BURNER

Abstract

A burner 100 comprising a burner body 110 having a burner chamber with a backing plate 122 and having a burner element received in the burner chamber, the burner element having a plurality of gas nozzles 117 for supplying gas into the burner, the gas nozzles 117 each ending in a tip through which the gas exits and gas nozzle 117, and each gas nozzle being rotatable such that the direction of gas exiting the gas nozzle can be adjusted. The burner has means for rotating the gas nozzles 117 provided on the backing plate and by releasable means for retaining each gas nozzle 117 in a plurality of rotational configurations provided outside the burner chamber. The gas nozzles 117 further comprise first and second parts which are detachable from each other, the first part comprising the tip and the second part being upstream of the first part with respect to the flow of gas into the gas nozzles in use. The burner allows for tuning of gas flow from outside the burner while it is in use.

Claims

1. A burner 100 comprising a burner body 110 having a burner chamber with a backing plate 122 and having a burner element received in the burner chamber, the burner element having a plurality of gas nozzles 117 for supplying gas into the burner, the gas nozzles 117 each ending in a tip through which the gas exits the gas nozzle 117, and each gas nozzle being rotatable such that the direction of gas exiting the gas nozzle 117 can be adjusted characterised in that means for rotating the gas nozzles 117 are provided on a backing plate 122 and in that releasable means for retaining each gas nozzle 117 in a plurality of rotational configurations is provided outside the burner chamber and further wherein the gas nozzles 117 comprise first and second parts which are detachable from each other, the first part comprising the tip and the second part being upstream of the first part with respect to the flow of gas into the gas nozzles in use.

2. A burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second parts are connected by a connection means such that the first part has a defined orientation compared to the second part.

3. A burner as claimed in claim 2 where the connection means is a protrusion on the first part which engages with a slot or hole on the second part only when the first and second parts are in the correct orientation, or wherein the slot or hole is on the first part and the protrusion on the second part, or a combination of slots/holes and protrusions which will allow connection only in a defined orientation.

4. A burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gas nozzles can be removed individually from the burner whilst the burner is in use.

5. A burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gas nozzles are each independently rotatable whilst the burner is in use.

6. A burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein each gas nozzle is provided with a tell-tale 130 on the second part and visible from outside the burner, which tell-tale indicates the rotational position of the nozzle in the burner.

7. A burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the retaining means are provided on the backing plate 122.

8. A burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein each gas nozzle 117 at its tip comprises a cylindrical cross-section having an elliptical face 119 and gas passage 118 is formed in the face 119.

9. A burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein different gas nozzles present comprise different tips.

10. A burner as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for supplying solid fuel to the burner.

11. A burner as claimed in claim 1 further comprising non-rotatable means 120 for supplying gas into the burner.

12. A method of burning a gaseous fuel comprising the steps of passing a mixture of inflammable gas and an oxidising agent through a burner as claimed in claim 1 and burning the mixture.

13. A method of according to claim 12 wherein at least one of the gas nozzles is removed and replaced whilst passing the mixture of inflammable gas and an oxidising agent through the burner and burning the mixture, said replacement nozzle being either an entirely new gas nozzle or being a replacement nozzle obtained by changing the first part of the removed gas nozzle for a new first part.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the replacement nozzle comprises a different tip to the nozzle removed.

15. A method according to claim 12 wherein said first and second parts are connected by a connection means such that the first part has a defined orientation compared to the second part.

16. A method according to claim 12 wherein the gas nozzles are each independently rotatable whilst the burner is in use.

17. A burner as claimed in claim 2 wherein the gas nozzles can be removed individually from the burner whilst the burner is in use.

18. A burner as claimed in claim 2 wherein the gas nozzles are each independently rotatable whilst the burner is in use.

19. A burner as claimed in claim 5 wherein different gas nozzles present comprise different tips.

20. A burner as claimed in claim 18 wherein different gas nozzles present comprise different tips.

Description

[0020] The replacement nozzle may comprise a different tip to the nozzle removed. Embodiments of the invention will be described by way of non-limiting example by reference to the accompanying figures of which

[0021] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a burner of the invention in a first configuration

[0022] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the burner of FIG. 1 in a second configuration

[0023] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the burner of FIG. 1 in a third configuration

[0024] FIG. 4 is a partial rear perspective view of the burner of FIG. 1

[0025] FIG. 5 is a side view of a first part of the gas nozzle,

[0026] FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the first part of FIG. 5

[0027] FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a second part of the gas nozzle and

[0028] FIG. 8 is a partial cross section of a further burner backing plate and swirl nozzle.

[0029] Burner 100 comprises a cylindrical body 110 which forms a chamber. A burner element is received inside the body 110. The burner element may be provided with a right circular cylindrical portion 112 having a circular face 113. A gap 114 is thus defined between the inside of the body and the outside of the element. Preferably this gap is annular but other arrangements such as angular segments can be used. Means for injecting a fuel such as a solid fuel such a powdered pet coke and air into the gap could be provided but this is not essential. The face of the burner element can be provided with a plurality of gas passages 120 which are perpendicular to the circular face 113. These passages may be disposed about the perimeter of an imaginary circle. The above mentioned features allow fuel and air to be expelled from the burner in axial manner.

