Irwin H Billick

US Patent:

54414024, Aug 15, 1995

Filed:

Oct 28, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/144680

Inventors:

James J. Reuther - Worthington OH
Irwin H. Billick - Prospect Heights IL

Assignee:

Gas Research Institute - Chicago IL

International Classification:

F23D 340

US Classification:

431 7

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for burning a mixture of natural gas and air in a ratio that is slightly fuel rich to slightly fuel lean with substantially minimal emission of gaseous pollutants containing nitrogen, hydrogen, or carbon. The mixture is provided along a predetermined path in a non-radiant burner and is ignited to provide a blue flame in a predetermined burning region. A refractory porous member located in the cool region adjacent to the upstream end of the burning region reduces the temperature of combustion slightly by scavenging a substantial fraction of the excess free radicals that are critical to the formation of nascent NO and its conversion to NO. sub. 2 and the nitrogen acids. Typically the porosity in the porous member is about 92 to 97 percent and its thickness is such that it extends into the flame to a level at about 25 to 50 percent of the height of the flame. The mixture typically comprises about 80 to 120 percent theoretical air.