Abstract: A system and method of combusting aluminium comprising i) feeding aluminium wire to a substantially oxygen-free furnace comprising a. a first low-temperature section in communication with b. a second high-temperature section ii) forming aluminium particles with an average particle size ranging from 1 ?m to 200 ?m from said aluminium wire in said first section iii) feeding water and/or steam to said first and/or second section to provide an oxidizer for oxidizing said aluminium particles in the second section iv) conveying aluminium particles from the first section to the second section v) oxidizing said aluminium particles in the presence of steam in said second section.

Abstract: A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. An E-beam firing bar moves distally through the clamped end effector to sever tissue and to drive staples on each side of the cut. The E-beam firing bar affirmatively spaces the anvil from the elongate channel to assure properly formed closed staples, especially when an amount of tissue is clamped that is inadequate to space the end effector. In particular, an upper pin of the firing bar longitudinally moves through an anvil slot and a channel slot is captured between a lower cap and a middle pin of the firing bar to assure a minimum spacing. Forming the E-beam from a thickened distal portion and a thinned proximal strip enhances manufacturability and facilitates use in such articulating surgical instruments.

Abstract: Systems and processes provide for a thermal process to transform sludge (and a variety of other natural waste materials) into electricity. Dewatered sludge and other materials containing a high amount of latent energy are dried into a powdered biofuel using a drying gas produced in the system. The drying gas is recirculated and is heated by the biofuel produced in the system, waste heat (from turbines or internal combustion engines), gas (including natural gas or digester gas) and/or oil. The biofuel is combusted in a boiler system that utilizes a burner operable to burn biofuel and produce heat utilized in a series of heat exchangers that heat the recirculating drying air and steam that powers the turbines for electricity production.

Abstract: A combustion system is capable of using a petroleum pitch fuel, and is provided with a burner having a fuel supply pipe where a flame stabilizing plate is formed in a tip end of the same, and a high temperature maintaining unit for maintaining an atmosphere temperature at a vicinity of the flame stabilizing plate during operation higher than a softening point of the petroleum pitch fuel. Thus, even when the petroleum pitch is used as fuel, the burner does not become unusable due to adhesion/solidification of the petroleum pitch inside the burner and combustion operation can be continued for a long time.

Abstract: A method for producing a comminuted dry material from a coarse material, the method including: (a) providing a heated drying gas from a drying gas source; (b) providing the coarse material in a storage bin; (c) feeding the coarse material and the heated drying gas into a comminuting equipment; (d) comminuting and drying the coarse material within the comminuting equipment to obtain a comminuted dry material; (e) collecting a mixture of drying gas and comminuted dry material from the comminuting equipment and feeding the mixture to a separator to separate the comminuted dry material from the drying gas; and (f) recycling at least part of the drying gas from step (e) as a preconditioning gas and feeding the preconditioning gas into a lower part of the storage bin to precondition the coarse material.

Abstract: A hydropyrolysis catalyst and a process using that catalyst are described. The catalyst comprises a support and an active metal component wherein the catalyst is an eggshell type catalyst having the active metal component located in the outer portion of the support.

Abstract: In an oxyfuel combustion boiler system, nitrogen gas separated by an air separation unit (ASU) is supplied as carrier gas to a pulverizer for drying and pulverization of fuel. A fluid mixture of the nitrogen gas from the pulverizer with pulverized fuel is supplied to a powder separation device where the pulverized fuel is separated. The separated pulverized fuel is mixed with the primary recirculated flue gas and supplied to a burner.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coal fed power generation system comprising a mill in fluid communication with a furnace; where the mill is operative to pulverize coal and to ventilate the coal; where the furnace contains more than one burner or burner nozzles; where the burner or burner nozzles are operative to receive the coal from the mill and combust it in the furnace; and a plurality of flow control devices; where at least one flow control device is in fluid communication with the mill and with the burner or burner nozzle; and where the flow control device that is in fluid communication with the mill and with the burners or burner nozzles is closed to prevent fluid communication between the mill and the furnace during the operation of the furnace.

