GB1563630A

GB1563630A - Injecting air into oil burning furnaces

Info

Publication number: GB1563630A
Application number: GB6049/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-03-29
Filing date: 1977-02-14
Publication date: 1980-03-26
Also published as: DE2649405A1; SE7700893L

Description

(54) INJECTING AIR INTO OIL BURNING FURNACES (71) I, JEROME SCHRANK of 2774 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America a citizen of the United States of America do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to an oil burning furnace arrangement having a device for injecting into the furnace proper, air which has been processed to increase its humidity.

The introduction of humidified air increases the thermal efficiency of oil combustion by what is believed to be a catalyzing reaction.

The theories of injecting humidified air into a furnace or internal combustion engine in order to assist combustion are well known. A variety of devices for delivering air processed to increase its humidity both into furnaces and internal combustion engines are well known in the art.

The invention consists in an oil burning furnace arrangement comprising an oil burning furnace and a device for injecting humidified air into the furnace, the device comprising a water container for receiving water from an associated source of water, a water level control for maintaining the water at a predetermined level in said container, an air line having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being received in said container and positioned below said predetermined water level, a humidified air outlet in said container positioned above said predetermined water level, a conduit arranged for supplying humidified air from said humidified air outlet to a combustion area in said furnace, a high pressure source of air comprising an air pump being connected to said air line inlet whereby air from said air pump is bubbled though said water and rises to the surface of said water.

Advantageously, an air filter is provided between the air source and the air line outlet.

The conduit may be connected to a humidified air delivery nozzle situated adjacent an oil burner gun in the furnace.

Alternatively, the conduit may be connected to a low pressure region in an oil burner gun of the furnace. In a further arrangement the conduit is connected to a humidified air delivery nozzle in the furnace, situated adjacent an oil burner gun of the furnace, and is also connected to a low pressure region in the oil burner gun.

In order to make the invention clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which are given by way of example, and in which: Figure 1 is a partially cut away illustrative view of an embodiment of an oil burning furnace arrangement of the present invention, wherein atmospheric air is processed to increase its humidity, and is forced into the combustion zone of the furnace by use of an air pump.

Figure 2 is a partially cut away illustrative view of a second embodiment of the present invention wherein processed air in injected into an oil burner gun of an oil burning furnace; Figure 3 is a partially cut away illustrative view of a third embodiment of the present invention wherein processed air is injected both into an oil burner gun of an oil burning furnace and directly into the combustion zone of the furnace; and Figure 4 is an illustrative view showing placement on a combustion line of means for producing and adding ozone to the processed air.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 discloses a first embodiment of the present invention, having a water container 110. An air line 112 leads from an air pump 150 into the container 110 and below the water level within the container 110. An oil burning furnace 120 is provided with an oil burner gun 140 that shoots oil spray 142 into combustion zone 121. By the use of any ignition means known in the art (not shown), flame 122 is ignited and fed by oil spray 142 from oil gun 140. Combustion line 113 leads from the uppermost portion of the water container 110 directly into combustion zone 121 at the base of flame 122.

Water line 130 which is connected to a source of water, passes directly into water container 110 and is controlled by float control means 131 to maintain the water level in the container 110 at a predetermined level.

In operation, the air from the air pump 150 is forced into the air line 112 and passes therefrom container 110 below the water level, then out through combustion line 113 and into the combustion zone 121. Air is processed to increase its humidity when the air is bubbled from the air line 112 below the water level to create the processed air 111.

Processed air 111 passes through combustion line 113 into combustion zone 121.

Control valve 114 is attached to the combustion line 113 in a manner that permits the control of the desired amount of vapor conveyed to the combustion zone.

Filter 115 is interposed in the air line 112 to substantially limit the entry of foreign particles into the water container 110.

Referring to Figures 1, it will be seen that the nozzle 123 is placed at the end of combustion line 113 within the combustion zone 121. Nozzle 123 is dimensioned to permit a spray of the processed air 111 of similar shape as the flame 122, e.g., conical flame, conical spray; fan flame, fan spray.

Spray is focused in a direction similar to that of the flame.

