A new burner project nearing completion could give refiners and chemical producers more options around the fuels they can use in their production operations.
US regulatory requirements mean that fuels used in industrial processes must have nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions of 5 ppm or less, which helps protect air quality and respiratory health. While many industrial operators in these industries currently have access to a variety of “opportunity fuels” or specific gas compositions, costly heater modifications would be needed to meet regulatory NOx emission limits, therefore limiting the fuels that these producers can use.
Now ClearSign Technologies has announced that, working with the US Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), it has successfully completed the testing of its ClearSign Core Flexible Fuel, 100% Hydrogen Capable process burner branded as ClearSign Core 2.
ClearSign says the burner enables compliant and cost-effective use of fuels "ranging from 100% hydrogen, the full gamut of petrochemical and refinery hydrocarbon fuel gas blends, and natural gas in industrial heating operations.” ClearSign said the project is nearing its scheduled completion and marks a "significant" 2.5-year effort.
ClearSign, which designs and develops products and technologies for the purpose of decarbonisation and improving key performance characteristics of industrial and commercial systems, says that the burner comprises integrated features, such as internally induced flue gas recirculation, fuel-lean premixing and a patented distal flame holder, which means that a wider range of fuels can be used by industrial producers.
Drew O’Connell, NETL federal project manager said: “This solution allows companies to effectively utilise a broader spectrum of available fuels, ensuring they operate within permitted NOx limits without needing additional post-combustion controls like selective catalytic reduction or diluents.”
NETL said the development will “significantly improve operational resilience and competitiveness within the domestic refining and chemical production sectors, aligning with NETL’s commitment to providing technological solutions for US industrial needs.”
The project was supported by a $1.65 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II award from the US Department of Energy. The project is now progressing to the next stage to implement commercial field installations at operational industrial sites.
“We are thankful for the SBIR program funding that allowed us to develop and demonstrate a technology designed to meet the real-world needs of US refineries and chemical processing facilities,” said Dr Jim Deller, ClearSignchief executive.
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