Burner

Abstract

A burner for introducing solid particulate fuel to a burning zone of a kiln such as a rotary kiln for manufacturing cement clinker or similar material includes a centrally located duct for conducting solid fuel to an inlet opening and at least one duct for conducting primary air to one or more annular nozzles surrounding the inlet opening of the centrally located duct. The centrally located duct for conducting solid fuel is arranged so that the direction of introduction of the fuel relative to the longitudinal axis of the burner and consequently the direction of introduction of the primary air may be adjusted continuously during operation of the burner.

1 . A burner for introducing solid particulate fuel to a burning zone of a kiln comprising:
 a centrally located duct for conducting solid fuel to an inlet opening of the kiln;   at least one duct for conducting primary air to at least one annular nozzle surrounding the inlet opening;   the centrally located duct being arranged so that a direction of introduction of the solid fuel relative to a longitudinal axis of the burner and a direction of introduction of air is continuously adjustable during operation of the burner.   
     
     
         2 . The burner of  claim 1  wherein the solid fuel duct is pivotally suspended from a hinge that is placed adjacent to an opening at the inlet end of the burner and wherein the burner further comprises a duct movement mechanism for rotating a portion of the centrally located duct up and down in a vertical plane. 
     
     
         3 . The burner of  claim 1  wherein the centrally located duct has at least two parts connected to each other via a connection mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The burner of  claim 1  wherein one duct part of the centrally located duct is pivotally suspended from a hinge placed adjacent to an opening at the inlet end of the burner and wherein the burner also comprises a mechanism for rotating the one duct part up and down in a vertical plane. 
     
     
         5 . The burner of  claim 1  wherein the direction of introduction of the solid fuel via the centrally located duct can be varied within an interval of between one of: 0° and 30°, 0° and 15° and 0° and 10° relative to the longitudinal axis of the burner. 
     
     
         6 . The burner of  claim 1  wherein the centrally located duct fully or partly consists of a flexible hose or a reinforced rubber hose. 
     
     
         7 . A burner for feeding solid particulate fuel to a burning zone of a kiln, the burner having a length defining a longitudinal axis of the burner, the burner comprising:
 a feed duct for feeding the solid particulate fuel to an inlet opening of the kiln;   at least one annular nozzle surrounding the inlet opening of the kiln;   at least one duct for conducting at least one gas to the at least one annular nozzle; and   a solid particulate fuel flow adjustment mechanism connected to the central duct, the solid particulate fuel flow adjustment mechanism being moveable to adjust a direction of flow along which the solid particulate fuel moves through the inlet opening.   
     
     
         8 . The burner of  claim 7  wherein the direction of flow is adjustable from a first direction that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the burner to a second direction that is angled 10°, 15°, or 30° relative to the longitudinal axis of the burner. 
     
     
         9 . The burner of  claim 7  wherein the feed duct is a flexible hose. 
     
     
         10 . The burner of  claim 7  wherein the feed duct is comprised of a first duct part connected to a second duct part, the second duct part being between the inlet opening and the first duct part. 
     
     
         11 . The burner of  claim 10  further comprising a moveable connection connecting the second duct part to the first duct part such that the second duct part is moveable relative to the first duct part. 
     
     
         12 . The burner of  claim 11  wherein the moveable connection is a ball joint or a flexible hose. 
     
     
         13 . The burner of  claim 11  wherein the solid particulate fuel flow adjustment mechanism comprises:
 a hinge attached to the second duct part adjacent to the inlet opening and an opening of the central duct through which the solid particulate fuel passes to be fed to the burning zone of the kiln via the inlet opening; and 
 a duct movement mechanism connected to the first duct part, the duct movement mechanism driving movement of the second duct part about the hinge to adjust the direction of flow along which the solid particulate fuel moves through the inlet opening. 
 
     
     
         14 . The burner of  claim 11  wherein the solid particulate fuel flow adjustment mechanism comprises:
 a connector attached to the second duct part adjacent to the inlet opening and an opening of the central duct through which the solid particulate fuel passes to be fed to the burning zone of the kiln via the inlet opening; and 
 a duct movement mechanism connected to the first duct part, the duct movement mechanism driving movement of the second duct part about the connector to adjust an angle at which the second duct part extends from the first duct part to adjust the direction of flow along which the solid particulate fuel moves through the inlet opening. 
 
     
     
         15 . The burner of  claim 14  wherein the connector is a hinge and the moveable connection is a ball joint or a flexible hose. 
     
     
         16 . The burner of  claim 14  wherein the angle at which the second duct part extends from the first duct part is adjustable from 0° relative to the longitudinal axis of the burner to an angle of between 10° and 30° relative to the longitudinal axis of the burner. 
     
     
         17 . The burner of  claim 16  wherein the second duct part extends from the first duct part at the 0° angle when the solid particulate fuel is fine and wherein the second duct part extends from the first duct part at the angle of between 10° and 30° relative to the longitudinal axis of the burner when the solid particulate fuel is coarse. 
     
     
         18 . The burner of  claim 13  wherein the direction of flow along which the solid particulate fuel moves through the inlet opening is adjustable from a flow direction along which the solid particulate fuel moves through the inlet opening at an angle of 0° relative to the longitudinal axis of the burner to a flow direction along which the solid particulate fuel moves through the inlet opening at an angle of between 10° and 30° relative to the longitudinal axis of the burner. 
     
     
         19 . The burner of  claim 18  wherein the wherein the solid particulate fuel moves at the angle of 0° relative to the longitudinal axis of the burner when the solid particulate fuel is fine and the solid particulate fuel moves in a direction of flow at the angle of between 10° and 30° relative to the longitudinal axis of the burner when the solid particulate fuel is coarse. 
     
     
         20 . The burner of  claim 7  wherein the solid particulate fuel flow adjustment mechanism is moveable to adjust a direction of flow along which the solid particulate fuel moves through the inlet opening to provide a continuous adjustability of the direction of flow during operation of the burner.