Remote staged furnace burner configurations and methods

0001The present invention relates to remote staged furnace burner configurations, and more particularly, to the placement of secondary fuel gas nozzles separate and remote from the burners resulting in lower NO_x production.

0002Gas burner furnaces are well known and have been used in reforming and cracking operations and the like for many years. Radiant wall burner furnaces generally include radiant wall burners having central fuel gas-air mixture burner tubes surrounded by annular refractory tiles which are adapted for insertion into openings in the furnace wall. The burner nozzles discharge and bum fuel gas-air mixtures in directions generally parallel and adjacent to the internal faces of the refractory tiles. The combustion of the fuel gas-air mixtures causes the faces of the burner tiles to radiate heat, e.g., to process tubes, and undesirable flame impingement on the process tubes is thereby avoided. Radiant wall burners are typically installed in several rows along a furnace wall. This type of configuration is usually designed to provide uniform heat input to the process tubes from the wall area comprising the radiant wall burner matrix.

0003Vertical cylindrical furnaces, cabin furnaces and other similar furnaces such as boilers are also well known. Vertical cylindrical furnaces generally include an array of burners on the floor of the furnace that discharge and burn fuel gas-air mixtures vertically. Process tubes are positioned vertically around the burners and adjacent to the cylindrical wall of the furnace whereby heat from the burning fuel gas-air mixtures radiates to the process tubes.

0004Cabin furnaces and other similar furnaces generally include an array of two or more burners on the rectangular floor of the furnace that discharge and burn fuel gas-air mixtures vertically. Horizontal process tubes are arranged on opposite walls of the furnace which are parallel to the burner array. Additional process tubes can also be arranged adjacent to the top of the furnace. Heat from the burning fuel gas-air mixtures radiates to the process tubes.

0005More stringent environmental emission standards are continuously being imposed by governmental authorities which limit the quantities of gaseous pollutants such as oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) that are introduced into the atmosphere. Such standards have led to the development of staged or secondary fuel burner apparatus and methods wherein all of the air and some of the fuel is burned in a first zone and the remaining fuel is burned in a second downstream zone. In such staged fuel burner apparatus and methods, an excess of air in the first zone functions as a diluent which lowers the temperature of the burning gases and thereby reduces the formation of NO_x. Desirably, furnace flue gases function as a diluent to lower the temperature of the burning secondary fuel and thereby reduce the formation of NO_x.

0006Similarly, staged burner designs have also been developed wherein the burner combusts a primary fuel lean mixture of fuel gas and air and stage fuel risers discharge secondary fuel. The location of the secondary fuel risers can vary, depending on the manufacturer and type of burner, but they are typically located around and adjacent to the perimeter of the primary burner. <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US4496306A"><text>U.S. Patent No. 4,496,306</text></patcit> discloses a method comprising injecting a primary fuel and air into a furnace to bum the fuel and form a first-stage combustion zone. Specific details are given for box furnace applications. The air in the furnace is being supplied at a rate in excess of the stoichiometric rate required for the combustion of the fuel. <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US5573391A"><text>U.S. Patent No. 5,573,391</text></patcit> discloses a burner apparatus and method for reducing nitrogen oxides that are formed during combustion of gaseous fuel. Primary gaseous fuel and excess oxidant are premixed to form a fuel/oxidant mixture which is introduced into and combusted within a primary combustion zone.

0007While the staged burners and furnace designs have been improved whereby combustion gases containing lower levels of NO_x are produced, additional improvement is necessary. Thus, there are needs for improved methods of burning fuel gas and air using burners whereby flue gases having lower NO_x levels are produced. According to the present invention, there is provided a low NO_x producing vertical cylindrical furnace having a cylindrical wall and a floor comprising: a primary burner on the floor of the furnace for vertically introducing a lean combustible fuel gas-air mixture into a combustion zone adjacent to the primary burner; a secondary fuel gas nozzle, said secondary fuel gas nozzle located separate and remote from the primary burner such that the introduced secondary fuel gas initially mixes with flue gases in the furnace prior to mixing with the fuel gas-air mixture from the primary burner in a combustion zone and combusting therein with excess air, thereby lowering the temperature of the burning fuel gas an reducing the formation of NO_x; and a plurality of process tubes positioned vertically around the primary burner and adjacent to the cylindrical wall of the furnace whereby heat from the burning fuel gas-air mixture radiates to the process tubes.

