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Effects of alternate fuels report No. 7: analysis of failure of a mullite-based refractory brick in an industrial oil-fired burner

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6136189· OSTI ID:6136189
Industrial conversion from natural gas to alternate fuels, such as residual oils and coal, often results in accelerated degradation of refractory materials due to chemical reactions with the metal impurities in the alternate fuels. The cause of failure of a refractory brick used in an industrial burner firing an alternate fuel is described. The burner, which was used to calcine CaSO/sub 4/ in a lime-type kiln, was fired with No. 6 residual oil. The refractory lining in the burner was constructed of aluminosilicate brick, castable, and mortar in contact with one another. The lining deteriorated after about 1000 h, during which the maximum hot-face temperature was about 1750/sup 0/C. The degraded refractories were subjected to chemical analyses, ceramography, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and electron microprobe analysis. Liquid phases that formed in the castable and mortar during operation of the burner at temperatures above about 1600/sup 0/C reacted with the brick, resulting in decomposition of mullite. Contamination of the original refractory with CaO and V/sub 2/O/sub 5/ resulted in the formation, during cooling, of compounds which are less refractory than the original castable and mortar. It was concluded that failure was initiated by melting in the castable and mortar. Large concentrations of aggressive oxide liquid were in the burner lining at the service temperature. The liquid phase eventually advanced into the refractory from the hot face to the extent that the brick grossly deteriorated. Therefore, rapid degradation of the refractory system was due to a combination of excess temperature and fluxing by process carry-over and impurities from the fuel oil.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
6136189
Report Number(s):
ORNL/TM-6878
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English