40 Validation of Physical and Mathematical Modelling Criteria for Advanced Gyro-Therm Burners*

Fields:

Fluid Dynamics, Combustion, Modelling, Control of Air Pollution

Supervisors:

Dr. Gus Nathan and Mr Steven Hill (FCT)

Moderator:

Richard Kelso

Number of Students:

Yew Chen, Shandy Kiu and Robin Leong

Description:

Precessing jets, as used in the advanced Gyro-Therm burner design, are finding increasing application in gas fired rotary kilns. In cement and lime kilns they have been shown to reduce NOx emissions by 30-60%, while simultaneously increasing radiant heat transfer. The increased heat transfer can generate specific fuel savings and increased production rates, providing savings of up to US$1m per year. The Industry Partner, Fuel and Combustion Technology (FCT), uses both physical and mathematical models for the design of burners. These models have been validated for jet entrainment burners in cement and lime kilns. However validated modelling criteria for Gyro-Therm burners have yet to be developed.

Because of their significance, precessing jet flows have been the subject of numerous investigations at by University of Adelaide and FCT, who are the joint developers of the technology. Importantly, a recent PhD thesis, by Jordan Parham (2001) developed several scaling criteria for use in physical and mathematical models as design tools. However all models must be validated before they can be used with confidence. Importantly a reliable data set is also available to validate these models through a series of pilot scale trials obtained in Holland by University of Adelaide and FCT.

The aims of the project therefore are to implement the proposed modelling criteria into existing mathematical and physical models and to validate the models. Validation will be performed by comparing the predictions against measured results using the existing pilot scale data. The perspex model is already available from a 2000 final year project and the mathematical model is also available. The physical model studies will be conducted in the FCT model lab at Thebarton and the mathematical model studies will be performed on a PC.

The project will be funded, and jointly supervised by, Fuel and Combustion Technology (FCT). The project will be of interest to anyone interested in combustion & fluid dynamics, modelling and in the development of practical systems to reduce air pollution from industrial combustion systems. The project is best conducted by two people. They will work together on both aspects of the project, but prime responsibility would probably be split between the physical and mathematical modelling programs.

Industry Partner:

Fuel and Combustion Technology