Abstract: A flame-sensing system for a tangentially fired broiler in which a plurality of scanners are positioned on the side walls of the combustion chamber adjacent respective burners, and oriented to sight the flame from the respective burners, rather than the central fireball. Closely spaced coolant-carrying tubes lining the boiler walls are oriented with at least one tube in a serpentine pattern and with two or three tubes displaced laterally and rearwardly of the flame zone to provide space for a viewing port approximately the width of two tubes. The displacement pattern tends to dissipate the heat load on the scanner port to prevent scanner or boiler case overheating.

Abstract: A solid fuel burner utilizing at least two stacked chambers one of which contains a combustion bed for the solid fuel burning process. A second chamber below the first bed containing chamber serves to combust volatile gases unburned in the first chamber with the aid of an oxidizing rejector.

Abstract: The air-supply system for a fluidized-bed furnace includes two air conduits for the same combustion zone. The conduits feed separate sets of holes in a distributor plate through which fluidizing air flows to reach the bed. During normal operation, only one conduit and set of holes is used, but the second conduit and set of holes is employed during start-up.

Abstract: The combustion chamber of the oven is bounded at the top by a lid which can be swung open and at the bottom by a grating. The grating has one or more sections which pivot about an axis to dump slag. A hollow interior of the grating forms a section of the exhaust gas system. The lid includes a channel for air supply, the air passing through a perforated plate in the bottom of the lid into the combustion chamber. A perforated tube extending vertically along the axis of the combustion chamber opens into the channel in the lid and supplies air down into combustible materials filled into the combustion chamber. The depth to which the air is supplied can be regulated by a piston which can be adjusted vertically within the tube to extend the air flow to the depth desired. The incinerator is filled from above in layers.

Abstract: The air-supply system for a fluidized-bed furnace includes two air conduits for the same combustion zone. The conduits feed separate sets of holes in a distributor plate through which fluidizing air flows to reach the bed. During normal operation, only one conduit and set of holes is used, but the second conduit and set of holes is employed during start-up.

Abstract: Cyclonic furnace for efficient burning of such waste products as rubber tires or industrial or domestic refuse with minimum atmospheric pollution and high heat output has fixed circular hearth with central outlet for slag and ash discharge, material to be burnt being fed onto the hearth periphery; combustion air ports opening tangentially into its combustion chamber; and automatic control means regulating e.g. material infeed and inflow of combustion air including a facility for monitoring combustion conditions in the furnace, preferably by measurement of CO and CO.sub.2 levels, and comparing those conditions with previously recorded conditions automatically to predict changes and make anticipatory adjustments of the furnace controls giving extremely rapid control reaction and enabling combustion air requirements to be cut to a minimum, of which the following is a specification.

Abstract: The scaling of the internal surfaces of vertical downflow fired heater tubes is decreased by a vapor-liquid mixing means located in the straight section of the tubes which have downward flow.

Abstract: A cast tuyere has two independent cooling circuits for the nose and the body portions, respectively. The nose channel for the coolant having been formed by a removable frangible core around which the nose portion has been cast. The nose channel preferably additionally includes a rod extending centrally through it so as to define an annular passage for the cooling water.

Abstract: An improved flat plate solar energy collector of integral construction capable of mass production in which metal tubing is eliminated. The collector includes a stamped planar tray and a radiant energy absorber plate connected together to form the inlet and outlet fluid header and the innerconnecting channels therebetween. The planar tray and absorber plate are mounted in a molded insulated housing which includes integrally a storage tank. A fluid medium such as water is heated by solar radiation and circulated through the collector to the storage tank by thermal syphon. Elimination of conventional tubing greatly reduces fabrication costs and increases absorption efficiency.

Abstract: An air-cooled process heat exchanger is connected to a process fired heater which uses ambient air for combustion. The exhaust air from the heat exchanger is used as preheated air to the combustion furnace, resulting in energy savings and decreased fuel consumption.

Abstract: A mechanical arrangement to reduce drastically the energy consumption for pumping condensate to feed high pressure vapor generators for power generation, industrial processing, and heating systems. Involved is a method to pump the condensate into one condensate receiver located at the sucton side of the condensate feed pump, and to bleed high pressure vapor from the vapor generator into the condensate receiver for imposing a pressure head upon the condensate therein to be approximately the same as that in the generator, and thus the pressure difference between the suction side and the discharge side of the pump is also drastically reduced while pumping the condensate into the generator, with the result that the energy consumption of the pump is also drastically reduced. The receiver is full of high pressure vapor while the condensate therein is drained by the pump, and the high pressure vapor means energy.

