FR2496844A1 - Burner in which water undergoes molecular dissociation - where oxygen is used to burn iron lance to obtain very hot flame into which steam is injected - Google Patents

Abstract

The burner provides a flame at very high temp., into which steam is injected. The high temp. flame is pref. obtd. from a thermal lance, i.e. a steel tube filled with iron wire and into which oxygen at medium pressure is injected; the steam is pref. fed through the steel tube together with the oxygen. A valve is pref. employed to adjust the amt. of steam fed into the steel tube, which is pref. located on the axis of an outer tube which is cooled by a stream of compressed air. Used esp. in plant where a large vol. of steam is required, where the burner replaces conventional burners fed with oil, coal or wood. The burner may also be used to cut concrete, refractories, etc.

Description

 The present invention relates to heaters using the principle of breaking of the water molecule by thermal shock, with immediate recombination of the two gases (+ 0).

 In the previous tests, we always encountered the difficulty of continuously achieving a flame temperature of 25,000, the minimum necessary to obtain the dissociation of the water molecule. Such a high temperature resulting in the destruction or deformation of all known materials. In practice, flame temperatures very rarely exceed I2000 in the most efficient fireplaces.

 The device according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a persistent flame with a temperature close to 60000C.

If we inject finely micronized water droplets into such a flame (dry vapor around 5000C), the molecule breaks into 2H + O. These bodies immediately recombine in water, giving off considerable energy, and well known (rocket engine with liquid propellant). the flame of 60000C is obtained by means of a steel or iron tube filled with wire, in which oxygen circulates at medium pressure. Priming is obtained by bringing the end of the tube to high temperature, using an ordinary oxypropane torch, a device known as a thermal lance.

 In a first variant, steam is injected into the tube itself after priming, using a Y connection. The steam mixes with oxygen, and opens into the flame maintained at the end of the lance.

 In a second variant, it is possible to diffuse inside the flame, the vapor supplied by a conductive tube of smaller diameter passing inside the thermal lance, or even by a diffusing ring located at the rear part of the hearth .

 The problem of the resistance of the hearth, which would undoubtedly melt with such a release of heat, was solved by a diffusion of forced air carried out parallel to the walls of the circular hearth, using a diffusing ring, which has the advantage of lowering the temperature obtained in the hearth, and making it usable in a normal tubular boiler, located at the outlet of a tunnel connecting the burner to the boiler.

 The device according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a large amount of energy without using conventional fuels. Only the steel of the thermal lance, 11 oxygen, and the water vapor taken directly from the boiler at the outlet of the superheaters are necessary. Pollution is very low since combustion releases only water, a certain amount of recyclable iron oxide, and traces of C02.

 The accompanying drawing is a sectional view of the devices when the steam is mixed with oxygen.

 As shown, the device includes an oxygen inlet I regulated by a flow valve 2 supplying a thermal lance 3. A steam inlet 4 regulated by a valve 5 allows the injection of steam into the thermal lance . When the lance is ignited, a short flame 6 is produced, the temperature of which is approximately 60000C.

 After injection of the vapor, there is dissociation of the water molecules which recombine producing an elongated flame 7. The combustion is carried out in a circular hearth 8, protected by an air stream 9 coming from a diffusing ring I0 , supplied with compressed air II. The fireplace is connected to an I2 tunnel bringing the heat released to a boiler.

 The device, object of the invention, can be used in installations where a large quantity of steam is necessary, I1 replaces conventional burners for hydrocarbons, coal, wood, etc.

 Incidentally, it allows the infusion and cutting of refractory materials, concrete, etc.

Claims (4)

 I. Molecular water dissociation burner, characterized by the injection of water vapor into a flame at very high temperature.  2. Burner according to claim I, characterized by the use of a steel tube 3, filled with iron wire whose combustion is ensured by an injection, inside, of oxygen at medium pressure I.  3. Burner according to claim 2, characterized by the injection of steam into the same steel tube 3, using a flow valve 5.  4. Burner according to claims I and 2, characterized by a circular hearth 8, protected by an annular air stream 9 and IO.