM

O
    27
UJ
CC


5

Sj  26
0.
    25
    24
            WALL TEMPERATURE:  2534 °F

            PREHEAT: 270°F
                                     I
                55
35        15    5  0 -5


  RADIAL POSITION, cm
-15
-35
                                                     A-83-II92
      Figure 1-36.   RADIAL TEMPERATURE PROFILE
                              55

-------
                 Table 1-6.  MASS SPECTROMETER
                LABORATORY ANALYTICAL REPORT
Material: 8933 Furnace Gas Sample     Date: 3/16/73
Requested by: 	     M.S.  Run No. : 3875

                                           Mol %
                    Nitrogen                61. 3
                    Carbon Monoxide         3. 3
                    Oxygen                  0. 15
                    Carbon Dioxide          6. 3
                    Hydrogen                Z. 3
                    Argon                   0. 74
                    Water Vapor            25. 9
                    Helium                  0. 01
                       Total               100.00
                                  56

-------
                      GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
     Although the  "measured" radial profiles of NO concentrations for
Type I flames consistently  resembled  a  "W" in  shape,  with the  central
inflection point being higher than the two end points,  these profiles  gave
rise to two  questions: 1)  Why does the central  peak in the NO profile
closely resemble the methane profile,  and  2) why does the maximum NO
concentration occur  in one  of the "coldest" regions of the flame?   Both
of these situations contradict the work of other  investigators.   (See
Figures 1-37 through 1-41.)
     One possible answer  was that of an  optical  interference within the
NDIR  analyzer between NO  and another molecule in the  gas sample  being
examined.    Water has such a strong optical interference with NO.
However, being  aware of this,  we  very  carefully dried each  gas  sample
before  allowing it to enter  the  analyzer.   Before beginning this  investi-
gation, dried air, methane, CO,  and  CO2 were  passed through the NO
analyzer without  detectable  interference.   However, several molecular
species were measured in  the flame which had not been  investigated for
optical interferences.  These included ethane,  propane,  normal-butane,
ethylene,  propylene,  and  acetylene  as  shown in  Tables 1-3 and 1-4.
Figure 1-42  shows the infrared spectra of these species  as well  as  the
infrared spectra  of CO,  CO2,  CH4,  NO,  and NO2.  The lines in  Figure
I-4Z indicate only the location of the center of  the  infrared bands,  but
do not  represent  the  width  of the bands.    The NDIR analyzers used the
infrared spectra bands with a wave number of 1876 cm"1  for NO, 2143
cm"1 for CO,  2350 cm"1  for  CO2,  and approximately 3020 cm'1  for  CH4.
The  CO, CO2, and CH4 analyzers have no optical filters  and  use a quartz
window for  transmission.    Unlike these analyzers,  the  NO analyzer  has a
filtering system  which passes light within the range of wave numbers
1660 cm-1  to 2060 cm"1.   Figure 1-42 indicates that possible optical inter-
ferences with the  1876 cm"1 NO band  are the 1932  cm"1  band for CO2,
1936 cm"1  band for propane,  1890 cm"1  band for ethylene, and the 1830
cm"1 band  for propylene.    To test  for optical interference of thes.e bands
with the 1876 cm"1 band of NO  a sample  of each gas was measured by the
NO analyzer.  Only  the propylene  and ethylene  samples  indicated any
interference.   To  determine if  any of  the propylene or ethylene  would  be
                                   57

-------
                        8    4    0-4-8
                          RADIAL POSITION, cm
-12
-16
Figure 1-37.  RADIAL NO  CONCENTRATION PROFILE FOR THE
MOVABLE-BLOCK BURNER AT AN AXIAL PROBE POSITION OF
12.7 cm  AND SET FOR INTERMEDIATE SWIRL INTENSITY, GAS
    NOZZLE IN THROAT POSITION, 3.6% EXCESS OXYGEN
               AND A  GAS INPUT  OF ZOOS  CF/hr

                                58

-------
           1.4
    q
    d
    ID
    UJ
    O
    z
    o
    o
    UJ
    z
    UJ
           1.2
           1.0
0.8
          0.6
0.4
          0.2
                                 CH4(METHANE)
                                 -BURNER WALL-

