Soot processes in a methane-fueled furnace and their impact on radiation heat transfer to furnace walls

Soot process in a vertical methane-fueled furnace supplied with fuel throug h its primary inlet located at its bottom, and with air via two opposing ho rizontal air jets perpendicular to the direction of Fuel supply, are studie d numerically under different operating conditions. Results show that incre asing the inlet temperature of fuel and/or air favors soot generation, henc e enhances thermal radiation to walls. Radiation to the walls also increase s by increasing air supply rates under fixed overall excess air ratio (EAR) conditions. Increasing EAR favors soot formation in the circulating region s formed below air jets, but it enhances soot oxidation in the upper locati ons. Consequently the heat radiated to walls is reduced. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.