With Control Means Responsive To A Sensed Condition Patents (Class 110/185)
  • Publication number: 20110030594
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for combusting bridging fuel which includes biomass material. The apparatus includes an enclosure having a relatively thin wall defining a firebox. A combustion air manifold, and exhaust manifold, and heat exchanger are positioned along the center horizontal axis of the firebox. A fuel feed conveyor enters through the wall of the firebox and extends along the top of the firebox through a feed opening. A temperature sensor is positioned on the exterior of the wall of the firebox. A controller is operatively connected to the temperature sensor and the fuel feed conveyor. If the temperature sensor exceeds a set point, the controller automatically operates the fuel feed conveyor to refill the firebox with fuel. This can reinsulated the wall of the firebox so that fuel surrounds the combustion. Heat is extracted from the combustion by the heat exchanger while the exterior wall of the firebox is kept relatively cool by the insulating layer of fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: JOHN KIMBERLIN, MATTHEW B. KEELING
  • Publication number: 20100307387
    Abstract: A combustion furnace control apparatus for which an operation control system that ensures the combustion safety of the combustion furnace can be constructed easily. Interlocks pertaining to the safe operation of a combustion furnace are classified as a 1st interlock pertaining to the safe operation of the overall combustion furnace, a 2nd interlock pertaining to the combustion environment of a combustion zone and a 3rd interlock pertaining to the combustion of a burner. Whereby, a common control module judges the state of the 1st interlock and controls the overall operation of the combustion furnace; a combustion zone control module, receiving a control signal from the common control module, operates to judge the state of the 2nd interlock and prepare the combustion environment for the combustion zone; and a burner control module, receiving a control signal from the combustion zone control module, operates to judge the state of the 3rd interlock and control the operation of the burner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: YAMATAKE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Yamada, Yuuichi Kumazawa, Satoshi Kadoya, Katsumi Morikawa
  • Publication number: 20100300336
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for achieving reduced mercury emissions from a power plant at a minimum cost. The parameters of the combustion chamber and a sorbent injector are manipulated to control the residual carbon in ash and the injected sorbent. These two elements combine to reduce mercury in the exhaust gas to an acceptable level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Paul C. Thulen, Qing Tang, Hui Zhang
  • Publication number: 20100288171
    Abstract: A two stage refuse gasification combustion system for processing refuse is disclosed. The system may contain features such as an advancer, a first and second gasifier, a gas regulator, and a post combustor. Additionally, methods for regulating gas and advancing refuse through a two stage refuse gasification combustion system are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Ron Broglio, Hanwei Zhang
  • Patent number: 7831084
    Abstract: Method and system for controlling the operation of a recovery boiler or another boiler having a furnace wherein the operation is monitored by monitoring sensors, the sensors converting the acquired electromagnetic radiation to electrical signals which are conducted to image processing which forms an image of an object, such as the char bed and/or the char and/or chemicals on the furnace walls and/or deposits on boiler surfaces, based on the data from the sensors, and wherein the operation, such as burning of the char bed and/or the formation of char and/or chemicals on the furnace walls and/or the formation of deposits on boiler surfaces, is controlled with help of the image, wherein the sensors are arranged to produce sensor signals for 3D (three-dimensional) imaging, wherein the sensor signals are conducted to the image processing unit for forming a 3D image, such as an image of the bed and/or the char and/or the chemicals, and/or its shape describing derivatives, and/or temperature chart of the bed surface
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Andritz Oy
    Inventor: Kari Saviharju
  • Publication number: 20100227283
    Abstract: A combustion method applied to a water-tube boiler and a regenerator of an absorption-type refrigerator includes a concentration ratio adjusting step of adjusting a concentration ratio of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and oxygen in a gas from a gas generation source to a predetermined reference concentration ratio, and a hazardous-substance decreasing step of decreasing nitrogen oxides, using an oxidation catalyst having characteristics of decreasing the concentrations of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide on a secondary side to substantially zero when the concentration ratio on a primary side is set to be a reference concentration ratio, in which the concentration ratio adjusting step detects the concentration of oxygen on the secondary side of the oxidation catalyst to control the concentration ratio so that a detected oxygen concentration becomes a set oxygen concentration substantially close to zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: MIURA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Tanaka, Yukihiro Tokunaga, Yusuke Okamoto, Kenji Yasui
  • Patent number: 7700898
    Abstract: Heat treatment equipment and a method of driving the same are provided. The heat treatment equipment includes: a process tube having an aperture at one side thereof; a sealing unit for opening or closing the aperture; and a pressure sensor for measuring sealing pressure between the sealing unit and the one side of the process tube. In the heat treatment equipment, the aperture of the process tube can be sealed according to the sealing pressure of the sealing unit so that the process tube can be precisely sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-Man Seo, Jang-Hyeok Lee, Dae-Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 7686011
