Flameless oxidation device, apparatus and method

Abstract

A device for the flameless oxidation of fuel includes a flameless oxidation burner, a first conduit to convey a fluid fuel phase to a first outlet and a direct primary jet including the fluid fuel phase outwardly therefrom. A second conduit is provided to convey a jacketing gas to a second outlet. The second conduit is disposed surrounding the first conduit so as to direct a jacketing jet of the jacketing gas outwardly therefrom surrounding the primary jet.

1 . A device for the flameless oxidation of fuel comprising:
 a first conduit to convey a fluid fuel phase to a first outlet and direct a primary jet comprising the fluid fuel phase outwardly therefrom;   a second conduit to convey a jacketing gas to a second outlet;   wherein the second conduit is disposed surroundingly about the first conduit so as direct a jacketing jet of the jacketing gas outwardly therefrom surroundingly about the primary jet.   
     
     
         2 . A device in accordance with  claim 1  comprising:
 a first inlet to receive a supply of fuel in a fluid phase, a first outlet and a first conduit disposed as a channel means to convey the fuel in a fluid phase from the first inlet to the first outlet; 
 a second inlet to receive a supply of jacketing gas, a second outlet and a second conduit disposed as a channel means to convey the jacketing gas from the second inlet to the second outlet. 
 
     
     
         3 . A device in accordance with  claim 2  comprising:
 a fuel supply in fluid communication with said first inlet; 
 a jacketing gas supply in fluid communication with said second inlet. 
 
     
     
         4 . A device in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the jacketing gas supply comprises a supply in fluid communication with said second inlet of one or more gases selected from: a comburant gas; an exhaust gas; an inert gas. 
     
     
         5 . A device in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the fuel supply comprises a supply in fluid communication with said first inlet of pulverous coal in a carrier gas. 
     
     
         6 . A device in accordance with  claim 1  comprising an annular second outlet surroundingly disposed concentrically around a circular first outlet. 
     
     
         7 . A device in accordance with any preceding  claim 1  further comprising a third conduit to convey a comburant gas to a third outlet. 
     
     
         8 . A device in accordance with  claim 7  comprising a third conduit disposed surroundingly about the first and second conduits so as direct a comburant jet of the comburant gas outwardly therefrom surroundingly about the primary and jacketing jets. 
     
     
         9 . A device in accordance with  claim 7  comprising a plurality of third conduits arrayed surroundingly about the first and second conduits having a corresponding plurality of third outlets configured to produce a corresponding plurality comburant jets projecting outwardly beyond each third outlet surroundingly about the jacketing jet. 
     
     
         10 . A device in accordance with  claim 9  comprising concentrically disposed: a central circular first outlet, a second annular outlet surroundingly disposed about the first outlet, and an array of at least two third outlets, disposed about the second outlet 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for the flameless oxidation of fuel comprising:
 a reaction chamber having an internal reaction volume defined by one or more chamber walls;   at least one device in accordance with  claim 1  extending through the wall and disposed to direct a primary jet comprising a fluid fuel phase into the reaction volume via its first outlet and to direct a jacketing jet comprising a jacketing gas into the reaction volume via its second outlet surroundingly around the primary jet.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the at least one device comprises an oxidation device to direct a fuel jet and a jacketing jet towards an oxidation zone in the reaction chamber, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a comburant gas supply conduit arranged to supply comburant to the oxidation zone and/or an exhaust gas supply conduit arranged to supply hot recycled exhaust gas to the oxidation zone. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 12  wherein the oxidation device comprises a plurality of comburant gas supply conduits disposed surroundingly around the first and second conduits of the oxidation device. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 13  comprising a combustion apparatus for the flameless oxidation of fuel to generate heat in a furnace chamber. 
     
     
         15 . A method of flameless oxidation of fuel comprising the steps of:
 directing a fluid fuel phase towards a flameless oxidation zone in a reaction chamber;   causing a jacketing gas jet to be directed towards the said oxidation zone in a manner disposed surroundingly about the primary jet;   supporting flameless oxidation of the fuel jet in the oxidation zone at least by supplying to the oxidation zone one or both of comburant gas and hot exhaust gas.   
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein the steps of directing a fluid fuel phase towards a flameless oxidation zone and causing a jacketing gas jet to be directed towards the said oxidation zone are respectively performed by causing a fluid fuel phase to be conveyed via a first conduit to a first outlet letting into the reaction chamber, and causing a jacketing gas to be conveyed via a second conduit to a second outlet letting into the reaction chamber disposed surroundingly about the first outlet. 
     
     
         17 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein the jacketing gas comprises one or more gases selected from: a comburant gas; an exhaust gas; an inert gas. 
     
     
         18 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein the fluid fuel phase is pulverous coal in a carrier gas.