Optical Methods for Data Processing in Heat and Fluid Flow

22

Application of Physical Modelling to Study Combustion Processes and Flow Patterns in Large-scale Boilers and Furnaces

J Baranski, W Blasiak, and J Stąsiek

Abstract

Physical modelling is an easy way to simulate combustion and flow patterns by visualization in cold, isothermal models (1). This is done in steps beginning with a burner model to investigate the flame and continuing with a boiler model to visualize the flow pattern and combustion processes. These models must be used with certain similarity criteria to visualize real industrial processes properly (2). Together with mathematical modelling high accuracy in simulation will be achieved. This work presents application of modelling tools applied to different fired boilers.

22.1 Introduction

Despite great advances, which have been made in combustion modelling over the last decades, its application to real combustion chambers is far from common practice (3). The real industrial combustion process is one of the most difficult to model. Much research has been devoted to developing simplified methods for the optimization of combustion processes, which occur in furnaces or boilers and very often represent a compromise between the accuracy of a model and the production of useful results. There is often a need for modifying and improving the quality of combustion to achieve a reduction of emissions and to get a more rapid and efficient mixing of reactants. This could be done by studying the flow pattern in the furnace and in the ...