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Laboratory study of a low NO{sub x} hot water heater with a weak-swirl burner

Conference ·
OSTI ID:110777
Due to environmental concerns and increasing regulation, manufacturers are searching for methods to reduce combustion-generated emissions from their products. Lean-burning is one recognized method for reducing NO{sub x} emissions from gas appliances. This paper describes the performance of a laboratory, low NO{sub x} hot water heater consisting of the premixed, lean-burning Weak-Swirl Burner (WSB) and a heat exchanger from a commercial 15 kW (50,000 Btu/h) Telstar spa heater. In order to identify an optimum design for a WSB water heater, data was gathered on the overall thermal efficiency and emission levels of NO, CO, and O{sub 2}, while varying the equivalence ratio, water flow rates, and power inputs. Results of our testing show that the WSB/Telstar system achieved thermal efficiencies of 80% while producing ``ultra-low`` (<25 ppM) NO emissions for equivalence ratios below 0.85. Efficiency was essentially independent of equivalence ratio, as well as NO and CO emissions.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
110777
Report Number(s):
LBL--37159; CONF-951135--20; ON: DE96001113
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English