0008Preferably, secondary fuel gas is introduced into the secondary fuel gas nozzles in an amount that constitutes a substantial portion of the total fuel provided to the combustion zone by the lean primary fuel gas-air mixtures and the secondary fuel gas. Preferably, the secondary fuel gas nozzles are positioned on the furnace wall or on the furnace floor, or both, and direct secondary fuel gas to various locations including a location on the opposite side of the combustion zone from the burners. As a result, NO_x levels in the combustion gases leaving the furnace are substantially reduced.

0009In other preferred arrangements, secondary fuel gas nozzles are also located on the furnace floor, and the furnace includes floor burners (also referred to as hearth burners) with or without secondary fuel gas nozzles on the floor. Preferably, the secondary fuel gas nozzles have tips with at least one fuel delivery orifice designed to eject fuel gas at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle. More preferably, the secondary fuel gas nozzles have multiple fuel delivery orifices.

0010The invention also provides a method of burning fuel gas and air in a vertical cylindrical furnace having a cylindrical wall, a floor, a primary burner disposed on the floor and a plurality of process tubes positioned vertically around the primary burner and adjacent to the cylindrical wall whereby flue gases of reduced NO_x content are formed comprising the steps of: (a) providing a lean fuel gas-air mixture to the primary burner; (b) causing the fuel gas-air mixture to be vertically discharged from the primary burner whereby the mixture is burned at a relatively low temperature in a combustion zone and flue gases having low NO_x content are formed therefrom and heat from the burning fuel gas-air mixture radiates to the process tubes; and (c) providing secondary fuel gas to a secondary fuel gas nozzle whereby the secondary fuel gas is discharged from the secondary fuel gas nozzle, mixes with flue gases in the furnace prior to mixing with the fuel gas-air mixture from the primary burner in a combustion zone and combusting therein with excess air from the primary burner, lowers the temperature of the burning fuel gas and reduces the formation of NO_x, said secondary fuel gas nozzle being located separate and remote from the primary burner such that the introduced secondary fuel gas first mixes with the mixture of fuel gas and air from the primary burner after the secondary fuel gas mixes with flue gases in the furnace and combusts with the excess air.

0011[ Other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the description of preferred embodiments which follows when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

0012<figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref> illustrates the gas flow pattern in a radiant wall furnace using conventional staging with secondary fuel gas in the center of each burner.

0013<figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates the gas flow pattern of the present invention in a radiant wall furnace with remote staging of fuel gas.

0014<figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref> is a remote staging burner configuration on the wall of a radiant wall furnace.

0015<figref idref="f0003 f0004 f0005">FIGS. 4A - 4D</figref> illustrate other remote staging configurations on the wall of a radiant wall furnace.

0016<figref idref="f0006 f0007 f0008">FIGS. 5A - 5F</figref> illustrate remote staging configurations in a radiant wall furnace that include additional secondary fuel gas discharge nozzles on the furnace floor with and without floor burners.

0017<figref idref="f0009 f0010 f0011">FIGS. 6A - 6C</figref> illustrate preferred remote staging configurations in a vertical cylindrical furnace.

0018<figref idref="f0012 f0013 f0014">FIGS. 7A - 7C</figref> illustrate remote staging configurations in a cabin furnace.

0019<figref idref="f0015">FIG. 8</figref> is a side view of a preferred secondary fuel gas discharge nozzle for use in accordance with this invention.

0020<figref idref="f0015">FIG. 9</figref> is a top view of the secondary fuel gas discharge nozzle of <figref idref="f0015">FIG. 8</figref>.

0021<figref idref="f0016">FIG. 10</figref> is a graph comparing NO_x emissions from a test furnace with and without the remote staging technique of this invention. The present invention relates to vertical cylindrical furnaces and methods of burning fuel gas and air in vertical cylindrical furnaces. Other types of furnace are described below and this description is useful in aiding understanding of the present invention.

0022A radiant wall furnace burner configuration utilizes rows of multiple radiant wall burners that include annular refractory tiles and bum fuel gas lean air mixtures connected to a wall of the furnace in a regular spacing and an array of secondary fuel gas nozzles located separate and remote from the radiant wall burners with means for introducing secondary fuel gas into the secondary fuel gas nozzles and wherein the secondary fuel gas constitutes a substantial portion of the total fuel provided to the combustion zone by the fuel gas-air mixtures and the secondary fuel gas. Preferably, the secondary fuel gas nozzles are positioned on the furnace wall adjacent to the rows of radiant wall burners or on the furnace floor, or both, and direct secondary fuel gas to various locations including a location on the opposite side of the combustion zone from the radiant wall burners. As a result, NO_x levels in the combustion gases leaving the furnace are reduced.

