Print this page Fundamentals of Combustion for Environmental Applications - Part 2 of 2
Walter R. Niessen, P.E., B.C.E.E.
Course Outline
The course begins with an introduction into the basics of combustion for solids, liquids and gases. We then move through the behavior of jet flows (a fundamental and almost ubiquitous means of achieving dilution/cooling, mixing and incorporating oxidant. . . usually the oxygen in air). Heat transfer is then discussed: conduction, convection and radiant transfer are introduced and their role in design is briefly reviewed.
The combustor itself is then described in the context of the key system components. Feed system are discussed for solid fuels and wastes. Then, the behavior and features of burners for liquids and gases are presented. Enclosures come next with heavy emphasis on refractory (compositions, forms, melting and spalling behavior, fluxing and thermal properties). Heat recovery is then presented (fire tube, water tube and waste heat configurations). The course ends with a discussion of chimney systems.
This course includes
a multiple choice quiz at the end,
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- Learn the basic characteristics of the pyrolysis, gasification and burning of solids;
- Learn the basic characteristics of the burning of droplets of liquids;
- Learn the basic characteristics of the burning of gases in diffusion and turbulent flames;
- Learn the fundamental relationships describing fluid flow in furnaces with special emphasis on jet behavior, structure, penetration, entrainment and swirl;
- Learn the importance of residence time in the burn-out of pollutants and fuels in furnace flows;
- Introduce the student to the basics of conduction heat transfer;
- Introduce the student to the basics of conduction heat transfer;
- Introduce the student to the basics of convection heat transfer;
- Introduce the student to the basics of radiation heat transfer;
- Introduce the student to the role of heat transfer in furnace design;
- Introduce the student to the elements and methods to handle and feed solid wastes;
- Introduce the student to the burners for liquids, atomization and burner behavior.;
- Introduce the student to the burners for gases and flame safety;
- Introduce the student to refractory and refractory enclosures;
- Present the properties, structure, melting behavior, dimensional changes, spalling, fluxing and thermal conductivity of refractory materials;
- Introduce the student to heat recovery systems as used in incinerators to include both fire tube and water tube designs; and
- Introduce the student to fans and stacks.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for civil, environmental, mechanical and chemical engineers involved with or about to be involved with combustion, incineration and/or gasification systems; with particular applications to solid and hazardous wastes and biosolids applications.
Benefit to Attendees
The course gives practicing engineers, regulators, and permit specialists an introduction to the hardware elements and basic processes comprising, and controlling combustion systems. This understanding, in combination with the process analysis tools from Part 1, helps one to better anticipate, understand and predict behavior; and gives insight into the causes of operating problems and suggests directions for possible solutions.
Course Introduction
Combustion is complicated; made so by the inherent complexity of the chemical and physical processes that must be successfully dealt with; by the survival issues arising from the physical and chemical stresses placed on the several components of the system (feeders, burners, enclosures, heat recovery, air pollution control, fans and stack); and by the high performance requirements demanded by the stringent regulatory limits in air permits and the increasingly critical cost requirements for energy efficiency. Part 2 focuses on issues coming out of the application of combustion in real systems: the combustion processes themselves and an introduction to the design and operational features of burning systems − furnace fluid flow, heat transfer, waste feeding, enclosures, and heat recovery.
This course presumes basic engineering analysis perspectives but, through text and examples guides the student an understanding of the key processes and design features of combustion systems. The course includes:
- The basic processes controlling solid, liquid and gas combustion;
- The aspects of fluid flow and heat transfer affecting furnaces and furnace operation;
- Waste/fuel feeding (burner characteristics for solids, liquids and gases; and
- The combustor components of enclosures (including refractory), fans and stacks and heat recovery.
Course Content
In this lesson, you are required to download and study the following course content in PDF format:
Fundamentals of Combustion for Environmental Applications - Part 2 of 2
Please click on
the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your
study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the
file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target
As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience
any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some
applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.
Course Summary
Purification by fire is an ancient concept, its applications noted in the earliest chapters of recorded history. Modern application of high temperature processes to achieve this end reflect the increasing awareness by modern health and environmental professionals of the importance of effective biological sterilization of bacteria, viruses, prions and other pathological infectious agents; of the achievement of high levels of destruction of toxic, carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic organic matter that adversely impacts on the quality and duration of human and other animal and plant life; and of the substantial neutralization of the flame and explosion hazards associated with highly volatile combustible materials. The course assumes a basic understanding of chemistry and mathematics. It presumes basic engineering analysis perspectives but, through text and examples guides the student an understanding of the processes and hardware used in combustion systems. The course includes:
- The basic combustion processes applicable to solid, liquid and gaseous fuels/wastes
- The hardware used to feed, enclose, recover heat from and discharge the off-gas from fuels/wastes that are processed in combustion applications
Related Links
For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:
American Society of Mechanical Engineers http://www.asme.com/
Air and Waste Management Association http://www.awma.com/
Combustion Engineering Association http://www.cea.com.uk/
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
