Application of thermal fluids in power systems of ships and marine structures

Abstract

Object and purpose of research. This paper studies vortex ignition-burner device (a part of combustion units in natural gas converters of fuel-cell based power plants). The purpose is to identify optimal operating modes with minimum NO and CO emissions. Materials and methods. This study calculates flow structure in the burner in no-burning conditions. The values of harmful substances emissions were determined experimentally during the combustion of natural gas and residual conversion gas. Main results. This paper determines the limits for ignition and flame slip to the swirl chamber, choosing the concept of “rich-poor combustion” in the burner. The study also determined optimal conditions for the warm-up stage, when the burner is running on natural gas, so as to ensure complete fuel combustion: air excess factors in the burner and in the combustion unit 0.4 and 2.98 respectively. CO and NO emissions at this stage will be 4 and 10 ppm respectively. At the operational stage, when the burner is running on residual syngas, complete combustion of fuel is ensured (with zero CO and NO emissions) when air excess factors for the burner and the entire combustion unit are 0.39 and 3.08 respectively. Conclusion. This study identifies combustion unit geometry for an natural gas converter based on steam-methane reforming cycle The conditions suggested in this paper ensure zero-emission combustion of residual syngas with the separation of production hydrogen.

Keywords

• marine power
• heating system
• thermal fluids
• high-temperature thermal fluids