Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
  • F23C—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTION USING FLUID FUEL OR SOLID FUEL SUSPENDED IN  A CARRIER GAS OR AIR 
  • F23C99/00—Subject-matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
  • F23C99/003—Combustion process using sound or vibrations

Definitions

• the invention concerns equipment and a method for enhancing the combustion event and heat transfer in a heating boiler.
• the invention relates to combustion taking place in power plants, heating furnaces, heating boilers and other such combustion spaces and to enhancement of such combustion.
• heating boiler will be used for these application objects of the invention.
• Combustion is a complex event, which depends on several different factors, such as the particle size of the fuel, the combustion temperature and the structure of the heating boiler.
• the fuel used in the combustion event becomes oxidized, whereby heat will result.
• combustion of hot solid matter depends on the speed at which oxygen is diffused into the surface of the matter. As the combustion proceeds, the particle size and particle mass are reduced. When burning carbon, the combustion results in carbon monoxide, which in the continued combustion will become carbon dioxide.
• Enhancing of combustion is also associated with cleaning of the heat transfer surfaces of the heating boiler to remove ash particles and unburnt carbon particles from them.
• Acoustic cleaning is a known cleaning method, wherein sound sources are placed in the heat transfer parts of the heating boiler and sound is produced periodically at intervals of about 2-15 minutes for a few seconds each time.
• Acoustic cleaning equipment is known e.g. from publications WO-82/01328 and WO-
• the purpose of the invention is to bring about equipment and a method for enhancing the combustion event in such a way that the combustion is more complete and emissions are reduced.
• Another purpose of the invention is to bring about equipment of a new kind, wherein a sound source based on a pulse burner is used as the sound source.
• the equipment according to the invention for enhancing the combustion event and heat transfer in a heating boiler is mainly characterised in that the space above the major combustion zone in the combustion space of the heating boiler is equipped with sound sources to generate an acoustic field in order to enhance the combustion event and to achieve a more complete combustion, and that the sound sources are placed in such a way that the acoustic pressure patterns generated by the sound sources meet at angles of 20-90° sideways and/or vertically.
• the method according to the invention for its part is characterised in that in a space above the major combustion zone in the combustion space of the heating boiler a rotating acoustic field is generated by sound sources, which are located on various sides and/or at different elevations of the heating boiler.
• the combustion event is enhanced in such a way in a heating boiler that an acoustic field is applied to a space above the actual major combustion zone. Matter volatilising at this location has already burnt out for the most part, but some carbon still remains in the form of small particles, which have not yet burnt.
• the acoustic field is preferably continuous and it is generated by suitable sound sources, one or more, which are placed in the combustion space of the heating boiler.
• the sound source is preferably a sound source based on a pulse burner.
• the sound source according to the invention which is based on a pulse burner
• that problem is solved, which is associated with pneumatically operated sound sources in that due to the higher pressure existing inside the combustion space dust or other impurities will drift from the combustion space into the sound source. No such problem occurs in the sound source based on a pulse burner.
• Figure 1 shows a heating boiler and the location therein of the equipment according to the invention.
• Figure 2 shows an example of the acoustic field according to the invention.
• Figure 3A shows the sound source according to the invention.
• Figure 3B shows a valve in the sound source according to the invention.
• Figure 3C is a cross-sectional view of the sound source according to the invention.
• Figure 3D is another cross-sectional view of the sound source according to the invention.
• Figure 1 is a schematic view of a heating boiler, wherein the method according to the invention for enhancing the combustion event is applied.
• Sound sources S are located in combustion space 11 of heating boiler 10. The place of location of sound sources S is a space above the major combustion zone before cooling of the combustion gases.
• the sound sources used are preferably such sound horns known in acoustic cleaning, which produce a sound volume of 130-170 dB at a frequency of 20-1000 Hz.
• the sound source used may also be pneumatically operated continuous sirens or the sound source according to the invention shown in Figures 3A-D, which is based on a pulse burner.
• the acoustic frequency range chosen is preferably used explicitly in order to enhance the combustion event.
