Consider Compressed Combustion

Abstract

Although high capacity combustors and heat transfer modules are used in various industries, they have yet to be combined advantageously on a wide scale to process and utility heaters. These combinations lead to a shift in emphasis from radiant heat transfer toward exceptionally high velocity forced convection. The result can be exceptionally high heat transfer rates when pressure is sufficient to provide required flow rates. Areas of benefit include significant reductions in equipment size, weight, and costs. In addition, overall advantages for applications involving energy sharing, such as cogeneration are even greater. Thus, compressed combustion should be considered seriously as an economical alternative to conventional heaters, especially in energy sharing systems employing gas turbines. Incentives for compressed combustion have been explored and are presented in this discussion.