Abstract: There is provided a control device of a coal pulverizer which enables estimation of a coal output with a precision suited for a purpose. In a control device of a coal pulverizer which pulverizes coal by the coal pulverizer and estimates coal output by which the pulverized coal is output to a boiler, the control device includes a main operation circuit which calculates a command signal associated with a coal feed rate on the basis of detection data from a boiler or a power generator connected to the boiler, and an additional control unit which calculates the deviation between a standard coal output pattern preset in the coal pulverizer, and a current coal output pattern, and adds a calculation result by the additional control unit to the main operation circuit as a correction signal.

Abstract: A process for converting biomass to products is described. Biomass is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a fluidized bed of hydropyrolysis catalyst in a reactor vessel under hydropyrolysis conditions; and products and char are removed from the reactor vessel. The products leave the fluidized bed at an exit bed velocity, the char has a settling velocity that is less than the exit bed velocity and hydropyrolysis catalyst has a settling velocity that is greater than the exit bed velocity.

Abstract: A system for suppressing and inhibiting fires in coal pulverizer mills can include a fire suppression solution storage tank, a flow control cabinet, an equipment control/pumping enclosure, an air distribution system, and injection piping and nozzles installed at various positions in one or more pulverizer mills. A first set of nozzle assemblies in communication with the fire suppression solution are positioned in the mill to disperse the suppression solution within the classifier zone of the mill. A second set of nozzle assemblies in communication with the suppression solution are positioned within the mill to disperse the suppression solution within the grinding zone. A third set of nozzle assemblies are positioned within the primary air duct of the mill.

Abstract: In an oxyfuel combustion boiler system, nitrogen gas separated by an air separation unit (ASU) is supplied as carrier gas to a pulverizer for drying and pulverization of fuel. A fluid mixture of the nitrogen gas from the pulverizer with pulverized fuel is supplied to a powder separation device where the pulverized fuel is separated. The separated pulverized fuel is mixed with the primary recirculated flue gas and supplied to a burner.

Abstract: A welding device for powder welding is described, which comprises a welding head for transportation of at least one welding electrode to a welding area, and a powder transportation device for transportation of powder from a container to the welding area. The powder transportation device comprises at least a first pipe which at a first end has an opening which is arranged to be placed in the container in order to transport fluxing agent from the container. The powder transportation device comprises at least a first ejector which is connected to the second end of the first pipe and which is arranged to transport powder from the container via the first pipe using pressurized gas.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for continuous real time heating value/coal flow balancing of coal from a coal feeder to a burner. The apparatus includes a Dual-energy Gamma Attenuation (DGA)/Multi-energy Gamma Attenuation (MGA) device for measuring coal quality at a specific location between the coal silo/bunker and the coal feeder in a coal fired plant in order to control the individual burner stoichiometries according to the measured coal quality. By strategically placing the DGA/MGA device, continuous accurate real-time coal quality information is accomplished for making individual adjustments in order to improve stoichiometry to optimize performance of the system.

Abstract: The invention discloses a dense/dilute pulverized coal separator structure of a single-fireball octagonal direct-flow burner, of which a boiler body is provided with eight burner groups, each water cooled wall is provided with two burner groups respectively, each of the burner groups comprises multiple nozzles toward the same burner, and center lines of all nozzles on the eight burner groups form an imaginary tangent circle in a furnace along the same tangential direction.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling fuel-air ratio during combustion of ground in a coal power plant, including pneumatic delivery of ground coal to the burners and feeding combustion air to burners while controlling the combustion air and the amount of carrier air. A high reliability of control combined with low maintenance of the air mass measurement devices is achieved. This is achieved by a measurement device for measuring the amount of combustion air which, according to correlation measurement, evaluates the triboelectric effects on sensors. Between 0.1 mg and 10 mg of fine-grained particles of a diameter between 20 ?m and 200 ?m are introduced per m3 air into suctioned fresh air, which is carried out during the starting of the firing system. This is done by correlation measurement that evaluates triboelectric effects on sensors, arranged in series in carrier air stream in direction of flow of the carrier air.