    Abstract: The invention relates to heating units mounted on a window of an existing building. Flue gases are expelled outside of the building without the need for wall modifications or an extra chimney. The actual burn chamber is mounted on a window mounting unit with an interior support which extends into the building thereby heating the air inside the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: United States Stove Company
    Inventor: Paul Williams
  • Patent number: 7677185
    Abstract: The invention is a system and method for neutralizing fluid chemical waste products that result from a chemical production process and are collected from the production line. The invention comprises a pyrolysis/reaction chamber into which the fluid chemical waste is pumped through an atomizer. The jet of small droplets of liquid waste that is formed by the atomizer effectively contacts the plasma stream created by a plasma torch. When the droplets contact the plasma stream the molecules of the waste from which the droplets are composed are dissociated into atoms and/or ions. These atoms and ions move out of the immediate region of the plasma stream and recombine to form a mixture of product gases which exits the chamber. The product gases then enter a post-pyrolysis subsystem, which is designed to neutralize and/or collect the components comprising the mixture of product gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: E.S.T. Ecological Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Yehuda Yuri Simon
  • Publication number: 20100058960
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: WAYNE/SCOTT FETZER COMPANY
    Inventors: Jimmie C. Raley, Jeremy S. Lord, Timothy A. Mann, Gerald D. Stimson, Anthony B. Tranquill, Charles E. Wood, Donald W. Cox
  • Publication number: 20100024693
    Abstract: A fossil-fuel-fired system, which includes an emissions-control-agent dispenser, a furnace, an emissions monitor and, optionally, a controller, is disclosed. The emissions-control-agent dispenser provides a prescribed amount of organic-emissions-control agent, such as, for example, an opacity-control agent to the fossil-fuel-fired system. The furnace includes an exhaust communicating with the atmosphere. The emissions monitor is capable of measuring at least one property of the flue-gas communicated through the exhaust to the atmosphere. For example, when an organic-emissions-control agent is an opacity-control agent, the emissions monitor has the capability of at least measuring opacity. When included, the controller communicates with at least the emissions-control-agent dispenser and the emissions monitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Gary W. Allen, John T. Joyce, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090308292
    Abstract: In a coal burning boiler apparatus, temperature of the pulverized coal to be fed to the boiler can be set depending on the property of the combustion coal, so that stable ignition and combustion can be made regardless of the property of the combustion coal fed. Provided are a coal burning boiler 1, a coal pulverizer 2 for pulverizing massive coal 6 into fine powder, a temperature sensor 18 for detecting temperature of the primary air 35 for entraining the pulverized coal to the coal burning boiler, regulators 9, 12, 13 and 14 for regulating the temperature of the primary air and a controller for controlling the primary air temperature regulators on the basis of detected result of the temperature sensor so as to make the primary air have a given temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiro Fujimori, Masato Tamura, Toshiyuki Suko, Toshihiko Yamada
  • Patent number: 7581945
    Abstract: A system, a method, and an article of manufacture for adjusting CO emission levels in predetermined locations in a boiler system are provided. The boiler system has a plurality of burners and a plurality of CO sensors disposed therein. The system determines locations within the boiler system that have relatively high CO levels utilizing the plurality of CO sensors and then adjusts A/F ratios of burners affecting those locations to decrease the CO levels at the locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Neil Colin Widmer, Avinash Vinayak Taware, Ivy Wai Man Chong
  • Publication number: 20090183659
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a pellet stove includes a firepot assembly with a bottom plate slideable along rails to move between a closed position during combustion in the firepot and an open position during ash removal. According to other embodiments, a firebox or combustion enclosure includes a plurality of airfoils formed on the inner and outer surfaces of the enclosure to facilitate heat exchange between exhaust gases flowing across the inner surface of the enclosure and air blown across the outer surface of the enclosure. According to some embodiments, the airfoils and enclosure are of integral unibody construction. According to yet other embodiments, a user sets parameters via a wall control unit, and a stove control unit receives the parameters and automatically controls fuel feed rate, ignition, convection blower, combustion blower, and/or firepot cleaning based on the one or more parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Colin J. McCormick, Daniel S. Henry, Matthew Wicks, Gordon E. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20090173259
    Abstract: A monitoring system that provides a display, either local or remote, of operation information regarding an outdoor furnace or boiler system. The monitor polls various sensors, including information relative to water temperature, draft fan operation, pump operation, various switch status, safety status, and emissions status. The various sensors may be operationally connected wirelessly with the monitor. The monitor displays operational status information, including indications requiring operator attention. Thus, operator maintenance is more effectively applied as needed rather than also on an information gathering basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: Pentwater Group, L .L.C.
