Fuel injector for use in a furnace

• US 5,762,007 A
• Filed: 12/23/1996
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Foster Wheeler North America Corporation (John Wood Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Joel Vatsky
• Inventors: Vatsky, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): O'Connor, Pamela A.
• Application Number:
  US08/771,965
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 110/261, 110/264, 110/104 B, 110/263, 431/181, 431/182, 431/183, 431/187
• US Class Current: 110/264
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 1/02 Vortex burners, e.g. for cyclone-type combustion apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 2201/20 Fuel flow guiding devices
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 2201/30 Wear protection

Abstract

A fuel injector for use in a furnace is provided. The fuel injector may include a generally tapered configuration and a nozzle having a plurality of open sections, which preferably have an elliptical configuration, arranged at the output for providing rich segregated fuel streams.

Claims

1. A fuel injector for use in a furnace, said fuel injector comprising:

an elongated inner barrel; and

an elongated outer barrel having an inlet end and an outlet end, mid outer barrel extending coaxially with and circumferentially surrounding said inner barrel between said inlet and outlet ends defining an elongated passageway between said inner and outer barrels, said passageway adapted to accommodate the flow of pulverized fuel and a carrier gas therein, said outlet end including a nozzle having a plurality of open sections, each of said open sections opening into said passageway, whereby the pulverized fuel and the carrier gas introduced into said passageway at said inlet end of said outer barrel is forced to exit said fuel injector through said open sections of said nozzle so that separate fuel streams are obtained.

4. The fuel injector of claim 1 wherein said nozzle comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, and stabilizer vane means arranged at the outer surface of the distal-most portion of said outlet end for maintaining each of said separated fuel streams in close proximity to said nozzle.

5. The fuel injector of claim 1 wherein said nozzle comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer surface of said nozzle having convex sections forming peaks and valleys, and secondary air straightening vane means arranged at aid valleys for preventing rotational components of secondary air flow adjacent said outer surface of said nozzle from prematurely forcing the separated fuel streams from emerging together.

6. The fuel injector of claim 1 further comprising a deflector shield at least partially surrounding said inner barrel between said inlet and outlet ends of said outer barrel.

7. An the fuel injector of claim 1 wherein said outer barrel includes a relatively large diameter at said inlet end and a relatively small diameter at said outlet end.

8. The fuel injector of claim 1 wherein said plurality of open sections of said nozzle comprise an elliptical configuration.

2. The fuel injector of claim I wherein said outer barrel comprises a transition region arranged between said inlet and outlet ends, said transition region being tapered to decrease the diameter of said outer barrel as it extends between said inlet and outlet ends, whereby the velocity at which said pulverized fuel and said carrier gas flows within said passageway is increased.

3. The fuel-injector of claim 2 further comprising a cylindrical deflector shield at least partially surrounding said inner barrel at distal end of said transition region proximate to said outlet end, whereby said deflector shield is adapted to protect said inner barrel from wear due to the impact of pulverized fuel particles and to spread out impacting pulverized fuel so that are substantially) uniform flow distribution of the pulverized fuel is obtained as said pulverized fuel and carrier gas exit said transition region and flow toward said nozzle.

9. A fuel injector for use in a furnace, said fuel injector comprising:

an elongated inner barrel; and

an elongated outer barrel having an inlet end and an outlet end, said outer barrel extending coaxially with and circumferentially surrounding said inner barrel between said inlet and outlet ends defining an elongated passageway between said inner and outer barrels, said passageway adapted to accommodate the flow of pulverized fuel and a carrier gas therein, said outer barrel having a relatively large diameter at said inlet end and a relatively small diameter at said outlet end, said outer barrel including a transition region arranged between said inlet and outlet ends, said transition region being tapered to decrease the diameter of said outer barrel from said relatively large diameter to said relatively small diameter as it extends between said inlet and outlet ends, said transition region having an inner surface and a plurality of elongated primary air straightening vanes arranged on said inner surface for converging, rotational flow of pulverized fuel and primary air about said inner barrel into an axial flow stream.

10. The fuel injector of claim 9 further comprising a cylindrical deflector shield at least partially surrounding said inner barrel at a distal end of said transition region proximate to said outlet end, whereby said deflector shield is adapted to protect said inner barrel from wear due to the impact of pulverized fuel particles and to spread out impacting pulverized fuel so that a uniform flow distribution of the pulverized fuel is obtained as said pulverized fuel and carrier gas exit said transition region and flow toward said nozzle.