• the power and frequency of the sound sources S may be controlled within the chosen range according to the type and size of boiler and the locations of sound sources S.
• the sound volume is chosen so that the acoustic pressure level generated by sound sources S is preferably no less than 130 dB at the place where acoustic pressure patterns meet, where the temperature in the combustion space 11 is typically over 800°C. Sound sources S are placed in combustion space 11 in such a way that the acoustic pressure patterns which they generate will meet at angles of 20-90° sideways and/or vertically.
• sound sources S are placed at different elevations in the heating boiler 10, and when moving upwards in the combustion space 11 the frequency of the sound source S is increased as the diameter and mass of solid particles diminish further ahead in combustion space 11.
• the desired effect enhancing the combustion event will remain at an optimum.
• sound sources S are placed in such a way in heating boiler 10 that the resulting acoustic field is rotating.
• Figure 2 illustrates such a rotating acoustic field, which is generated by locating in the combustion space 11 of a heating boiler, which as regards its diameter is of a rectangular shape, four sound sources S, which are used to generate the acoustic pressure direction pattern shown in Figure 2.
• a rotating acoustic field of a corresponding kind can also be generated in a heatmg boiler of some other shape.
• the number and locations of sound sources S may be different from those shown in this example, when generating a rotating acoustic field.
• a part of the secondary and or tertiary air needed in the combustion event is supplied through the sound sources S placed in heating boiler 10. This supplied air at the same time functions as cooling air for sound sources S .
• Figure 3 A shows a sound source SP according to the invention, which is based on a pulse burner.
• Figure 3B shows an example of the structure of a valve V of sound source SP
• Figure 3C is a cross-sectional view of sound source SP along line A-A' indicated in Figure 3 A
• Figure 3D is a cross-sectional view of sound source SP along line B-B' indicated in Figure 3 A.
• the sound source used is a pulse burner, which preferably operates with the combustion reaction between a gaseous or gasified fuel and air and functions on the "pulse jet" principle known as such.
• the sound source SP includes an antechamber SPi, into which air under pressure is supplied through assembly Li, a combustion chamber SP 2 , into which a gaseous inflammable matter is supplied through assembly L 2 , and a sound horn SP 3 . Between antechamber SPi and combustion chamber SP 2 there is a valve/set of valves V, whose structure is shown by the cross-sectional view in Figure 3B.
• sound source SP includes one or more igniters I located in combustion chamber SP 2 .
• Combustion chamber SP is surrounded by cooling devices C including cooling fins ci,...,c n .
• a cooling medium preferably cooling air or water, is conducted by way of assembly L 3 .
• combustion chamber SP 2 After the combustion event, the pressure of combustion chamber SP 2 is released into the space to be cleaned, that is, into combustion space 11.
• the igniting device/devices I used are preferably spark plugs or a hot shoe functioning as a constantly glowing igniting component.
• the pulse burner operating as sound source SP preferably uses hydrocarbon gas and air in starting.
• a gasified gas is used, which is taken from that part of the combustion space, where no secondary or tertiary air has yet been introduced.
• the sound source according to the invention forms a continuous acoustic pressure pulse, with which a continuous quick pulse-like acoustic pressure can be driven into the combustion space of the boiler.
• the invention may be applied in all types of power plants, heating furnaces, heating boilers and other such installations.
• the sound sources used are sound horns known in acoustic cleaning, but also sound sources of other kinds maybe used.

Priority Applications (7)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (2)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 2000
  • 2000-07-06 FI FI20001616A patent/FI108810B/fi active
• 2001
  • 2001-07-06 CA CA002414988A patent/CA2414988C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-07-06 DE DE60120184T patent/DE60120184T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-07-06 JP JP2002509693A patent/JP2004502919A/ja active Pending
  • 2001-07-06 AU AU7982901A patent/AU7982901A/xx not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-07-06 US US10/332,101 patent/US20060040226A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-07-06 WO PCT/FI2001/000647 patent/WO2002004861A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2001-07-06 AT AT01958090T patent/ATE328242T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-07-06 EP EP01958090A patent/EP1311787B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2003
  • 2003-01-03 ZA ZA200300058A patent/ZA200300058B/en unknown
  • 2003-01-03 NO NO20030036A patent/NO323672B1/no not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (6)

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