                                  I     I      I
                  16    12    8     4    0-4    -8
                              RADIAL POSITION, cm
                                            -12   -16
Figure  1-38.   RADIAL CH4 CONCENTRATION PROFILE  FOR THE
MOVABLE-BLOCK  BURNER  AT  AN AXIAL  PROBE POSITION OF
12. 7  cm  AND SET FOR  INTERMEDIATE  SWIRL INTENSITY,  GAS
    NOZZLE IN THROAT POSITION,  3.6%  EXCESS OXYGEN,
                 AND GAS INPUT OF 2008 CF/hr
                                  59

-------
           1.4
   o^

   N-'
   g
   55
   UJ
   o
   z
   o
   o
   UJ
   o
   X
   o
           1.2
           1.0
0.8
           0.6
          0.4
          0.2
                                 OXYGEN
                                 -BURNER WALL-
                  16    12     8     4    0-4    -8
                               RADIAL POSITION, cm
                                           -12    -16
Figure  1-39.   RADIAL O2  CONCENTRATION PROFILE  FOR THE
 MOVABLE-BLOCK  BURNER AT  AN  AXIAL PROBE  POSITION
OF 12.7  cm AND SET FOR  INTERMEDIATE SWIRL INTENSITY,
 GAS  NOZZLE IN THROAT POSITION,  3.6% EXCESS OXYGEN,
               AND A GAS INPUT OF 2008 CF/hr
                                 60

-------
  u.
  o
  o
  ro
  <*•
  CO
  LJ
  tr
  a:
  UJ
  a.
  S
  UJ
             1.4
             1.2
1.0
             0.8
             0.6
             0.4
             0.2
                                    TEMPERATURE
                                    -BURNER WALL-

                                     I     I      I
                    16    12    8    4     0-4    -8
                                 RADIAL  POSITION, cm
                                            -12
-16
Figure  1-40.   RADIAL TEMPERATURE PROFILE AT THE 1Z. 7-cm
   AXIAL  POSITION (Movable-Block Swirl Burner - Intermediate
      Intensity; Gas Input,  2008  CF/hr; Excess Oxygen,   3.6%;
                      Nozzle  in Throat  Position)
                                   61

-------
                                                           -0.4
                      8    4    0-4-8
                        RADIAL POSITION, cm
-12   -16
                                                  8-73-1142
  Figure 1-41.   RADIAL PROFILE OF AXIAL VELOCITY  AT  THE
12.7-cm AXIAL  POSITION  (Movable-Block Swirl  Burner - Intermediate
       Intensity;  Gas Input,  ZOOS  CF/hr; Excess Oxygen,  3.6%;
                      Nozzle  in Throat Position)
                                   62

-------
M.
1
S.
I
W.
1
S.
1
M.
I
S.M.
II
S.
1
M.
(1830)


M. S. M.
II 1





vs.
1

S.
I

(1890)
W.
I
w.
1
S. S.
1 1




vs.
1


S.
1

W.


M.
S.
1
C2H4
C2H2
S.
1
M.
|
M.
|
M.M.
||
S.
|
S.
1
w.
1
w.
1
M.
1
S.
1
C2H6
 N02
 C02
 CH4
  CO
  NO

S.
S.
1

S.M.
II


S.
1

1
vs.
1
M.
1


vs.
1



M. M. VjS.
1 1 (2350)
S.
1
1
1
1(3020)
                                                           (2143)
                                                    (\B
                                                                       I
                                                  INTENSITY LEGEND
                                                  VS.= VERY STRONG
                                                    S.= STRONG
                                                    M.= MEDIUM
                                                    W. = WEAK
                                                                                   I
                 500
1000
1500          2000
  WAVE  NUMBER, cm'1
2500
3000
3500
                                                                                           6-83-1198
                         Figure 1-42.   INFRARED SPECTRA BAND LOCATIONS

