Control of NO emission during coal reburning

In this study, two types of coals were used as the reburning fuel to investigate the influence of the reburning zone stoichiometry SR₂, the primary NO level and the particle size on NO reduction. For both coals, the NO reduction can reach as high as 60–70% in the tested SR₂ range of 0.7–1.1. No optimum reburning zone stoichiometry was observed in this study. The NO reduction decreases monotonically with the decrease of reburning zone stoichiometry. The effect of particle size is only obvious for larger particle sizes.     

再燃过程中HCN对NOx还原的重要性

在降低ＮＯｘ排放的一系列方法中,燃料再燃是重要措施之一。通过对再燃区不同的空气过量系数和再燃温度条件下的数值计算,研究了天然气（ＣＨ４）作为再燃燃料时ＨＣＮ对ＮＯ再燃过程和再燃率的影响。再燃区模拟烟气成分为：ＣＯ２＝１６．８％,Ｏ２＝２％,ＮＯ＝０．１％和平衡气体Ｎ２。研究发现,再燃燃料中含氮组分的存在,以及再燃区的工况条件都对ＮＯｘ的再燃率有很大的影响。因此,在实施降低ＮＯｘ排放的再燃技术过程中     

气体燃料再燃对NOx还原的影响

气体燃料再燃是研究较多的降低烟气中ＮＯｘ含量最有效的方法之一。本文以典型的一次燃烧区烟气成分为模拟烟气,研究了不同的气体燃料（ＣＨ４,Ｃ２Ｈ２和Ｃ２Ｈ４）作为再为燃烧料时,再燃区燃烧工况（空气过量系数和再燃温度）对ＮＯｘ再燃过程和ＮＯｘ还原率的影响。通过计算发现,不同组分的气体燃料、再燃区空气过量系数及再燃区对ＮＯｘ的再燃过程和ＮＯｘ还原率都有重要的影响。     

Detailed modeling of hybrid reburn/SNCR processes for NOX reduction in coal-fired furnaces

Mechanism reduction has made the detailed kinetic modeling of combustion problems much easier; it also offers potential improvement of modeling accuracy and flexibility in comparison to global mechanisms. The present work applies mechanism reduction in conjunction with the CHEMKIN library and develops an automatic reduction program code. Regarding the hybrid re-burn/selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) (“advanced re-burning”) conditions in coal-fired furnaces and based on a full mechanism “GADM98,” a skeletal mechanism with 39 species, 105 reactions, and further a 10-step/14-species reduced mechanism were established. The reduced mechanism was implemented into a 3D-combustion computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code. The eddy-dissipation-concept model was used to describe the influence of turbulence on the combustion chemistry. A large number of simulations for reburning and hybrid reburn/SNCR processes in a coal-fired reactor were executed; the predicted results were compared with experimental measurements. The reduced mechanism and the comprehensive modeling give quite satisfactory results over a wide range of mole ratios for β = [NH₃]/[NO] and air/fuel equivalence ratios λ₂ in the reburn zone. From the modeling results, it was found that adding ammonia premixed with reburn fuel (CH₄) effects no further reduction of NO_x or even impairs the reduction efficiency compared to pure reburning, and in contrast, staged addition of ammonia downstream of the CH₄ injection in the reburn zone provokes a significant further reduction of NO_x over a wide range of parameters. According to the predictions, NO_x-reduction rates of 50-60% and of 70-80% can be achieved through pure reburning and hybrid reburn/SNCR approaches, respectively, at λ₂ = 0.95 and β = 1.5. Concerning the computational procedure, essential measures were taken to optimize convergence and computing time. The computing time with the present reduced mechanism is ∼2.5 times that with the traditional global mechanism for the same iteration number. Tabulation of the rate constants reduced the computing time of the reaction kinetics by ∼50%.     

大型褐煤锅炉煤粉再燃技术的数值模拟

考虑煤焦还原NO的反应动力学模型,利用Fluent软件对元宝山电厂3号锅炉超细煤粉再燃的不同配风方式进行了炉膛整体的燃烧数值模拟。模拟结果表明,再燃燃料比例、再燃风中的风煤比、再燃区的大小等因素对燃烧效率和NOx排放具有重要影响。通过优化计算得到,当主燃区空气过量系数控制在1．1时,再燃燃料占总燃料的15％,再燃风中的风煤比为2,烟气在再燃区的停留时间为0．5S左右的方案是一种较好的再燃组织方式。     

