Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions from furnace flue gas is provided in which natural gas or other fluid fuel which has little or no fixed nitrogen is introduced into the upper portion of the furnace. The fuel diffuses by laminar or turbulent diffusion into oxygen-rich flue gas where it reacts with oxygen and nitric oxide to form CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 O and N.sub.2, thus reducing the nitrogen oxide emissions from the furnace. In this manner, the amount of nitrogen oxide in the flue gas is reduced. The apparatus and method can be easily applied to new furnaces or retrofitted on existing furnaces.

Abstract: A method of recycling fly ash as slag in a wet bottom furnace is described. The furnace may have a cyclone furnace, a pulverized coal furnace, or any other type of furnace producing wet slag. All or part of the collected fly ash is collected and returned to the furnace and combined with enough fuel to melt the ash. Melted ash directed against a wall, floor or side of the cyclone or furnace will flow to the bottom of the furnace so as to facilitate the liquid slag. The fly ash may be collected by an electrostatic precipitator, baghouse, cyclone (multiclone) or other device. The fly ash may be returned to the furnace or the cyclone using air, flue gas, steam, fuel, or other gas as a carrier.

Abstract: An improved method for burning carbonaceous material containing sulfur to reduce emissions of SO.sub.2 is disclosed wherein the carbonaceous material is projected into a furnace as one or more streams and each stream is continuously ignited with a volatile fuel such as natural gas, oil, liquefied petroleum gas or naptha. The volatile fuel is supplied separately from the carbonaceous material and is directed into each stream of the carbonaceous material as it enters the furnace so as to cause the material to be enveloped in a reducing atmosphere during its volatilization. In consequence, at least a portion of the sulfur contained in the carbonaceous material is retained within the ash slag in its reduced or sulfide form.

Abstract: A heating system that reduces the cycling losses of a heat engine driven heat pump by storing rejected heat from the engine and using this rejected heat to meet a heating demand between periods of operation of the engine and heat pump so that over an extended time fewer start/stop cycles of the engine and heat pump are necessary. In a preferred embodiment a conventional storage-type hot water heater is used to store rejected heat, provide potable hot water, supply heat in the event of failure of the heat pump, supplement heat in periods of unusual demand, and provide low level heating requirements when heat pump operation would not be economical.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which overcomes the problems which tend to occur in the retrofitting of coal burners for low-NOx emission. A gaseous or volatile liquid fuel is introduced into the primary or secondary air with the amount ranging from 2% to 25% of the boiler energy input as necessary to achieve the necessary NOx reduction and improved load following without operational problems. Optionally gas can be injected through gas burners in an amount ranging from 2% to 50% of the boiler energy input.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which overcomes the problems which tend to occur in application low-NOx burners to coals in which the volatile matter is low in heat content. A gaseous or volatile liquid fuel is introduced into the ignition zone and/or the primary flame immediately downstream of the burner. This fuel will have the same effect as increased quality and quantity of the volatile content of the coal.

Abstract: A system for air conditioning and generating electrical power including a fuel-fired internal combustion engine, an electrical motor/generator, and a vapor compressor/expander all interconnected. The vapor compressor/expander driven by the engine operates in one mode with an evaporator and a condenser in a generally conventional refrigeration cycle. In an alternative mode, the vapor compressor/expander is operated in reverse by refrigerant boiled in the evaporator by the rejected heat of the engine and condensed in the condenser and contributes mechanical power to that of the engine to drive the motor/generator. The motor/generator can be supplied external electrical energy to operate as a motor to drive the compressor/expander during periods of non-operation of the engine.

Abstract: A high efficiency, high temperature radiant heating system utilizing regeneratively coupled combustors. The combustor/regenerator units each comprise a porous body with combustion supported in one layered zone and regeneration occurring in an adjacent layered zone in a subsequent cycle. Each combustor/regenerator unit cycles between combustion and regeneration operational modes and is gas flow coupled with a similar unit operating simultaneously in a mode opposite that of the former. Heat in the combustion products produced at one combustor/regenerator unit is received at the regenerator zone of the other coupled unit and vice versa.

Abstract: A chiller system for satisfying a cyclical cooling load including a fuel-fired prime mover and compressor set and a cold storage bank. The prime mover compressor set is sized for efficient, substantially continuous operation from cycle to cycle and the cold storage is sized to provide any short term deficiency of cooling rate in the prime mover compressor set. The prime mover compressor set is preferably operated during periods of cooling demand and is modulated in output capacity to extend real time matching of cooling delivery rate and consumption. A condenser reset temperature feature takes advantage of cyclic changes in operation to improve efficiency.

Abstract: Gas-solids transport and heat exchange techniques are disclosed wherein solid particulate material is circulated in a "figure 8" or a circular flow path for selective contact and/or direct heat exchange with gaseous media. The particulate material is introduced into streams of gaseous media at spaced locations in the flow path and subsequently separated from the gaseous streams following contact and/or heat exchange therewith. The gaseous streams are maintained separate from one another by loose packed bed columns of particulate material formed in the flow path and used to introduce the particulate material into the gaseous streams. The flow rate of the particulate material is regulated by the controlled biasing of particulate material from each of the columns thereof directly into the gaseous streams, and the particulate material is circulated solely through the use of the gaseous media and the force of gravity.