[0030] In accordance with the invention means for providing gas such as fuel gas where the direction of flow of material exiting the burner is adjustable are provided. Hereinafter the expression “adjustable gas” is used in connection with this. In the illustrated embodiment adjustable gas is provided by a plurality of gas nozzles 117. In the illustrated embodiment the gas nozzles are each in the form of a cylindrical section with a gas passage 118 provided in the elliptical face 119 and perpendicular to that face. Those skilled in the art will be able to devise other methods of introducing adjustable gas air such as bent pipes. The precise angle at which the adjustable gas diverges from the angle of axial flow is not of the essence of the invention. Good results can be achieved where the angle is in the range of 20 to 70 degrees for example 30 to 60 degrees more preferably 40 to 50 degrees. In the illustrated embodiment the gas nozzles are equidistantly disposed about an imaginary circle with its centre at the centre of the burner. This is preferred but the gas nozzles need not be equidistantly disposed or disposed about an imaginary circle. In the event they are disposed about an imaginary circle that circle need not have its centre at the centre of the burner. The precise number of gas nozzles is not of the essence of the invention. In the illustrated embodiment 6 are provided but fewer such as 4 or more such as 8 could be used

[0031] The gas nozzles are rotatable. Preferably the gas nozzles are independently rotatable. Rotation of the gas nozzles enables the non-axial gas flow to be adjusted allowing tuning of the burner. This can be seen by comparing FIGS. 1 to 3 where in FIG. 1 the swirl nozzles are pointed to the side, in FIG. 2 they are pointed to the outside of the burner and in FIG. 3 where they are pointed towards the centre of the burner. It will be apparent to the skilled worker that these variations will have a substantial effect on the disposition of gas in the burner and thus that they allow the burner to be tuned. The skilled worker will of course appreciate that it is not necessary for each gas nozzle to be rotated to the same degree as every other gas nozzle and in many cases there will be differences. Similarly, the tips may not all be the same, for example may not all be of the same angle to the cross-section of the cylindrical body or may have different numbers of passages.

Means for rotating the gas nozzles from outside the burner chamber are provided. Means for retaining the gas nozzles in configuration which are accessible from outside the burner chamber are also provided. Those skilled will have no difficulty in devising suitable means. The means for rotating can simply comprise a portion of the feed pipe to the swirl nozzle outside the burner chamber.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment. The rear of the burner is defined by backing plate 122. Feed pipes 121 feed gas to the gas nozzle 117 at the backing plate which is to say outside the burner chamber and not exposed to fuel and oxidant or the products of combustion. Typically at least a portion of the feed pipe is flexible or at any rate deformable. Those skilled in the art will have no difficulty suitable materials for the feed pipe. Feed pipe 121 is mounted to gas nozzle to allow gas to be passed through the gas nozzle for example by conventional unions and swivel joints. Rotation of the gas nozzle from outside the burner can thus be achieved by rotating a portion of the gas nozzle outside the burner or by moving the feed pipe or some component to either of these members. Rotation by 360° of each individual nozzle without stopping the flow of gas there through can be obtained, for example, by the use of swivel joints. Desirably but not essentially a tell-tale 130 such as an upstand or indicia can be provided on the gas nozzles to provide information about the orientation of the gas passage of the nozzle.

[0033] In some cases suppliers' representatives will tune the burner by manipulating the gas nozzles and once the desired configuration is achieved the swivel joints removed or adjustment means locked to prevent tampering by end-users.

[0034] In FIGS. 1 to 3 the tips of the gas nozzles at the end of the first part are visible but not the second part. In FIG. 4 the upstream end of the second part is visible.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the first part of the gas nozzle, showing the face 119 at the tip. At the opposite end of the first part is a male screw thread 140.

[0036] FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the end of the first part of the gas nozzle showing the screw thread 140. At this end but inside the first part is a button protrusion 141.

[0037] FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the second part of the gas nozzle, and in particular of the end which attaches to the first part. The second part comprises an inner pipe 142, of a size which can fit closely inside the first part. The pipe has a slot 143 cut in it, the width being just wide enough to allow it to fit around the button protrusion when the first and second parts are connected. This ensures that the first and second parts always connect in a defined orientation relative to each other. The first and second parts are held in place by a collar 144 which screws onto the male screw thread 140.

[0038] A gasket or washer can be used to provide a seal between the abutting ends of the first and second parts.

[0039] FIG. 8 shows one releasable means for retaining the gas nozzles in position. In FIG. 8 the backing plate 122 can be provided with an upstanding collar 400 surrounding the through bore. One of more screw threaded members 402 can pass through the collar and engage the second part of the gas nozzle 117. In other embodiments a collet arrangement could be used with for example a threaded split collar urged towards the swirl nozzle by a tapered nut.

[0040] While in the illustrated embodiments the retaining means are provided at the rear of the burner it is not essential that they are positioned there. They could for example pass through the side wall of the burner.

[0041] The invention allows the gas nozzles to be individually adjusted and secured in position while the burner is in operation thereby allowing rapid and efficient burner tuning. It also allows the tips of individual nozzles to be replaced even while the burner is in use, allowing repair of damaged tips or further tuning of the burner.