Burner

Abstract

The invention pertains to a burner for solid fuel, said burner comprising: A stoker (41) having a fuel outlet (29) within said burner, and an exhaust (31), a grate (27) positioned below said fuel outlet (29) and between said fuel outlet (29) and said exhaust (31), a first blower (92) connected to a space below said grate (27), and a second blower (68) connected to a plurality of injectors (61A, 62A) provided around said fuel outlet (29) above said grate (27) and directed towards said exhaust (31), said injectors (61A, 62A) being parallel and unidirectionally directed over said grate (27), and wherein the injectors (61A, 62A) are provided along the periphery of said burner, said injectors (61A, 62A) being configured for injecting secondary air at a speed of 40-80 m/s, thereby ensuring unidirectional parallel flows of secondary air over said grate (27).

Claims

1. A burner for solid fuel comprising: an enclosure extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end, the enclosure enclosing an interior area; a fuel inlet positioned to feed fuel in a first direction into the first end of the enclosure of the burner; a grate positioned in the interior area in front of the fuel inlet to receive fuel from the fuel inlet and carry such fuel in the first direction, the first direction being defined from the first end to the second end of the enclosure and substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the grate; a turbulence space defined in the interior area of the enclosure downstream from the grate, in the first direction; the enclosure having an exhaust portion communicating with the turbulence space and configured to exhaust combustion gases from the interior area, the exhaust portion being downstream from the fuel inlet and the grate in the first direction; a first blower configured to introduce primary air into the enclosure below the grate; a second blower and a plurality of injectors connected to the second blower, the plurality of injectors being arranged around a periphery of the fuel inlet and parallel to the first direction; an air rail in the shape of an inverted U extending above and on sides of the fuel inlet, the plurality of injectors being evenly-spaced and mounted on the air rail such that the injectors are arranged above the grate; the second blower configured to inject secondary air in the first direction at a predetermined speed through the plurality of injectors into the enclosure above the grate to ensure that the secondary air is injected as substantially laminar flow over the entire length of the grate and parallel to the grate, the plurality of injectors configured to ensure that the secondary air does not interfere with the primary air and gives rise to an ejector effect such that the combustion gases are drawn away from the grate into the turbulence space and entrained by the substantially laminar flow of the secondary air and moved towards the exhaust portion.

2. The burner according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust portion is at the second end of the enclosure.

3. The burner according to claim 1, wherein said exhaust portion is connected to a plurality of horizontal flue gas pipes extending through a boiler.

4. The burner according to claim 1, wherein each injector comprises a tube having a first inner diameter at a first end, and a second inner diameter at a second end, the second inner diameter being less than the first inner diameter, and a stepped transition from the first inner diameter to the second inner diameter being provided in the tube between the first end and the second end.

5. The burner according to claim 1, wherein each injector comprises a plurality of coaxial tubes, each coaxial tube having a different diameter such that the coaxial tubes each defining a space between an adjacent tube of the coaxial tubes.

6. The burner according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined speed of the secondary air is 40-80 m/s.

7. The burner according to claim 1, wherein the air rail is located along a periphery of the enclosure.

8. The burner according to claim 1, further comprising a stoker having a fuel outlet in communication with said fuel inlet.

9. The burner according to claim 8, wherein the stoker comprises a screw conveyer disposed within a tube, said fuel outlet being defined by one end of said tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention and its many advantages will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which for the purpose of illustration show some non-limiting embodiments, and in which

(2) FIG. 1A shows a burner according to the first aspect of the present invention, the burner being connected to a boiler,

(3) FIG. 1B shows an alternative embodiment of a burner according to the first aspect of the present invention, the burner being connected to a boiler,

(4) FIG. 2A shows a view of the injector arrangement in the burner according to the first aspect of the present invention,

(5) FIG. 2B shows a view of the injector arrangement in an alternative embodiment of the burner according to the first aspect of the present invention,

(6) FIG. 3 shows a an injector for use in the burner according to the first aspect of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1-2, and,

(7) FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of an injector for use in the burner according to the first aspect of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1-2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may however be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Like elements will thus not be described in detail with respect to the description of each figure.

(9) FIG. 1A shows a burner, in its whole designated the reference numeral 2, according to the first aspect of the present invention. The burner 2 comprises a gas tight cylindrical enclosure, designated the reference numeral 4, made of welded steel and having a stepped grate, in its whole designated the reference numeral 6, having a feed plate, designated the reference numeral 7, and having four descending grates, designated the reference numerals 8, 10, 12 and 14, at one end, and an exhaust, designated the reference numeral 16, at the other end. Fuel is fed to the burner, as indicated by the arrow designated the reference numeral 18, by a screw conveyor comprising a screw, designated the reference numeral 20, provided within a tube, designated the reference numeral 22, which extends through the enclosure 4 and has a fuel outlet, designated the reference numeral 24, above the grate 8, onto which solid fuel is deposited after being conveyed by the screw 20 through the tube 22. By a horizontal reciprocating movement of the grates 8 and 12, the solid fuel is eventually transported to the bottom, designated the reference numeral 26, of the enclosure 4, while being combusted and transformed into ash and combustion residual products, from which the ashes and the residual products are removed by a second screw conveyor (not shown) perpendicular to the screw conveyor defined by screw 20 and tube 22.

