US-12618555-B2 - Adjustable burner nozzle for multiple fuels

US12618555B2US 12618555 B2US12618555 B2US 12618555B2US-12618555-B2

Abstract

A fuel nozzle apparatus can include a nozzle that functions with two or more modes of operation with respect to a group of fuels, and an air shroud fixed over the nozzle. The air shroud blocks air through the nozzle or allows air through the nozzle in a predefined pattern. When a position of the air shroud is varied, the amount of the air and the location of the air into the nozzle is changed to facilitate the two or more modes of operation with respect to the group of fuels.

Inventors

Joshua J. Weaver
Bradley M. Wright
Edward Lovett

Assignees

HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230413

Claims (20)

1 . A fuel nozzle apparatus, comprising: a nozzle that functions with at least two modes of operation with respect to a plurality of fuels; and an air shroud fixed over the nozzle, wherein the air shroud blocks air through the nozzle or allows air through the nozzle in a predefined pattern, wherein when a position of the air shroud is varied, an amount of the air and a location of the air into the nozzle is changed to facilitate the at least two modes of operation with respect to the plurality of fuels wherein, in a first mode of operation of the at least two modes of operation, a first set of slots of the air shroud overlaps with a first set of slots, of a plurality of slots, of the nozzle, and wherein, in a second mode of operation of the at least two modes of operation, a second set of slots of the air shroud overlaps with a second set of slots of the plurality of slots of the nozzle, wherein a count of slots in the first set of slots is more than a count of slots in the second set of slots.
2 . The fuel nozzle apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two modes of operation are selectable manually.
3 . The fuel nozzle apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least two modes of operation are selectable manually by manually actuating a selector switch or using a linkage driven by an actuator fixed to the selector switch.
4 . The fuel nozzle apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two modes of operation are selectable automatically with an actuator in automatic mode dependent upon an availability of at least one fuel among the plurality of fuels.
5 . The fuel nozzle apparatus of claim 1 wherein the nozzle comprises an adaptable fuel nozzle that facilitates a use of two gaseous fuels for a burner.
6 . The fuel nozzle apparatus of claim 5 wherein either of the at least two modes of operation are triggered by a burner control system associated with the burner, thereby allowing the burner to transition from one fuel to another fuel among the two at least gaseous fuels automatically without a shutdown of the burner control system.
7 . The fuel nozzle apparatus of claim 1 wherein the air is adjusted prior to a mixture of the air with the plurality of fuels.
8 . The fuel nozzle apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of fuels comprises different types of fuels.
9 . The fuel nozzle apparatus of claim 1 wherein the air shroud is subject to a linear movement in an axial direction in which the position of the air shroud is varied linearly.
10 . A fuel nozzle apparatus, comprising: a nozzle that functions with at least two modes of operation with respect to a plurality of fuels; and an air shroud subject to a linear movement in an axial direction in which the position of the shroud is varied linearly, wherein the air shroud surrounds the nozzle and blocks air through the nozzle or allows air through the nozzle in a predefined pattern, wherein when a position of the air shroud is varied, an amount of the air and a location of the air into the nozzle is changed to facilitate the at least two modes of operation with respect to the plurality of fuels wherein, in a first mode of operation of the at least two modes of operation, a first set of slots of the air shroud overlaps with a first set of slots, of the plurality of slots, of the nozzle, and wherein, in a second mode of operation of the at least two modes of operation, a second set of slots of the air shroud overlaps with a second set of slots of the plurality of slots of the nozzle, wherein a count of slots in the first set of slots is more than a count of slots in the second set of slots.
11 . The fuel nozzle apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at least two modes of operation are selectable manually by manually actuating a selector switch or using a linkage driven by an actuator fixed to the selector switch.
12 . The fuel nozzle apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at least two modes of operation are selectable automatically with an actuator in automatic mode dependent upon an availability of at least one fuel among the plurality of fuels.
13 . The fuel nozzle apparatus of claim 10 wherein the nozzle comprises an adaptable fuel nozzle that facilitates a use of two gaseous fuels for a burner.
14 . The fuel nozzle apparatus of claim 13 wherein either of the at least two modes of operation is triggered by a burner control system associated with the burner, thereby allowing the burner to transition from one fuel to another fuel among the two at least gaseous fuels automatically without a shutdown of the burner control system.
15 . A method of operating a fuel nozzle apparatus, comprising: providing a nozzle that is configured to functions with at least two modes of operation with respect to a plurality of fuels wherein the nozzle is having a surface defining a plurality of slots to allow air into a combustion chamber; surrounding an air shroud over the nozzle wherein the air shroud is having a surface defining a plurality of slots to allow air flow into the plurality of slots of wherein in a first mode of operation of the at least two modes of operation, a first set of slots of the air shroud overlaps with a first set of slots, of the plurality of slots, of the nozzle, and wherein, in a second mode of operation of the at least two modes of operation, a second set of slots of the air shroud overlaps with a second set of slots of the plurality of slots of the nozzle, wherein a count of slots in the first set of slots is more than a count of slots in the second set of slots; and varying a position of the air shroud wherein an amount of the air and a location of the air into the nozzle is changed to facilitate the at least two modes of operation with respect to the plurality of fuels.