Abstract: A steam generator derives solar energy by means of a plastic Fresnel lens mounted in a movable framework to follow the sun by means of a manually movable mechanism attached to the steam generator housing.

Abstract: A method of controlling the rate of generating steam by direct heat exchange is provided in which a spray of hot oil drops contacts a spray of water drops. Large water drops are prevented from entering the effluent oil stream during upsets in operating conditions by providing suitable disengaging means such as heated sloped baffles below the contacting zone.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is interposed between the exhaust duct of a water boiler and the chimney or flue, and a water conduit, connected to the water return line of the heating system, is disposed within the heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with the exhaust gases. In this manner, up to 85% of the thermal energy within the exhaust gases is recovered and imparted to the water for pre-heating the same prior to the transmission of the pre-heated water into the boiler for additional heating, or alternatively, directly into the water heating system. A filter assembly is preferably interposed between the heat exchanger and the chimney or flue so as to filter the cooled gases prior to the emission of the same into the atmosphere. As a result, solid particles, and a substantial portion of sulfur dioxide, is removed from the exhaust gases so as to reduce pollution conditions.

Abstract: An elongate roofing panel for assembly on a support structure with a plurality of like panels to form a roof covering. The panel has a first elongate edge adapted to be fixed to the support structure; and a second elongate edge opposite to the first elongate edge, adapted to engage the first elongate edge of an adjacent panel to restrain the second edge against movement normal to the plane of the panel. The elongate edges are formed as respective first and second beam elements projecting on opposite sides of the panel for supporting the panel on the support structure, and the panel is formed with ribs spanning transversely between the beam elements for transmitting thereto the load of the panel. Ideally the panel also serves as a solar heating panel, the ribs defining transverse ducts in which a fluid is heated as it is conveyed across the panel from an entry to an exit duct, these latter extending longitudinally from one end of the panel to the other.

Abstract: A heat producing device utilizing solid carbonaceous material, especially material of cellulosic composition such as corn cobs, as fuel. The heat producing device includes a gasifier for the carbonaceous material. The gas outlet of the gasifier leads to a burner. A cyclonic burning chamber and particle separator are connected to the discharge of the burner. The cyclonic burning chamber and particle separator has a heat outlet and a particle discharge outlet. An adjustable air inlet and mixing chamber are installed in the heat outlet for adding ambient air to reduce the temperature of the heat discharged from the heat outlet. A discharge fan has an inlet connected to the mixing chamber and an outlet for discharging the heat received therefrom to a drying chamber or other heat utilizing source.

Abstract: A multi-fuel boiler is provided in which coal is burned in combination with oil or gas in such manner that the particulate emission from the coal, normally relatively high, is reduced to a level comparable to oil. In one example, coal of a quality that would normally burn with a Bacharach smoke spot test number of 6 can be burned with a test number below 2.This is accomplished by utilization of a horizontal oil or gas flame directed across the flue gas exit of the combustion chamber in opposition to the flow of coil combustion gases to change the normal flow pattern of the combustion gases. This creates turbulence, which provides additional combustion time at combustion temperatures in the presence of excess air.

Abstract: A pollution control incineration system comprises an elongated duct having one or more inlets positioned at or near grade level. An upright standpipe removably covers an inlet opening to provide a polluted gas inlet to the duct from a location elevated above grade. The duct terminates at its remote end in a combination flue and pollution control system which may include pollution control devices such as an afterburner chamber, a water spray cooling chamber, a baghouse and an induced draft fan. A portable, shell type primary combustion chamber removably overfits the standpipe to allow combustible material to be burned within the shell and to direct the gases of combustion downwardly into the duct through the top of the standpipe.

Abstract: Dewatered sewage sludge (i.e. sewage sludge containing e.g. 75% water when dewatered) is incinerated when mixed with coal fines recovered from a wet benification process for coal, the coal fines being in the form of either coal filter cake or ex-lagoon sludge. If the coal fines are added to the sewage sludge before or during dewatering of the latter by filtration, the coal acts as a filter aid. Autothermic combustion of the mixture can be obtained.

Abstract: A solar energy conversion unit having a collector forming a focal area in which is disposed a core assembly including a governor arranged for varying the surface area of fluid carrying tubes partly forming the core assembly that is exposed to solar radiation so as to maintain a desired fluid pressure within the conversion unit. At such time as the solar radiation impinging the collector becomes substantially less than that necessary to maintain suitable pressure in the fluid system of the unit, an auxiliary heater provided as part of the core assembly can be employed to supplement or replace the solar radiation.