-------
removed oy  the  gas-drying  system,  the  tests were performed again intro-
ducing the gas samples into the  drying system  before  they  were analyzed.
The test results were  identical to those  of the  previous  investigation.   A
graphical representation of  these experimental relationships between the
ethylene or propylene  concentration and  the equivalent NO concentrations
indicated by the  NDIR  analyzer are shown in  Figure 1-43.  Other  optical
interferences measured were propane  with NO and ethylene and  propylene
with CO.   These interferences were 25  times smaller than the  ones  re-
ported above  and have been  disregarded  in this report.
     To correct the radial position versus  NO concentration profiles for
these optical  interferences,   we assumed that  the  ethylene and propylene
concentrations measured at the burner center line decreased  radially
proportional to the  CH4 concentration changes.
     The NO concentration radial  profile  for the movable-block swirl
burner  can also  be corrected for optical interferences.  This profile was
shown in  Figure I-ZZ.   The  corrected data are represented on the NO
transparency  (Figure 1-37) dashed line.   Beyond the region from —6 to
11  cm (where the  dashed and solid lines  join),  there is  no  correction.
As  for  the  "short"  flame baffle burner,  the profile resembles an  upside
down script  "m" in shape.   This profile  does not have as much structure
as  the "short" flame baffle  burners profile because  the  flame has not
had as  long to develop.  The distance between  the  sampling point  and
the point  of gas  injection is  only 30 cm  for the movable-block burner
while it was  53  cm for the  "short" flame  baffle burner.   The tempera-
ture profile illustrated  in Figure 1-24  and the temperature  curve in
Figure  1-40  (transparency) also reflects  an upside down  script "m"  shape,
very  similar  to  the temperature  profile  of the short-flame  baffle burner.
     Table  1-6 gives the  mass  spectrometer's  analysis  of a  gas  sample
from the boiler  burner taken in  the furnace at  a  12. 7-cm axial  position.
There were no measurable  amounts  of either  ethylene  or propylene.   Thus,
the NO profile measured for the  boiler burner  needs no  corrections
because  of optical  interferences.   Like the boiler  burner, all burners
which had  a Type  II flame would burn approximately 95% of  the com-
bustibles before  the gas entered the furnace.   Since there were  only
trace amounts of methane measured in the furnace,  we  can conclude that
no  optical  interferences  caused by ethylene and propylene occur  in a
Type II flame.                     54

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      220
      200
       180
    E
    o.
    Q.
   z
   UJ


   I
   3
   O
   UJ
       160
       140
   (T

   Z  120
   UJ
   O
   Z
   o
   o
80
       60
       40
       20
                     I
                                     I
I
         0  O.I      0.3      0.5     0.7     0.9      I.I


                CONCENTRATION  OF C3H6 OR C2H4 , %
                                                    1.3
                                                    B-83-II9I
Figure  1-43.   NO CONCENTRATION CORRECTION FACTORS

    FOR GAS  SAMPLES CONTAINING  CaH4 AND/OR  C3H6
                               65

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    As discussed earlier, there are  two types  of mean flow patterns:
Type  I (Figure 1-1) is a  toroidal recirculation  cell,  and  Type II  is  a
steady pear-shaped recirculating  cell.   Two burners displayed flow pat-
terns that could not be described by  either the Type I or the Type  II
flow patterns.   Tables 1-7  and 1-8  present direction flow measurements
taken for the movable block burner with intermediate  swirl intensity,  a
2008  CF/hr  gas input, and 20% excess  air.  The probe  used in  these
measurements is described in Volume II of this report.  The sign of the
time-averaged A P  (pressure differential)  determines the directional flow
of the gases.   In Tables  1-7  and 1-8,  a plus sign correlates with forward
flow (flow away  from the burner) and a negative  sign  indicates a  recircu-
lating  flow (flow toward  the burner).   From Table 1-7,  we  then can deduce
that at a 12.7-cm axial  position the flow pattern resembles that  of  a
Type  I flame.   This  can  be visualized by turning to the  axial velocity
transparency (Figure  1-41)  present  in this report.   However,  the  data
from  Table 1-8 indicate  that the flow pattern at a 30. 5-cm  axial position
resembles that of  a Type II flame.    Velocity data for  the short-flame
baffle  burner shows a similar type  of flow mixture  between Type  I  and
Type  II patterns.
    Figures  1-44 and 1-45 present two possible flow patterns  which can
explain these data.   Figure 1-44  illustrates  an  unsteady pear-shaped re-
circulating cell.  In this  case the recirculating region  would oscillate
back and forth  across the center line.   However, because  of  the  frequency
resolution of the measuring  systems  (10 cycles/s) as  compared with the
frequency of recirculating cells  (~4  cycles/s) we  should  have been able
to detect these oscillations.   Nonetheless, we detected no oscillations.
    Figure 1-45 illustrates  a kidney-shaped  recirculating cell.   From the
figure,  we can see that  a radial  traverse near the downstream edge of
the recirculating cell would indicate a  Type I flow pattern while  a traverse
near the upstream edge  of  the  cell would  indicate a Type II flow  pattern.
Although we  plotted the x and y velocity components for  the  12. 7-cm and
30. 6-cm axial positions,  a  comparison with the stream lines  shown in
Figure  1-45,   proved to be inconclusive since we  do  not know  what our
position is relative to the recirculating  cell.   Thus  to  verify  a kidney-
shaped recirculating cell  would require  at least one  more directional
flow profile.
                                   66

