Fired heaters flame pattern

Investigators determined that during a hectic day of operations, the chemical process operator erred. On this afternoon, he inadvertently tried to startup the heater with the burner firing and the heater tubes isolated from the circulating pump by closed blocked valves. Shortly after firing the heater, the lead operator checked the flame pattern but observed nothing out of the ordinary. 

Operators use furnace cameras to remotely view burners in the numerous fired heaters that are heating this oil to spot such performance defecfs as flame impingement, flames that are burning too low, clogged burners, irregular flame patterns, flashback, flames thaf are producing too much pollution, or oil spillage. 

The flux distribution around the tube is not uniform as well. As indicated in Figure 5.3, the radiating plane is the flame. The diagram on the left shows the flux profile for a single-fired heater. The front of the tube facing the fire picks up most of the heat. The diagram on the right shows the profile for a double-fired heater with flames on both sides of the tubes. The flux pattern is close to uniform. 

Many systems use steam to help atomize the heated fuel at the point of ignition. Primary air provides oxygen to the fuel mixture. Primary air is located at the point on the burner where air and fuel mix, whereas secondary air registers are located on the bottom and sides of the burner. Flame patterns are important to an experienced technician and can provide an indication of how the system is working. Visual checks are possible at different points on the fired heater. 

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See also in sourсe #XX -- [ ]

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