Abstract: In a boiler, a heat exchanger provided in one of two flow paths formed by partitioning a downstream portion of a flow path for exhaust gas discharged from a furnace has a smaller total heat transfer area than a heat exchanger provided in the other of the two flow paths; the exhaust gases discharged from the flow paths to outside the boiler are introduced, without being mixed, into an air heater downstream of the boiler; and, in the air heater, the heat of the exhaust gases is transferred to the primary air and the secondary air so as to heat combustion air.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of milling a fuel for an oxy-fuel combustion burner, the method includes: separating air into a hot nitrogen gas stream, having a temperature of at least 150° C. and a purity of at least 98 mol-% nitrogen, and an oxygen gas stream; leading at least a part of the nitrogen gas stream to a fuel mill; milling the fuel by means of the fuel mill in a nitrogen rich atmosphere formed by means of the nitrogen gas stream; leading the at least a part of the nitrogen gas stream away from the milled fuel; leading the oxygen gas stream to the oxy-fuel combustion burner; conveying the milled fuel to the oxy-fuel combustion burner; and burning the fuel, by means of the oxy-fuel combustion burner, in an oxygen rich atmosphere formed by means of the oxygen gas stream. The present disclosure further relates to a system for milling a fuel for an oxy-fuel combustion burner as well as to a power plant comprising such a system.

Abstract: An oxygen combustion system includes a boiler to burn fuel using combustion gas composed of oxygen-rich gas and circulating flue gas, a dust remover disposed in a flue through which flue gas discharged from the boiler flows, a second flue leading the combustion gas to the boiler, the combustion gas being made by mixing the circulating flue gas extracted downstream of the dust remover with the oxygen-rich gas, a combustion gas heater exchanging heat between the flue gas flowing between the boiler and dust remover and the combustion gas flowing through the second flue, and a flue gas cooler disposed between the heater and the dust remover to cool the flue gas. A control unit controls at least one of a flow rate and cooling medium temperature of the flue gas cooler such that temperature of the flue gas introduced into the dust remover will be between 90° C. and 140° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of fossil fuel combustion arrangement. It relates in particular to a fuel distribution assembly for equal and homogenous pulverized fuel distribution in pulverized fuel conduits throughout. It also relates to a system for providing an equal and homogenous pulverized fuel distribution.

Abstract: This application concerns methods and apparatus for use in industrial waste recovery operations such as recovery of non-consumed chemicals in industrial processes, with recovery of quick lime in a wood pulp process being an example. In some embodiments, methods comprise baking lime sludge in a kiln and controlling a temperature in a calcining zone of the kiln to be above about 2250° F. to vaporize sodium contained in the lime sludge. Interaction of the vaporized sodium with SOx can deter accumulation of one or both of CaCO3 and CaSO4 on one or more inner surfaces of the kiln. In some embodiments, lime sludge can be rinsed to generate a filtrate comprising dissolved NaOH, and the filtrate can charge a scrubber for removing SOx from an exhaust from the kiln. Embodiments of co-fired burners for heating such kilns by burning petroleum coke and natural gas are also disclosed.

Abstract: The system comprises a boiler (1), main burner groups (2F, 2E, 2D, 2C) located on different levels or zones through which pulverized solid fuel is injected into the boiler (1) and main mills (3F, 3E, 3D, 3C) for solid fuel, where each of them is connected to one of the main burner groups (2F, 2E, 2D, 2C) to which a flow of solid fuel is directed. As a complement, it incorporates a substitution mill (3B) intended to operate only on the main burner group (2F, 2E, 2D, 2C) whose main associated mill (3F, 3E, 3D, 3C) has stopped, as well as a support mill (3A) which operates constantly and directs an additional flow of solid fuel towards the main burner group or groups (2F, 2E, 2D, 2C) selected, supplementing the flow of solid fuel provided by the main mills (3F, 3E, 3D, 3C).

