Abstract: A tri-sector regenerative oxidant preheater apparatus, method and arrangement for utilization with oxy-fired pulverized coal combustion power plants. The preheater includes a stationary housing and a rotor rotatably mounted in the housing. Sector plates are located at the axial ends of the rotor and divide the preheater into a flue gas sector, two primary oxidant sectors, and a secondary oxidant sector interposed between the two primary oxidant sectors. A primary oxidant fan is located downstream of the preheater to create a negative environment in the primary oxidant sectors. During operation of the preheater, the environments of the two primary oxidant sectors and the flue gas sector are at about the same negative pressure, and thus there is very limited leakage between the oxidant side and the flue gas side of the preheater.

Abstract: A system includes a resonant frequency modeler for determining a resonant frequency of a node on a collecting plate that collects particles from a gas flow; and a wave generating device that applies a wave having an applied frequency substantially equal to the resonant frequency to the node of the collecting plate to remove particles from the collecting plate. An electrostatic precipitator (ESP) including the system and related method are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of emission control equipment for boilers, heaters, kilns, or other flue gas-, or combustion gas-, generating devices (e.g., those located at power plants, processing plants, etc.) and, in particular to a new and useful method and apparatus for preventing the poisoning and/or contamination of an SCR catalyst. In another embodiment, the method and apparatus of the present invention is designed to protect an SCR catalyst, while simultaneously providing emission control.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe encircles the perimeter of a target component to be ultrasonically tested and has a base and a pair of jaws pivotally mounted to the base at opposite ends of an arcuate inner surface of the base to encircle a target component with arcuate inner surfaces of the jaws as well. The inner surfaces form a coupling fluid chamber with an outer surface of the target component. Front and rear sets of seals connected to and extending along front and rear portions of the arcuate inner surfaces seal the chamber so that it can retain a coupling fluid such as water. An arcuate set of ultrasonic transducers is connected along at least one but preferably all of the arcuate inner surfaces for transmitting ultrasonic signals to the coupling fluid chamber and into the target component.

Abstract: A steam generation system comprises: an oxygenated water treatment (OWT) sub-system configured to generate water having oxidizing chemistry; a steam generation sub-system configured to convert the water having oxidizing chemistry into steam having oxidizing chemistry; an attemperator or other injection device or devices configured to add an oxygen scavenger to the steam having oxidizing chemistry to generate steam having less oxidizing or reducing chemistry; and a condenser configured to condense the steam having less oxidizing or reducing chemistry into condensed water.

Abstract: An erection method for a solar receiver and support tower provides a climbing assembly on the support tower to raise the solar receiver to its final elevation by progressively jacking and installing support tower sections to erect the tower and support the solar receiver.

Abstract: A system includes an electrostatic precipitator, an electromagnetic sensor and a processor to locate spark locations. The electromagnetic sensor is used at various locations of the electrostatic precipitator to obtain data and process the same for locating sparks in electrostatic precipitators.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus adapted for use in a pressure vessel such as a synthesis gas cooler. The sealing apparatus is of a segmented plate construction formed around an outer wall section of a conduit means of the pressure vessel that defines at least part of a passage for receiving effluent from a gasification process. Pressure responsive mechanisms are provided on the plate segments to maintain the pressure difference across the sealing apparatus within the acceptable operating limits as well as to permit instantaneous pressure release to prevent damage to the pressure part assembly or cage. The seal is also maintained continuously through the differential growth movement between the conduit means and the pressure vessel during heat up and cool down cycles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method providing a quick-release latch mechanism for a walled enclosure access door. The latch mechanism includes a striker with one end slidably inserted into the enclosure and the other end located outside the enclosure. A keeper is located within the enclosure and adapted to releasably engage and be captively held by the striker when the access door is in the closed position. If necessary, the access door can be readily unlatched from within the enclosure by manually rotating the keeper away from the enclosure wall to disengage and cause removal of the striker as the access door is being manually pushed open from within the enclosure.

Abstract: An SNCR distribution grid for introducing a NOx reducing reactant into a flue gas flow. The grid is made of one or more elements which are formed by fluid-cooled tubes to which membrane pieces are attached, preferably by welding, to form conduits in between the tubes. The fluid-cooled tubes may be cooled by water and/or steam and the distribution grid is disposed in the flue gas flow. To admit the reactant into the flue gas, nozzles are provided in the membrane and the reactant is conveyed from a location external of the furnace or combustor enclosure, into the conduits so formed, and thence out into the Flue gas flow via the nozzles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus particularly suited to the manufacture and assembly of cage-like, substantially cylindrical structures made of long, slender tubular components which, by themselves, are not self-supporting, employs an exo-skeleton structure to assemble cage-like, tubular structures in pie-shaped, longitudinal segments while in a horizontal or vertical position utilizing longitudinal or circumferential attachments. The apparatus comprises at least two segments which permit construction of subassemblies of the cage-like, tubular structure and their transportation, if necessary, to a remote site where they may be finally assembled.

