Method and burner tip for suspressing emissions of nitrogen oxides

Claim 1

A method for burning a liquid fuel in a combustion zone containing a flame zone while suppressing the production of oxides of nitrogen from burning of the fuel comprising the steps of: introducing an oxygen containing combustion gas into the combustion zone; burning the fuel in the combustion zone by ejecting the fuel without gas from a fuel port in a burner tip into the combustion gas, the burner tip having a longitudinal axis, the fuel being ejected from the fuel port into the combustion gas at an angle generally perpendicular to the direction of introduction of the combustion gas and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the burner tip; and introducing a control gas into the combustion zone for controlled atomization of the fuel, the control gas bein introduced at an angle generally perpendicular to the direction of introduction of the combustion gas, the control gas being introduced from at least two gas ports in the burner tip on axially opposite sides of the fuel port, at least one of the gas ports being axially spaced apart from the fuel port at least about 0.3 inch and no more than about 12 inches, wherein the control gas is introduced at a sufficient rate and a sufficient velocity for controlled atomization of the fuel.

Claim 2

A method for burning a liquid fuel in a combustion zone containing a flame zone while suppressing the production of oxides of nitrogen from burning of the fuel comprising the steps of: introducing an oxygen containing combustion gas into the combustion zone; burning the fuel in the combustion zone by ejecting the fuel without gas from a fuel port in a burner tip into the combustion gas, the burner tip having a longitudinal axis, the fuel being ejected from the fuel port into the combustion gas at an angle generally perpendicular to the direction of introduction of the combustion gas and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the burner tip; and introducing a control gas into the combustion zone for controlled atomization of the fuel, the control gas bein introduced at an angle generally perpendicular to the direction of introduction of the combustion gas, the control gas being introduced from at least two gas ports in the burner tip on axially opposite sides of the fuel port, at least one of the gas ports being axially spaced apart from the fuel port at least about 0.3 inch and no more than about 12 inches, wherein the control gas is introduced at a sufficient rate and a sufficient velocity for controlled atomization of the fuel.

Claim 16

A method for burning a liquid fuel in a combustion zone containing a flame zone while suppressing the production of oxides of nitrogen from burning of the fuel comprising the steps of: introducing an oxygen containing combustion gas into the combustion zone; burning the fuel in the flame zone by ejecting the fuel from a port in a burner tip into the combustion gas, the burner tip having a longitudinal axis, the fuel being ejected into the combustion gas at an angle generally perpendicular to the direction of introduction of the combustion gas and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the burner tip; and introducing a control gas into the combustion zone for controlled quenching of the flame zone and controlled atomization of the fuel, the control gas being introduced at an angle generally perpendicular to the angle of introduction of the combustion gas, the control gas being introduced from at least two gas ports axially spaced apart from each other and from the fuel port, each gas port comprising a slot around the circumference of the burner tip, wherein the control gas has a sufficiently low temperature for quenching of the flame zone and at least one gas port is axially spaced apart from the fuel port by at least about 0.3 inch and no more than about 12 inches.

Claim 17

A method for burning a liquid fuel in a combustion zone containing a flame zone while suppressing the production of oxides of nitrogen from burning of the fuel comprising the steps of: introducing an oxygen containing combustion gas into the combustion zone; burning the fuel in the flame zone by ejecting the fuel from a port in a burner tip into the combustion gas, the burner tip having a longitudinal axis, the fuel being ejected into the combustion gas at an angle generally perpendicular to the direction of introduction of the combustion gas and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the burner tip; and introducing a control gas into the combustion zone for controlled quenching of the flame zone and controlled atomization of the fuel, the control gas being introduced at an angle generally perpendicular to the angle of introduction of the combustion gas, the control gas being introduced from at least two gas ports axially spaced apart from each other and from the fuel port, each gas port comprising a slot around the circumference of the burner tip, wherein the control gas has a sufficiently low temperature for quenching of the flame zone and at least one gas port is axially spaced apart from the fuel port by at least about 0.3 inch and no more than about 12 inches.

Claim 24

A method for burning a first liquid fuel and a second liquid fuel in a combustion zone containing a flame zone while suppressing the production of oxides of nitrogen from burning the fuels, the method comprising the steps of: introducing an oxygen containing combustion gas into the combustion zone; ejecting the first fuel from a first fuel port in a burner tip into the combustion gas, and ejecting the second fuel from a second fuel port in the burner tip into the combustion gas, both fuels being ejected without any atomization gas, the burner tip having a longitudinal axis, the first and second fuel ports being axially spaced apart from each other, the first and second fuels being ejected from the fuel ports into the combustion gas at an angle generally perpendicular to the angle of introduction of the combustion gas and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the burner tip; and introducing a control gas into the combustion zone from at least two gas ports in the burner tip at an angle generally perpendicular to the angle of introduction of the combustion gas for controlled atomization of the liquid fuels, the gas ports being axially spaced apart from each other and from the fuel ports, one of the gas ports being axially spaced apart by at least about 0.3 inch and no more than about 12 inches from one of the fuel ports, wherein another gas port is proximate to the other fuel port, and wherein the control gas is introduced at a sufficient rate and at a sufficient velocity for controlled atomization of the liquid fuels.

