Abstract: There is described a method for direct fuel firing, particularly for plants such as hot water generators, etc., operating with a burner, a combustion chamber and a high-temperature exchanger, which comprises using a moist solid fuel, crushing said fuel upstream of said combustion chamber, and feeding directly therein, without lowering the water content thereof, the crushed fuel in the presence of a primary combustive fluid, and an equipment for the working of said method.

Abstract: A system for reacting solid particles flowing under gravity through a thin walled enclosure has at least one fluid flowing through the enclosure in a counter-current to the flow of the solid particles. The feeding of the solid particles into the enclosure and the discharging therefrom of the converted ash particles may be adjusted. A particle bed is controlled by feeding the fluid into the enclosure so that it has to go through a substantial part of the bed thickness. The enclosure is vibrated to obtain a vibrated particle bed, with the vibrations being directed along a direction which lies at substantially a right angle to the vertical.

Abstract: There is described a heating apparatus having a burner, a combustion chamber, means allowing to mix a primary fluid with the combustion gases, and means for containing a secondary fluid to be heated, which apparatus notably comprises means so arranged as to impart an annulus-like movement to the combustive gas-fuel mixture inside the combustion chamber, to obtain an uniform temperature in the whole chamber.