METHOD FOR ARRANGING A PACKING IN A BURNER AND BURNER BASKET FOR A BURNER

Abstract

A method for disposing a bed comprising particles in a burner through which a gas can flow, more particularly in a burner basket of an ammonia oxidation burner, where the particles are disposed such that the bed has a greater flow resistance in an edge region of the burner than in an inner region of the burner. Further, a burner basket for a burner may have a bed comprising particles, wherein the particles are disposed such that the bed has a greater flow resistance in an edge region of the burner basket than in an inner region of the burner basket.

Claims

1.-16. (canceled)

17. A method for disposing a bed comprising particles in a burner through which a gas can flow, the method comprising disposing the particles such that a flow resistance of the bed is greater at an edge region of the burner than at an inner region of the burner.

18. The method of claim 17 comprising disposing the bed comprising particles in a burner basket of the burner, wherein the burner is an ammonia oxidation burner.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the bed has a greater bulk density in the edge region than in the inner region.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the bed comprises small particles and large particles, wherein the small particles have a smaller diameter than the large particles.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the small particles have a diameter in a range from 1 mm to 10 mm.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the large particles have a diameter in a range from 5 mm to 50 mm.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein more of the small particles than the large particles are disposed in the edge region of the burner, wherein more of the large particles than the small particles are disposed in the inner region of the burner.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein more of the small particles than the large particles are disposed in the edge region, wherein two layers of particles are disposed in the inner region, wherein a lower layer of the two layers has more of the small particles than the large particles and an upper layer of the two layers has more of the large particles than the small particles.

25. The method of claim 22 comprising disposing a mixture of the small particles and the large particles in the edge region.

26. The method of claim 22 comprising disposing mutually superposed layers of the large particles and the small particles in the edge region.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein a width of the edge region of the burner has a value in a range from 1% to 6% of at least one of a diameter of the burner or a diameter of a burner basket of the burner.

28. The method of claim 17 wherein a gas-permeable separation material to which the bed is applied is disposed on a bottom plate of the burner.

29. The method of claim 17 further comprising introducing a separating device into the burner that separates the edge region from the inner region.

30. The method of claim 17 further comprising introducing a gas-permeable separation material between the edge region and the inner region.

31. The method of claim 17 wherein the edge region has a rectangular cross section or a trapezoidal cross section.

32. The method of claim 17 wherein the particles of the bed at least one of have a catalyst, or are configured as packing elements.

33. A burner basket for a burner, the burner basket comprising a bed of particles disposed such that a flow resistance of the bed is greater in an edge region of the burner basket than in an inner region of the burner basket.

34. The burner basket of claim 33 wherein the burner basket is configured for an ammonia oxidation burner, wherein a gas-permeable separation material to which the bed is applied is disposed on a bottom plate of the burner basket.

35. The burner basket of claim 33 wherein the bed comprises small particles and large particles, wherein the small particles have a smaller diameter than the large particles, wherein the small particles have a diameter in a range from 1 mm to 10 mm, wherein the large particles have a diameter in a range from 5 mm to 50 mm.

36. The burner basket of claim 35 wherein more of the small particles than the large particles are disposed in the edge region, wherein two layers of particles are disposed in the inner region, wherein a lower layer of the two layers has more of the small particles than the large particles and an upper layer of the two layers has more of the large particles than the small particles.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a first refinement of a burner basket of the invention in a schematic sectional representation.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a second refinement of a burner basket of the invention in a schematic sectional representation.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a third refinement of a burner basket of the invention in a schematic sectional representation.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a fourth refinement of a burner basket of the invention in a schematic sectional representation.

[0031] FIG. 5 shows a fifth refinement of a burner basket of the invention in a schematic sectional representation.

[0032] FIG. 6 shows a sixth refinement of a burner basket of the invention in a schematic sectional representation.

[0033] FIG. 7 shows a seventh refinement of a burner basket of the invention in a schematic sectional representation.

[0034] FIGS. 8a-c show a burner basket as in FIG. 1 in different states, to illustrate a first refinement of the method of the invention for arranging the bed.

[0035] FIGS. 9a-c show a burner basket as in FIG. 2 in different states, to illustrate a second refinement of the method of the invention for arranging the bed.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0036] In the various figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference numerals, and are therefore in general only identified or mentioned once in each case as well. The drawings are schematic representations which serve to illustrate fundamental relationships. The representations are not true to scale and nor do they correctly reproduce the size relationships described.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a burner basket 1 of a burner 10 formed as an ammonia oxidation burner, by means of which ammonia and oxygen are reacted catalytically to give nitrogen monoxide and water. The burner basket 1 has a substantially conical shape and, in operation of the burner 10, it is arranged in the interior of the burner 10, and so can be traversed by flows of ammonia and oxygen. The burner basket 1 is formed from a gas-permeable bottom plate 3 and side walls 2. In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the gas-permeable bottom plate 3 and the side walls 2 are fixed independently of one another in the burner and are not directly joined to one another. Accordingly there is a gap between the gas-permeable bottom plate 3 and the side walls 2. Arranged above the bottom plate 3 is a gas-permeable separation material 4, which allows the passage of ammonia and oxygen and at the same time prevents particles falling through the gap between bottom plate 3 and side walls 2 or through the bottom plate 3.

