Researchers at the University of Wyoming have designed an efficient fuel burner that permits the combustion of a variety of fuel compositions and flow rates, with low soot and pollutant production. The burner is designed to operate using minimal electricity and operator control for long periods of time. The design can be constructed and operated across a range of size scales.
This burner has the ability to mix fuel gas with air prior to combustion, eliminating the need to control the air source through pumping or pressurizing. Porous media within the burner design actively premixes the fuel and air within a swirl chamber before combustion and promotes heat recirculation. Under various operating conditions this process preheats incoming fuel and air and stabilizes the flame at the surface of the burner. The burner design can be modified to also allow for a submerged flame.
This burner design has various commercial uses including use as a camp stove or home stove since the burner size can changed for each application. The burner also has huge potential within the oil and gas industry for cleaner more efficient flare gas burning.
This burner design can be particularly valuable for burning flare gas at locations with little to no electricity or other auxiliary resources for actively pumping air and controlling flare gas combustion.
Downloadable PDF: 15-048
