COMBINATION AIR SEPARATION AND STEAM-GENERATION PROCESS AND PLANTS THEREFOR

摘要

This invention proposes innovative techniques of NOx reduction in baile r operation through an adaptation of staged combustion in combustion boilers. In preferred processes, air is fed into an air separation unit, and a nitrogen- enriched stream is combined with air to produce a nitrogen-enriched first stage air stream, and at least a portion of an oxygen-enriched stream is mixed with air to produce an oxygen-enriched second stags air stream. A reduction in NOx and increase in efficiency is promoted by the inventive processes and systems.