Abstract: The invention relates to an indirect heating system in which a solid fuel circulates in the form of particles. The inventive system comprises a grinding station, a furnace (7), at least one intermediate silo, a separator, at least one cyclone and, optionally, a gas recirculation fan. The invention is characterized in that a dust extractor (10) captures the finest particles which are subsequently introduced into the furnace (7) by means of at least one specific conduit (52) and burnt by at least one specific burner (71). The aforementioned ultra-fine particles are then stored in a specific silo (10), dosed into a feeding device (61), mixed in well defined proportions with hot air and conveyed to the specific burner (71) through the specific conduit (52).

Abstract: Systems for stabilizing combustion while minimizing NOx generation by using high-flame-speed additives to stabilize the flame front in combustors operating at relatively low temperatures and/or under oxygen constraints. The system is adapted for use in coal-fired boilers, oil-fired boilers, and gas turbine engines. The methods stabilize the flame front to permit stable combustion under an expanded range of part-load conditions. The system provides substantially complete combustion of coal in coal boilers resulting in ash saleable for use in concrete manufacturing.

Abstract: The OEM Venturi and outlet structures of a conventional coal classifier are removed and replaced with a simple turret having four outlet openings which are connected to the combustion chamber feed conduits. The Venturi and kidney-shaped transition tubes of the OEM structure are scrapped.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for on-line coal flow control in vertical spindle mills comprising a plurality of independently adjustable flow control elements and positioning rods that adjust the positioning of those flow control elements. Each flow control element is positioned within the discharge turret of the vertical spindle mill along the outer wall of the discharge turret proximate the entrance to its corresponding coal outlet pipe. The adjustable rods are seated on the side or top of the discharge turret of the coal pulverizer and are connected to the flow control element horizontally or vertically as the case may be. The flow control elements can be independently rotated by +/?90 degrees about the positioning rod axis, moved back and forth in the horizontal plane, and can also be moved up and down in the vertical plane. Therefore, each flow control element has three degrees-of-freedom: one rotational and two linear displacements.

Abstract: The present invention is about a process for treating all the ashes produced by a coal dust boiler (1), able to reduce the total unburnt matter content, to increase the combustion efficiency of the boiler (1), and to have the light ashes as the only waste arising from the coal combustion. In particular, said process provides for the extraction of the heavy ashes (4) from the boiler bottom (23), the ashes coming from the hoppers of the economizers (5) and the fraction of light ash richer of unburnt matter coming from the filters (11) used to collect the dust from the flue gas; said ashes are mixed in a silo (15), proportioned and transferred in one or more feeders (17) of the coal mills (18), and reintroduced in the boiler (1) after being mixed with the coal through the burners (2).

Abstract: The OEM Venturi and outlet structures of a conventional coal classifier are removed and replaced with a simple turret having four outlet openings which are connected to the combustion chamber feed conduits. The Venturi and kidney-shaped transition tubes of the OEM structure are scrapped.

Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus of controlling an oxygen supply in an oxyfuel combustion boiler capable of attaining stable oxyfuel combustion even when properties of coal are changed. A boiler-brought-in oxygen density is obtained when coal with a fuel ratio measured by fuel measuring means 39 is burned stably with oxygen in a boiler 4 so that a relationship between the fuel ratio and/or carbon content of the coal and the boiler-brought-in oxygen density is obtained and inputted in advance into the controller. When the coal is changed to the new kind of coal, a total amount of gases recirculated is regulated such that a boiler-brought-in oxygen density becomes accordance with a fuel ratio and/or a carbon content which is measured in advance for the new kind of coal.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for continuous real time heating value/coal flow balancing of coal from a coal feeder to a burner. The apparatus includes a Dual-energy Gamma Attenuation (DGA)/Multi-energy Gamma Attenuation (MGA) device for measuring coal quality at a specific location between the coal silo/bunker and the coal feeder in a coal fired plant in order to control the individual burner stoichiometries according to the measured coal quality. By strategically placing the DGA/MGA device, continuous accurate real-time coal quality information is accomplished for making individual adjustments in order to improve stoichiometry to optimize performance of the system.

Abstract: Using oxygen-lean gas as the transport medium in which pulverized fuel solids are conveyed to the burner of a combustion system permits combustion at levels of combustion rate and NOx production under circumstances under which those levels would not be attainable if the transport medium were air.

