Abstract: A charging device for a shaft furnace, in particular for a blast furnace and a cooperating distribution chute are proposed, where the distribution chute has an elongated chute body providing a sliding channel for bulk material and two chute-mounting members attached laterally to either side of the chute body for mounting the distribution chute to the charging device, the charging device including a mechanism for rotating the distribution chute, the mechanism having a rotatable support rotor with two suspension flanges cooperating with the chute-mounting members of the distribution chute for mounting the distribution chute, where each chute-mounting member of the chute includes a hook-shaped portion that forms a suspension hook for mounting the distribution chute to the suspension flanges, each suspension flange in turn has a support configured for engagement with the hook-shaped portion of the chute along a hook engagement direction, and furthermore, each chute-mounting member includes an abutment portion tha

Abstract: A furnace system for heating a poultry brooder house includes a firebox for burning biomass fuel, and a grate within the firebox for burning the biomass fuel thereon. A distributor assembly may positioned within the firebox and is located directly above the grate. The distributor assembly includes a distributor plate having a plurality of apertures therethrough, and a distributor arm above the distributor plate that is movable relative to the distributor plate to cause biomass fuel supported on the plate to pass through the apertures and fall onto the grate. The furnace system may include a hopper assembly that defines a well for receiving a volume of biomass fuel for delivery to the grate or to the distributor plate.

Abstract: A burner using biomass combustibles, namely pellet fuel, for a maple syrup evaporator. Compared to wood or oil burning heat sources, pellet fuel is less costly, burns more efficiently and generates the heat necessary to properly evaporate maple sap. The burner includes a burn pit defining a plurality of holes for allowing air to communicate between a combustion chamber and a primary air plenum formed between a base and an underside of the burn pit. An air supply conduit supplies air supply to the primary air plenum. A fuel conduit in communication with the combustion chamber supplies the pellet fuel for combustion within said burn pit. A secondary plenum in pneumatic communication with the primary air plenum receives and cools a portion of the primary air supply. A plurality of injectors in communication with the secondary plenum inject the cooled air into the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivery of a solid particulate fuel to a heating system. The present invention provides a lock-up transport system to deliver particles of solid fuel in a downstream direction while maintaining the position of the particles relative to each other. The lock-up transport system provides a linear mass flow through the gasification stages of the fuel.

Abstract: A feeder assembly (28) for projecting solid fuel, such as coal (24), into a combustion chamber (11) of a furnace (10) includes a distributor (44) and a feeder (42) disposed in a housing (40). The distributor (44) includes a rotor (48) having blades (46) extending outwardly therefrom, and the rotor (48) is rotatable to project the solid fuel into the combustion chamber (11). The feeder (42) includes a conveyor assembly (50) for providing the solid fuel to the rotor (48). The housing (40) includes an aperture (41) disposed therein, through which the solid fuel is projected into the combustion chamber (11). The housing (40) also includes a portion (45) movable between: a first position wherein the aperture (41) is open to allow the solid fuel to be projected into the combustion chamber (11), and a second position wherein the movable portion (45) closes the aperture (41) to shield the rotor (48) from heat emitted from the combustion chamber (11) and allow maintenance and/or replacement of the distributor (44).

Abstract: A preheater in an incineration system consists of: a first opening through which refuse is input; a second opening which is formed under the first opening and communicates with an incinerator; a heat flow passageway which is formed between the first and second openings, and passes the heat generated by the incinerator; and a receiving unit between the two openings which rotates the refuse in the heat flow passageway.

Abstract: A furnace having a continuous ash discharge stoker which includes a fuel distributor apparatus for delivering associated particulate fuel to an associated continuous ash discharge furnace which includes a housing having an inlet for a particulate fuel and an inlet for pressurized air. The housing includes a surface for directing the flow of the associated particulate fuel and an outlet cooperating with the surface through which the associated particulate fuel and air exit the housing. The apparatus includes a nozzle dimensioned and configured to direct pressurized air along a face of the surface to establish a boundary layer between the surface and the associated particulate fuel flowing over the surface. In some forms of the invention the nozzle comprises first and second flat plates disposed in mutually parallel spaced relationship. The first and second flat plates may each be disposed in generally aligned relationship to at least a portion of the surface.

Abstract: A distributor chute for bulk material, in particular for use in a bell-less blast furnace top charging device, has several inclined transverse plates in the region of its impact zone. The transverse plates create retaining pockets between their inner faces and the surface of the distributor chute. Two adjacent transverse plates limit between the outer face of the first transverse plate and the inner face or the second transverse plate a retaining chamber. If the inclination of the chute is reduced, the bulk material moves from the retaining pocket to the retaining chamber.

Abstract: A particulate delivery system is disclosed for particulate burners in which a hopper is provided for supplying particulate fuel to a hopper discharge opening. A rotating turntable is provided below the hopper discharge opening and includes at least one and preferably a plurality of flexible resilient vanes rotating with the turntable. A wall partially encircles the vanes and is closed on its bottom end by the upper surface of the turntable. The wall includes a lateral discharge opening that facilitates controlled discharge of the particulate fuel over the peripheral edge of the turntable. A chute receives the discharged particulate material, and drops it into a burn pot of the associated particulate burner.

Abstract: An oscillating damper and air-swept distributor is disclosed for controllably introducing solid fuel into a furnace. The oscillating damper having an oscillating valve member, which oscillates between a first adjustable position and second adjustable position. The air-swept distributor preferably has a pivotably adjustable trajectory plate.

