Abstract: A system and method for reducing NOx emissions from a lean burn combustion source is provided. The system includes a blower passing air through a continuous duct having a hot portion and a reaction portion. The hot portion of the duct is positioned in the convective zone of the combustion source to heat the passing air for the reaction portion of the duct. An injector attached to a urea storage container is positioned in the reaction portion of the duct and sprays urea from the storage container into the heated air in the reaction duct for evaporation and decomposition into ammonia gas. The ammonia gas is then supplied to an injection grid in the exhaust duct of the lean burn combustion source upstream of a NOx reduction catalyst. The injection grid supplies the ammonia gas to the exhaust gas in the exhaust duct.

Abstract: An atomizer spray plate including a body having an inlet surface and an exit surface, a swirl chamber within the body and adjacent to the inlet surface, an atomizer hole extending through the body from the swirl chamber to the exit surface, and a plurality of elongated protrusions upon the inlet surface extending radially from the swirl chamber, wherein the plurality of elongated protrusions define a plurality of venturi inlets to the swirl chamber between adjacent protrusions.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for injecting fluid, such as an aqueous urea solution, into an exhaust stream in order to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions from diesel engine exhaust. The present invention uses mechanical spill return atomization techniques to produce droplets having an average size of approximately 50 ?m SMD or smaller. This size range is appropriate to allow urea to react into ammonia within the residence time associated with an on-road diesel engine. This effect is achieved through the use of a whirl plate having a plurality of whirl slots surrounding an exit orifice of the injector, which produce a high velocity rotating flow in the whirl chamber. When the rotating flow of fluid is passed through the exit orifice into an exhaust stream, atomization occurs from a combination of centrifugal force and shearing of the fluid by air as it jets into the exhaust stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for injecting fluid, such as an aqueous urea solution, into an exhaust stream in order to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions from diesel engine exhaust The present invention uses mechanical spill return atomization techniques to produce droplets approximately 50 ?m SMD (Sauter mean diameter) or smaller. This size range is appropriate to allow urea to react into ammonia within the residence time associated with an on-road diesel engine. This effect is achieved through the use of a whirl plate having a plurality of whirl slots surrounding an exit orifice of the injector, which produce a high velocity rotating flow in the whirl chamber. When the rotating flow of fluid is passed through the exit orifice into an exhaust stream, atomization occurs from a combination of centrifugal force and shearing of the fluid by air as it jets into the exhaust stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for injecting fluid, such as an aqueous urea solution, into an exhaust stream in order to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions from diesel engine exhaust The present invention uses mechanical spill return atomization techniques to produce droplets approximately 50 ?m SMD (Sauter mean diameter) or smaller. This size range is appropriate to allow urea to react into ammonia within the residence time associated with an on-road diesel engine. This effect is achieved through the use of a whirl plate having a plurality of whirl slots surrounding an exit orifice of the injector, which produce a high velocity rotating flow in the whirl chamber. When the rotating flow of fluid is passed through the exit orifice into an exhaust stream, atomization occurs from a combination of centrifugal force and shearing of the fluid by air as it jets into the exhaust stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the retrofitting diesel truck engines with a system to reduce NOx emissions. The SCR system of the present invention, including a controller, a reagent tank, and an injection system, is installed on a vehicle. A NOx detector is temporarily installed as part of the system. The vehicle is then operated to collect engine parameters including fuel injection timing, RPM, load, exhaust heat, exhaust flow rate, and the like, together with measurements of the NOx emissions under various operating conditions. Based on the recorded data at various operating conditions, a reagent injection strategy is developed and installed at the reagent injection controller. During vehicle operation, the injector injects reagent into the exhaust system based on control signals from the reagent injection controller in accordance with the injection strategy in order to reduce NOx emissions at the various operating conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides specific design dimensions for a sprayer plate flow restrictor orifices of a fuel oil atomizer, and the resulting arrangement of the atomized liquid spray pattern. Specific depth to diameter ratios of the sprayer plate restrictor orifices and specific dimensions of the chamfer of the inlets to the restrictor orifices of the atomizer of the present invention provide improved performance results as compared to prior art atomizers, including reduced emissions and increased durability of atomizer components.

Abstract: An atomizer spray plate is provided for discharging fuel oil. The spray plate has a cylindrical rear portion and a conical front portion. A frusto-conical whirl chamber extends from the rear portion to the front portion with a decreasing radius. The rear portion includes a number of whirl slots extending radially inward from an outboard region of the rear portion to the whirl chamber to provide the fuel oil with rotational energy. A discharge slot is provided in the front portion of the spray plate for receiving fuel oil from the whirl chamber with rotational energy. The discharge slot includes a cylindrical through-hole with a diameter d, and at least three lobes (slots) equally spaced about the through-hole and oriented in a radial direction, each lobe having a semi-circular cross-section with radius r and extending approximately perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the through-hole.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the retrofitting diesel truck engines with a system to reduce NOx emissions. The SCR system of the present invention, including a controller, a reagent tank, and an injection system, is installed on a vehicle. A NOx detector is temporarily installed as part of the system. The vehicle is then operated to collect engine parameters including fuel injection timing, RPM, load, exhaust heat, exhaust flow rate, and the like, together with measurements of the NOx emissions under various operating conditions. Based on the recorded data at various operating conditions, a reagent injection strategy is developed and installed at the reagent injection controller. During vehicle operation, the injector injects reagent into the exhaust system based on control signals from the reagent injection controller in accordance with the injection strategy in order to reduce NOx emissions at the various operating conditions.

