Patents by Inventor Seppo Ruottu

Seppo Ruottu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9752828
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circulating mass dryer for drying wet sludge. According to the invention, the circulating mass dryer includes two adjacent circulating mass systems in heat exchange communication with one another, wherein the first circulating mass system is a sludge drying side and the second circulating mass system is a heat releasing side, and the first and the second circulating mass system each comprises at least one elongated riser (3, 16), and the riser (3) of the first circulating mass system and the riser (16) of the second circulating mass system are adjacent in such a way that a common heat exchange surface is formed therebetween. In addition, the invention relates to a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Endev Oy
    Inventor: Seppo Ruottu
  • Publication number: 20160368803
    Abstract: A wastewater purification system includes first purification equipment (101) for receiving wastewater and for outputting first time purified wastewater and sludge, and second purification equipment (102) for receiving the first time purified wastewater and for outputting second time purified wastewater and purification residue. The second purification equipment is based on the reverse osmosis and/or nanofiltration technology. The wastewater purification system further includes combustion equipment (103) for burning the sludge so as to produce heat, and dryer equipment (104) for drying the purification residue with the aid of the produced heat. Hence, the sludge produced by the first purification equipment is used for producing heat for drying the purification residue which is produced by the reverse osmosis and/or nanofiltration technology and whose initial water content is so high that it is problematic to be disposed of without drying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Juha PYRHONEN, Esa MARTTILA, Seppo RUOTTU, Mika MANTTARI
  • Patent number: 9470416
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a method for enhancing the operation of a circulating mass reactor (1), which circulating mass reactor (1) comprises a fluidized-bed chamber (8) provided with a fluidized bed (108), means for separating fluidized material (80) from the flue gases, and a return conduit system (15, 16, 19) including at least one cooled return conduit (15, 16). In the method, for the combustion of fuel taking place in the circulation mass reactor (1) is provided a lower combustion chamber (89), which comprises a fluidized-bed chamber (8), and an upper combustion chamber (11) and a flow conduit (10) connecting them. The flow conduit (10), the means for separating the fluidized material (80) from the fuel gases and the return conduit system (15, 16, 19) are arranged to be located essentially between the lower combustion chamber (89) and the upper combustion chamber (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Endev Oy
    Inventor: Seppo Ruottu
  • Publication number: 20160003540
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circulating mass dryer for drying wet sludge. According to the invention, the circulating mass dryer includes two adjacent circulating mass systems in heat exchange communication with one another, wherein the first circulating mass system is a sludge drying side and the second circulating mass system is a heat releasing side, and the first and the second circulating mass system each comprises at least one elongated riser (3, 16), and the riser (3) of the first circulating mass system and the riser (16) of the second circulating mass system are adjacent in such a way that a common heat exchange surface is formed therebetween. In addition, the invention relates to a corresponding method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventor: Seppo RUOTTU
  • Publication number: 20130323654
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a method for enhancing the operation of a circulating mass reactor (1), which circulating mass reactor (1) comprises a fluidized-bed chamber (8) provided with a fluidized bed (108), means for separating fluidized material (80) from the flue gases, and a return conduit system (15, 16, 19) including at least one cooled return conduit (15, 16). In the method, for the combustion of fuel taking place in the circulation mass reactor (1) is provided a lower combustion chamber (89), which comprises a fluidized-bed chamber (8), and an upper combustion chamber (11) and a flow conduit (10) connecting them. The flow conduit (10), the means for separating the fluidized material (80) from the fuel gases and the return conduit system (15, 16, 19) are arranged to be located essentially between the lower combustion chamber (89) and the upper combustion chamber (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Endev Oy
    Inventor: Seppo Ruottu
  • Patent number: 6467438
    Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed reactor is provided, based on a multi-inlet cyclone, comprising an elongated riser channel (5; 25), which has a lower portion (4; 24) and an upper portion, whereby solid matter and fluidization gas can be fed into the riser through the lower portion (4; 24). In the upper portion of the riser channel, there is a multi-inlet cyclone comprising a separation chamber (7; 27), with a set of guide vanes (6; 26), a central tube (8; 28) connected to the separation chamber, an outlet (11; 31) and a return channel (10; 30). The set of guide vanes (6; 26) of the multi-inlet cyclone, the cyclone chamber (7; 27) and the central tube (8; 28) are annularly fitted about the riser channel (5; 25). The configuration of the circulating fluidized bed reactor allows for advantageous flow dynamics and the reactor may be used as a dryer or steam boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Einco Oy
