DEVELOPMENT OF A BURNER FOR THE HIGH PRESSURE COMBUSTION OF LIQUID FUEL WITH OXYGEN

The objective of this dissertation was to develop a compact burner capable of generating heat at high rates in a confined space capable of use in an oil well, although not confined to this use. The burner developed utilized vortex motion similar to that used in cyclone combustors and swirl burners. Number 2 fuel oil and oxygen were used as the reactants with subsequent water injection to absorb the heat of reaction and generate steam. Gross heat release rates of 0.535 x 10('6) to 2.232 x 10('6) Btu/hr (1.395 x 10('8) to 5.820 x 10('9) Btu/hr.ft('3)) were accomplished at stoichiometric ratios from 1.01 to 2.50 and pressures ranging from 89 to 489 psig.;Water used for cooling the combustion chamber walls and form steam entered the burner in two streams. The primary water was introduced into the combustion chamber through the cylindrical permeable wall made of fritted 20-micron stainless-steel spheres. Water injection through it served to protect the wall from the intense heat of the flame by removing the incident energy as heat of vaporization. The secondary water was introduced downstream from the combustion chamber through a trio of spray nozzles such that the water spray came into counter-current contact with the combustion chamber effluent.