Burner assembly and methods thereof

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to burner assembly for use in an aggregate drying facility having requisite ultra-low nitrogen oxide emissions. In one embodiment, a burner assembly comprises a single burner apparatus having a centrifugal blower, a transition section, and a frustoconical stabilizer cone from which a flame may exit the burner assembly; a combustible fuel line having a first end connected to a fuel source, and a second end connected to a nozzle for delivering fuel to a combustion chamber within the single burner apparatus; a compressed air line having a first end connected to a compressed air source, and a second end connected to a nozzle for delivering compressed air to the combustion chamber; and a water line having a first end connected to a water source and a second end connected to a nozzle for delivering water to the combustion chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A burner assembly comprising:
 a single burner apparatus having a centrifugal blower, a transition section, and a frustoconical stabilizer cone from which a flame may exit the burner assembly;   a combustible fuel line having a first end connected to a fuel source, and a second end connected to a nozzle for delivering fuel to a combustion chamber within the single burner apparatus;   a compressed air line having a first end connected to a compressed air source, and a second end connected to a nozzle for delivering compressed air to the combustion chamber; and   a water line having a first end connected to a water source and a second end connected to a nozzle for delivering water to the combustion chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The burner assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the centrifugal blower is capable of providing air flow of between about 20 osig to about 40 osig. 
     
     
         3 . The burner assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel comprises at least one of natural gas, number 2 fuel oil, number 4 fuel oil or number 6 fuel oil. 
     
     
         4 . The burner assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the compressed air is compressed to between about 25 psi to about 50 psi. 
     
     
         5 . The burner assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the compressed air is compressed to about 40 psi. 
     
     
         6 . The burner assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the water is delivered to the combustion chamber at about 25 psi to about 50 psi, having a volumetric flow rate of between about 2 gal/min to about 6 gal/min. 
     
     
         7 . The burner assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the water is delivered to the combustion chamber at about 40 psi, having a volumetric flow rate of about 4 gal/min. 
     
     
         8 . The burner assembly of  claim 1 , wherein during operation, the flame produces less than about 75 ppm NOx emissions. 
     
     
         9 . The burner assembly of  claim 8 , wherein during operation, the flame produces less than about 50 ppm NOx emissions. 
     
     
         10 . A method of using a burner assembly for aggregate drying while producing low NOx emissions comprising:
 providing a burner assembly comprising:
 a single burner apparatus having a centrifugal blower, a transition section, and a frustoconical stabilizer cone from which a flame may exit the burner assembly; 
 a combustible fuel line having a first end connected to a fuel source, and a second end connected to a nozzle for delivering fuel to a combustion chamber within the single burner apparatus; 
 a compressed air line having a first end connected to a compressed air source, and a second end connected to a nozzle for delivering compressed air to the combustion chamber; and 
 a water line having a first end connected to a water source and a second end connected to a nozzle for delivering water to the combustion chamber; 
   supplying fuel to the combustion chamber via the combustible fuel line;   supplying air to the combustion chamber, the air coming from at least a combination of the centrifugal blower and the compressed air line;   combusting the fuel and air in the combustion chamber; and   introducing water via the water line to the combustion chamber.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein supplying air to the combustion chamber further comprises air coming through the stabilizer cone from an environmental source, and through one or more external inlets near the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein combusting the fuel and air in the combustion chamber comprises igniting an energy source causing ignition of the fuel and air in the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the energy source comprises one of a pilot light or a spark plug. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fuel comprises at least one of natural gas, number 2 fuel oil, number 4 fuel oil or number 6 fuel oil. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the compressed air is compressed to between about 25 psi to about 50 psi. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the water is delivered to the combustion chamber at about 25 psi to about 50 psi, having a volumetric flow rate of between about 2 gal/min to about 6 gal/min. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein during operation, the flame produces less than about 75 ppm NOx emissions. 
     
     
         18 . A method of creating a burner assembly for aggregate drying while producing low NOx emissions comprising:
 providing a dual fuel, single burner apparatus having a centrifugal blower, a transition section, a frustoconical stabilizer cone, a compressed air line, and first and second fuel lines for providing a first and second fuel to a combustion chamber within the burner assembly, respectively;   removing the second fuel line from the apparatus; and   replacing the second fuel line with a water line.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein removing the second fuel line comprises removal of a second fuel source while leaving the structural line in place. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein replacing the second fuel line with the water line comprises connecting a water source to the structural line originally in place for the second fuel.