Oxidative Fuel with Oxy-Fuel Firing
Oxy-fuel firing is a method of burning a fuel in a combustion chamber that uses oxygen instead of air to provide the oxygen for the reaction. An oxidizer, such as oxygen, nitrogen, or carbon dioxide, is used along with a fuel, such as coal or natural gas. The primary difference between this method of combustion and conventional air-fuel burning is that very high temperatures and very pure combustion products are produced. This method of combustion is particularly useful for electricity production and other applications where high temperatures and high efficiency are desired.
The first use of the oxygen-fuel method of combustion in the United States was for the production of electricity in the late nineteenth century. By 1898, a number of plants in the United States were using this method of combustion. A variety of fuels have been used with oxygen-fuel firing, including coal, natural gas, and oil. The most successful fuels have been those with high combustibility and low sulfur content.
One of the benefits of using oxy-fuel firing is that it is highly efficient, typically producing higher thermal efficiencies than traditional air-fuel burning. In addition, this method of combustion is capable of generating more power per unit of air used. This makes oxy-fuel firing a very attractive method of combustion for electricity production.
The technologies used to achieve oxy-fuel firing have improved dramatically over the past few decades. In the past, oxy-fuel firing was accomplished using natural gas as the fuel source and oxygen produced by an air separation plant. Today, oxy-fuel firing can be accomplished using any fuel source, including coal, natural gas, or oil. The production of oxygen for the reaction is now accomplished using a variety of methods, including cryogenic air separation and oxygen-enriched air.
In addition to its use for electricity production, oxy-fuel firing has been applied to several other areas. It has been used in industrial manufacturing processes to improve the efficiency of the production of heat or chemical reactions. It has also been used in some fireplaces and space heaters to ensure complete and efficient combustion. It was even used in some rocket engines to provide greater efficiency and thrust.
Oxy-fuel firing is a method of burning fuel with oxygen rather than air to produce very high temperatures and very pure combustion products. This method of combustion has been applied to electricity production, industrial manufacturing processes, and other applications where high temperatures and high efficiency are desired. The technologies used to accomplish oxy-fuel firing have improved dramatically over the past few decades, allowing for use of any fuel source for the reaction. As the benefits of oxy-fuel firing become better known and safety protocols more clearly articulated, this method of combustion could become the preferred method in many industries.
