The report gives results of a field test program to evaluate the effect of minor combustion modifications on pollutant emissions from a variety of industrial combustion equipment types. Tested were 22 units, including refinery process heaters; clay and cement kilns; steel and aluminum furnaces; boilers burning black liquor, wood bark, and CO gas; internal combustion engines; and gas-turbine combined cycles. Process variables, fuel types, excess air reduction, burner adjustments, and staged combustion were evaluated primarily for their effect on NOx emissions. Emissions of NOx, SOx, CO, and HC were measured on all units. Emissions of particulate mass and size, trace species, and organics were measured on selected units. Baseline (as-found) NOx emissions from the test units varied from 35 to 1320 ng/J (52 to 2250 ppm corrected to 3% O2, dry basis). With combustion modifications, NOx emissions from some units were reduced by up to 69%; however, for certain kinds of equipment, NOx reductions were low or insignificant. The main conclusion was that combustion modifications can be applied to many devices without process disruption; however, process limitations on certain types of equipment restrict the degree of NOx reduction that can be achieved.

"Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory, Office of Energy, Minerals, and Industry, Research Triangle Park, N.C." Jan. 1979. Includes bibliographical references. "Contract no. 68-02-2144, program element no. EHE624A." Microfiche.