[0038] Situated within the burner basket 1 is a bed 5 of particles which are in the form of packing elements 8, 9. In the figures, the packing elements 8, 9 are shown for simplification as substantially spherical particles, although particles of any predetermined form—as Raschig rings, Pall rings, Berl, Interlox or Torus saddles and/or Interpack bodies, for example, may constitute these elements, in deviation from the representation in the figures. The material of the packing elements is preferably stoneware, porcelain, glass or stainless steel. Arranged above the bed 5, not shown in the figures, may be a catalyst gauze, such as a platinum/rhodium catalyst gauze, for example. The particles may optionally have a catalyst material, and so the catalytic activity is enhanced.

[0039] In order to increase the combustion efficiency and to reduce the ammonia slip, the particles 8, 9 are arranged in such a way that the bed 5 has a greater flow resistance in an edge region 6 of the burner basket 1 than in an inner region 7 of the burner basket 1. As a consequence of the increased flow resistance in the edge region 6, the mixture of ammonia and oxygen is guided to an increased extent through the inner region 6 of the burner basket 1. The bed 5 has a greater bulk density in the edge region 6 than in the inner region 7. The higher bulk density in the edge region 6 contributes to restricting the freedom of movement of the particles 8 in the edge region 6, thereby reducing the formation of cavities and/or gaps because of thermally induced expansions of the bottom plate 3 and/or of the side walls 2.

[0040] As is also apparent from the representation in FIG. 1, the bed 5 comprises small particles 8 and large particles 9, the small particles 8 being smaller in form than the large particles 9. The diameter of the small particles 8 is in the range from 1 mm to 10 mm and is smaller than the diameter of the large particles 9, which is in the range from 5 mm to 50 mm.

[0041] Substantially small particles 8 are arranged in the edge region 6 of the burner basket 1, while substantially large particles are arranged in the inner region 7. Accordingly in the edge region 6 there is a preponderance of small particles and in the inner region 7 there is a preponderance of large particles. The edge region 6 has a width which is between 1% and 6% of the diameter of the burner.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a burner basket 1 of the invention. Fundamentally, the burner basket 1 has a construction similar to that of the burner basket of the first exemplary embodiment, and so what was said there is also valid for the second exemplary embodiment. In contrast to the burner basket 1 of the first exemplary embodiment, the burner basket 1 according to FIG. 2 additionally has a gas-permeable separation material 11 which is arranged between the edge region 6 and the inner region 7. The gas-permeable separation material 11 is designed as an elastic mesh which is able to deform on expansion of the burner basket 1, as a result of the heating thereof, thereby removing a risk of damage to the gas-permeable separation material 11 as a result of the movement of the particles 8, 9.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a third exemplary embodiment of a burner basket 1 according to the invention. The burner basket 1 of the third exemplary embodiment corresponds to the burner basket 1 of the first exemplary embodiment, with the difference that the arrangement of the particles in the inner region 7 of the burner basket 1 is different. According to FIG. 3, there are two layers arranged in the inner region 7, with the lower layer having more small particles 8 than large particles 9 and the upper layer having more large particles 9 than small particles 8. In the edge region 6 there are more small particles 8 than large particles 9 arranged. As a result, the stability of the bed 5 is improved relative to the bed 5 of the first exemplary embodiment.

[0044] The representation in FIG. 4 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a burner basket 1 of the invention. In comparison to the preceding exemplary embodiments, the basic form of the burner basket 1 according to FIG. 4 is cylindrical. The side walls 2 are arranged substantially at a right angle to the bottom plate 3. Moreover, the side walls 2 are joined directly to the bottom plate 3.

[0045] Since the side walls 2 run substantially vertically, the edge region 6 has a rectangular, more particularly square, cross section. Arranged in the edge region 6 is a mixture of small particles 8 and large particles 9. The particles 8, 9 of the bed 5 are arranged in layers in the edge region 6, each layer having essentially small particles 8 or large particles 9.

[0046] FIG. 5 shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of a burner basket 1. The burner basket 1 corresponds essentially to the burner basket 1 shown in FIG. 3, with the difference that a separation material 11 in the form of a separation mesh is introduced in order to separate the large particles 9 from the small particles 8. The separation material 11 is arranged between a lower layer, which consists of small particles 8, and an upper layer, which consists of large particles 9.

