Burner.wiki

Burner Types by Application

A burner must be matched not just to the fuel, but to the specific "heat receiver" (the equipment it is firing into). The flame geometry and heat transfer method differ significantly.

1. Boiler Burners (Steam & Hot Water)

Boilers require high heat transfer efficiency to water tubes or fire tubes.

Characteristics

  • Flame Shape: Must be long and narrow for fire-tube boilers (to avoid hitting the tube walls) or shaped to fit the water-wall furnace.
  • Draft: Typically designed for relatively high back-pressure (furnace resistance).
  • Modulation: High turndown is critical to match fluctuating steam loads (e.g., in a brewery or hospital).

Solutions

  • Monoblock Burners: Standard for packaged boilers up to 20 MW.
  • Duoblock Burners: Used for large utility boilers (>20 MW) where fan size becomes too large for a package unit.

2. Industrial Furnace Burners

Furnaces (for metal, glass, ceramics) often operate at much higher temperatures (>1000°C) than boilers.

Characteristics

  • High Velocity Burners: Eject hot gas at 100+ m/s to stir the furnace atmosphere, ensuring uniform temperature distribution (critical for heat treating).
  • Regenerative Burners: Use ceramic beds to recover waste heat from exhaust to preheat incoming combustion air, doubling efficiency.
  • Flat Flame Burners: Create a flame that spreads along the wall, radiating heat to the product without direct flame impingement.

Solutions

  • Heat Treatment: High velocity gas burners.
  • Steel Reheating: Regenerative pairs switching every 30-60 seconds.

3. Process Air Heaters (Duct Burners)

Used for drying applications (grain, paper, paint) or fresh air heating.

Characteristics

  • In-Duct Firing: The burner is mounted directly inside the air duct.
  • High Turndown: Must handle huge variations in air flow and temperature rise.
  • Line Burners: Modular sections arranged in "H" or "I" shapes to distribute heat evenly across a large air stream.

Solutions

  • Make-up Air Units: Direct fired gas burners (100% efficient as exhaust enters the building - requires clean combustion).
  • Grain Dryers: Robust line burners capable of operating in dusty environments.

4. Rotary Kiln Burners

Used in cement and lime production.

Characteristics

  • Long Throw: Must project a flame 20-30 meters down a rotating drum.
  • Multi-Channel: Often 3-4 channels for primary air, solid fuel (coal/petcoke), and alternative fuels (tires/waste).