Glycerin burning system

Abstract

A glycerin burning system having a specialized atomizing burner capable of combusting a continuous feed of crude or pure glycerin. The burner includes a two-fluid mixing nozzle. The nozzle has an internal distributor which mixes two fluid feed streams as the fluids are expelled through an orifice. The distributor has channels which cause the air to swirl before mixing with the glycerin. An impingement pin is provided outside the orifice to diffuse the mixture and reduce combustion air speed. To improve performance, the burner's air feed line is subjected to combustion chamber to preheat the air passing through the feed line before the air is mixed with the glycerin.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not applicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not applicableMICROFICHE APPENDIX[0003]Not applicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]1. Field of the Invention[0005]This invention relates to the field of waste product combustion. More specifically, the present invention comprises a glycerin burning system having a specialized atomizing nozzle for the combustion of glycerin.[0006]2. Description of the Related Art[0007]Glycerin, or glycerol, is a byproduct of biodiesel and soap manufacturing. Although there are various uses for pure glycerin, the increase in demand for biodiesel has resulted in the production and stockpiling of large quantities of crude glycerin. This trend is expected to continue.[0008]Currently there is a need for effective combustion systems for the disposal and heat recovery of glycerin. The most effective glycerin combustion systems typically require a substantial amount of combustio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The present invention comprises a glycerin burning system having a specialized atomizing burner capable of combusting a continuous feed of crude or pure glycerin. The burner includes a two-fluid mixing nozzle or a one fluid impingement nozzle. The nozzle has an internal distributor which mixes two fluid feed streams (glycerin and air) as the fluids are expelled through an orifice. The distributor has channels which cause the air to swirl before mixing with the glycerin. An impingement pin is provided outside the orifice to diffuse the mixture and reduce combustion air speed.

[0012]To improve performance, the burner's air feed line exchanges heat with the combustion chamber to preheat the air passing through the feed line before the air is mixed with the glycerin. In addition, a flame retention head is employed on the burner to improve combustion efficiency. Alternate air diversion methods are also proposed for reducing combustion air speed.

Problems solved by technology

Although there are various uses for pure glycerin, the increase in demand for biodiesel has resulted in the production and stockpiling of large quantities of crude glycerin.

This adds significant cost to the process.

Existing burners cannot burn pure glycerin because the combustion air speed produced by conventional burners exceeds the flame propagation speed of the air-glycerin mixture.

Even if one is able to instantaneously ignite the air-glycerin mixture the flame will be quickly blown away by the burner.

This phenomenon is a major obstacle to the development of effective glycerin combustion systems.

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