[0047] FIG. 6 shows a sixth exemplary embodiment of a burner basket 1, which corresponds essentially to the burner basket 1 shown in FIG. 4. For the separation of the large particles 9 from the small particles 8, a plurality of separation materials 11 in the form of separation meshes are introduced into the burner basket 1. The separation meshes are arranged substantially horizontally, and separate a layer consisting of large particles 9 from the bordering layers, which comprise large particles 9 and small particles 8.

[0048] The representation in FIG. 7 shows a seventh exemplary embodiment of a burner basket 1, which has a bed 5 having in the edge region 6 an increased flow resistance relative to the inner region 7. For this purpose, a mixture of small particles 8 and large particles 9 is introduced in the burner basket 1, there being fewer large particles 9 per unit volume arranged in the edge region 6 than in the inner region 7, so producing a mixture of higher bulk density in the edge region 6. The number of small particles 8 per unit volume is greater in the edge region 6 than in the inner region 7.

[0049] The small particles 8 are formed of a catalyst material, while the large particles 9 consist of ceramic. The large particles 9 are designed as Raschig rings. The size selected for the Raschig rings is such that the small particles 8 are able to penetrate the cylindrical cavity formed by the Rashig rings. This brings with it the advantage that the small particles 8 are held by the large particles 9 in the form of Raschig rings in the edge region 6, thereby reducing the risk of the blowing of the small particles 8 from the edge region 6 in the direction of the inner region 7. Arranged between the edge region 6 and the inner region 7 there are, additionally, separation meshes 11 made from a gas-permeable material, so making it more difficult for unwanted migration of the small particles 8 from the edge region 6 into the inner region 7 to take place.

[0050] A first refinement of the method of the invention for arranging a bed 5 in a burner 10 through which a flow of gas may pass will be elucidated below with reference to the representations in FIG. 8.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 8a, a gas-permeable separation material 4, for example in the form of a mesh, is first of all arranged on the bottom plate 3. The separation material 4 may be arranged in such a way that it protrudes beyond the bottom plate 3 at the sides and bears against the side walls 2.

[0052] In a further step, which is shown in FIG. 8b, a separating device 12 is introduced into the burner basket 1. The separating device has at least one separating wall which separates the inner region 7 from the outer region 6 of the burner basket 1. The separating device 12 may be designed, for example, in the manner of a cylindrical pipe.

[0053] When the separating device 12 has been introduced into the burner 10, the bed 5 is introduced into the burner basket 1 of the burner 10. As is apparent from FIG. 8c, the particles 8, 9 of the bed 5 are arranged in this case such that the bed 5 has a greater flow resistance in the edge region 6 of the burner basket 1 than in an inner region 7 of the burner basket 1. The edge region 6 is filled with more small particles 8 than large particles 9. In the inner region 7 there are more large particles 9 than small particles 8 introduced.

[0054] After the introduction of the bed 5 into the burner basket 1, the separating device 12 is removed from the burner basket 1. The particles 8, 9 fill the space vacated by the separating device 12, and an arrangement is produced as shown in FIG. 1.

[0055] Lastly it is possible for a catalyst gauze to be placed onto the bed 5.

[0056] A further refinement of the method of the invention is described below with reference to the representation in FIG. 9.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 9a, a gas-permeable separation material 4, in the form of a mesh, for example, is first of all arranged on the bottom plate 3. The separation material 4 may be arranged in such a way that it protrudes laterally beyond the bottom plate 3 and bears against the side walls 2.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 9b, in a subsequent method step, at least one gas-permeable separation material 11 is arranged in the region between the edge region 6 and the inner region 7 of the burner basket 1. The gas-permeable separation material 11 is preferably joined to the gas-permeable separation material 4 lying on the bottom plate 3.

[0059] When the gas-permeable separation material 11 has been introduced into the burner basket 1, the bed 5 is introduced into the burner basket 1 of the burner 10. As is apparent from FIG. 9c, the particles 8, 9 of the bed 5 are arranged in this case such that the bed 5 has a greater flow resistance in the edge region 6 of the burner basket 1 than in an inner region 7 of the burner basket 1. In the edge region 6, there are more small particles 8 introduced than large particles 9. In the inner region 7, there are more large particles 9 introduced than small particles 8.

[0060] Lastly a catalyst gauze can be placed onto the bed 5.

[0061] With the above-described method for arranging a bed 5, consisting of particles 8, 9, in a burner 10 through which a flow of gas may pass, more particularly in a burner basket 1 of an ammonia oxidation burner, the particles 8, 9 are arranged in such a way that the bed 5 has a greater flow resistance in an edge region 6 of the burner 10, than in an inner region 7 of the burner 10. As a result of this, the combustion efficiency is increased and the ammonia slip is reduced.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0062] 1 Burner basket [0063] 2 Side wall [0064] 3 Bottom plate [0065] 4 Separation material [0066] 5 Bed [0067] 6 Edge region [0068] 7 Inner region [0069] 8 Small particles [0070] 9 Large particles [0071] 10 Burner [0072] 11 Separation material [0073] 12 Separating device