TURBULENT BURNER BASICS AND FLAME STABILITY

Fig. Structure of
Swirled Annular Jet at Burner Outlet
(a)General View (b) Axial Velocity Distribution;
(S0 – Length of Initial Region, Srec – Length of Gas Recirculation Region)

In a turbulent flow with Reynolds number Re > 2 x 10, the coefficient a = 0.07-0.08, when the
length of initial section So = (4.2-5)deq, where deq is the equivalent diameter of a jet. In the
transient section, the half width, depending on the external angle of jet expansion, will be exceeding
roughly 3 times the initial jet radius.

The supplied fuel is to the ignition temperature by two heat sources:

1. By the radiant heat flux from the flame core and

2. More important, by convective heating due to the intermixing of the jet mass with hot furnace
gases.

In view of this burners are designed so as to intensify as much as possible the entrainment
of hot furnace gases into jet in the initial section (immediately when PF enters the
furnace), thus accelerating fuel ignition.

An example is the vortex burner with annular swirled jet (by swirling secondary air) swirling of the jet
is determined by Vortex Number N = 3.5 to 5.

The Vortex Number N ≈ 4(Wt/Wa)

Where Wt is the maximum tangential component of the flow velocity at the burner exit, and Wa is the
axial velocity component.
From this it is seen that more we reduce the Wa- the axial velocity component the Vortex
Number N increases

An increase of Vortex Number N results in greater turbulisation of the jet and more
intensive entrainment of the surrounding gases into it and wider expansion angle.

The turbulised jet has a zone of reduced pressure in its core near the axis into which high temperature
gases tend to move, that is recirculation of gases sucked into the jet root.

The length of the recirculation depends on the vortex number; S rec = 1.4 N r0, Where r0 is the initial
radius of the round jet which is equal to exit radius of the coal nozzle. Higher the Vortex Number N the S rec
increases.
Thus the swirled annular jet gives higher turbulence with the internal zone for entrainment of hot
gases.

For ignition of hot mixture two conditions are essential;

1. The temperature of the combustible mixture must not be less than the ignition temperature and
2. Concentration of combustible substance (depends on the PF+PA; PF based on coal characteristic)
must exceed the lower inflammability limit.

The combustion front is characterized by an increased turbulisation due to sharp increase in the
volume of gases.
The combustion front will be stable if fresh portions of fuel and air are continuously supplied to it.
Combustion always takes place at a certain distance from the burner end, since the jet just near the
burner does not possess the required temperature.
The combustion front is established in a place where translatory velocity of flow of (hot PA+PF) turns
out to be equal to velocity of propagation of turbulent flame.

Thus the principal aerodynamic characteristic of turbulent burner is the Vortex Number N (3.5 to 5)
relating to whirling of secondary air flow.

Burners with higher Vortex Number give wider jet with larger angle of expansion and with
larger zone for recirculation of hot gases to the flame root, which ensures quicker fuel (PF)
and stable ignition.

Burners with elevated value of Vortex Number N are employed, increasing the residence time for the
combustion of low reactive poorly ignitable fuels (with a relatively low yield of volatiles).

In vane type burners the vanes are adjusted to control burner aerodynamics.

The effective and completeness of fuel burning heavily depends on the ratio of axial velocities of
primary air and tangential velocity developed by the swirled secondary air flow. Hence very carefully
each burner axial velocities to be measured, reduced if required and to be made uniform; further each
burner register vanes shall be adjusted for increased turbulence such that the self stable flame is
established without dependency of continuous oil support. The scanners are positioned to view at a
particular periphery and if long flames prevail scanners cannot sense and burners would not be self
sustainable.

Srinivasan Bashyam
Senior Vice President (Technical Services)
OEG India (P) Ltd.
Chennai 600020 Date: 03/01/2016