Abstract: A system for providing highly pressurized raw fuel to a pressure reactor. The system includes an inlet for receiving the raw fuel and a roller system communicating with the inlet. The roller system includes a plurality of independent rollers arranged in two converging planes. The rollers of the roller system successively compress the raw fuel as the raw fuel passes through the roller system between the rollers, such that the fuel is highly pressurized when it reaches an output end of the roller system. An outlet is located adjacent the output end of the roller system to dispense the pressurized raw fuel to the pressure reactor.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for on-line coal flow control in vertical spindle mills comprising a plurality of independently adjustable flow control elements and positioning rods that adjust the positioning of those flow control elements. Each flow control element is positioned within the discharge turret of the vertical spindle mill along the outer wall of the discharge turret proximate the entrance to its corresponding coal outlet pipe. The adjustable rods are seated on the side or top of the discharge turret of the coal pulverizer and are connected to the flow control element horizontally or vertically as the case may be. The flow control elements can be independently rotated by +/?90 degrees about the positioning rod axis, moved back and forth in the horizontal plane, and can also be moved up and down in the vertical plane. Therefore, each flow control element has three degrees-of-freedom: one rotational and two linear displacements.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for on-line coal flow control in vertical spindle mills comprising a plurality of independently adjustable flow control elements and positioning rods that adjust the positioning of those flow control elements. Each flow control element is positioned within the discharge turret of the vertical spindle mill along the outer wall of the discharge turret proximate the entrance to its corresponding coal outlet pipe. The adjustable rods are seated on the side of the discharge turret of the coal pulverizer and are connected to the flow control element horizontally. The flow control elements can be independently rotated by +/?90 degrees about the positioning rod axis, and can also be moved back and forth in the horizontal plane. Therefore, each flow control element has two degrees-of-freedom: rotational and linear displacements. The apparatus improves boiler performance by making it possible to operate the boiler with reduced pollutant levels (e.g. NOx, CO) and increased combustion efficiency.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for the combustion of metals and other fuels are provided. The system can include: a fuel combustion apparatus including a combustor having a combustion chamber for burning ground particles from a fuel charge, and a fuel supply apparatus for supplying the ground particles of fuel from the fuel charge to the combustor. The fuel supply system can include a fuel charge holder assembly to house and store the fuel charge, a grinder assembly including a grinder housed within the charge holder assembly and configured to pulverize the fuel charge to produce a combustible fuel to be consumed in the combustion chamber, and a fuel charge linear feed assembly including a piston in contact with the fuel charge within the charge holder assembly to selectively bias the fuel charge into the grinder to thereby a control consumption rate of the fuel charge.

Abstract: An exhauster fan bearing assembly for a pulverized solid fuel firing system includes a pedestal housing having an opening at a top portion, the pedestal housing defining an interior space with access thereto through the opening; a bearing housing disposed at the top portion of the pedestal housing, the bearing housing having first and second openings disposed at opposite ends of the bearing housing; first and second bearing assemblies disposed at the first and second openings, respectively; a shaft extending through the bearing housing via the first and second openings, the shaft rotatable about a shaft rotational axis via the first and second bearing assemblies; and a sump housing operably coupled to a bottom of the bearing housing. The sump housing extends through the opening and into the interior space of the pedestal housing. The sump housing defines a reservoir for a lubricant in fluid communication with the first and second bearing assemblies.

Abstract: A simplified energy producing system that utilizes natural animal waste and/or by-products and converts such waste into a usable clean energy source. The system incorporates a grinder/dehydration system, waste transport, a holding container, fuel air regulator, and a novel combustion heat regulator in combination. Thus, after the waste has been treated, combusted and incinerated, intense heat is produced that is usable via heat exchange for production of electrical energy and also a fine fly ash is produced usable for environmentally friendly purposes.