11. The fuel injector of claim 9 wherein said outer barrel further includes a nozzle having a plurality of open sections each of said open sections opening into said passageway, whereby the pulverized fuel and the carrier gas introduced into said passageway at said inlet end of said outer barrel proceeds substantially uninterrupted without encountering any barrier and are forced to exit said fuel injector through said open sections of said nozzle so that separated fuel streams are obtained, said nozzle including an inner surface and an outer surface, and stabilizer vane means arranged at the outer side of the distal-most portion of said outlet end for maintaining each of said separated fuel streams in close proximity to said nozzle.

12. The fuel injector of claim 11, wherein said plurality of open sections of said nozzle comprise an elliptical configuration.

13. The fuel injector of claim 9 wherein said outer barrel further includes a nozzle having plurality of open sections each of said open sections opening into said passageway, whereby the pulverized fuel and the carrier gas introduced into said passageway at said inlet end of said outer barrel proceeds substantially uninterrupted without encountering any barrier and are forced to exit said fuel injector through said open sections of said nozzle so that separated fuel streams are obtained, said nozzle including an inner surface and an outer surface , said outer surface of said nozzle having convex sections forming peaks and valleys, and secondary air straightening vane means arranged at said valleys for preventing rotational components of secondary air flow adjacent said outer side of said nozzle from prematurely forcing the separated fuel streams from merging together.

14. The fuel injector of claim 9 further comprising a deflector shield at least partially surrounding said inner barrel between said inlet and outlet ends of said outer barrel.

15. A furnace comprising;

a combustion chamber; and

a fuel injector for providing a mixture of pulverizing fuel and a carrier gas to be burned in said combustion chamber, said fuel injector including,

an elongated inner barrel; and

an elongated outer barrel having an inlet end and an outlet end, said outer barrel extending coaxially with and circumferentially surrounding said inner barrel between said inlet and outlet ends defining an elongated passageway between said inner and outer barrels, said passageway adapted to accommodate the flow of pulverized fuel and a carrier gas therein, said outer barrel including a transition region arranged between said outer barrel as it extends between said inlet and outlet ends, said transition region having an inner surface with an s-shaped configuration whereby rapid acceleration of the flow of the pulverized fuel and the carrier gas is obtained.

16. The furnace of claim 15 wherein said nozzle comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, and stabilizer vane means arranged at the outer surface of the distal-most portion of said outlet end for maintaining each of said separated fuel streams in close proximity to said nozzle.

17. The furnace of claim 15 wherein said nozzle comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer surface of said nozzle having convex sections forming hills and valleys, and secondary air straightening vane means arranged at said valleys for preventing rotational components of secondary air flow adjacent said outer surface of said nozzle from prematurely forcing the separated fuel streams from merging together.

18. The furnace of claim 15 further comprising a deflector shield at least partially surrounding said inner barrel between said inlet and outlet ends of said outer barrel.

19. The furnace of claim 15 further comprising a cylindrical deflector shield at least partially surrounding said inner barrel at the end of said transition region proximate to said outlet end, whereby said deflector shield is adapted to protect said inner barrel from wear due to impact of pulverized fuel particles and to spread out impacting pulverized fuel so that a uniform flow distribution of the pulverized fuel is obtained as said pulverized fuel and carrier gas exit said transition region and flow toward said nozzle.

20. The furnace of claim 15 wherein said outer barrel includes a relatively large diameter at said inlet end and a relatively small diameter at said outlet end.

21. The furnace of claim 15 wherein said plurality of open sections of said nozzle comprise an elliptical configuration.

22. A burner assembly system for use with furnace, said burner assembly system comprising a fuel injector for providing a mixture of pulverized fuel and a carrier gas to be burned in a combination chamber of said furnace, said fuel injector including,

an elongated inner barrel;

and

an elongated outer barrel having an inlet end and an outlet end, said outer barrel coaxially with and circumferentially surrounding said inner barrel between said inlet and outlet ends defining an elongated passageway between said inner and outer barrels, said passageway adapted to accommodate the flow of pulverized fuel and a carrier gas therein, said outer barrel including a transition region arranged between said inlet and outlet ends;

said transition region being tapered to decrease the diameter of said outer barrel as it extends between said inlet and outlet ends, said transition region having an inner surface with an s-shaped configuration whereby rapid acceleration of the flow of the pulverized fuel and the carrier gas is obtained.

