OPTIMIZATION OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY,GLASS QUALITY AND NOx EMISSIONS IN OXY-FUEL GLASS FURNACES THROUGH ADVANCED OXYGEN STAGING

摘要

Oxygen staging is a recognized technique for adjusting oxy-fuel flame properties by delaying introduction of a portion of the combustion oxygen into the burner flame as it discharges into the furnace.While benefits such as increased flame length and luminosity,and reduction of NOx emissions can be achieved through oxygen staging,reduction in flame momentum and inefficiencies in fuel/oxygen mixing have historically been problematic when attempting to extend the proportion of staged oxygen above about 50-70% of me stoichiometric oxygen requirement.Recent advancements in fuel and oxygen mixing control by an Air Products research team have,however,led to the development of a new burner technology,Cleanfire~R HRx~TM,capable of staging nearly 100% of the burner oxygen while maintaining flame momentum and preserving optimal fuel/oxygen mixing.Results of several recent commercial installations of the HR.v burner have indeed verified the ability to attain higher melting efficiency,lower NOx emissions and greater flame length control than prior art staged oxy-fuel burners,while also reducing foam formation,thereby leading to more efficient removal of glass defects in the refining section of the melter.Operational properties of the HRx burner are introduced,and commercial demonstration results are presented.