APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY:
- Ultra-low emissions burners for residential and commercial gas appliances
- Carbon fuels (e.g., natural gas)
- Any technology requiring stability of natural draft lean premixed flames for heat
- Heat and power applications that require ultra-low emissions
BENEFITS:
- This low-cost technology provides enhanced stability and greater reliability in burner operation.
BACKGROUND:
- Lean premixed flames offer the potential to provide power output with very low emissions. However, premixed flames are highly unstable, especially when operating in a “natural draft” configuration, thus limiting the development and implementation.
TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW:
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a technology that is capable of stabilizing lean premixed flames as well as arresting the flame if flashback should occur.
The invention is a woven wire mesh/cloth that is placed directly under, and in contact with, the burner plate. Local velocity at the ports of the burner is increased to help ensure bulk flow velocity of the unburned air/fuel mixture is faster than the flame speed of fuel. By stabilizing the lean premixed flames, the technology expands the use of lean (equivalence ratio from 0.59-0.70 for natural gas) premixed burners to support low emissions and improved efficiency.
DEVELOPMENT STAGE: Proven principle
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
https://eta.lbl.gov/sites/all/files/publications/lbnl-1006345.pdf
CEC Final project report (downloadable document)
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS:
STATUS: Patent pending.
OPPORTUNITIES: Available for licensing or collaborative research.
SEE THESE OTHER BERKELEY LAB TECHNOLOGIES IN THIS FIELD:
Low Velocity, Natural Draft Burner for Even Heating and Ultralow Pollutant Emissions 2015-052