Low emission combustion system

• US 5,848,887 A
• Filed: 11/26/1996
• Issued: 12/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Muth, Richard P., Knight, Brian A., Zabielski, Martin F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Larry
• Application Number:
  US08/753,564
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 431/354, 431/352, 431/353, 431/351, 431/7, 431/170, 431/326, 431/328, 431/100, 431/347, 431/329, 431/2, 126/116 R, 126/92 C, 126/92 AC, 126/91 A
• US Class Current: 431/353
• CPC Class Codes: F23C 13/00 Apparatus in which combustion takes place in the presence of catalytic material in a fluidised bed of catalytic particles F23C10/01; radiant gas burners using catalysis for flameless combustion F23D14/18
• CPC Class Codes: F23C 2201/20 Burner staging
• CPC Class Codes: F23C 2203/20 using heat absorbing device in flame F23C2203/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/0045 with catalytic combustion
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 3/105 using fluid fuel

Abstract

A low emission combustion system for use in a fuel-fired apparatus includes a fuel-fired burner (30) operative for generating a flame extending substantially axially outwardly from the outlet of the burner, a heat transfer tube (40) opposed to the outlet of the burner whereby the flame extending from said burner passes into a flame inlet section (48) of the gas flow conduit (46) of the heat transfer tube, a radiator body (50) disposed within the flame inlet section of the gas flow conduit of the heat transfer tube, and a catalytic converter (60) for oxidizing carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The radiator body (50) has a thermal mass sufficient to reduce peak flame temperatures in the flame inlet section to less than 2800 F. The catalytic converter is disposed within the gas flow conduit at a location downstream of the radiator body.

Claims

1. A combustion system for use in a fuel-fired apparatus comprising:

a fuel-fired burner having an outlet, said burner operative for generating a flame extending substantially axially outwardly from the outlet of said burner;

a heat transfer tube having an inlet, an outlet, and a gas flow conduit extending therebetween, said heat transfer tube opposed to the outlet of said burner whereby the flame extending from said burner passes into a flame inlet section of the gas flow conduit of said heat transfer tube;

a radiator body disposed within the flame inlet section of the gas flow conduit of said heat transfer tube, said radiator body having a thermal mass sufficient to reduce peak flame temperatures in the flame inlet section to less than 2800 F.; and

a catalytic converter for oxidizing carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, said catalytic converter disposed within the gas flow conduit at a location downstream of the radiator body whereat the gas flow passing over said catalytic converter has a gas temperature in the range from 850 F. to 1300 F.

2. A combustion system as recited in claim 1 wherein said catalytic converter has a catalyst selected from the group comprising platinum, palladium and mixtures thereof.

3. A method of controlling nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions from a combustion system of a fuel-fired apparatus, the combustion system including a fuel-fired burner operative for generating a flame extending substantially axially outwardly from the burner;

and a heat transfer tube having an inlet, an outlet, and a gas flow conduit extending therebetween, the heat transfer tube disposed opposite the burner whereby the flame extending from the burner passes into a flame inlet section of the gas flow conduit of the heat transfer tube, said method comprising;

disposing a radiator within the inlet section of the gas flow conduit of said heat transfer tube, the radiator body having a thermal mass sufficient to reduce peak flame temperatures in the flame inlet section to less than about 2800 F.; and

oxidizing carbon monoxide within the gas flow to carbon dioxide in the presence of a catalyst disposed within the gas flow conduit at a location downstream of the radiator body whereat the gas flow passing over said catalyst has a gas temperature in the range from 850 F. to 1300 F.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said catalyst is selected from the group comprising platinum, palladium, and mixtures thereof.