(10) Primary air is supplied by a first electric blower, designated the reference numeral 28, which supplies primary air to a space, designated the reference numeral 30, below the stepped grate 6, through a primary air duct, designated the reference numeral 32, as indicated by the arrow designated the reference numeral 34, from which the primary air is led through holes, one of which is designated the reference numeral 36, in the grates 8, 10, 12 and 14, for supplying the primary air to solid fuel (not shown) burning on the stepped grate 6, as shown by arrows, one of which is designated the reference numeral 38.

(11) A second electric blower, designated the reference numeral 40, supplies secondary air at a rate of 1200 m.sup.3/h through a secondary air duct, designated the reference numeral 42, as indicated by the arrow designated the reference numeral 44, to an air rail, designated the reference numeral 46, from which the secondary air is led to injectors, one of which is designated the reference numeral 48, wherefrom the secondary air is injected as parallel unidirectional air flows, one of which is designated the reference numeral 50, over the stepped grate 6 and directed towards the exhaust 16.

(12) The high speed, typically 55-65 m/s, of the air flows 50 gives rise to an ejector effect, whereby flue gases, as indicated by the curved arrows, one of which is designated the reference numeral 52, emanating from above the stepped grate 6 from the solid fuel combusting on the stepped grate 6 are drawn away from the stepped grate 6 and entrained by the air flows 50 and moved towards the exhaust 16.

(13) After passing the grate 6, the mixture of flue gasses 52 and air flows 50 becomes turbulent and forms whirls, as is shown by the arrow designated the reference numeral 53, before being sucked up towards the exhaust 16.

(14) FIG. 1 also shows a boiler, in its whole designated the reference numeral 60, provided above the burner 2, said boiler comprising a first set of substantially horizontal flue gas pipes, one of which is designated the reference numeral 62, which are connected to the exhaust 16 of the burner 2, whereby the mixture of flue gases 52 and the primary and secondary air 38 and 50 is led into the first set of flue gas pipes 62, as indicated by the arrow designated the reference numeral 54.

(15) The boiler includes a boiler tank, designated the reference numeral 64, through which the first set of flue gas pipes 62 extends. A coupling space, designated the reference numeral 66, is provided where the mixture of flue gas and primary and secondary air exits the first set of flue gas pipes 62. A second set of substantially parallel flue gas pipes, one of which is designated the reference numeral 68, is connected to the coupling space 66, and the mixture of flue gas and primary and secondary air is routed into the second set of flue gas pipes 68 as shown by the arrow designated the reference numeral 70. The second set of flue gas pipes 68 extends once more through the boiler tank 64 before connecting to a chimney, designated the reference numeral 72, allowing the mixture of flue gas and primary and secondary air to be released into the atmosphere as indicated by the arrow designated the reference numeral 74.

(16) Water to be heated in the boiler 60 is admitted into the boiler tank 64 at an inlet, designated the reference numeral 76, as shown by the arrow designated the reference numeral 78, while heated water is withdrawn from the boiler tank at an outlet, designated the reference numeral 80, as shown by the arrow designated the reference numeral 82.

(17) The burner 2 and the boiler 60 are insulated from the surroundings by 100 mm mineral wool (not shown).

(18) FIG. 1B shows an alternative embodiment of the burner according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein features identical with those of FIG. 1A are referenced by the same reference numerals, and wherein features having the same purpose or function but differing in construction are referenced by the same reference numeral, with a superscript roman numeral, as those of FIG. 1A.

(19) FIG. 2A shows a view of the injector arrangement in the burner 2 according to the first aspect of the present invention. The air rail 46 is shaped as an inverted U and surrounds the fuel outlet 24 which is placed above the stepped grate 6. The injectors 48 are provided on the air rail 46 along the periphery of the enclosure 4. The second electric blower 40 supplies secondary air to the air rail 46 through the secondary air duct 42, while the first electric blower 28 supplies primary air through the primary air duct 32 to the space 30 (not shown in FIG. 2) below the stepped grate 6.

(20) FIG. 2B shows a view of the injector arrangement in alternative embodiment of the burner 2 according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein features identical with those of FIG. 2A are referenced by the same reference numerals, and wherein features having the same purpose or function but differing in construction are referenced by the same reference numeral, with a superscript roman numeral, as those of FIG. 2A.