分级燃烧降低燃煤锅炉NOx排放的机理及影响因素分析

再燃燃料在还原性气氛下对主燃区煤粉燃烧生成的氮氧化物的还原反应中 ,再燃燃料中产生的中间产物氰基、氨基和烃根等起到分解氮氧化物的作用。同一再燃燃料中烃类物质在富燃料和贫燃料气氛中所起作用截然不同。实际应用中应使再燃区内各处处于弱还原性气氛下以保证再燃降低NOx 排放的效果 ,并尽量采用气体燃料作为再燃燃料 ,同时在获取所需NOx 排放水平前提下尽量选取较高的空气过量系数(化学当量比 ) ,以同时降低飞灰中的含碳量、减轻高温腐蚀的程度。     

Experimental study of fuel‐lean reburn system for NOX reduction and CO emission in oxygen‐enhanced combustion

A fuel‐lean reburn system is found here to be able to replace a conventional reburning technique in terms of increasing efficiency. In the fuel‐lean reburn system, the amount of injected reburn fuel into the reburning zone is low enough to maintain the overall fuel‐lean condition in the furnace, so that no additional air system is required, and CO emission can be maintained at almost zero level. In this study, an experimental study has been done to examine the reduction characteristics of NO_X in a lab scale combustor (15 kW) with various oxygen‐enhanced combustion conditions. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) was used as a main fuel and reburn fuel. Finally, the current fuel‐lean reburn system, even with only an amount of reburn fuel of 13% of total heat input, was observed to achieve a maximum of 48% in NO_X reduction. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An investigation on the mechanism of the increased NO2 emissions from H2-diesel dual fuel engine

The addition of hydrogen (H₂) into the intake air of a diesel engine was found to significantly increase the emissions of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). Previous research demonstrated a strong correlation between the emissions of NO₂ and unburned H₂ in exhaust gas. However, the mechanism whereby H₂ addition in increasing NO₂ formation in a H₂-diesel dual fuel engine. Previously has not been investigated.This research numerically verified the hypothesis that the increased NO₂ emissions observed with the addition of H₂ was formed through the conversion from NO to NO₂ during the post combustion oxidation process of the unburned H₂ when mixed with the hot NO-containing combustion products. A variable volume single zone model with detailed chemistry was applied to simulate post-combustion oxidation process of the unburned H₂ and its effect on NO₂ emissions. The mixing of the unburned H₂ with the NO-containing hot combustion products was found to convert NO to NO₂. Such a conversion is promoted by the hydroperoxyl (HO₂) radical formed during the oxidation process of the H₂. The factors affecting the NO₂ formation and its destruction include the concentration of NO, H₂, O₂, and the temperature of the bulk mixture. When H₂ and hot NO-containing combustion products mixed during the early stage of expansion stroke, the NO₂ formed during H₂ oxidation was later dissociated to NO after the complete consumption of H₂. The complete combustion of H₂ exhausted the source of HO₂ necessary for the conversion from NO to NO₂. The mixing of H₂ with combustion products during the last part of the expansion stroke was not able to convert NO to NO₂ since the temperature was too low for H₂ to oxidize and to provide the HO₂ needed. The bulk mixture temperature range suitable for meaningful conversion from NO to NO₂ aided by HO₂ produced during the oxidation of H₂ was examined and presented.     

煤粉再燃过程对煤焦异相还原NO的影响

利用高温携带流反应装置,研究了煤种(包括褐煤、烟煤和贫煤)、再燃区内反应温度、煤粉粒径、一次燃烧区空气过量系数SR1和再燃区空气过量系数SR2对煤焦异相还原NO作用的影响,探讨了煤焦异相还原NO的机理.结果表明:随着SR2和煤粉粒径的减小以及再燃区反应温度的提高,煤粉NO还原效率增加;在相同的SR2下,随着煤中挥发分含量的提高,煤粉粒径的增加和再燃区反应温度的降低,煤焦异相还原NO贡献上升;对于相同再燃燃料份额:SR1=1.0和SR1=1.2时煤焦异相还原NO的贡献均大于SR1=1.1时的异相还原NO的贡献.     

