Experimental and numerical investigation of vortex‐induced flame propagation in a biomass furnace with tangential over fire registers

The tangentially fired furnaces have evolved because of rapid contacting of the fuel and air flame impingement, and the increased particulate residence time due to vortex motion. Tangentially fired units have a good record in being able to meet emission regulation on NOx as a result of their flexibility and the ability to control the heat release rate. Yet, the flow inside the tangentially fired furnaces is known to have its own peculiar aerodynamics; it is quite complicated in such a way that it is not easy to reach a satisfactory model to describe it. The drawbacks with the traditional tangentially fired furnaces are burner velocities. Low velocities are not suitable for fuels having high volatile contents, as ignition occurs in or near the burner causing slugging and distortion problems. Very high velocities on the other hand are undesirable as fuel particles can centrifuge out of the main combustion zone as unburnt carbon. The test boiler used in this work has tangential over fire registers located in the side walls, which are directed to form an imaginary circle at the centre to aid the suspension burning. The vortex formed by these jets, is then induced by the under grate air in reaching the higher levels in the furnace. In the test furnace, the fuel is not coming along with the tangential over fire air, but enters the furnace through the bagasse spreaders and carried by the distributor air. The combustion of bagasse and the propagation of the flame within the furnace are influenced by the tangential over fire air and the under grate air. In the present work, the furnace is simulated and analyzed for the propagation of flame and the patterns at various heights of the furnace supported by the measurements.