(21) FIGS. 3A and 3B, where 3A is a perspective view, and 3B is a section view, show a first embodiment of the injector 48 for use in the burner 2 according to the first aspect of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1-2. The injector 48 comprises three metal tubes, designated the reference numerals 90, 92, and 94, respectively, of different diameters, which are welded together end-to-end to form the injector 48, having a first end, designated the reference numeral 96, having a large inner diameter for being mounted to the air rail 46 for receiving secondary air from the air rail 46, and a second end, designated the reference numeral 98, having a small inner diameter for injecting a flow of secondary air 50 into the burner 2. The transition from the large inner diameter of the tube 90 at the first end 96 to the smaller inner diameter of the tube 94 at the second end is achieved by first and second restrictions, designated the reference numerals 100 and 102, respectively, which are formed where the tubes 90 and 92 join, and where the tubes 92 and 94 join, respectively. Secondary air passing through the injector 48 accelerates due to the difference in inner diameter, i.e. cross sectional area, between the first end 96 and the second end 98. The inner diameter of the second end 98 is 27 mm, which, depending on the number of injectors, typically 9-10, and the airflow established by the second electric blower 40, typically 1200 m.sup.3/h, results in an initial, i.e. as the air leaves the second end 98 of the injector 48, air speed of 55-65 m/s.

(22) In FIG. 3B, the tubes 90 and 92 are shown as having the same wall thickness, while the tube 94 has a thinner wall thickness, which is the preferred embodiment since it simplifies the welding together of the tubes 92 and 94. The tubes 90, 92 and 94 may however also have the same wall thickness.

(23) FIGS. 4A and 4B, where 4A is a perspective view, and 4B is a section view, show an alternative embodiment of an injector, designated the reference numeral 48.sup.I, for use in the burner 2 according to the first aspect of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1-2. The injector 48.sup.I comprises three metal tubes, designated the reference numerals 90.sup.I, 92.sup.I, and 94.sup.I, respectively, of different diameters, which are placed one-inside-theother, forming the injector 48.sup.I having a first end, designated the reference numeral 96.sup.I, for receiving secondary air from the air rail 46, and a second end, designated the reference numeral 98.sup.I, for injecting a flow of secondary air 50 into the burner 2. Secondary air is led from the first end 96.sup.I to the second end 98.sup.I in the annular spaces, designated the reference numerals 104.sup.I and 106.sup.I, defined by the tubes 90.sup.I and 92.sup.I and the tubes 92.sup.I and 94.sup.I, respectively, and the circular space, designated the reference numeral 108.sup.I, defined by the tube 94.sup.I,

(24) The tubes 90.sup.I, 92.sup.I and 94.sup.I are preferably fastened together at the first end 96.sup.I by radially and angularly spaced struts (not shown) between the respective tubes 90.sup.I and 92.sup.I, and 92.sup.I and 94.sup.I.

(25) By leading the secondary air through the spaces 104.sup.I, 106.sup.I and 108.sup.I, the turbulence in the burner may be lessened. Further, by varying the sizes of the spaces 104.sup.I, 106.sup.I and 108.sup.I, the injector 48.sup.I allows different flow profiles for the flows of secondary air.

EXAMPLE

(26) Tests with a burner and boiler as described in FIGS. 1-2 with injectors as described in FIG. 3 have shown that more than 93% of the theoretical energy content of the solid fuel were converted to heat.

(27) TABLE-US-00001 List of parts with reference to the figures: 2. Burner 2.sup.|. Burner (alternative embodiment) 4. Enclosure 6. Stepped grate 6.sup.|. Stepped grate (alternative embodiment) 7. Feed plate 8. Grate 8.sup.|. Grate (alternative embodiment) 10. Grate 10.sup.|. Grate (alternative embodiment) 12. Grate 12.sup.|. Grate (alternative embodiment) 14. Grate 14.sup.|. Grate (alternative embodiment) 16. Exhaust 18. Arrow indicating feeding of fuel 20. Screw 22. Tube 24. Fuel outlet 26. Bottom 28. First electric blower 30. Space 32. Primary air duct 34. Arrow indicating primary air 36. Hole 38. Arrow indicating primary air 40. Second electric blower 42. Secondary air duct 44. Arrow indicating secondary air 46. Air rail 48. Injector 48.sup.|. Injector (second embodiment 50. Air flow 52. Arrow indicating flue gas 53. Arrow indicating turbulence 54. Arrow indicating mixture of flue gas and primary and secondary air 60. Boiler 62. First set of flue gas pipes 64. Boiler tank 66. Coupling space 68. Second set of flue gas pipes 70. Arrow indicating mixture of flue gas and primary and secondary air 72. Chimney 74. Arrow indicating mixture of flue gas and primary and secondary air 76. Inlet 78. Arrow indicating water flow in 80. Outlet 82. Arrow indicating water flow out 90. Tube 90.sup.|. Tube (alternative embodiment) 92. Tube 92.sup.|. Tube (alternative embodiment) 94. Tube 94.sup.|. Tube (alternative embodiment) 96. First end 96.sup.|. First end (alternative embodiment) 98. Second end 98.sup.|. Second end (alternative embodiment) 100. First restriction 102. Second restriction 104.sup.|. Annular space 106.sup.|. Annular space 108.sup.|. Circular space