US 12,123,593 B2Granted

Variable feed enclosed combustor system and method for its use

AssigneeCameron International Corporation

InventorsRafiqul Khan, Herman C. Hatfield, II, Ankur D. Jariwala, Gary W. Sams

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Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems, apparatuses, and methods for using a sensed combustion zone temperature to continuously control combustion of a first (main) gas within an enclosed combustor. The combustor is in fluid communication with a first gas line carrying the first gas, a second gas line independent of the first gas line carrying a second (assist) gas having a higher heating value than the first gas, and air dampers providing draft or assist air. The first gas may be vapors from a production source or tank. A computer control system monitors the combustion zone temperature of the enclosed combustor as sensed by a sensor in electronic communication with the computer control system and controls the combustion zone temperature by changing a condition of a first gas line valve of the first gas line, a second gas line valve of the second gas line, and the air dampers.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for controlling continuous combustion of a first gas within an enclosed combustor, the method comprising:

providing the enclosed combustor with a plurality of combustor burners, each combustor burner comprising a burner tip delivering a fuel-rich burner jet;
monitoring at least one combustion zone temperature T using a sensor in electronic communication with a computer control system, the computer control system configured to receive signals from the sensor and send and receive signals to and from a first gas line valve, a second gas line valve, and an air damper;
controlling a flow of at least one of a first gas, a second gas, and air in response to the at least one combustion zone temperature T by adjusting at least one of the first gas line valve, the second gas line valve, and the air damper, thereby aiding combustion of the first gas;
swirling the first gas, the second gas, or a mixture of the first and second gases within the enclosed combustor with gas swirling vanes arranged about a central longitudinal axis of each burner tip of the plurality of combustor burners in the enclosed combustor, wherein the gas swirling vanes are plates;
and
swirling the air within the enclosed combustor with a plurality of air swirling vanes located on or adjacent to sidewalls of the enclosed combustor above the air damper and below an uppermost end of each burner tip of the plurality of combustor burners, wherein the plurality of air swirling vanes are inclined wall vanes;
wherein the first gas has a varying combustibility and the second gas has a higher heating value than the first gas;
and
wherein the computer control system is further configured to shut the first gas line valve and the second gas line valve when the at least one combustion zone temperature T surpasses a safety limit.

6 more elements

A system for controlling continuous combustion using at least one combustion zone temperature, the system comprising:

a first gas line valve connected to a first gas line arranged to transport a first gas to an enclosed combustor;
a second gas line valve connected to a second gas line arranged to carry a second gas to the enclosed combustor, the second gas having a higher heating value than the first gas;
an air damper regulator connected to an air damper arranged to control air flow into the enclosed combustor;
a sensor arranged to monitor at least one combustion zone temperature of the enclosed combustor;
a computer control system configured to monitor the at least one combustion zone temperature of the enclosed combustor as sensed by the sensor and control the at least one combustion zone temperature by adjusting the first gas line valve, the second gas line valve, and the air damper;
a plurality of combustor burners located in the enclosed combustor, each combustor burner comprising a burner tip delivering a fuel-rich burner jet;
gas swirling vanes arranged about a central longitudinal axis of each burner tip of the plurality of combustor burners in the enclosed combustor to swirl the first gas, the second gas, or a mixture of the first and second gases within the enclosed combustor, wherein the gas swirling vanes are plates;
and
air swirling vanes disposed in the enclosed combustor between the plurality of combustor burners and at least one sidewall of the enclosed combustor, wherein the air swirling vanes are disposed above the air damper and below an uppermost end of each burner tip to swirl the air within the enclosed combustor, wherein the air swirling vanes are inclined wall vanes;
wherein the computer control system is further configured to shut down the first gas line valve and the second gas line valve when the at least one combustion zone temperature T surpasses a safety limit.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/342,087Filed 27 Jun 2023 · continuation
Priority: 4 Jan 2018
Published: US 2023/0349551 A12 Nov 2023
Granted: 22 Oct 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

F23G 7/08
Of waste gases or noxious gases, e.g. exhaust gases: using flares, e.g. in stacks
F23G 7/065
With supplementary heating: using gaseous or liquid fuel
F05D 2240/12
Stators: fluid guiding means, e.g. vanes
F23G 2204/103
Using auxiliary fuel: gaseous or liquid fuel

Family

Application15/862,270Parent of this continuation · filed 4 Jan 2018
US 2023/0349551 A1Pre-grant publication · published 2 Nov 2023
US 11,725,813 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2019/0203933 A1Published application
US 12,123,593 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.