Abstract: A method and apparatus of initiating and terminating the cleaning of a furnace wall to remove reflective ash which been deposited thereon, comprises a video or infrared monitor which monitors the light being reflected from the furnace wall or the ratio of the reflected to the incident light, the intensity of reflected light or ratio of the reflected to the incident light increasing as additional reflective ash is deposited. When the reflected light intensity reaches a selected value, cleaning is initiated and measurement of the reflected light is continued to monitor when the reflected light reaches a low substantially constant intensity. At that point, the cleaning operation is terminated since the constant reflected light intensity indicates a substantially clean condition.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the flow of a packed bed of particles moving in a primary stream comprises positioning a feedpipe having an open end facing downstream in the primary stream and feeding a secondary stream of particles through the feedpipe to satisfy a void that would otherwise be formed downstream of the feedpipe due to the passage of the primary stream of particles. The flow of the primary stream is proportional to the flow of the secondary stream. The flow of the secondary stream can be measured either by measuring the amount of particles being metered into the feedpipe or by connecting a hopper to the feedpipe and measuring the rate at which a level of particles in the hopper falls.

Abstract: An atomizer comprises a cylindrical mixing chamber with open entry and discharge ends. An inner barrel for a slurry or fluidized dry powder is connected to the entry end for supplying the slurry or fluidized fine powder into the mixing chamber. One or more atomizing gas ports extend at an angle into the mixing chamber for supplying atomizing gas to be thoroughly mixed with the slurry or fluidized dry powder in the mixing chamber. The atomizing gas ports are spaced upstream from the discharge end by from one to five times the diameter of the mixing chamber, and downstream from the entry end. A larger diameter volume chamber communicates with the discharge end of the mixing chamber and has at least one nozzle which permits the homogenized mixture to exit therefrom. An impact surface is positioned opposite the discharge end. The at least one nozzle is positioned around the impact surface.