Claim 25

A method for burning a first liquid fuel and a second liquid fuel in a combustion zone containing a flame zone while suppressing the production of oxides of nitrogen from burning the fuels, the method comprising the steps of: introducing an oxygen containing combustion gas into the combustion zone; ejecting the first fuel from a first fuel port in a burner tip into the combustion gas, and ejecting the second fuel from a second fuel port in the burner tip into the combustion gas, both fuels being ejected without any atomization gas, the burner tip having a longitudinal axis, the first and second fuel ports being axially spaced apart from each other, the first and second fuels being ejected from the fuel ports into the combustion gas at an angle generally perpendicular to the angle of introduction of the combustion gas and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the burner tip; and introducing a control gas into the combustion zone from at least two gas ports in the burner tip at an angle generally perpendicular to the angle of introduction of the combustion gas for controlled atomization of the liquid fuels, the gas ports being axially spaced apart from each other and from the fuel ports, one of the gas ports being axially spaced apart by at least about 0.3 inch and no more than about 12 inches from one of the fuel ports, wherein another gas port is proximate to the other fuel port, and wherein the control gas is introduced at a sufficient rate and at a sufficient velocity for controlled atomization of the liquid fuels.

Claim 27

A method for burning a first fluid fuel of relatively lower nitrogen content and a second liquid fuel of relatively higher nitrogen content in a combustion zone containing a flame zone while suppressing the production of oxides of nitrogen from burning the fuels, the method comprising the steps of: introducing an oxygen containing combustion gas into the combustion zone; ejecting the first fuel from a first fuel port in a burner tip having a longitudinal axis into the combustion zone at an angle generally perpendicular to the angle of introduction of the combustion gas and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the burner tip; ejecting the second fuel from a second fuel port in the burner tip into the combustion zone at an angle generally perpendicular to the angle of introduction of the combustion gas and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the burner tip, the first and second fuel ports being axially spaced apart from each other; introducing a first control gas into the combustion zone from a first gas port in the burner tip at an angle generally perpendicular to the angle of introduction of the combustion gas, the first gas port being proximate to the first fuel port; and introducing a second control gas into the combustion zone from a second gas port in the burner tip at an angle generally perpendicular to the angle of introduction of the combustion gas, the second gas port being proximate to the second fuel port for controlled atomization of the liquid fuel, wherein the gas ports are axially spaced apart from each other and both gas ports are axially spaced part from their respective fuel ports by at least about 0.3 inch and no more than about 12 inches, and wherein the first fuel port is closer than the second fuel port to where the combustion gas is introduced into the combustion zone.

Claim 28

A method for burning a first fluid fuel of relatively lower nitrogen content and a second liquid fuel of relatively higher nitrogen content in a combustion zone containing a flame zone while suppressing the production of oxides of nitrogen from burning the fuels, the method comprising the steps of: introducing an oxygen containing combustion gas into the combustion zone; ejecting the first fuel from a first fuel port in a burner tip having a longitudinal axis into the combustion zone at an angle generally perpendicular to the angle of introduction of the combustion gas and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the burner tip; ejecting the second fuel from a second fuel port in the burner tip into the combustion zone at an angle generally perpendicular to the angle of introduction of the combustion gas and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the burner tip, the first and second fuel ports being axially spaced apart from each other; introducing a first control gas into the combustion zone from a first gas port in the burner tip at an angle generally perpendicular to the angle of introduction of the combustion gas, the first gas port being proximate to the first fuel port; and introducing a second control gas into the combustion zone from a second gas port in the burner tip at an angle generally perpendicular to the angle of introduction of the combustion gas, the second gas port being proximate to the second fuel port for controlled atomization of the liquid fuel, wherein the gas ports are axially spaced apart from each other and both gas ports are axially spaced part from their respective fuel ports by at least about 0.3 inch and no more than about 12 inches, and wherein the first fuel port is closer than the second fuel port to where the combustion gas is introduced into the combustion zone.

Claim 33

A method for burning a liquid fuel in a combustion zone containing a flame zone while suppressing the production of oxides of nitrogen, the combustion zone having associated therewith a horizontally extending burner tip having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of: introducing an oxygen containing combustion gas into the combustion zone generally horizontally around the burner tip; burning the fuel in the flame zone by ejecting the fuel without any atomizing gas into the combustion gas radially from a fuel port in the burner tip, the fuel port comprising a plurality of orifices circumferentially spaced around the burner tip in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the burner tip, the orifices having a diameter of from about 0.02 to about 0.1 inch; and introducing steam radially into the combustion zone from at least three gas ports extending circumferentially around the burner tip for controlled quenching of the flame zone and for controlled atomization of the fuel, the gas ports being axially spaced apart from each other and from the fuel port, a pair of the gas ports being on either side of the fuel port with the fuel port therebetween, and a third gas port being further away from where the combustion gas is introduced than is the fuel port and the other two gas ports, the third gas port being axially spaced apart from the fuel port by at least about 0.3 inch, at least one of the gas ports being no more than about 12 inches from the fuel port.

