Work

Oxygen-enriched nonlinear combustion control for low-NOX emissions in natural gas-fired ceramic kilns

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Natural gas has great potential for reducing pollutants but has drawbacks in ceramic kilns: poor temperature uniformity, high energy consumption, and significant NOX emissions. This study aims to resolve the trade-off between energy savings from oxygen-enriched combustion and the associated NOX increase by integrating nonlinear combustion technology. A pilot-scale experimental platform for oxygen-enriched nonlinear combustion was built, with oxygen concentration 21%-33%, period 4-20 s, and amplitude 15-35. Experimental results showed that in linear oxygen-enriched combustion, NOX emissions rose with oxygen concentration and furnace temperature, while CO emissions dropped sharply. Temperature and fuel supply rate had more obvious effects on NOX generation. After introducing nonlinear combustion, the optimized nonlinear parameters can effectively suppress NOX emissions. However, for oxygen-enriched nonlinear combustion technology, the emission reduction effect is the best at 24% O2. Compared with linear 21% and 24% oxygen combustion, the NOX emissions are significantly reduced, respectively. Response Surface Methodology optimized parameters, achieving a minimum 125.79 ppm NOX, 40.4% below national standards. This study holds significant importance for the achievement of low NOX emissions and energy conservation goals in natural gas-fired ceramic kilns.

Source: Fuel Processing Technology

DOI: 10.1016/j.fuproc.2026.108463