    Inventor: Seppo Ruottu
  • Patent number: 6276441
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat transferring device for transferring heat energy from a first gaseous flow into a second gaseous flow. The heat transferring device includes first and second circulating fluidized bed reactors. A first gaseous flow enters the first bed and carries heat transferring particles into a first cyclone. A second gaseous flow enters the second bed and carries heat transferring particles into a second cyclone. The particles accumulated at the bottom of the first cyclone, are presented with a recirculation channel to the first bed and a cross-over channel to the second bed. Likewise, the particles accumulated at the bottom of the second cyclone, are presented with a recirculation channel to the second bed and a cross-over channel to the first bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Neste OY
    Inventor: Seppo Ruottu
  • Patent number: 6202578
    Abstract: A method and reactor for processing fuels with a wide particle size distribution, particularly for flame combustion. The fuel is blown tangentially with the aid of an airflow into a swirl chamber containing a burning mass, thus creating a vortex, from the center of which a flow of material is led out of the swirl chamber. The vortex created by the feed of the fuel-air mixture and the diameter of the outlet flow are arranged to create a selective delay for coarse particles, so that the size of the particles is reduced, through mechanical treatment caused by evaporation, pyrolysis, and collision, to become smaller than the desired limit value, before they escape from the swirl chamber. The temperature of the cylindrical jacket of the swirl chamber is held below the melting point of the ash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Vapo Oy
    Inventors: Seppo Ruottu, Markku Miettinen, Mauno Oksanen
  • Patent number: 6200534
    Abstract: A first reactor includes a circulating fluidized-bed rector with a reaction space of an axially annular cross section, and the second reactor includes a circulating fluidized-bed reactor surrounding the first reactor in a symmetrically concentric fashion, whereby also the second reactor has a reaction space of an axially annular cross section. The construction according to the invention makes it possible to implement also large equipment with a small height-to-diameter ratio, whereby the footprint/space requirements of the equipment are minimized and problems associated with thermal expansion are reduced essentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Fortum Oil and Gas Oy
    Inventor: Seppo Ruottu
  • Patent number: 6045688
    Abstract: The invention relates ro a method of converting hydrocarbons. According to the method, a gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon feed is passed into a circulating fluidized-bed reactor, wherein the feed is converted at a high temperatue under the influence of particulate matter kept in a fluidized state, and the converted hydrocarbon products are removed from the reactor in a gaseous phase. According to the invention, a circulating fluidized-bed reactor (1-3; 41-43) is used having an axially annular cross section and being equipped with a multiport cyclone (14,17; 52,63) for the separation of the particulate matter from the gas-phase reaction products. The reaction space comprises an intershell riser space (13; 50) formed between two concentrically located cylindrical and/or conical envelope surfaces. The separation of particulate matter from the gas-phase reaction products is performed by means of a multiport cyclone equipped with louvered vanes (14; 63).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Neste OY
    Inventors: Seppo Ruottu, Kari Kaariainen, Jyrki Hiltunen
  • Patent number: 5282506
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for cooling gases using a circulating fluidized bed technique, wherein gas is conveyed through a fluidized bed formed by circulating fluidized bed material so that part of the circulating fluidized bed material is driven along with the gas flow and whereby the circulating fluidized bed material entrained in the gas flow is separated from the gas flow and returned into the fluidized bed, and wherein at least part of the cooling is carried out by cooling the circulating fluidized bed material stream to be returned. The process is characterized in that substantially the entire cooling is realized by cooling the circulating fluidized bed material stream to be returned in a heat exchanger (10) separate from the gas flow duct, in which event the cooling of the gas stream is effected by means of the circulating fluidized bed material stream returned to the fluidized bed and having a temperature lower than that of the fluidized bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Tampella Power Oy
    Inventor: Seppo Ruottu
  • Patent number: 5226475
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for cooling gases using a circulating fluidized bed technique, wherein gas is conveyed through a fluidized bed formed by circulating fluidized bed material so that part of the circulating fluidized bed material is driven along with the gas flow and whereby the circulating fluidized bed material entrained in the gas flow is separated from the gas flow and returned into the fluidized bed, and wherein at least part of the cooling is carried out by cooling the circulating fluidized bed material stream to be returned. The process is characterized in that substantially the entire cooling is realized by cooling the circulating fluidized bed material stream to be returned in a heat exchanger (10) separate from the gas flow duct, in which event the cooling of the gas stream is effected by means of the circulating fluidized bed material stream returned to the fluidized bed and having a temperature lower than that of the fluidized bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Tampella Power Oy
