A study of laboratory Bunsen burners for natural gas

Abstract

Sixteen different laboratory-type Bunsen burners, sold as suitable for natural gas, were purchased and their limits of operation determined. Eight of the burner were of t he Mek er type, and eight were straight-tube burners. The res ults of the study indicate t he n eed for certain changes in design if satisfactory operating characteristics are to be obtained wit h natural gas. A comparison of the dimensions of these burners wi th the fundam ental relations for good burner operation brought out the following three major reasons for t heir unsatisfactory performance: Too small a port area, improper throat size, and insuffici ent primary air opening. In addition to t hese t hree factors, use of the proper orifice size was also found to be of importance. Two burners, one a straight-tube and the other a Meker type, were modified so that they complied with the requirements as determined by t his stud y. Both burners were found to b e greatly improved and were capable of producing a hot, stable flame over a range of gas rates approximately double t heir form er usable rates.