The introduction of the air 111 processed to increase its humidity into the combustion zone 121 at the base of flame 122 increases the efficiency of fuel burned in the furnace 120. It is conjectured that the increase in the humidity acts as a catalyst to increase the thermal efficiency of fuel combustion.

View plate 151 is provided in the wall of the water container 110 to permit a visual review of the water and water level within water container 110.

The pump 150 permits the introduction of the humidified air to take place at a high velocity, the air being directed at the base of flame 122 in Figure 1. This increased velocity then provides a desired increase in fuel efficiency by conjectured catalyzed combustion.

Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention. Atmospheric air is processed to increase its humidity as shown in Figure 1, a box 300 being shown in Figure 3, to represent the entire processing and pumping apparatus of Figure 1. In the embodiment of Figure 2 processed air 311 is conveyed through combustion line 313 directly into an oil burner gun 340. The processed air 311 combines with oil spray 342 and is injected into the combustion zone 321 of the furnace 320. Ignition is initially started by any conventional ignition means (not shown). The oil burner gun 340 shoots the oil spray 342 into the furnace 320 where it ignites in the combustion zone 321 with the resultant flame 322.

As in the first embodiment, it is conjectured that air processed to increase its humidity catalyzes a combustion reaction to increase thermal efficiency. Unlike the first embodiment, the processed air is conveyed directly into the oil gun 340 rather than the combustion zone 321. As in the first embodiment, only atmospheric air would be processed.

Figure 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention. Atmospheric air is processed to increase its humidity, as shown in Figure 1. A box 400 is shown in Figure 3 to represent the entire processing and pumping apparatus of Figure 1. In the embodiment of Figure 3, processed air 411 is conveyed through combustion line 413 directly into a blower 440 of an oil burner gun of the furnace. Additionally, a connection line 416 leads from combustion line 413 through furnace 420 directly into the combustion zone 421. Processed air 411 thus also passes through combustion line 416 and nozzle 423 attached to combustion line 416 where it is injected in the manner similar to the shape and direction of flame 422. The processed air 411 combines with the oil spray 442 which is injected into the combustion zone 421 through connection line 416 and nozzle 423.

As in the first embodiment, itis conjectured that air processed to increase its humidity catalyzes a combustion reaction to increase thermal efficiency. Processed air is conveyed into the combustion zone. As in the previous embodiments, only atmospheric air would be processed.

Figure 4 illustrates the addition of a device 500 for producing and adding ozone, the device 500 being attached at any point along a combustion line 513. Air 511 processed to increase its humidity is conveyed to the device 500 for producing and adding ozone to the processed air 510.

Any standard device conventionally known can be used to produce ozone and add it to the processed air 511. For example, any known electrostatic device can be attached to the combustion line 511 to manufacture the ozone and add it to the processed air. The resultant processed air with ozone 510 would continue along combustion line 513 until eventual injection into the oil burning furnace.

Claims

WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. An oil burning furnace arrangement comprising an oil burning furnace and a device for injecting humidified air into the furnace, the device comprising a water container for receiving water from an associated source of water, a water level control for maintaining the water at a predetermined level in said container, an air line having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being received in said container and positioned below said predetermined water level, a humidified air outlet in said container positioned above said predetermined water level, a conduit arranged for supplying humidified air from said humidified air outlet to a combustion area in said furnace, a high pressure source of air comprising an air pump being connected to said air line inlet whereby air from said air pump is bubbled through said water and rises to the surface of said water.

2. A furnace arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein an air filter is provided between the air source and the air line outlet.

3. A furnace arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the conduit is connected to a humidified air delivery nozzle situated adjacent an oil burner gun in the furnace.

4. A furnace arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the conduit is connected to a low pressure region in an oil burner gun of the furnace.

5. A furnace arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the conduit is connected to a humidified air delivery nozzle in the furnace, situated adjacent to an oil burner gun of the furnace, and is also connected to a low pressure region in the oil burner gun.

6. A furnace arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein means are provided for producing and adding ozone to the air in said conduit.

7. An oil burning furnace arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.