This study investigates by experiment the global characteristics of both moderate or intense low-oxygen dilution (MILD) oxy-combustion and air combustion of firing light oil and pulverized coal in a pilot-scale furnace. There are three burner configurations used, i.e., (I) central straight (primary) jet + swirl (secondary) jet, (II) central straight (primary) jet + two side symmetrical (secondary) jets, and (III) central straight (primary) jet + side asymmetrical jet. The furnace centerline temperature, species concentrations, and exhaust emissions are measured and compared for the MILD and conventional combustion cases. For light oil and pulverized coal, the MILD air combustion or oxy-combustion occurs with burner II or III, while the conventional combustion takes place when using burner I. For the light oil, the MILD oxy-combustion can be reached even using pure oxygen. As the MILD combustion is reached, a fairly uniform temperature distribution and low emissions of NO and CO are obtained. Note that burner III produces the largest internal recirculation of the flue gas, lowest peak temperature, and most uniform temperature, whereas the opposite occurs for burner I. Importantly, the MILD combustion is found to reduce the NO emission much more effectively in the oxy-combustion case than in the air combustion case. Moreover, the appearance of the MILD combustion of light oil and pulverized coal differs from the invisible MILD combustion of gaseous fuels. Dark sparks from burning oil droplets or char particles are present in the MILD combustion of light oil or pulverized coal. It is also revealed that the char burnout under the MILD combustion is weaker than that under the conventional combustion.

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