Hydrogen as burner fuel: modelling of hydrogen–hydrocarbon composite fuel combustion and NOx formation in a small burner

The objective of this work is to investigate numerically the turbulent non‐premixed hydrogen (H₂) and hydrogen–hydrocarbon flames in a small burner. Numerical studies using Fluent code were carried out for air‐staged and non‐staged cases. The effects of fuel composition from pure hydrogen to natural gas (100%H₂, 70%H₂+30%CH₄, 10%H₂+90%CH₄, and 100%CH₄) were also investigated. The predictions are validated and compared against the experimental results previously obtained and results from the literature. Turbulent diffusion flames are investigated numerically using a finite volume method for the solution of the conservation equations and reaction equations governing the problem. Although, three different turbulence models were tested, the standard k–ε model was used for the modelling of the turbulence phenomena in the burner. The temperature and major pollutant concentrations (CO and NO_x) distributions are in good agreement with the existing experimental results. Air staging causes rich and lean combustion regions thus lower NO_x emissions through the combustor exit. Blending hydrogen with methane causes considerable reduction in temperature levels and thus NO emissions. Increasing the mixture ratio from stoichiometric to leaner mixtures also decreases the temperature and thus NO emissions. Hydrogen may be considered a good alternative fuel for burners, as its use reduces the emission of pollutants, and as it is a renewable synthetic fuel. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

NOx control through reburning

Reburning is a process whereby a hydrocarbon fuel is injected immediately downstream of the combustion zone to establish a fuel-rich zone in order to convert nitric oxide to HCN. The reburning fuel can be gaseous (e.g., natural gas), solid (e.g., coal char or wood) or liquid (e.g., residual oil). Typically, the amount of reburning fuel used is 10–30% of the total fuel. This technology is practiced commercially with nitric oxide reduction levels of 35–65%, depending on the type and scale of the boiler or combustion, the primary and reburning fuels and other variables. Current research and development are suggesting several advanced reburning concepts including injection of ammonia or urea aft of the reburning fuel injection. Nitric oxide reductions of over 90% are anticipated. In this mini-review, a review of reburning technologies, measurements and mechanisms is presented. Predictive methods for reburning are also discussed. Recent work on reburning, including development of a global reburning reaction rate, is summarized, and results of application of a comprehensive combustion model to reburning measurements are summarized.     

CFD simulations on a coal–coal reburning test facility

Fuel staging or fuel reburning is a possible primary measure for the reduction of NO_x emissions from fossil-fired steam generators. It is intended to investigate if this primary measure can be applied efficiently to coal-fired combustion systems where pulverized coal is also used as a reburning fuel: coal reburning over a coal fire. This technology has to be tested accordingly. The company ENEL SpA is at present evaluating, together with ANSALDO Energia SpA, the option of demonstrating and extending the use of this technology in its coal-fired utility steam generators. Both companies have decided to erect a boiler simulation facility (5 MWth) at ENEL's experimental area Santa Gilla (Cagliari). This facility is intended to replicate the time/temperature profiles of real boilers. One tool to support the design of firing systems is CFD simulation. Consequently, CFD simulation was applied to perform a ‘proof of concept’. Most important for the design of firing systems for the furnaces of utility steam generators or test facilities is the distribution of temperature inside the combustion chamber and the furnace exit temperature—especially the radiation transport responsible for the amount of energy transferred from the gaseous environment of the hot furnace to the furnace walls. Subsequently, this determines the mean furnace exit temperature. This is why the accuracy of temperature calculations depends directly on the radiation transport model, the gas emissivity approximations, the particle emissivity and the radiative properties of the furnace enclosure. The results of several combustion simulations of the coal reburning test facility are shown and discussed. Estimates of the possible effect of different wall temperatures on the combustion process itself and on the gas temperature inside the furnace are presented. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

煤粉再燃过程中NO异相还原机理的重要性

用两种褐煤的一种烟煤及其煤焦作为再燃燃料，实验研究了再燃环境下NO的还原。通过比较煤粉和煤焦对NO还原过程的不同，分析了异相机理对NO还原的重要性。结果表明，褐煤及其煤焦是有效的再燃燃料。褐煤作为再燃燃料时，煤焦的异相还原机理对NO还原起重要作用。煤中的金属氧化物对NO还原具有催化作用。     

Effect of H2 addition on combustion and exhaust emissions in a heavy-duty diesel engine with EGR

The effect of the addition of hydrogen (H₂) on the combustion process and nitric oxide (NO) formation in a H₂-diesel dual fuel engine was numerically investigated. The model developed using AVL FIRE as a platform was validated against the cylinder pressure and heat release rate measured with the addition of up to 6% (vol.) H₂ into the intake mixture of a heavy-duty diesel engine with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). The validated model was applied to further explore the effect of the addition of 6%–18% (vol.) H₂ on the combustion process and formation of NO in H₂-diesel dual fuel engines. When the engine was at N = 1200 rpm and 70% load, the simulation results showed that the addition of H₂ prolonged ignition delay, enhanced premixed combustion, and promoted diffusion combustion of the diesel fuel. The maximum peak cylinder pressure was observed with addition of 12% (vol.) H₂. In comparison, the maximum peak heat release rate was observed with the addition of 16% (vol.) H₂. The addition of H₂ was a crucial factor dominating the increased NO emissions. Meanwhile, the addition of H₂ reduced soot emissions substantially, which may be due to the reduced diesel fuel burned each cycle. Furthermore, proper combination of adding H₂ with EGR can improve combustion performance and reduce NO emissions.     