Abstract: This invention relates to the combustion of metal-containing scrap rubber such as used tires in a combustion chamber equipped with a traveling-grate stoker without allowing binding of molten metal to the stoker for effective utilization of scrap rubber as a fuel for a boiler or the like. On the traveling-grate stoker of the combustion chamber, which travels from a rear part to a front part of the chamber, blocks of coal supplied from a coal feeding port in the front wall of the chamber is cast by a spreader into the chamber to form coal deposits in a substantially uniform thickness on the stoker for combustion. At the same time, scrap rubber is fed from a chute discharging into the combustion chamber through a side wall defining the chamber via a rotary valve built into the chute in adequate amounts and burned on the ash zone formed by already burned coal on the traveling-grate stoker.

Abstract: A chain-type fuel feeder which includes a chain conveyor that deposits coal onto a rotor which then throws the coal into a boiler-type furnace. The conveyor is driven from the shaft of the rotor by way of a novel, variable speed control assembly which includes separate, individual, totally integrated, commercially available drive units mounted on the sidewall of the feeder and exposed to ambient air so as to avoid overheating of the drive components and the problems associated therewith. The various drive components are arranged so that they are readily accessible for adjustment, repair, or replacement.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging refuse into an incinerator comprising a housing and a drum disposed in the housing for rotation about a horizontal axis, the housing having an inlet communicable with an elevated mass of refuse for guiding the refuse into the housing and depositing it on a periphery of the drum and an outlet communicable with an incinerator at a lower level, and the housing having a wall spaced from the periphery of the drum defining a passageway intercommunicating the inlet and outlet of the housing whereby upon refuse being guided through the inlet and deposited on the periphery of the drum and the drum being rotated, the refuse deposited on the periphery of the drum will be conveyed through the passageway by the drum and discharged through the housing outlet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluidized bed construction in which the fluidized bed is confined in an annular combustion chamber and fuel is injected into the lower portion of the fluidized bed by a centrally located whirling disk having vanes thereon for impelling the fuel and secondary air laterally outwardly. Primary air is provided from a blower jointly driven with the fuel distribution disk and supplying air under pressure to pass upwardly through air supply openings in a grate forming the bottom wall of the combustion chamber, with the jets of air passing through the openings having upward and tangential components of movement so as to impart rotary motion to the fluidized bed in the annular combustion chamber.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing pollutant emissions, and in particular, for reducing NO.sub.x and particulate emissions, from spreader-stoker-fired furnaces. A combustible material is introduced into the spreader-stoker-fired furnace and combusted while the stoichiometric ratio of oxygen to combustible material in different regions of the furnace is carefully controlled. Control of the stoichiometric ratio is accomplished by controlling the amount of air injected into different regions of the furnace and by controlling the amount of smaller particles of combustible material or fines introduced into the furnace.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing pollutant emissions, and in particular, for reducing NO.sub.x and particulate emissions, from a spreader-stoker-fired furnace and from a fluidized bed combustor. A combustible material of various sized particles is obtained and those smaller particles which would normally combust during the suspension phase of the spreader-stoker-fired furnace or fluidized bed combustor are separated from the larger particles. The larger particles of combustible material are then introduced into the spreader-stoker-fired furnace or fluidized bed combustor and combusted to produce heat.

Abstract: A furnace (10) in which coal and cellulose fuel can both be burned on the same traveling grate (24). First means (36) are provided for introducing coal onto the grate at one end (38), such that it traverses the full grate run before it falls as ash from the other end (56) of the grate. Second means (48, 52) are provided for introducing cellulose fuel onto the grate at a central or middle location (54). Adjustable means (49, 50) are provided for varying the point at which the cellulose fuel is introduced onto the grate. If cellulose fuel having a relatively slow burning rate is being combusted, the adjustable means are set so as to introduce the fuel at a point on the grate further away from the discharge end. If cellulose fuel having a relatively fast burning rate is being combusted, the adjustable means are set so as to introduce the fuel at a point on the grate closer to the discharge end.

Abstract: Solid fuel such as coal is fed into an inlet shaft of the furnace through a rotary feeder constructed to prevent the admission of air. Primary air channels supply the major part of the air required for combustion of the fuel in a region in which the fuel bed is sufficiently thick to avoid disturbance and the formation of "holes" by this air. Further, narrower air channels supply sufficient, diffused and low velocity air to complete the combustion of the fuel without substantial entrainment of grit and ash. Air is prevented from flowing in contact with the fuel up stream of the primary channels and the metering edge.

Abstract: A multi-fuel feeder distributor for a stoker capable of feeding into a furnace and distributing over a grate or hearth, coal and a second fuel, such as wood or a waste fuel, either in combination or separately, comprising a coal feed and a second fuel feed having outlet spouts discharging into a single feed throat into the furnace. Coal is fed from a coal hopper at a continuous controlled rate to a distributor portion of the coal feeder which mechanically throws the coal into the furnace and distributes it evenly over the entire grate surface. The second feeder, an air swept waste fuel feeder, may be used at the same time to feed waste fuel in combination with the coal without interfering with the operation of the coal feed. Water-cooling is used at the feed throat along the furnace wall.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding solid fuel to a furnace grate comprising a conduit adapted, in use, to extend downwards through the roof of the furnace, means for feeding solid fuel to the conduit above the lower end thereof said means including at least one fuel propulsion element and drive means to cause the element to move to propel the fuel in a desired direction and means to cause a rapid deceleration in the movement of the element whereby any fuel adhering to the element is flung therefrom.