Abstract: A cogeneration plant for a site having an expected daily thermal load. In one embodiment, the plant includes a heat engine/electrical power generator set and a heat storage unit. The engine/generator set is sized to normally operate only during the peak rate period of the central electric service utility while rejecting a quantity of heat equal to the daily thermal load at the site. The storage unit is sized to contain a quantity of heat equal to the daily thermal load reduced by that portion of the daily load incurred during the peak rate period. In another embodiment, the cogeneration plant includes a fuel cell electrical power generator serving a local energy-integrated community. The fuel cell is sized to reject a quantity of heat to satisfy the collective average daily thermal load at the community site. Separate thermal storage sections are provided for high and low grade rejected heat.

Abstract: A gaseous fuel system for a vehicle including an on-board compressor for recharging an associated pressure storage tank. The compressor and tank are mounted on the vehicle as a structural unit whereby the tank shields the compressor and high pressure gas flow circuits therebetween and provides a heat exchanger surface for the compressor. A regulator in series with a supply line of low pressure gas prevents gas flow when the compressor does not operate to maintain a vacuum in an intervening dispensing line. An O.sub.2 sensor disconnects the compressor motor when the percentage of O.sub.2 exceeds a predetermined safe limit. A bypass circuit allows the tank to be filled from a high pressure supply without operation of the compressor.

Abstract: Gas-solids transport and heat exchange techniques are disclosed wherein solid particulate material is circulated in a "figure 8" or a circular flow path for selective contact and/or direct heat exchange with gaseous media. The particulate material is introduced into streams of gaseous media at spaced locations in the flow path and subsequently separated from the gaseous streams following contact and/or heat exchange therewith. The gaseous streams are maintained separate from one another by loose packed bed columns of particulate material formed in the flow path and used to introduce the particulate material into the gaseous streams. The flow rate of the particulate material is regulated by the controlled biasing of particulate material from each of the columns thereof directly into the gaseous streams, and the particulate material is circulated solely through the use of the gaseous media and the force of gravity.

Abstract: An air heating and cooling system for a building includes an expansion-type refrigeration circuit and a heat engine. The refrigeration circuit includes two heat exchangers, one of which is communicated with a source of indoor air from the building and the other of which is communicated with a source of air from outside the building. The heat engine includes a heat rejection circuit having a source of rejected heat and a primary heat exchanger connected to the source of rejected heat. The heat rejection circuit also includes an evaporator in heat exchange relation with the primary heat exchanger, a heat engine indoor heat exchanger, and a heat engine outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchangers are disposed in series air flow relationship, with the heat engine indoor heat exchanger being disposed downstream from the refrigeration circuit indoor heat exchanger.

Abstract: An air heating and cooling system for a building includes an expansion-type refrigeration circuit and a heat engine. The refrigeration circuit includes two heat exchangers, one of which is communicated with a source of indoor air from the building and the other of which is communicated with a source of air from outside the building. The heat engine includes a heat rejection circuit having a source of rejected heat and a primary heat exchanger connected to the source of rejected heat. The heat rejection circuit also includes an evaporator in heat exchange relation with the primary heat exchanger, a heat engine indoor heat exchanger, and a heat engine outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchangers are disposed in series air flow relationship, with the heat engine indoor heat exchanger being disposed downstream from the refrigeration circuit indoor heat exchanger.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the production of intermediate hot metal suitable for further refining into steel is disclosed.The basic process includes the steps of heating a charge of ore in a reducing furnace having a reducing atmosphere therein comprising a mixture of reconditioned and recycled top gas from the reducing furnace and off-gas rich in hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced by a cupola melting unit to reduce the ore to iron, partially carburizing the reduced iron in the reducing furnace with carbon-containing off-gas produced by the cupola melting unit, and melting the reduced and carburized iron together with scrap, slag forming additives and fluxes in a cupola melting unit having a reducing atmosphere therein produced by the combustion of a rich fuel/oxidant mixture to form a molten slag and molten iron suitable for the further refining to produce steel.

Abstract: An air heating and cooling system for a building includes an expansion type refrigeration circuit and a vapor power circuit. The refrigeration circuit includes two heat exchangers, one of which is communicated with a source of indoor air from the building and the other of which is communicated with a source of air from outside the building. The vapor power circuit includes two heat exchangers, one of which is disposed in series air flow relationship with the indoor refrigeration circuit heat exchanger and the other of which is disposed in series air flow relationship with the outdoor refrigeration circuit heat exchanger. Fans powered by electricity generated by a vapor power circuit alternator circulate indoor air through the two indoor heat exchangers and circulate outside air through the two outdoor heat exchangers.