Abstract: A system and method for quickly cooling and de-pressurizing a boiler arrangement in the event of a plant power loss, a.k.a. a black plant condition. A steam discharge system injects steam from the steam/water circuit into the furnace, thereby both cooling components of the boiler arrangement and reducing pressure in the steam/water circuit. This reduces or eliminates the additional cost associated with providing extra capacity in a steam drum and/or an independently powered boiler water pump. The system and method is particularly useful for quickly cooling the U-beams of a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler during a black plant condition. In application to boiler arrangements with a selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) system employing steam as a carrier for a NOx reducing agent, the steam discharge system advantageously uses the discharge nozzles of the SNCR system to inject the steam into the furnace.

Abstract: A method and apparatus effectively bypasses flue gas through or around selected boiler convection heat transfer tube banks within a new or existing boiler flue. Heat transfer tubes are removed, or omitted in the design of a new boiler flue, forming one or more voids at one or more locations within the tube banks. A bypass flue or conduit is formed within each void, for example using steel plates, along with existing flue walls, or using an integral sleeve. A wall of the bypass flue may include water or steam-cooled tubes. Dampers may be installed at either end of or within the bypass flue to control the amount of flue gas directed through each bypass flue.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a sample monitoring system is provided and includes a first enclosure configured to enclose a probe body into which the sample is drawn, a sensor coupled to the probe body and configured to sense a chemical composition of the sample and at least one first heater configured to heat an interior of the first enclosure, a second enclosure configured to enclose a pump coupled to the probe body and configured to draw the sample therein and a second heater configured to heat the pump, and a third enclosure configured to enclose a pump motor configured to control an operation of the pump and to support heating controlling units configured to control the at least one first heater and the second heater.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator including: a collecting electrode in a gas passage; a discharge electrode in the gas passage and separated by a gap from the collecting electrode; a power supply applying a voltage to the discharge electrode, wherein the voltage establishes an electric field between the discharge electrode and the collecting electrode to ionize gas flow in the gap, and a resistor in series with the discharge electrode and having an effective resistance in series with the discharge electrode of at least 50 Ohms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing pulverized coal used in the production of synthesis gas combusted in gas turbines used in integrated gasification combined cycle power plants uses gas turbine exhaust gas to dry and convey pulverized coal from a pulverizer to a coal/gas separation device.

Abstract: A unitary-enclosure housing apparatus and arrangement for protecting and cooling the high voltage electronic conditioning and filtering circuitry components used for providing a high-voltage waveform to an electrostatic precipitator device includes a hermetically sealed dielectric liquid coolant filled tank/housing having one or more side-mounted hollow-panel type radiator structures for dissipating heat from the coolant. The disclosed unitary-enclosure housing apparatus and the particular arrangement of the internal electronic components results in a relatively external small footprint while containing both the transformer-rectifier (TR) set and high-voltage resistor-capacitor (R-C) filter components associated with a high-voltage electrostatic precipitator device in a single unitary package. The housing apparatus is outfitted with a removable top cover plate and access panel for providing easy access to the TR set and R-C filter components.

Abstract: A steam generator used to contain and cool the synthesis gas produced by coal gasification processes employs radiant and convection surfaces, and an integral gasifier, in a specific arrangement to achieve a cost-effective, compact design.

Abstract: A low NOx Cyclone furnace steam generator including redesigned or modified Cyclone furnaces, air flow distribution, and new or relocated air ports maintains and/or minimizes NOx emission levels from the Cyclone furnace steam generator while minimizing Cyclone furnace and steam generator furnace tube wastage.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for achieving increased NOx removal efficiency from an emissions control portion of a fossil fuel fired boiler while controlling ammonia slip provides excess levels of ammonia above those levels conventionally employed in SCR and/or SNCR applications. The apparatus and methods comprise, in part, use of a NOx reduction system comprising at least one selective catalytic reduction system which receives ammonia in higher amounts than conventional practice from an upstream ammonia injection point, and an ammonia reduction system positioned downstream of one or more ammonia injection points and the NOx reduction system. The excess ammonia achieves increased NOx removal, while the ammonia reduction system contains at least one ammonia destruction catalyst which permits the NOx reduction system to be operated at an increased NOx removal efficiency without a corresponding increase in ammonia slip.