23. The burner assembly of claim 22 wherein said plurality of open sections of said nozzle comprise an elliptical configuration.

24. A nozzle for use with a fuel transport pulverized fuels and a carrier gas to an associated furnace, said nozzle being adapted to be connected to a distal end of a fuel injector having an inner barrel and an outer barrel extending coaxially with and circumferentially surrounding said inner barrel, said nozzle providing an outlet for the transported pulverized fuel and carrier gas, said nozzle comprising an inlet side and an outlet side, and a continuous hollow body defining a continuous passageway extending between and the inlet and outlet sides, said inlet side having a substantially circular hollow cross section and said outlet side having a hollow cross section defining a plurality of open sections opening into said passageway, whereby the pulverized fuel and the carrier gas introduces into said passageway at said inlet side of said nozzle is forced to exit said nozzle through said open sections at said outlet side so that separate fuel streams are obtained.

25. The nozzle of claim 24 further comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, and stabilizer vane means arranged at the outer surface of said outlet side for maintaining each of said separated fuel streams in close proximity to said nozzle.

26. The nozzle of claim 24 comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer surface of said nozzle having convex sections forming peaks and valleys, and secondary air straightening vane means arranged at said valleys for preventing rotational components of secondary air flow adjacent said outer surface of said nozzle from prematurely forcing the separated fuel streams from merging together.

27. The nozzle of claim 24 wherein said plurality of open sections comprises six open sections.

28. The nozzle of claim 24 wherein said plurality of open sections of said nozzle comprise an elliptical configuration.

29. A fuel injector for use in a furnace, said injector comprising:

an elongated inner barrel; and

an elongated outer barrel having an inlet end and an outlet end, said outer barrel extending coaxially with and circumferentially surrounding said inner barrel between said inlet and outlet ends, said transition region being tapered and having an inner surface with an s-shaped configuration so that rapid acceleration of the flow of pulverized fuel and carrier gas is obtained.

30. The fuel injector of claim 29 wherein said outer barrel further comprises a nozzle having a plurality of open sections, each of said open sections opening into said passageway whereby the pulverized fuel and the carrier gas introduced into said passageway at said inlet end of said outer barrel are forced to exit said fuel injector through said open sections of said nozzle so that separated fuel streams are obtained.

31. The fuel injector of claim 29 further comprising a cylindrical deflector shield at least partially surrounding said inner barrel at a distal end of said transition region proximate to said outlet end, whereby said deflector shield is adapted to protect said inner barrel from wear due to the impact of pulverized fuel particles and to spread out impacting pulverized fuel so that a uniform flow distribution of the pulverized fuel is obtained as said pulverized fuel and carrier gas exit said transition region and flow toward said nozzle.

32. A fuel injector for use in a furnace, said fuel injector compromising:

an elongated inner barrel;

an elongated outer barrel having an inlet end and an outlet end, said outer barrel extending coaxially with and circumferentially surrounding said inner barrel between said inlet and outlet ends defining an elongated passageway between said inner and outer barrels, said passageway adapted to accommodate the flow of pulverized fuel and a carrier gas therein, said outer barrel having a relatively large diameter at said inlet end and a relatively small diameter at said outlet end, said outer barrel including a transition region arranged between said inlet and outlet ends, said transition region being tapered to decrease the diameter as it extends between said inlet and outlet ends, said outlet end including a nozzle having a plurality of open sections opening into said passageway; and

a deflector shield at least partially surrounding said inner barrel at a distal end of said transition region proximate to said outlet end, whereby said deflector shield is adapted to spread out impacting pulverized fuel so that a uniform flow distribution of the pulverized fuel is obtained as said pulverized fuel and carrier gas exit said transition region and flow toward said nozzle.

33. The fuel injector of claim 32 wherein said deflector shield has a cylindrical configuration and is adapted to protect said inner barrel from wear which would otherwise occur due to the impact of pulverized fuel particles.