Abstract: An acoustic imaging system coupled to a sensing plate to define an imaging surface. The acoustic imaging system includes an array of piezoelectric acoustic transducers coupled to the sensing plate opposite the imaging surface and formed using a thin-film manufacturing process over an application-specific integrated circuit that, in turn, is configured to leverage the array of piezoelectric actuators to generate an image of an object at least partially wetting to the imaging surface.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for the conversion of solid carbonaceous fuels to combustible gases having a high energy content. The system utilizes a two-stage reaction system where a particulate fuel is entrained in a high velocity, hot gas stream emanating from a fixed-bed char reactor, the particulate fuel delivered to a gasification reactor by the hot gas stream while being rapidly heated (fast pyrolized). The gases produced are drawn a fixed distance through a bed of char at the bottom of the gasification reactor, after which they are withdrawn from the reactor and cooled. To promote methanation, the generated gases, after passing through the fixed bed of char in the gasification reactor, exit the reactor through a dip leg within the reactor filled with a catalyst which promotes methanation.

Abstract: An afterburner for use as a secondary combustion chamber in a starved-air combustor system to further combust any combustible material in the combustion gas and entrained solid particle material discharge from the combustion chamber of the starved-air combustor system. The afterburner is lined with refractory and includes a diverter plate positioned transversely to the incoming flow of combustion gases. The afterburner is divided into a plurality of reaction zones, each of which has an associated reaction air supply. The diverter plate imparts a cyclonic flow to the combustion gas which is enhanced by air injected in the combustion zones. The temperature of the gas discharged from the afterburner is monitored and the flow of reaction air controlled responsive to changes in discharge gas temperature from a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A hot combustion gas recycle apparatus for a starved-air combustor for mixing hot combustion gas with significant amounts of air to heat the air. The heated air is injected as underfire air into the first combustion zone of the combustion chamber to heat and to dry the fuel in the fuel bed as an aid to combustion efficiency. The recycle device includes a temperature control system for controlling the ratio of gas to air and a control valve to completely shut off the flow of combustion gas to the recycle device if the gas and air mixture exceeds a preset maximum.

Abstract: An exit gas control apparatus for flame stabilization and performance tuning of a starved-air combustor includes a first air conduit communicating with the combustion chamber near the fuel inlet and a second conduit communicating with the combustion chamber near the residue outlet. A damper is provided to proportion the discharge of combustion gases entirely through the first conduit, entirely through the second conduit, or proportionately through the first conduit and the second conduit to enable the starved-air combustor to operate in full countercurrent, full co-current, or partial co-current and countercurrent modes, respectively.

Abstract: A control system for a starved-air combustor wherein a combustion chamber is divided into a plurality of combustion chamber zones with separate overfire and underfire airflows being individually provided for each zone. Fuel is fed to the combustor in selectable constant weight batches and the supply of underfire air is proportional to the rate at which an auger rotates to convey the fuel through the combustor. Overfire air is supplied to each combustion zone in an inverse relationship to the variance of a sensed temperature within the zone from a predetermined temperature.