0023Referring now to the drawings, <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref> depicts a traditional burner column 11 of staged fuel radiant wall burners 10. The staged fuel radiant wall burners 10 consist of radiant wall burner tips 12 which are provided with a fuel gas lean mixture of primary fuel gas and air. Secondary fuel gas risers 14 supply the secondary fuel gas tips 16 thereof with fuel gas. The location of the secondary fuel gas tips 16 is typically in the centers of the radiant wall burner tips 12 as shown in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>, or around the perimeters of the radiant wall burner tips 12. As shown in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>, the fuel gas-air streams exiting the burner tips 12 form barriers 18 and 20 and encapsulate or surround the secondary fuel gas 22. The fuel gas-air barriers 18 and 20 around the secondary fuel gas 22 prevents sufficient entrainment of flue gas 24 resulting in increased NO_x emissions.

0024In the remote staged fuel technique of the present invention, the secondary fuel gas from or adjacent each radiant wall burner 10 is eliminated. Instead, the secondary fuel gas is injected into the furnace at a remote location. As shown in <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref>, by moving the secondary fuel gas to a remote secondary fuel gas nozzle 26 located, for example, below the burner column 11, the secondary fuel gas 22 is able to mix with the furnace flue gases 24 prior to mixing with the fuel gas-air mixture 18 in the combustion zone 28. It has been found that by using one or more remote secondary fuel gas nozzles 26 positioned at remote locations and providing secondary fuel gas patterns, reduced NO_x emissions are achieved as well as improved flame quality compared to state-of-the-art radiant wall burner designs.

0025Referring to <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref>, an improved radiant wall furnace burner configuration is illustrated and generally designated by the numeral 30. Rows 32 of multiple radiant wall burners 10 are inserted in a wall 31 of the furnace. The radiant wall burners 10 discharge fuel gas-air mixtures in radial directions across the face of the furnace wall 31. Radiant heat from the wall, as well as thermal radiation from the hot gases, is transferred, for example, to process tubes or other process equipment designed for heat transfer.

0026Each radiant wall burner 10 is provided a mixture of primary fuel gas and air wherein the flow rate of air is greater than stoichiometry relative to the primary gas. Preferably the rate of air is in the range of from about 105% to about 120% of the stoichiometric flow rate required to completely combust the primary and secondary fuel gas. Secondary fuel gas is discharged into the furnace by way of secondary fuel gas nozzles 26. The burner configuration of <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref> shows the secondary fuel gas nozzles 26 arranged in a row 32 with each secondary fuel gas nozzle positioned below a column 34 of radiant wall burners. The secondary fuel gas nozzles are made to discharge fuel gas in a direction generally toward the radiant wall burners as will be explained in detail below.

0027Additional examples of patterns are illustrated in <figref idref="f0003 f0004 f0005">FIGS. 4A - 4D</figref>. Rows of radiant wall burners 10 can be approximately parallel, the burners 10 can be approximately evenly spaced in columns 34 and the secondary fuel gas nozzles 26 can be positioned in a single row 32 with each nozzle directly below a radiant wall burner 10 in the row above as shown in <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref>, or offset as shown in <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 4A</figref>. As shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4B</figref>, in another configuration, the radiant wall burners 10 are in columns approximately parallel, the radiant wall burners 10 are approximately evenly spaced in columns 34 and the secondary fuel gas nozzles 26 positioned below the radiant wall burners 10 are in two rows, an upper row 36 and a lower row 38, wherein each secondary fuel gas nozzle of the upper row 36 is below a burner in the row above and wherein each secondary fuel gas nozzle of the lower row 38 is midway between the horizontal positions of the secondary fuel gas nozzles directly above it in row 36. In yet another configuration shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4C</figref>, the radiant wall burners 10 are offset halfway from one another, resulting in a diamond shaped pattern with the secondary fuel gas nozzles 26 located below the radiant wall burners and continuing the pattern. In still another configuration, shown in <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 4D</figref>, about half of the radiant wall burners 10 are approximately evenly spaced in rows and columns 40 with a row 42 of secondary fuel gas nozzles 26 positioned directly below. The remaining radiant wall burners 10 are below row 42 of secondary fuel gas nozzles and arranged in columns 44. A second row 46 of secondary fuel gas nozzles 26 is located directly below the burner columns 44.

