Use of Cleaner Technology for Combustion in Furnace

Mehta Abhishek*, N M Patel1, Paresh H Rana1

Department of Chemical Engineering, Vishwakarma Government Engineering College, Chandkheda,
Ahmedabad, India-382424
abhimehta05@gmail.com, prof.nmpatel@gmail.com, ranaph78@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:
Air is used as an oxidizer for combustion, where air contains 78 % of N2 and only 21 % of O2 and remaining inert gases. But
only oxygen is required for combustion to take place. There is large quantity of nitrogen is present in the air so it leads to
excess energy utilization as nitrogen also gets heated up unnecessarily along with the oxygen. Hence there is huge heat loss
in combustion process while using air. Also, higher amount of emission of pollutants like CO, CO 2, NOx occurs. The
probable solution for this problem is using oxygen rich stream instead of atmospheric air. When concentration of oxygen is
more than that present in atmospheric air, it is called oxygen rich stream. By mixing pure oxygen in different quantity with
air we get oxy-rich stream of different concentration. The oxygen enriched combustion and its benefits are discussed in this
paper.

INTRODUCTION:
The cost of energy production is increasing
day by day so there should be improvement
in the energy saving technologies. Oxygen
enrichment is the very important and one of
the energy saving technology for combustion
process. By using oxygen-rich air for
combustion there will be advantages like
higher available heat, lower loss of heat
through the flue gas, higher thermal
efficiency etc, because oxygen concentration
is higher than the concentration of oxygen in
the air. Due to technological advancement

oxygen requirement can be fulfill at the

lower cost than few years ago. So it is
economically viable to use oxygen in
combustion process. This process can be

laboratory scale furnace. LPG or CNG

will be used as a fuel. In which oxygen
cylinder will be used for providing pure
oxygen and air is supplied from a blower.
By controlling the flow-rate of air and
oxygen in the furnace, composition of
oxygen will be changed from 21 % to 90
%. Furnace will be heated up to aimed
temperature and that temperature will be
maintained for half an hour and this
process will be repeated at different
concentration of oxygen in air. For this
process fuel consumption and emission
data will be collected and economical
analysis will be evaluated.

classified as the future technology known as

the clean combustion technologies. The
process of using oxygen rich stream for
combustion can be applied in the glass
industry and in the manufacture of cement.

MATERIAL AND METHOD:

Experiment for combustion using oxygen
rich stream will be carried out in a
Gujarat Cleaner Production Centre (GCPC)

Figure-1 Experimental Set-up

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Some results given by other author for
oxygen enrichment of 21 to 30 % are
given. As the concentration increases the
amount of fuel used will decrease. CO
will decrease as the oxygen concentration
increase in the air. Amount of the NOx
generation will increase. CO2 emission
will increase so there will be good
chances of CO2 capturing and that CO2
can be used at other industry. As the
oxygen concentration increase the
maximum temperature and amount of
energy generation in furnace will also
increase.

Figure-2 Fuel consumption and CO2 Emission

Figure-3 CO and NOx emission

POTENTIAL
COMMERCILIZATION:

FOR

There is great potential for using this

technology in industries like glass ceramic
and cement. By using Pressure swing
adsorption the amount of oxygen can be
generated from 93 to 95 % and it can be
directly used for combustion, it is
economically viable also. Due to decrease
in the amount of flue gas generated and
good energy saving oxygen rich air can be
used for industrial heating.
GUIDE & STUDENT NAME CONTACT
NUNUMBER, E-MAIL:

CONCLUSION:
Guided By
By using optimum amount of oxygen
required for combustion, there will be
maximum energy saving and also
minimum pollution. Economical point of
view this process is feasible because
amount of fuel used will be reduced and
also heat losses will be minimized. This
technology is most suited for the
processes where higher temperature is
required for heating in a furnace.

Paresh H Rana
9426387928, ranaph@gmail.com
Co-Guide
N. M. Patel
9426024961, prof.nmpatel@gmail.com
Abhishek Mehta
9726277655, abhimehta05@gmail.com

Gujarat Cleaner Production Centre (GCPC)