Abstract: A dedensification and delivery unit for the conversion of an alternative fuel source into fuel, comprising: a dedensification area for separating a densified alternative fuel source into its component parts to form a dedensified alternative fuel source; a compression area for holding the dedensified alternative fuel source; a refining area for further shaping a size of the dedensified alternative fuel source to form a refined alternative fuel source; and a delivery area for delivering the refined alternative fuel source into a burner.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method of reducing nitrogen oxides in coal combustion exhaust gases and preventing fire and explosion in pulverized coal systems. The present invention first cools the flue gas exiting a boiler of the pulverized coal system with an air preheater. The present invention removes any particles such as fly ash from the cooled flue gas with an electro-static precipitor or a bag house and recirculates the flue gas. The temperature of the recirculated flue gas is adjusted to a desired temperature and is injected into the pulverizer with combustion air from the air preheater, creating a safer environment for pulverizing the fuel. This mixture of pulverized fuel, air and flue gas is then burned in the boiler, resulting in a cleaner output containing significantly less nitrous oxide.

Abstract: A riffle distributor assembly for influencing the travel properties of a material feed stream 42 moving between a pulverizer 14 and a furnace 12 is part of a feed path 36 having one duct 44A having a branch entry 66A and another branch duct 44C having a branch entry 66C both downstream of upstream passage peripheries UPZ defined between adjacent intake vanes 114 through which the feed stream of the material 42 travels in two segregated portions. A motor drive assembly 58 moves the intake vanes 114 relative to the incoming flow reference axis IFA, whereupon intake areas defined between adjacent intake vanes 114 moves relative to the incoming flow reference axis IFA such that the travel properties of the one portion of material in the one branch duct 44A are different than its travel properties before the movement of intake areas defined between adjacent intake vanes 114.

Abstract: An adjustable device installed at the inlet of conventional junctions/splitters (116) for on-line control of the distribution of coal among the outlet pipes is herein disclosed. The device includes a plurality of wake inducing airfoils (60) each positioned upstream of a plurality of flow channels in the riffler (50) for directing coal flow to the outlet pipes. Each wake-inducing airfoil has a cross-section defined by a width W that varies along its length H for creating upstream turbulence, and a particle wake that preferentially diverts the coal flow to one of the outlet pipes at the splitter junction without affecting primary air flow. For example, each wake inducing airfoil may comprise a rounded convex edge leading to straight tapered sides. The surfaces of the sides may be roughened or textured (63) for promoting turbulent boundary layers. In addition, conventional fixed or variable orifices may be used in combination with the wake inducing airfoils for balancing primary air flow rates.

Abstract: A furnace system for solid fuel includes a tower distributor for addressing flow imbalance in a heterogeneous stream. The tower distributor comprises four sections: an inlet section, a mixer section, a recovery section and an outlet section. Illustratively, the inlet section includes a first elongated passageway where one, or more, input streams pass into the tower distributor. The mixer section receives the one, or more, input streams and mixes them together thereby creating turbulence while providing a single mixed stream to the recovery section. The recovery section includes an elongated passageway having a length sufficient for turbulence in the mixed heterogeneous stream to substantially subside as the mixed stream flows through the recovery section and exits to the outlet section as a laminar mixed stream. The outlet section provides the laminar mixed stream to multiple outlet pipes for transport to burners of the furnace system.

Abstract: A fuel supply duct, which supplies a mixed fluid of a solid fuel and carrier gas to one or more burners provided on the walls of a furnace, is provided with a branching part, and each of a plurality of branch ducts, which branch out from the branching part, is connected to a corresponding burner. Also a damper, with which the tilt angle with respect to the direction of flow of the mixed fluid can be changed, is positioned in the fuel supply duct at the upstream side of the branching part so that a mutual difference will arise in the solid fuel concentrations of the mixed fluid supplied to the respective branch ducts. A fuel distributor for fuel supply duct is thus arranged. The tilt angle of the above-mentioned damper is adjusted to increase the concentration of solid fuel in the mixed fluid supplied to a specific burner. At a burner to which the high solid fuel concentration is supplied, stability of ignition and stable combustion of the ignited flame can be obtained during low load operation.

Abstract: A mixer having two or more concentric cylindrical flow channels is placed in a supply conduit for a combustion chamber to mix airborne particulate coal prior to entering a manifold supplying four parallel branch conduits. Vanes are mounted in the mixer channels for imparting spin to the coal/air flow. The spin direction in one channel is opposite the spin direction of the adjacent channels(s). A turbulence-producing transition section is located downstream of the mixer.