0028The furnace walls 31 with the radiant wall burners 10 and secondary fuel gas nozzles 26 connected thereto are described above as if the walls are vertical, but it is to be understood that the walls can be at an angle from vertical or the walls can be horizontal.

0029Referring now to <figref idref="f0006 f0007 f0008">FIGS. 5A - 5F</figref>, alternate arrangements of secondary fuel gas nozzles 26 are shown with and without floor burners 54 (also referred to as hearth burners). Referring to <figref idref="f0006">FIGS. 5A and 5B</figref>, rows of multiple radiant wall burners 10 are inserted in a wall 31 of a furnace. As previously mentioned, the burners 10 discharge fuel gas-air mixtures in directions across the face of the furnace wall 31. Each radiant wall burner is provided a mixture of primary fuel gas and air wherein the flow rate of air is greater than stoichiometry relative to the primary gas, i.e., in the range of from about 105% to about 120% of the stoichiometric flow rate. Secondary fuel gas is discharged into the furnace by way of secondary fuel gas nozzles 26 disposed below the columns of radiant gas burners 10. In addition, secondary fuel gas nozzles 26 are disposed in the floor of the furnace to provide additional secondary fuel gas that mixes with excess air and furnace flue gases whereby low NO_x levels are produced.

0030Referring now to <figref idref="f0007">FIGS. 5C and 5D</figref>, a similar arrangement of radiant wall burners 10 and secondary fuel gas nozzles 26 is illustrated. In addition, floor burners 54 are provided adjacent to the wall 31 that mix fuel gas with an excess of air, and the secondary fuel gas nozzles 26 discharge fuel gas toward both the radiant wall burners and the floor burners whereby the secondary fuel gas readily mixes with furnace flue gases and excess air so that low NO_x levels are produced.

0031Referring now to <figref idref="f0008">FIGS. 5E and 5F</figref>, instead of providing secondary fuel gas nozzles 26 that discharge fuel gas toward both the radiant wall burners and the floor burners, additional secondary fuel gas nozzles can be provided in the floor of the furnace to mix with furnace flue gases and the excess air produced by the floor burners whereby low NO_x levels are produced.

0032Thus, as will now be understood by those skilled in the art, a variety of combinations of radiant wall burners 10 and separate and remote secondary fuel gas nozzles can be utilized in radiant wall gas burner furnaces to reduce NO_x levels in furnace flue gases.

0033Referring now to <figref idref="f0009">FIGS. 6A</figref>, <figref idref="f0010">6B</figref> and <figref idref="f0011">6C</figref>, improved vertical cylindrical furnace burner configurations of this invention are illustrated. Referring to <figref idref="f0009">FIG. 6A</figref>, a vertical cylindrical furnace 56 is shown having vertical process tubes 58 disposed around and adjacent to the cylindrical wall 60 of the furnace. Four primary burners 62 are disposed on the floor 64 of the furnace, but as is understood by those skilled in the art, fewer or more burners 62 can be used. The burners 62 discharge and burn fuel gas lean-air mixtures vertically. As shown in <figref idref="f0009">FIG. 6A</figref>, a secondary fuel gas nozzle 66 is provided on the furnace floor positioned in a location separate and remote from the primary burners 62. When required, additional secondary fuel gas nozzles 66 can be provided on the furnace floor 64. As shown by the arrow 67, the secondary fuel gas is directed vertically by the secondary fuel gas nozzles 66 so that it mixes with flue gases in the furnace and then combusts with excess air to thereby lower the temperature of the burning fuel gas and reduce the formation of NO_x.

0034In an alternate arrangement as shown in <figref idref="f0010">FIG. 6B</figref>, two secondary fuel gas nozzles 68 are attached to opposite sides of the cylindrical wall 60 of the furnace 56 above the burners 62. When required, only one or more than two secondary fuel gas nozzles 68 can be provided in the wall 60. As shown by the arrows 69, the secondary fuel gas is directed by the secondary fuel gas nozzles 68 at upward angles above the burners 62 whereby the secondary fuel gas mixes with flue gases in the furnace and then combusts with excess air to thereby lower the temperature of the burning fuel gas and reduce the formation of NO_x.

