Device and method for autogenous processes

Abstract

In order to improve an enveloping gas device for transporting at least one enveloping gas that is allocated to at least one burner head or at least one nozzle of a device for working or processing at least one component or workpiece by autogenous processes, so that a reduction of the contaminant concentration, particularly the concentration of nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.X) and other harmful compounds is achieved, it is suggested, a flame issuing from the burner head or nozzle and directed towards the component or workpiece is completely enclosed by the enveloping gas, and the concentration of contaminants contained in the waste gas from the device, particularly the concentration of nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.X), is reduced by the enveloping gas. The present invention further relates to a corresponding method associated with the enveloping gas device for working or processing at least one component or workpiece with autogenous processes.

Claims

1. An enveloping gas device for transporting at least one enveloping gas, wherein the enveloping gas device is allocated to a burner head or at least one nozzle of a device provided for working or processing at least one component or workpiece by autogenous processes selected from the group consisting of autogenous flame cutting, autogenous flame brazing, and autogenous flame gouging, characterized in that at least one burner flame issuing from the burner head or nozzle and directed towards the component or workpiece is completely enclosed by the enveloping gas which is not consumed by the at last one burner flame, and concentrating the flame on the at least one component or workpiece and the concentration of contaminants contained in the waste gas from the device is reduced by the enveloping gas, wherein an end area of the enveloping gas device facing the component or workpiece protrudes slightly beyond end area of the burner head or the nozzle that faces the component or workpiece.

2. The enveloping gas device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the enveloping gas transported in the cavity between the outer wall of the burner head or nozzle and the inner wall of the enveloping gas device is at least one gas or gas mixture selected from the group consisting of argon, helium, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen.

3. The enveloping gas device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the enveloping gas device is in the shape of a hollow cylinder.

4. The enveloping gas device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the enveloping gas device is arranged in such manner relative to the burner head or nozzle that the centre line of the enveloping gas device is essentially congruent with the axis of symmetry (A) of the burner head or the nozzle.

5. The enveloping gas device as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a configuration selected from the group consisting of as a single flame or single nozzle burner, in which one enveloping gas device is allocated to the nozzle, as a flame burner, in which many small individual flames form one flame that issues from the burner head, and in which one enveloping gas device is allocated to the burner head, as a multi-nozzle burner, in which one enveloping gas device is allocated to each nozzle, and as a special burner, in which one enveloping gas device is allocated to the burner head.

6. A method for working or processing at least one component or workpiece using autogenous processes selected from the group consisting of autogenous flame cutting, autogenous flame brazing, and autogenous flame gouging, characterized in that at least one flame issuing from the burner head or nozzle in the direction of the component or workpiece is enclosed by at least one enveloping gas, and that the concentration of contaminants contained in the waste gas is reduced by the enveloping gas.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the contaminants are nitrogen oxides.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of various embodiments of conventional flame devices in the form of a single flame or single nozzle burner, a flame burner, a switchable three-nozzle burner and a special burner; and

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device according to the present invention, which includes an enveloping gas device as described in the present invention and functions in accordance with the method described in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(3) FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a flame burner of a device intended for oxyfuel processes, that is to say a flame burner 100 according to the present invention.

(4) The type of arrangement of a burner head 10 as illustrated in FIG. 2 enables flame burner 100 to be put to use cheaply and effectively in the desired autogenous flame process.

(5) Flame burner 100 as shown in FIG. 2 features a hollow cylindrical or annular enveloping gas device 20 that is designed to transport an enveloping gas H between the outer wall 12 of burner head 10 and the inner wall 22 of enveloping gas device 20. This enveloping gas H may be used in the manner of a gas curtain to enclose the acetylene-oxygen flame F that is discharged at gas outlet location 14 in the direction of component B, so that flame F may act in more concentrated fashion on application site P located on the surface of component B.

(6) The exemplary illustration in FIG. 2 further shows that the end area 24 of enveloping gas device 20 that is facing component B protrudes slightly beyond gas outlet location 14 to provide particularly effective and stable isolation of flame F and thus prevent formation of contaminants contained in the waste gas, particularly formation of nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.X).

(7) However this is not an obligatory feature of the present invention, being dependent on the nature and purpose of the flaming process. For example, enveloping gas device 20 may also be approximately the same length as burner head 10, or the enveloping gas device may even be shorter than burner head 10.

(8) For purposes of the greatest possible symmetry of arrangement 100 according to FIG. 2, enveloping gas device 20 is arranged in such manner with respect to burner head 10 that the axis of symmetry of enveloping gas device 20 is congruent with the axis of symmetry A of burner head 10.

(9) In an exemplary embodiment of a single flame/single nozzle burner, or also of a multi-nozzle burner, a nozzle from which a flame F escapes is arranged in flame burner 100 instead of burner head 10.

(10) The power output of the fuel gas is critically important to the success of the autogenous process. The very high temperature of acetylene-oxygen flame F together with a high thermal output of acetylene-oxygen flame F provides the maximum effect, which is reflected in exceptional economy and efficiency.

(11) The advantages of the present invention are realized for all fuel gases. Certain fuel gases are cited in the EN ISO 5172 standard, for example, though that list is not exhaustive. Compressed air may also be used as the combustion partner instead of oxygen. In turn, the size of the burner must be selected with consideration for the nature of active agent B and/or the thickness of workpiece B.

(12) The advantages described, which particularly include a significant reduction in the concentration of contaminants in the waste gas from the burner, and a correspondingly minimized threat to the health of the burner operator, while retaining an advantageous flame shape and thus significantly improved heat transfer and perceptibly faster process speed of the autogenous process are particularly pronounced in the present invention when its use is combined with suitable enveloping gases, such as argon, helium, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen and mixtures thereof, as well as special mixtures that are known as forming gases or gases for shielded arc welding.

LEGEND

(13) 100 Device provided for working or processing component or material or workpiece B using autogenous processes, particularly flame burners

(14) 10 Burner head or nozzle

(15) 12 Outside or outer wall of burner head or nozzle 10

(16) 14 End or end area of burner head or nozzle 10, particularly gas outlet location

(17) 20 Enveloping gas device or enveloping flow device

(18) 22 Inside or inner wall of enveloping gas device 20

(19) 24 End or end area of enveloping gas device 20

(20) A Axis of symmetry of burner head or nozzle 10

(21) B Component or material or workpiece

(22) F Flame

(23) H Enveloping gas or curtain gas

(24) P Application site, particularly the location at which flame F meets component or material or workpiece B

(25) S Surface of component or material or workpiece B