Oxyfuelmenetelmää

Oxyfuelmenetelmä, also known as oxy-fuel combustion, is a process that utilizes pure oxygen instead of air in combustion. This allows for a significantly higher flame temperature and more efficient heat transfer compared to conventional air-fuel combustion. In oxyfuel combustion, the fuel, which can be gaseous (like natural gas or hydrogen) or liquid, is burned with a stream of pure oxygen. The absence of nitrogen, which makes up approximately 78% of air, is the key factor. Nitrogen in air combustion acts as a diluent and absorbs heat, lowering the flame temperature and increasing the volume of flue gases. By removing nitrogen, the combustion process is intensified.

The primary benefit of oxyfuel combustion is the elevated flame temperature, which can reach temperatures exceeding 2800 degrees Celsius. This higher temperature leads to faster reaction rates and improved thermal efficiency. Additionally, the reduced volume of flue gases, primarily composed of carbon dioxide and water vapor, simplifies downstream processing, such as carbon capture. Applications for oxyfuel technology are diverse and include metal cutting and welding, glass manufacturing, waste incineration, and power generation. In metal cutting, the high flame temperature allows for rapid and precise cutting of thick materials. In glass furnaces, it results in higher production rates and reduced energy consumption. Despite its advantages, the higher cost of producing pure oxygen compared to air remains a significant factor in its widespread adoption.