NOx formation and reduction mechanisms in staged O2/CO2 combustion

The purpose of this study was to investigate the NO_x formation and reduction mechanisms in staged O₂/CO₂ combustion and in air combustion. A flat CH₄ flame doped with NH₃ for fuel-N was formed over the honeycomb, and NO_x formation characteristics were investigated. In addition, chemiluminescence of OH^* distribution was measured, and CHEMKIN-PRO was used to investigate the detailed NO_x reduction mechanism. In general, the NO_x conversion ratio decreases with decreasing primary O₂/CH₄ ratio, whereas NH₃ and HCN, which are easily converted to NO_x in the presence of O₂, increases rapidly. Therefore, a suitable primary O₂/CH₄ ratio exists in the staged combustion. Our experiments showed the primary O₂/CH₄ ratio, which gave the minimum fixed nitrogen compounds in O₂/CO₂ combustion, was lower than in air combustion. The NO_x conversion ratio in O₂/CO₂ combustion was lower than in air combustion by 40% in suitable staged combustion. This could be explained by high CO₂ concentrations in the O₂/CO₂ combustion. It was shown that abundant OH radicals were formed in O₂/CO₂ combustion through the CO₂ + H → CO + OH, experimentally and numerically. OH radicals produced H and O radicals through H₂ + OH → H + H₂O and O₂ + H → OH + O, because a mass of hydrogen source exists in the CH₄ flame. O and OH radicals formed in the fuel-rich region enhanced the oxidation of NH₃ and HCN. NO_x formed by the oxidation of NH₃ and HCN was converted to N₂ because the oxidation occurred in the fuel-rich region where the NO_x reduction effect was high. In fact, the oxidation of NH₃ and HCN in the fuel-rich region was preferable to remaining NH₃ and HCN before secondary O₂ injection in the staged combustion. A significant reduction in NO_x emission could be achieved by staged combustion in O₂/CO₂ combustion.     

NO emission from non-premixed MILD combustion of biogas-syngas mixtures in opposed jet configuration

In this paper NO emission from MILD combustion of the mixture biogas-syngas is deeply elucidated, five NO routes were considered, specifically: thermal, prompt, NNH, N₂O and reburning. Several operating conditions are studied namely: fuel mixture composition, oxygen concentration in the oxidizer and injection velocity or strain rate. Biogas is modeled by a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide; while, syngas is considered to be composed by hydrogen and carbon monoxide, this gives a fuel mixture of CH₄/CO₂/H₂/CO. Volume of methane and hydrogen are varied alternatively from 0 to 50% in fuel mixture. Oxidizer is composed by O₂/N₂ mixture where oxygen volume is increased from 4 to 21%. Finally, injection strain rate is varied from apparition to vanishment of combustion. Atmospheric pressure is considered with constant fuel and oxidizer injection temperatures of 300 K and 1200 K respectively. Chemical kinetics of such complicated system is handled by a composed mechanism from the USC C₁–C₄ and the Gri 2.11 N-sub mechanism. It is found that under MILD regime, temperature intervals and levels are enhanced by hydrogen compared to methane. Furthermore, temperature levels keep relatively low which guarantees MILD regime. Contrariwise, when oxygen increases in oxidizer, temperature grows up rapidly and the MILD regime disappears. However, if strain rate augments, temperature shows a steep increase then reduces monotonically. It is observed that for low methane volume in the fuel mixture, NNH route dominates NO production. Whereas, when CH₄ increases, the prompt route is enhanced and exceeds NNH one at a methane volume of 12%. When hydrogen increases, prompt and NNH routes are enhanced with a domination of the prompt route until 44% of hydrogen volume. Oxygen increasing in the oxidizer improves thermal mechanism which surpasses prompt one at 17% of oxygen volume and governs NO production. Globally, the third most important route in NO production is the reburning one which is enhanced by all parameters except strain rate.     

