Combustor assembly and methods of using same

Abstract

One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a combustor assembly which has a burner assembly and a combustor. The burner assembly has a body having a first end and a second end and a center passageway. The center passageway extends between the first end and the second end of the body. The body of the burner assembly is provided with a biomass inlet for receiving biomass, a primary air inlet for receiving air, a gas inlet for receiving gas, and a secondary air inlet for receiving air. The biomass inlet is in communication with the center passageway.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A burner assembly, comprising:
 a body having a first end and an open second end and a center passageway extending therebetween;   a biomass inlet for receiving biomass such that the biomass inlet is in communication with the center passageway so that biomass is injected from the center passageway by the open second end along a tangential centerline of the body;   a primary air inlet for receiving primary air;   a gas inlet for receiving a gas; and   a secondary air inlet for receiving secondary air.   
     
     
         2 . The burner assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a biomass intake tube in communication with the center passageway of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The burner assembly of  claim 1  wherein the primary air inlet is in communication with a primary air register. 
     
     
         4 . The burner assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a gas ring in communication with the gas inlet. 
     
     
         5 . The burner assembly of  claim 1  wherein the primary air is air, pure oxygen, or oxygen-enriched air. 
     
     
         6 . The burner assembly of  claim 1  wherein the secondary air is air, pure oxygen, or oxygen-enriched air. 
     
     
         7 . The burner assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a powder cone substantially disposed in the center passageway of the body of the burner assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The burner assembly of  claim 7  wherein the powder cone is movable so that the distance varies between the powder cone and the second end of the body of the burner assembly. 
     
     
         9 . A combustor assembly, comprising:
 a burner assembly comprising:
 a body having a first end and an open second end and a center passageway extending therebetween; 
 a biomass inlet for receiving biomass such that the biomass inlet is in communication with the center passageway so that biomass is injected from the center passageway by the open second end along a tangential centerline of the body; 
 a primary air inlet for receiving primary air; 
 a gas inlet for receiving a gas; and 
 secondary air inlet for receiving secondary air; and 
   a combustor connected to the burner assembly.   
     
     
         10 . The combustor assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a biomass intake tube in communication with the center passageway of the body. 
     
     
         11 . The combustor assembly of  claim 9  wherein the primary air inlet is in communication with a primary air register. 
     
     
         12 . The combustor assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a gas ring in communication with the gas inlet. 
     
     
         13 . The combustor assembly of  claim 9  wherein the primary air is air, pure oxygen, or oxygen-enriched air. 
     
     
         14 . The combustor assembly of  claim 9  wherein the secondary air is air, pure oxygen, or oxygen-enriched air. 
     
     
         15 . The combustor assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a powder cone substantially disposed in the center passageway of the body of the burner assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The combustor assembly of  claim 15  wherein the powder cone is movable so that the distance varies between the powder cone and the second end of the body of the burner assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The combustor assembly of  claim 9  wherein the second end of the body of the burner assembly and an end of the combustor are shaped and configured so that the second end of the body of the burner assembly is disposed in a portion of the combustor. 
     
     
         18 . A method of operating a combustor assembly, comprising the steps of:
 injecting a biomass feed material into a center passageway of a body of a burner assembly;   injecting primary air into the body of the burner assembly;   injecting gas into the body of the burner assembly;   injecting secondary air into the body of the burner assembly; and   injecting the biomass feed material along a tangential centerline of the body of the burner assembly into a combustor.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising drying the biomass feed material to a moisture content of less than about 30%. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 moving a powder cone of the burner assembly a distance between the powder cone and an end of the body of the burner assembly.