ABSTRACT
Historically, radiant wall burners have been used in many hydrogen-reforming and ethylenecracking heater applications.
These furnaces typically operate in the temperature range between 1900
∞
F and 2300
∞
F. The process ßuid is circulated through process tubes, which are usually suspended in the middle of the furnace, and is heated to the required application temperature, with radiative heat transfer from the refractory side walls being dominant. The heat transfer from the furnace to the tubes (and the use of a catalyst in some applications) converts the process ßuid to the Þnal product via the appropriate chemical reactions. As one can expect, the product yield efÞciency of the process in these furnace operations depends heavily on the heat transfer. Through the years, furnace and burner manufacturers have devoted considerable research efforts to determine the optimum heat ßux proÞles in various furnace-burner conÞgurations to optimize product yields.
