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U.S. Department of Energy
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High-temperature burner-duct-recuperator (HTBDR) development and demonstration: Final report for the period October 1981-September 1987

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5315133

A program has been completed to design, develop, fabricate, install, operate, and evaluate a high-temperature burner-duct-recuperator (HTBDR) system. The HTBDR is used to recover waste heat from industrial furnaces through preheating of the combustion air. The HTBDR comprises a high-termperature ceramic tubular recuperator operating in series with a metallic plate-fin heat exchanger, a high-termperature dual-fuel burner, and the associated ducting, controls, and auxiliary equipment. After generating a full-size preliminary design, a scaled-down prototype HTBDR was designed, developed, fabricated, and successfully tested. The HTBDR produced 2000)degree)F air with exhaust gas at approximately 2350)degree)F. Prototype burners operated with the 2000)degree)F air. Following the prototype test, the full-size final design was prepared. The system was fabricated and installed on a rotary heat treating furnace at Cameron Iron Works, Houston, Texas. The system operated successfully for about 6 months. The HTBDR demonstrated air preheat capability of over 1900)degree)F (with 2100)degree)F exhaust gas). The system was eventually shut down due to the structural failure of a few ceramic components (not the ceramic tubes). Faulty fabrication of the failed parts coupled with severe and numerous thermal cycling was judged to be the source of this problem.

Research Organization:
Allied-Signal Aerospace Co., Torrance, CA (USA). AiResearch Los Angeles Div.
DOE Contract Number:
FC07-81ID12170
OSTI ID:
5315133
Report Number(s):
DOE/ID/12170-3; ON: DE88006515
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English