Characterization of a Low NOx Flameless Combustion Burner Using Natural Gas

Flameless combustion is a method that has a great potential in reducing pollutant emission from combustion process. In this work, the operation and emission of a laboratory scale furnace under the flameless combustion regime using natural gas as a fuel was examined. In the experimental setup, the combustor was equipped with parallel jet burner systems with controlled gas fuel and oxidizer. Several ports have been integrated in the combustor to allow for temperature and combustion emission measurement. In the study, a comparison between flameless combustion with and without preheated combustion air has been made. The atmospheric air was heated to near the auto ignition temperature by a coil placed within the furnace assembly. The results show that flameless combustion mode could be obtained with and without preheated combustion air. The results also revealed that the laboratory scale furnace could successfully operate in flameless combustion regime using natural gas as fuel. In terms of emission, it was found that flameless combustion was more effective than the conventional combustion in reducing the rate of NOX emission.