Radiation Enhancement in High Temperature Industrial Furnaces to Increase Efficiency and Reduce Pollutants

本研究的目的是开发一种用于制造钢、铝、玻璃和其他材料的高温炉的新颖且理想的燃烧技术。 传统的炉内燃烧过程依赖于炉壁的热反射来达到加热目的，因此需要隔离的火焰（很像蜡烛）处于比壁处更高的温度。 高温火焰产生高水平的污染物，例如氮氧化物（NOx），其是臭氧消耗和烟雾的原因。 拟议的工作是在更大的体积上有更均匀分布的火焰，以实现相同的加热量。 由于可以在较低的温度下产生分布式火焰体积，因此可以大大降低污染物排放水平。 预计能源效率将提高，温室气体排放水平将降低。 该项目还将为研究生和本科生提供创新和工业相关研究方面的培训。 学生还将参观工业现场，并在技术会议上展示他们的研究成果。该概念基于通过最初分离的燃料和氧化剂流的强烈混合，稀释和预热来建立均质燃烧辐射（RHC）区。 拟议的工作将：（i）实验性地确定RHC操作制度;（ii）量化强辐射的能源效率和污染物减少效益;以及（iii）开发理论/计算框架，以便能够设计和控制工业炉。将测量光谱和总辐射沿着以及NOx、CO2、CO、O2、烟尘和总未燃碳氢化合物，以量化效率和污染物减排效益。这项实验和理论工作将牢固地建立无量纲控制参数和RHC炉的操作域。 预计拟议的RHC炉技术将对制造业的能源效率和污染物形成产生巨大影响。 它将为工业带来可观的经济利益，并将使它们更具竞争力。 预计温室气体排放也将大幅减少。 此外，如果使用100%的O2，则炉效率进一步提高，并且可以容易地实现碳封存。

1403339AtreyaThe objective of this research is to develop a novel and desirable combustion technology for high temperature furnaces used in the manufacturing of steel, aluminum, glass, and others. The conventional burning process in furnaces relies on the heat reflection from furnace walls to achieve heating purpose, thus requiring the isolated flames, much like candles, to be at a higher temperature than at the wall. High temperature flames generate high level of pollutants such as oxides of nitrogen (NOx) that are responsible for ozone depletion and smog. The proposed work is to have more evenly distributed flames over a larger volume to achieve the same amount of heating. Because the distributed flame volume can be generated at lower temperatures, the pollutant emission level can be greatly reduced. A higher energy efficiency and lower emission levels of greenhouse gases are expected. This project will also provide training in innovative and industrially relevant research to graduate and undergraduate students. Students will also have industrial site visits and present their research results at technical conferences.The concept is based on establishing a Radiation from Homogeneous Combustion (RHC) zone through intense mixing, dilution and preheating of initially separated fuel and oxidizer streams. The proposed work will: (i) Experimentally determine the RHC operating regime; (ii) Quantify the energy efficiency and pollutant reduction benefits of intense radiation; and (iii) Develop a theoretical/computational framework to enable designing and controlling industrial furnaces. Measurements of spectral and total radiation along with NOx, CO2, CO, O2, soot, and total unburned hydrocarbons will be made to quantify the efficiency and pollutant reduction benefits. This experimental and theoretical work will firmly establish the non-dimensional controlling parameters and the operating domain of the RHC furnace. The proposed RHC furnace technology is expected to have a tremendous impact on energy efficiency and pollutant formation in the manufacturing industries. It will yield considerable financial benefits for industries and will make them more competitive. A significant reduction in greenhouse gas emission is also expected. Moreover, if 100% O2 is used, the furnace efficiency is further increased and carbon sequestration can be easily accomplished.