Validation of Developed Modified Plug-Flow Furnace Model for Identification of Burner Thermal Behaviour

Abstract

The paper discusses results of the next stage of development of the so-called Modified Plug-Flow Furnace Model (MPF) which was in its initial formulation originally presented two years ago. The MPF model is intended for calculation of heat flux distribution from a burner along the height (length) of a cylindrical combustion chamber through identification of axial distribution of heat released rate from a burner. Results of a careful and complex validation are presented via comparisons of model data and experimental data obtained during tests of a large set of process burners of various types and duties, operated under diversified combustion conditions including several distinct fuels being combusted. The validation confirms high accuracy of the developed MPF and thus makes it possible to directly identify for a given burner the resulting axial distribution of the rate of released heat (that is, the axial fuel burnt profile of a burner necessary for accurate heat flux distribution calculation). This encouraging observation gives an opportunity to utilise the validated MPF model in future work in the course of development of an accurate practical method for thermal design of process equipment employing combustion chambers such as power boilers, fired heaters, furnaces, etc.