Novel velocity control device for a burner using bimetallic materials for preheated fuel and oxidizer

Abstract

Methods and systems for controlling jet velocity of a preheated gas are described herein. Through the use of a temperature-sensitive bimetallic valve, the flow of a gas can be redirected to maintain jet velocity based on temperature. The temperature-sensitive bimetallic valve can redirect flow of the gas based on the position of a bimetallic strip. The bimetallic strip and a connected blocking device can change position based on the temperature of the gas. The position of the bimetallic strip and the blocking device control the size of the port that the gas is delivered to the burner through. Thus, preheated gas and standard temperature gas can be delivered at appropriate velocities based on the needs of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for controlling jet velocity of a gas, comprising:
 a source of oxidizing gas;   a source of fuel gas;   at least one temperature-sensitive bimetallic valve in connection with one of the source of oxidizing gas or the source of fuel gas, the valve comprising a bimetallic strip, a blocking device and a flow control structure and configured to:
 receive an oxidizing gas or a fuel gas, wherein the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas is at a first temperature; 
 change the temperature of at least the bimetallic strip from a second temperature to the first temperature; 
 change position of the bimetallic strip, as measured from the flow control structure, in response to the change in temperature from the second temperature to the first temperature; and 
 change the velocity of the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas through the valve based on the position of the bimetallic strip; and 
   a burner configured to:
 receive an oxidizing gas or a fuel gas from the at least one temperature-sensitive bimetallic valve, wherein the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas is at the first temperature; 
 combine and combust the fuel gas with the oxidizing gas to create a flame; and 
 direct the flame to a target material. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature-sensitive bimetallic valve is configured to deliver the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas to the burner with an approximately constant velocity. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature-sensitive bimetallic structure further comprises the blocking device configured to:
 change position with the bimetallic strip; and   change the velocity of the oxidizing gas and/or the fuel gas based on the position of the bimetallic strip in conjunction with the flow control structure.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bimetallic strip is configured to act as the blocking device. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature-sensitive bimetallic valve is configured to receive the fuel gas, the fuel gas is natural gas and the first temperature is less than or equal to 450 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature-sensitive bimetallic valve is configured to receive the oxidizing gas, the oxidizing gas is oxygen (O 2 ) and the first temperature is less than or equal to 550 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the source of oxidizing gas or the source of fuel gas is configured to receive and transmit heat from a flue gas. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the burner comprises a first oxidizing gas pipe and a first fuel gas pipe which are configured to deliver an oxidizing gas or a fuel gas to the burner. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the temperature-sensitive bimetallic valve is configured to change the velocity of the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas through the valve by redirecting at least a portion of the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas through one or more second oxidizing gas pipes or one or more second fuel gas pipe. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the temperature-sensitive bimetallic valve is configured to change the velocity of the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas through the valve by increasing the volume of the first oxidizing gas pipe or the first fuel gas pipe. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bimetallic strip comprises a first metal and a second metal and wherein the first metal is selected from the group consisting of iron, palladium, platinum or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bimetallic strip comprises a first metal and a second metal and wherein the second metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, cobalt, nickel or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a protective cover configured to:
 isolate the bimetallic strip from the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas; and   transmit heat to the bimetallic strip.   
     
     
         14 . A method for controlling gas velocity in a furnace comprising:
 flowing an oxidizing gas or a fuel gas into a temperature-sensitive bimetallic valve at a first temperature, the temperature-sensitive bimetallic valve comprising a bimetallic strip, a blocking device and a flow control structure;   transferring heat from the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas to the bimetallic strip, wherein the bimetallic strip changes from a second temperature to the first temperature;   changing the position of the bimetallic strip, as measured from the flow control structure, in response to the change in temperature from the second temperature to the first temperature; and   delivering the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas from the temperature-sensitive bimetallic valve to a burner at a second velocity, wherein the second velocity of the oxidizing gas or fuel gas changes dependant on the position of the bimetallic strip.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas are heated to a temperature below a critical temperature of the gas. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas indirectly exchanges heat with the bimetallic strip. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the oxidizing gas and/or the fuel gas is preheated using a flue gas. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second velocity is less than the first velocity. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas is heated to the first temperature by a flue gas prior to flowing into the temperature-sensitive bimetallic valve. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas is delivered from the temperature-sensitive bimetallic valve to the burner through one or more first pipes. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas is delivered at the second velocity by changing the available volume of the one or more first pipes. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas is delivered at the second velocity by using the one or more first pipes in conjunction with one or more second pipes. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the fuel gas is natural gas and the first temperature is less than or equal to 450 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the oxidizing gas is oxygen (O 2 ) and the first temperature is less than or equal to 550 degrees Celsius.