Experimental Study of Local Axial Mixing in a Pilot-Scale Cold Burner

The residence time distribution (RTD) approach was used to characterize the flow and mixing behavior of burners. This analysis consists of injecting an inert gaseous tracer into the feed and measuring its change in concentration at various detection points. The responses are then used to characterize the flow behavior and, thus, the local mixing in the space delimited by the injection and probe points. The outcome of this RTD analysis is a flow model that, combined with an appropriate kinetics, constitutes an efficient tool in examining the ways to reduce NOx emissions in existing installations. A replica made in plastic at a 1:1 scale of an industrial gas burner was used for cold experiments. As preliminary information, a chart of local mixing in the axial section of the burner chamber was obtained. Even though far from working conditions, cold experiments are beneficial because they reveal the existence of possible major flow disturbances, leading to imperfect or incomplete combustion, a source of NOx.