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     Table  1-7.   TIME-AVERAGED DIRECTIONAL FLOW DATA
       OBTAINED AT THE 12. 7-cm AXIAL POSITION (Movable
         Block Swirl Burner — Intermediate Swirl Intensity).
         GAS INPUT,  2008 CF/hr;  3. 6%  EXCESS OXYGEN;
                   NOZZLE IN THROAT POSITION.


              Time                      Time-          .,           Time
RP* cm  Averaged  Ap   RP,* cm   Averaged AP   RP,'  cm   Averaged  Ap
20
17
15
14
11
10
9
8
7
-1.31
-1. 11
0. 00
+ 6. 87
+ 202. 0
+204. 8
+40. 6
-0. 1
-5. 76
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
-1
-2
-7. 59
-7. 5
-6. 3
+ 0. 06
+ 7. 22
+ 12. 37
+ 12. 76
-4.51
-19. 31
-3
-^
-5
-6
-7
-8
-9
-10
-13
-26. 37
-20. 93
-7. 39
-29. 87
+ 148. 3
+ 282. 7
+213. 0
+ 91. 56
-2. 28
  Radial Position

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oo
                         Table 1-8.   TIME-AVERAGED DIRECTIONAL FLOW DATA
                       AT THE 30. 5-cm  AXIAL POSITION AND OBTAINED USING A
                       HUBBARD PROBE (Movable Block Swirl Baffle - Intermediate
                       Swirl Intensity).   GAS INPUT,  2008 CF/hr;  EXCESS OXYGEN,
                                   3.6%;  NOZZLE IN  THROAT POSITION


                                 Time-          ..          Time-           .          Time-
                   RP,''  cm  Averaged AP    RP,  cm   Averaged A  P   RP," cm  Averaged A P
-13
-10
—7
-4
-3
-2

-1 55. 86
+ 59. 82
+31. 52
+4. 77
+ 1. 58
-0. 94

-1
2
5
6
7
8

-2. 09
-3. 38
-1.48
-0. 88
-0. 08
+ 1. 86

11
14
17
20
23
26
29
H7. 21
l 42. 63
+ 33. 37
+8. 59
+ 1. 08
-0. 53
-0.77
                     .
                     Radial Position

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                                                INSTANTANEOUS
                                                FLOW PATTERN
                                               /UNSTEADY
                                               < AXISYMMETRIC
                                               [FLOW FIELD
                                                STEADY FLOW
                                                RECIRCULATING
                                                REGION
                                         MEAN  FLOW
                                         DIRECTION
                       STREAM LINES

                       REVERSED AXIAL FLOW REGION

                       BOUNDARY OF RECIRCULATING REGION

                       STAGNATION POINT

                                        A-83-II96
Figure 1-44.   UNSTEADY PEAR-SHAPED RECIRCULATING CELL
                                69

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                                  MEAN FLOW
                                  DIRECTION
                STREAM LINES
                REVERSED AXIAL FLOW REGION
                BOUNDARY OF RECIRCULATING REGION
                STAGNATION  POINT
                                   A-83-II95
                                                        I
Figure 1-45.   KIDNEY-SHAPED RECIRCULATING CELL
                           70