Investigation on performance,combustion and emission characteristics of biodiesel - Ethanol blends with hydrogen in CI engine

The current research work focus on the utilization of hydrogen as a fuel in CI engine has been increased tremendously, since it is a zero-emission fuel. But higher self-ignition temperature than conventional fuel, makes to operate in dual fuel mode condition in CI engine. The diesel or biodiesel along with hydrogen in a CI engine results in the improvement in the performance but increase of NO. In order to minimize the NO emission, addition of ethanol with jamun B20 biodiesel blend (biodiesel-diesel-ethanol) and two ternary blends such as B20E05 and B20E10 are formed. In the present study, biodiesel along with H₂ is admitted in the CI engine. Ethanol addition reduces combustion temperature and act as cetane improver for the biodiesel. This induces better combustion of the fuel and reduce NO. The biodiesel production from jamun seed is carried out through transesterification process. H₂ of 4 lpm is allowed at the air inlet and jamun B20 blend is injected through the fuel injector. Improvement of brake thermal efficiency and increase in the NO are observed for the hydrogen with biodiesel operated CI engine. The performance and emission behaviors of CI engine done for the test samples. At full load condition (ternary blend) B20E05 assisted H₂ shows the drastic reduction of NO emission of 8.2% than B20 assist H₂ blend. In other hand emission like hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and smoke opacity show a notable reduction for B20E05 blend assist H₂ than other test sample fuel. The thermal efficiency is 30.98% for B20E05 assist H₂ and it is 7.55% and 4.7% higher than B20 and B20E05 assist H₂ blend respectively.     

Staged combustion properties for pulverized coals at high temperature

Staged combustion properties for pulverized coals have been investigated by using a new-concept drop-tube furnace. Two high-temperature electric furnaces were connected in series. Coal was burnt under fuel-rich conditions in the first furnace, then, staged air was supplied at the connection between the two furnaces. Reaction temperature (1800–2100 K) and time (1–2 s) were similar to those used in actual boilers. When coal was burnt at the same stoichiometric ratio as in actual boilers, similar combustion performance values as for actual boilers were obtained regarding NO_x emission and carbon in ash. The most important factor for low NO_x combustion was to raise the combustion temperature above the present range (1800–2100 K) in the fuel-rich zone. The NO_x emission was significantly increased with decrease of burning temperature in the fuel-rich zone when the temperature was lower than 1800 K. But, NO_x emission was cut to around 100–150 ppm, for sub-bituminous coal and hv-bituminous coal, in the latest commercial plants by forming this high-temperature fuel-rich region in the boilers. If the temperature and stoichiometric ratio could be set to the most suitable conditions, and, burning gas and air were mixed well, it would be possible to lower NO_x emission to 30–60 ppm (6% O₂). The most important NO_x reduction reaction in the fuel-rich zone was the NO_x reduction by hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbon formation rate in the flame was varied with coal properties and combustion conditions. The NO_x was easily reduced when coals which easily formed hydrocarbons were used, or, when burning conditions which easily formed hydrocarbons were chosen. Effects of burning temperature and stoichiometric ratio on NO_x emission were reproduced by the previously proposed reaction model. When solid fuel was used, plant performance values varied with fuel properties. The proposed drop-tube furnace system was also found to be a useful analysis technique to evaluate the difference in combustion performance due to the fuel properties.     

温度对超细煤焦再燃还原NO效率的影响

以超细煤粉制作的煤焦作为再燃燃料,用N2、O2、CO2、NO配制模拟烟气,在立式管式携带炉中,研究了温度对再燃降低NO效率的影响。结果表明,在实验温度范围内,随着再燃区温度的增加,再燃还原NO效率增大,化学动力学是控制超细煤粉再燃还原NO化学反应速率的重要因素;提高再燃区温度可以适当缩短停留时间,但不能低于0.6 s,否则NO还原效率会大幅度下降,同时燃尽率也会下降;在煤粉再燃过程中,煤焦再燃还原NO占有重要地位。     

Investigation of fuel lean reburning process in a 1.5 MW boiler

This paper examines a detailed study of fuel lean reburning process applied to a 1.5 MW gas-fired boiler. Experimental and numerical studies were carried out to investigate the effect of the fuel lean reburning process on the NO_X reduction and CO emission. Natural gas (CH₄) was used as the reburn as well as the main fuel. The amount of the reburn fuel, injection location and thermal load of boiler were considered as experimental parameters. The flue gas data revealed that the fuel lean reburning process led to NO_X reduction up to 43%, while CO emission was limited to less than 30 ppm for the 100% thermal load condition. The commercial computational fluid dynamics code FLUENT 6.3, which included turbulence, chemical reaction, radiation and NO modeling, was used to predict the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics under various operational conditions in the boiler. Subsequently, predicted results were validated with available measured data such as gas temperature distributions and local mean NO_X concentrations. The detailed numerical results showed that the recirculation flow developed inside the boiler was found to play an important role in improving the effectiveness of fuel lean reburning process.