    Inventor: Seppo Ruottu
  • Patent number: 5211002
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an equipment for the recovery of energy and chemicals in a sulphate process, wherein black liquor is passed into a gasification reactor (3) in which it is gasified at a pressure above the atmospheric pressure in the presence of an amount of oxygen smaller than the stoichiometric amount, whereby inorganic compounds are recovered as liquid-phase compounds useable in the present pulping process, and the energy of the organic compounds of black liquor is bound mainly to the chemical compounds of the gas phase. Gases formed in the gasification, containing sodium compounds, are passed into a particle cooler (4), in which the compounds are brought into solid state. Gases cooled in the particle cooler (4) are purified by a filter (5) and then passed into a gas turbine (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Tampella Power Oy
    Inventor: Seppo Ruottu
  • Patent number: 5167932
    Abstract: A circulating fluid bed reactor comprises a reactor chamber having a circumscribing wall, a particle separator to receive a particle - gas suspension from the reactor chamber, and means for returning the particles separated by the particle separator to the reactor chamber. In order to eliminate problems due to heat expansion of the parts of the reactor and to provide a simple structure, the particle separator has at least one cyclone having a chamber with a cylindrical outer surface forming a part of the circumscribing wall of the reactor chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventor: Seppo Ruottu
  • Patent number: 5070822
    Abstract: A combustion unit for a circulation process comprises a reactor chamber and at least one particle separator placed inside the reactor chamber in the upper part thereof. At least the first outer casing of the particle separator is arranged to form a heat transfer surface. A flue gas inlet into the first outer casing is arranged to extend for the entire circumference of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Tampella Power Oy
    Inventors: Jouni Kinni, Seppo Ruottu, Paavo Hyoty, Pentti Janka
  • Patent number: 4900516
    Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed reactor having a reactor chamber for containing fluidizing gas having entrained therein particulate material; a horizontal cyclone having a circumferential wall defining a separator chamber operatively connected at the reactor chamber for separating the material from the gas; a return pipe connected at the separator chamber of the cyclone at the circumference thereof for returning the separated material from the separator chamber to the reactor; and means for discharging the purified gas located in at least one end of the separator chamber of the cyclone. Preferably the separator chamber is located above the reactor chamber and the return pipe is connected at the lowermost point of the circumference of the separator chamber. The reactor is useful as combustor, gasifier and for the carrying out of chemical process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: A. Ahlstrom Corporation
    Inventors: Folke Engstrom, Seppo Ruottu
  • Patent number: 4874584
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor in which the gases flowing tangentially through a pipe from the upper part of the reactor chamber to a cyclone separator are discharged through a discharge pipe of the separator. The discharge pipe is arranged to go through the bottom of the cylindrical vortex chamber. The separated solids flow through the return pipe to the lower part of the reactor chamber. The discharge end of the return pipe is disposed inside the lower fluidized bed zone being formed on the bottom of the reactor chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: A. Ahlstrom Osakeyhtio
    Inventor: Seppo Ruottu
  • Patent number: 4867948
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor in which the gases flowing tangentially through a pipe from the upper part of the reactor chamber to a cyclone separator are discharged through a discharge pipe of the separator. The bottom of the cylindrical vortex chamber of the separator is substantially planar and inclined towards the fluidized bed reactor in one embodiment, and conical in another embodiment. The separated solids flow through the return pipe to the lower part of the reactor chamber. The discharge end of the return pipe is disposed inside the lower fluidized bed zone being formed on the bottom of the reactor chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: A. Ahlstrom Osakeyhtio
    Inventor: Seppo Ruottu
  • Patent number: 4824360
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for decreasing emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides when burning fuel which contains nitrogen and sulfur. According to the invention this is carried out by feeding fuel (4) and oxygen-containing gas (5) into a combustion reactor (1) the temperature of which is preferably 900.degree.-1500.degree. C., and that the combustion gases formed are directed into a suspension reactor (2) the temperature of which is preferably 750-1050.degree. C. and into which a pulverous material which binds sulfur oxides is fed so that the suspension density is 1-200 kg/m.sup.3, the oxygen concentration in the combustion reactor (1) and the suspension reactor (2) being controlled so that their total air coefficient is about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Oy Tampella AB
    Inventors: Pentti Janka, Seppo Ruottu