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     We can conclude from a survey of the input-output  data that the flue
concentrations of NO for Type  II flow patterns are approximately 3-1/2
times  larger than those for Type I flow.   A similar difference in  the
magnitude of NO  concentrations can be observed by comparing NO radial
profiles.   In addition to the flow pattern,  a major difference between
Type I and Type  II flames is the region  of  combustion.   A Type I flame
will typically consist of 50% unburned  combustibles when it  leaves the
burner block and enters the furnace while gases of a Type  II flame  will
have  less  than  10%  combustibles.   Since  50% of the combustion of a
Type I flame occurs  in  the  furnace,  a  lower flame temperature will re-
sult because  of the rate of heat release and the  diffusion and entrainment
of recirculating  combustion  products.   These  recirculating combustion
products will absorb  thermal energy,  making  less  energy available  for
the kinetics of NO formation.
                                   71

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                         A C K NO W L F. DC! M l:: NT

    The Environmental Protection Agency  gratefully acknowledges the
assistance of J.  D.  Nesbitt,  senior adviser,  Institute of Gas Technology,
for his  aid on this project.
                                    72

-------
 BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA
 SHEET
                   1. Ki-port No.
                    EPA-650/2-73-033a
                                                                3. Recipient's Accession N».
4. Til Ir iiinl Sulu if !<•
  Aerodynamic Control of Nitrogen Oxides and Other
       Pollutants from  Fossil Fuel Combustion
        VnliimP J--T")ata Apa)ygig anf^ Summary nf f!nnphiaif>ns
                                                                5. Hrpiirt Dnii.-
                                                                  October 197 ^
                                                                6.
7. Author(s)
   D. R. Shoffstall and D. H.  Larson
                                                                8- Performing Orjr,iini/.uiion Kepi.
                                                                  No.
9. Performing Organization N;imr .ind Adiln-s.s
   Institute of Gas Technology
   IIT Center
   3424 South State Street, Chicago, Illinois  60616
                                                                10. I'lojciM/Task/Woik Unii N,
                                                                11. ( ontruci/(muii No.

                                                                 68-02-0216
12. Sponsoring Organization Name :>nd Address
   EPA, Office of Research and Development
   NERC-RTP, Control Systems Laboratory
   Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
                                                                13. Type of Report A Period
                                                                  Covered
                                                                       Final
                                                                14.
 IS. Supplementary Notes
16. Abstracts.
         The report gives a synopsis of data collected from investigating the relation-
   ship between combustion, aerodynamics, and pollutant emission characteristics of
   industrial burners. Five types of burners were studied: a scaled-down utility power
   boiler burner; a high-intensity (flat-flame) burner;  a movable-block burner devel-
   oped by the International Flame Research Foundation; an axial flow burner; and a
   baffle burner used in steel reheat furnaces. Broad conclusions , applicable to all
   burners tested, were:  burners using radial gas injection produce peak NO at 11% or
   less excess air; burners using axial gas injection produce peak NO at 22% or more
   excess air; NO concentration increases with increasing air preheat, but the magni-
   tude of the change depends on burner design and the gas injection method; and
   changing from axial to radial gas injection consistently  results in an increase in NO
   concentration. Volume n is subtitled Raw Data and  Experimental Equipment.
17. Key words and Document Analysis. 17o. Descriptors
   Air Pollution
   Nitrogen Oxides
   Aerodynamics
   Natural Gas
   Combustion Control
   Burners
   Flames
17b. Identifirrs/Opcn-Kndcd Terms
   Air Pollution Control
   Stationary Sources
   Axial Injection
   Radial Injection
   Swirl
                                  Type I Flame
                                  Type n Flame
                                  Radial Profiles
                                  Industrial Burners
17c. C.OSATI FieUi/C.roup
                    13B, 21B
18. Availability Statement
                       Unlimited
                                                     19. Security Class (This
                                                       Report)
                                                         UNCLASSIFIED
                                                     20. Security Class (This
                                                        Page
                                                          UNCLASSIFIED
21- No. of Pages

    80
                                                                         22. Price
FORM NTIS-33 (REV. 3-721
                                            73
                                                                         USCOMM-DC H95Z-P72

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