16 . The method of claim 15 wherein: the at least two modes of operation are selectable manually by manually actuating a selector switch or using a linkage driven by an actuator fixed to the selector switch; or the at least two modes of operation are selectable automatically with an actuator in an automatic mode dependent upon an availability of at least one fuel among the plurality of fuels.
17 . The method of claim 15 wherein: the nozzle comprises an adaptable fuel nozzle that facilitates a use of two gaseous fuels for a burner; and either of the at least two modes of operation is triggered by a burner control system associated with the burner, thereby allowing the burner to transition from one fuel to another fuel among the two at least gaseous fuels automatically without a shutdown of the burner control system.
18 . The method of claim 15 further comprising adjusting the air prior to a mixture of the air with the plurality of fuels.
19 . The method of claim 15 wherein the plurality of fuels comprises different types of fuels.
20 . The method of claim 15 further comprising subjecting the air shroud to a linear movement in an axial direction in which the position of the air shroud is varied linearly.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD Embodiments are generally related to the field of industrial heating processes and systems that utilize natural gas combustion. Embodiments also relate to industrial burners and fuel nozzles used for the mixing of fuel and air in a controller manner. Embodiments further relate to adjustable burner nozzles that can operate with multiple fuels. BACKGROUND Fuel nozzles are important components of industrial burners used in the mixing of fuel and air in a controlled manner and the delivery of the mixture to the combustion chamber of the burner. These nozzles come in various shapes, sizes, and materials, depending on the type of burner, the fuel being used, and the specific requirements of the application. A fuel nozzle is typically mounted in the burner body, and fuel is supplied to the nozzle through a piping system. The air required for combustion enters the burner through an air inlet, and the fuel and air are mixed and ignited, creating heat that is used for various industrial processes. Typically, industrial burner fuel nozzles are made from materials such as brass, stainless steel, or ceramic, which can withstand high temperatures and corrosive environments. They are designed to create a precise mixture of fuel and air, which ensures efficient combustion and reduced emissions. A high proportion of industrial heating processes utilize natural gas combustion, however increasingly companies which operate these processes are looking to alternate gaseous fuels to reduce their carbon footprint or to mitigate fuel supply risks. Conventional fuel nozzles for industrial burners are designed for one fuel type and are not capable of operating on multiple fuels without physical modification to the fuel nozzle. One example of such a conventional nozzle is disclosed in non-limiting U.S. Pat. No. 5,646,739, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. For an industrial process with a conventionally designed burner to switch from one fuel to another the entire process must go down while the burner nozzle is changed. This represents a major barrier to many companies and often makes the switch to an alternate fuel impractical. Alternate fuels currently do not enjoy the reliability in availability that natural gas does, therefore their presence is often intermittent. For example, a hydrogen electrolyzer system which is powered by wind or solar. This system will only generate hydrogen at certain times of day or the capacity of such a system is seasonally dependent. This variability in supply is not well suited to conventional burners which require physical modification to properly operate with multiple fuels. BRIEF SUMMARY The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the features of the disclosed embodiments and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein can be gained by taking the specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole. It is, therefore, one aspect of the embodiments to provide methods, systems and devices for an approved fuel nozzle apparatus for use with industrial burners. It is another aspect of the embodiments to provide for an adaptable fuel nozzle for an industrial burner, which can facilitate the use of two gaseous fuels. It is also an aspect of the embodiments to provide for a fuel nozzle apparatus that has two modes of operation, which can be selected by manual or automatic means. The aforementioned aspects and other objectives can now be achieved as described herein. In an embodiment, a fuel nozzle apparatus, can include a nozzle that functions with at least two modes of operation with respect to a plurality of fuels, and an air shroud fixed over the nozzle, wherein the air shroud blocks air through the nozzle or allows air through the nozzle in a predefined pattern. When a position of the air shroud is varied, the amount of the air and the location of the air into the nozzle can be changed to facilitate the at least two modes of operation with respect to the plurality of fuels. In an embodiment, the at least two modes of operation can be selected manually. In an embodiment, the at least two modes of operation can be selectable manually by manually actuating a selector switch or using a linkage driven by an actuator fixed to the selector switch. In an embodiment, the at least two modes of operation can be selectable automatically with an actuator in automatic mode dependent upon an availability of at least one fuel among the plurality of fuels. In an embodiment, the nozzle can comprise an adaptable fuel nozzle that can facilitate the use of two gaseous fuels for a burner. In an embodiment, either of the at least two selectable modes of operation may be triggered by a burner control system associated with the burner, thereby allowing the burner to transition from one fuel to another fuel among the two at least fuels automatically without a shutdown of the burn