Claim 34

A method for burning a liquid fuel in a combustion zone containing a flame zone while suppressing the production of oxides of nitrogen, the combustion zone having associated therewith a horizontally extending burner tip having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of: introducing an oxygen containing combustion gas into the combustion zone generally horizontally around the burner tip; burning the fuel in the flame zone by ejecting the fuel without any atomizing gas into the combustion gas radially from a fuel port in the burner tip, the fuel port comprising a plurality of orifices circumferentially spaced around the burner tip in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the burner tip, the orifices having a diameter of from about 0.02 to about 0.1 inch; and introducing steam radially into the combustion zone from at least three gas ports extending circumferentially around the burner tip for controlled quenching of the flame zone and for controlled atomization of the fuel, the gas ports being axially spaced apart from each other and from the fuel port, a pair of the gas ports being on either side of the fuel port with the fuel port therebetween, and a third gas port being further away from where the combustion gas is introduced than is the fuel port and the other two gas ports, the third gas port being axially spaced apart from the fuel port by at least about 0.3 inch, at least one of the gas ports being no more than about 12 inches from the fuel port.

Claim 37

A method for burning a liquid fuel in a combustion zone containing a flame zone while suppressing the production of oxides of nitrogen, the combustion zone having associated therewith a horizontally extending burner tip, the method comprising the steps of: introducing an oxygen containing combustion gas into the combustion zone substantially horizontally around the burner tip; burning the fuel in the flame zone by ejecting the fuel without any atomizing gas into the combustion gas radially from a fuel port in the burner tip, the fuel port comprising a plurality of orifices circumferentially spaced around the burner tip in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the burner tip, the orifices having a diameter of from about 0.01 to about 0.1 inch; and introducing steam radially into the combustion zone from at least two slots extending circumferentially around the burner tip for controlled quenching of the flame zone and for controlled atomization of the fuel, the slots being from about 0.01 to about 0.05 inch wide and on opposite sides of the fuel port, at least one slot being horizontally spaced apart from the fuel port by at least about 0.3 inch and no more than about 12 inches.

Claim 38

A method for burning a liquid fuel in a combustion zone containing a flame zone while suppressing the production of oxides of nitrogen, the combustion zone having associated therewith a horizontally extending burner tip, the method comprising the steps of: introducing an oxygen containing combustion gas into the combustion zone substantially horizontally around the burner tip; burning the fuel in the flame zone by ejecting the fuel without any atomizing gas into the combustion gas radially from a fuel port in the burner tip, the fuel port comprising a plurality of orifices circumferentially spaced around the burner tip in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the burner tip, the orifices having a diameter of from about 0.01 to about 0.1 inch; and introducing steam radially into the combustion zone from at least two slots extending circumferentially around the burner tip for controlled quenching of the flame zone and for controlled atomization of the fuel, the slots being from about 0.01 to about 0.05 inch wide and on opposite sides of the fuel port, at least one slot being horizontally spaced apart from the fuel port by at least about 0.3 inch and no more than about 12 inches.

Claim 40

A method for burning a liquid fuel in a combustion zone containing oxygen and a flame zone comprising the steps of: introducing an oxygen containing combustion gas into the combustion zone; ejecting liquid fuel without any atomization gas from a burner tip fuel port into the combustion zone toward the flame zone at an angle generally perpendicular to the angle of introduction of the combustion gas, the burner tip having a longitudinal axis and the fuel being ejected from the burner tip at an angle generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the burner tip; and locally quenching the flame zone by introducing a control gas into the combustion zone so that the control gas intersects the flame zone at the portion of the flame zone closest to where the combustion gas is introduced into the combustion zone, the control gas being introduced from the burner tip from at least two gas ports on axially opposite sides of the fuel port, at least one of the gas ports being axially spaced apart from the fuel port by at least about 0.3 inch and no more than about 12 inches.

Claim 41

A method for burning a liquid fuel in a combustion zone containing oxygen and a flame zone comprising the steps of: introducing an oxygen containing combustion gas into the combustion zone; ejecting liquid fuel without any atomization gas from a burner tip fuel port into the combustion zone toward the flame zone at an angle generally perpendicular to the angle of introduction of the combustion gas, the burner tip having a longitudinal axis and the fuel being ejected from the burner tip at an angle generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the burner tip; and locally quenching the flame zone by introducing a control gas into the combustion zone so that the control gas intersects the flame zone at the portion of the flame zone closest to where the combustion gas is introduced into the combustion zone, the control gas being introduced from the burner tip from at least two gas ports on axially opposite sides of the fuel port, at least one of the gas ports being axially spaced apart from the fuel port by at least about 0.3 inch and no more than about 12 inches.