Abstract: A diffuser for a pulverized coal delivery pipe near an elbow connection to a burner nozzle. A diffuser structure is located in the pipe adjacent the elbow outlet, with both radial and axial diffuser elements for diffusing radial and axial components of coal concentrations between the elbow and the nozzle. In a preferred form, the elbow is formed with an access hatch aligned with the pipe at the elbow outlet, and the diffuser structure is formed as a drop-in insert that can be installed and accessed through the hatch. The diffuser has a venturi inlet that produces an initial diffusion effect with minimal pressure drop before the coal flow reaches the radial and axial collision-style diffuser elements.

Abstract: A shutoff device is provided for pulverized coal burners of a pulverized coal furnace. Each burner has a primary tube that conveys a pulverized coal/air mixture and is connected with a feed line for supplying the mixture to the respective burner. Disposed in the feed line, for closing off the same, is a slide valve that is provided with a valve plate. On the trailing side of the slide valve, the feed line is surrounded by an air receiver that is supplied with air. In the vicinity of the air receiver, an opening is provided in the wall of the feed line and can be closed off by a closure plate, which is synchronously actuatable with the slide valve such that in the closed position of the slide valve the opening is opened, and in the open position of the slide valve the opening is closed off.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling primary air flow and pulverized coal flow to a plurality of burners in a coal-fired boiler includes a plurality of coal dampers arranged to supply a mixture of air and pulverized coal to respective burners in the coal-fired boiler, each damper having a damper body and at least two orifice plates pivotally secured therein, the orifice plates movable between open and closed positions; a real time coal flow monitoring device operatively associated with each damper that is adapted to generate analog signals representing real time coal flow through its respective damper; and a programmable logic controller adapted to receive the analog signals and to adjust the orifice plates to balance the flow of air and pulverized coal to each of the plurality of burners.

Abstract: An adjustable device installed at the inlet of conventional junctions/splitters (116) for on-line control of the distribution of coal among the outlet pipes is herein disclosed. The device includes a plurality of flow control elements (60) each positioned upstream of a plurality of flow channels in the riffler (50) for directing coal flow to the outlet pipes. Each flow control element preferably comprises a rounded convex edge leading to straight tapered sides (FIG. 9). The surfaces of the sides may be roughened or textured (63) for promoting turbulent boundary layers (FIG. 9). In addition, conventional fixed or variable orifices may be used in combination with the flow control elements for balancing primary air flow rates. The device allows fine-adjustment control of coal flow rates when used in combination with the slotted riffler, yet it has negligible effect on the distribution of primary air.

Abstract: A shutoff device is provided for pulverized coal burners of a pulverized coal furnace. Each burner has a primary tube that conveys a pulverized coal/air mixture and is connected with a feed line for supplying the mixture to the respective burner. Disposed in the feed line, for closing off the same, is a slide valve that is provided with a valve plate. On the trailing side of the slide valve, the feed line is surrounded by an air receiver that is supplied with air. In the vicinity of the air receiver, an opening is provided in the wall of the feed line and can be closed off by a closure plate, which is synchronously actuatable with the slide valve such that in the closed position of the slide valve the opening is opened, and in the open position of the slide valve the opening is closed off.

Abstract: A sorbent conditioning and direct feed apparatus is provided for direct feeding of a conditioned solid sorbent to a combustor 12. The sorbent conditioning and direct feed apparatus includes raw solid sorbent storage means 102, particle size reducing means 112 for reducing the particle size of solid sorbent supplied thereto from a relatively larger coarse particle size to a relatively smaller fine particle size, metering means 108 for metering the supply of raw solid sorbent from the raw solid sorbent storage means to the particle size reducing means 112, and transport means 118 for transporting solid sorbent which has been conditioned by the particle size reducing means 112 to the combustor 12, whereby conditioned solid sorbent is fed to the combustor 12 without any intermediate storage of the solid sorbent between the raw solid sorbent storage means 102 and the transport means 118.