0035As shown in <figref idref="f0011">FIG. 6C</figref>, both secondary fuel gas nozzles 66 and 68 can be utilized when required to reduce the formation of NO_x.

0036Referring now to <figref idref="f0012">FIGS. 7A</figref>, <figref idref="f0013">7B</figref> and <figref idref="f0014">7C</figref>, improved cabin and other similar furnace burner configurations are illustrated. Referring to <figref idref="f0012">FIG. 7A</figref>, a cabin furnace 70 is shown having horizontal process tubes 72 disposed on opposite sides 74 and the top 76. Three primary burners 78 are disposed on the floor 80 of the furnace, but fewer or more can be used. The burners 78 discharge and burn fuel gas lean-air mixtures vertically. As shown, secondary fuel gas nozzles 82 that direct secondary fuel gas vertically as shown by the arrows 83 are provided on the furnace floor on opposite sides of the burner 78. The secondary fuel gas mixes with flue gases in the furnace and then combusts with excess air to thereby lower the temperature of the burning fuel gas and reduce the formation of NO_x.

0037In an alternate arrangement as shown in <figref idref="f0013">FIG. 7B</figref>, secondary fuel gas nozzles are omitted on the floor 80 of the furnace 70. Instead, secondary fuel gas nozzles 84 are provided on the opposite walls 74 between process tubes 72. As shown by the arrows 86, the secondary fuel gas is directed at upward angles above the burners 78 whereby the secondary fuel gas mixes with flue gases in the furnace and then combusts with excess air to lower the temperature of the burning fuel gas and reduce the formation of NO_x.

0038As shown in <figref idref="f0014">FIG. 7C</figref>, both secondary fuel gas nozzles 82 and 84 can be utilized when required to reduce the formation of NO_x.

0039While different furnace types have been described herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the furnace burner configurations of this invention can be utilized in any vertical cylinder furnace to reduce NO_x formation.

0040Preferably, the total fuel gas-air mixture flowing through the furnace burners contains less than about 80% of the total fuel supplied to the combustion zone 28.

0041The secondary fuel gas nozzles are disposed on the furnace floor or walls extending about 2.5 to about 30.5 cm (about 1 to about 12 inches) into the furnace interior. Fuel gas is preferably supplied at a pressure in the range of from about 138 to about 345 kPa (about 20 to about 50 psig).

0042The secondary fuel gas nozzles positioned on the walls of furnaces and illustrated in <figref idref="f0001 f0002 f0003 f0004 f0005 f0006 f0007 f0008">FIGS. 1 through 5</figref> are shown in detail in <figref idref="f0015">FIGS. 8 and 9</figref>. The nozzles can have single fuel gas delivery openings 48 therein for discharging the flow of secondary fuel gas into the furnace. The openings 48 discharge secondary fuel gas towards or away from a wall of a furnace at an angle α in the general range of about 60° to about 120° from the longitudinal axis. The secondary fuel gas nozzles can also include additional side delivery openings 52 for discharging secondary fuel gas in various directions over angles β in the range of from about 10° to about 180° from both sides of a vertical plane through the longitudinal axis, and more preferably at angles in the range of about 20° to about 150°.

0043When the secondary fuel gas nozzles are positioned on the walls or floors of vertical cylindrical furnaces, they can include fuel gas delivery openings therein that discharge secondary fuel gas in multiple directions.

0044In order to further illustrate the furnace burner configuration and method, the following example is given.

EXAMPLE

0045A comparison was made of the NO_x emissions using radiant wall burners with and without remote staging. The test furnace utilized an array of 12 radiant wall burners arranged in 3 columns of 4 burners each. The burners were spaced 127 centimeters (50 inches) apart in each column and the columns were spaced 93 centimeters (36.5 inches) apart. The furnace was operated while supplying secondary gas to the center of the radiant wall burners and the NO_x in the furnace off gas was measured over time. The furnace was then operated after removing secondary gas from the burner centers and conducting the secondary gas to remote nozzles located adjacent to the columns of radiant wall burners.

0046<figref idref="f0015">FIG. 8</figref> is a plot comparing NO_x emissions from the furnace with and without the remote staging configuration. The data demonstrate that NO_x emissions are reduced by 50% using the remote staging configuration.

0047Thus, the present invention is well adapted to attain the objects and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. While numerous changes may be made by those skilled in the art, such changes are encompassed within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.