Abstract: A two phase fuel oil atomizer utilizing a secondary media such as high pressure steam or air to assist in the atomization of heavy fuel oil, while reducing NOx and other polluting emissions. The fuel oil atomizer comprises a mixing plate and a sprayer plate which are configured to discharge atomized fuel oil at varying spray angles in order to provide staging of the atomized fuel as it exits the sprayer plate with the surrounding combustion chamber air to provide a fuel/air ratio that is appropriately rich and lean in order to allow lower flame temperatures. NOx generation is accordingly reduced at the lower flame temperatures. With atomized fuel droplet size small enough to enable rapid fuel evaporation and complete combustion, low CO, opacity and particulate generation are achieved with minimum excess oxygen.

Abstract: An atomizer spray plate is provided for discharging fuel oil. The spray plate has a cylindrical rear portion and a conical front portion. A frusto-conical whirl chamber extends from the rear portion to the front portion with a decreasing radius. The rear portion includes a number of whirl slots extending radially inward from an outboard region of the rear portion to the whirl chamber to provide the fuel oil with rotational energy. A discharge slot is provided in the front portion of the spray plate for receiving fuel oil from the whirl chamber with rotational energy. The discharge slot includes a cylindrical through-hole with a diameter d, and at least three lobes (slots) equally spaced about the through-hole and oriented in a radial direction, each lobe having a semi-circular cross-section with radius r and extending approximately perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the through-hole.

Abstract: The present invention provides specific design dimensions for a sprayer plate flow restrictor orifices of a fuel oil atomizer, and the resulting arrangement of the atomized liquid spray pattern. Specific depth to diameter ratios of the sprayer plate restrictor orifices and specific dimensions of the chamfer of the inlets to the restrictor orifices of the atomizer of the present invention provide improved performance results as compared to prior art atomizers, including reduced emissions and increased durability of atomizer components.

Abstract: A liquid atomizer for, e.g., fuel, comprises a tube having an opening for receiving pressurized liquid flow. The tube has a closed end, a wall, and a plurality of bores in the wall. The bores are disposed in consecutive circumferential rows, and are oriented at an acute angle .alpha. with respect to a radius of the tube and at an acute angle .beta. with respect to a longitudinal axis of the said tube. A shell having a discharge end with a discharge orifice encircles a portion of length of the tube, including the closed end of the tube. The shell forms an annular chamber around the tube end and an end chamber between the closed tube end and the shell discharge end. Liquid under pressure entering the tube opening is directed outwardly through the wall bores into the annular chamber, into the end chamber, and out through the discharge orifice for introduction, for example, into a combustor.

Abstract: An atomizer spray plate is provided for discharging fuel oil. The spray plate has a cylindrical rear portion and a conical front portion. A frusto-conical whirl chamber extends from the rear portion to the front portion with a decreasing radius. The rear portion includes a number of whirl slots extending radially inward from an outboard region of the rear portion to the whirl chamber to provide the fuel oil with rotational energy. A discharge slot is provided in the front portion of the atomizer spray plate for receiving the fuel oil from the whirl chamber with the rotational energy. The discharge slot includes a cylindrical through-hole with a diameter d, and a transverse slot having a semi-circular cross-section with radius r. The discharge slot can be easily and economically fabricated with two shaping steps since there is no need to precisely set any particular non-right angle for walls of the discharge slot.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for collecting samples of fallout, such as power plant stack emissions, from the environment. A collector substrate is adapted to progressively present a fresh collection surface for the collection of fallout from the environment over time. An opening is disposed between the substrate and the environment to allow the fallout to reach the substrate. A cover is provided for the opening. The cover is automatically closed in the presence of rain to protect the substrate from rainwater, and automatically opened after rain terminates to allow the substrate to collect fallout. Mechanical and electrical embodiments are disclosed for the automatic cover.

Abstract: A liquid atomizer for, e.g., fuel, comprises a tube having an opening for receiving pressurized liquid flow. The tube has a closed end, a wall, and one or more bores through the wall. A shell having a discharge end with a discharge orifice encircles a portion of length of the tube, including the tube closed end. The shell forms an annular chamber around the tube end and an end chamber between the closed tube end and the shell discharge end. Liquid under pressure entering the tube opening is directed outwardly through the wall bores into the annular chamber, into the end chamber, and out through the discharge orifice for introduction, for example, into a combustor.

Abstract: For reducing pollutant generation in a tangentially fired furnace, a method and apparatus for modification of a main air-fuel compartment. An extender dish for mounting on the discharge face of the compartment has a wide projection to extend across the discharge face half portion closer to the axis of the fireball in the furnace firing chamber and a narrow projection to extend across the discharge face half portion further from the fireball axis. Preferably a flow restricting plate is also provided to extend across a part of the discharge face portion closer to the axis of the fireball. These air restricting means cause a portion of the combustion air from the main air-fuel compartment discharge face to be directed outside the fireball therein reducing oxygen concentration and flame temperature thereby lowering pollutant generation.

Abstract: Pulverized coal and air flowing-in a coal nozzle are distributed for combustion with low NOX generation by a concentric central duct with long exterior spiraling vanes which extend upstream and attach to a support pipe extending further upstream in the nozzle. The space from the downstream end of the support pipe to the upstream end of the central duct, and the cross section of the pipe relative to the cross section of the central duct regulate the entry of coal and air into the central duct from which the flow emerges with reduced velocity as a central stream stabilizing the flame. The central duct also has an exterior short vane attached to each long vane to separate the pulverized fuel and air outerflow into fuel-enriched swirling streams and fuel-depleted recirculation zones.