Swirl burner
Type of gas burner
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A swirl burner, or vortex burner, is a type of burner that swirls the air, fuel, or both inside to increase mixing between the two.[1] This process enables flame stabilization and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These burners are used in industrial settings.
Types
There are three main types of swirl burners: axial vane, tangential, and volute.[2] The vane-type swirl burner utilizes vanes to stabilize the flame.[3] Tangential swirl burners use tangential inflows.[4] Inflows must be placed upstream to have uniform tangential velocity.[4] The swirl will also decay progressing along the burner and may not be strong enough when it exits.[4] Volute burners are rarer and have a central spinning apparatus.[2]
Mechanics
This process creates a space for flame stabilization.[1] As air moves through the system, it rotates as a result of the shape of the apparatus.[5] A central recirculation zone is created from the spin.[6] A quarl is found downstream of the guide vanes.[1] Swirl burners increase combustion efficiency through the promotion of ignition of unburnt fuel.[6] A more homogeneous mixture of air and fuel improves combustion efficiency.[7] The swirl number, represented by Sn, is the axial flux of angular momentum to that of axial momentum.[8] Higher swirls can lead to negative axial velocity in the center of expansion.[6]
Application
Swirl burners are used in industrial settings including uses as heating, power generators, and incinerators.[7]
Low-swirl combustion can be utilized in industrial burners and gas-fired power plants to meet low-emission standards. Able to produce 150 kW to 7.5 MW of power, emissions from swirl burners are around four to seven parts per million of NOx and carbon monoxide.[9] Decreasing NOx emissions can lead to an increase in carbon monoxide emissions.[7]