    Inventor: Warren W. Walborn
  • Publication number: 20090120336
    Abstract: A system for removing accumulated debris from a surface of a vessel. The system comprises a vessel having a surface to be cleaned. A impulse cleaning device defines a combustion chamber in which combustible fuel and air are mixed and ignited to produce supersonic combustion that is directed at the surface to be cleaned within the vessel. A sensor is associated with the impulse cleaning device. The sensor is for detecting a condition within the impulse cleaning device and generating a signal in response to a detected condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: David M. Chapin, Anthony J. Dean, Michael J. Bultman
  • Patent number: 7507083
    Abstract: Processes and compositions are provided for decreasing emissions of mercury upon combustion of fuels such as coal. Various sorbent compositions are provided that contain components that reduce the level of mercury and/or sulfur emitted into the atmosphere upon burning of coal. In various embodiments, the sorbent compositions are added directly to the fuel before combustion; are added partially to the fuel before combustion and partially into the flue gas post combustion zone; or are added completely into the flue gas post combustion zone. In preferred embodiments, the sorbent compositions comprise a source of halogen and preferably a source of calcium. Among the halogens, iodine and bromine are preferred. In various embodiments, inorganic bromides make up a part of the sorbent compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Inventor: Douglas C Comrie
  • Publication number: 20090009344
    Abstract: A flame rod drive signal generator and system for producing a flame rod drive signal for a flame rod of a combustion system. In one illustrative embodiment, the flame rod drive signal generator may include a voltage source, an input signal having a frequency, an LC oscillator and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism may be powered by the voltage source, and may have an output coupled to the LC oscillator. The drive mechanism may receive the input signal, and produces a current in the LC oscillator that has a frequency that is related to the frequency of the input signal. The LC oscillator may then provide a flame rod drive signal to a flame rod that has an amplitude that is larger than the amplitude of the voltage source. In some cases, a controller may monitor the amplitude of the flame rod drive signal and adjust the frequency, duty cycle, or both, of the input signal to achieve a desired amplitude of the flame rod drive signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Brent Chian
  • Publication number: 20080295749
    Abstract: A recycling furnace and method are provided for processing potentially explosive precious metal-containing materials having organic fractions that combust with great energy, the furnace including a switching facility for alternating operation of a burning-off chamber of the furnace between: (A) pyrolysis or carbonization under protective furnace gas in an atmosphere comprising maximally 6 wt-% oxygen, and (B) oxidative combustion of the organic fractions including carbon. The furnace has indirect heating and a control that determines the end of the pyrolysis or carbonization by a sensor and controls the switching facility to supply air or oxygen to the interior of the furnace. Steps (A) and (B) are carried out sequentially in the furnace chamber, wherein neither the batch is changed, nor the furnace is opened. After the end of step (A) is determined, step (B) proceeds right after the pyrolysis or carbonization by supplying air or oxygen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: W.C. HERAEUS GMBH
    Inventors: Christian NOWOTTNY, Horst MEYER, Matthias GREHL, Dieter SCHAFER, Hans-Joachim ALT, Wilhelm GLAB
  • Publication number: 20080271653
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a controlling curtain opening system in a continuous furnace which comprises a laser photo cell eye system situated in front of the curtain box. The laser photo cell eye system comprises a plurality of laser beams to monitor and adjust to the height of a moving products passing therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Mircea Stefan Stanescu, Paul Francis Stratton, Leontin Nicolae Druga
  • Patent number: 7399458
    Abstract: A fired equipment system and process for operating same is provided that combines stationary industrial burner technology and a catalyst bed that converts pollutants formed during combustion of fuel and air in the burner to yield stack gases that need no further treatment before discharge to the atmosphere. The system and process disclosed reduces CO, NOx and VOC's by at least 90 to 95%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Callidus Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Martin, Doyle C. Bishop, Kurt E. Kraus
  • Publication number: 20080163803
    Abstract: Having an indication of changes to the heating value of municipal solid waste (MSW) and having a means to control it before the MSW is fed to the boiler enables improved combustion control and increased capacity of waste-to-energy boilers. The moisture content of MSW has a significant impact on its heating value and on boiler efficiency when combusted. Changes in moisture content also change the density of the MSW. Directly measuring the density of the MSW prior to feeding it to the boiler permits controlled addition of additional water or liquid waste to reduce the variance of the MSW heating value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: COVANTA ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert L. Barker
  • Publication number: 20080105175
    Abstract: A system for reducing fouling and improving efficiency in a coal-fired power plant that may include: 1) an analyzer grid, the analyzer grid including a plurality of sensors that measure gas characteristics through an approximate cross section of a flow through a boiler of the coal-fired power plant; 2) a plurality of air injectors with enhanced controllability; 3) means for analyzing the measurements of the gas characteristics; and 4) means for controlling the air injectors with enhanced controllability. The analysis of the measurements of the gas characteristics may include analyzing the measurements to determine zones of non-homogeneous flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Booth, Dean Draxton, Roy Payne
  • Patent number: 7343866
    Abstract: Waste-throughput limiting control device (MBR) comprising at least one averaging unit (ME), a waste-throughput limiting controller (MBr) and a minimum unit (MIN). Starting from a waste weight (MG) applied to a charging system of the waste incineration plant and a predetermined maximum waste throughput, the waste-throughput limiting control device (MBR) adapts a steam output setpoint (DS). which is intended for further processing at a downstream primary combustion control (FLR), in such a way that an economically appropriate (time-limited) operation, acceptable from the plant engineering point of view, within a defined overload region is made possible and prolonged overloading due to an unhindered increase in the waste feed during the incineration of waste having a low calorific value is efficiently prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Von Roll Umwelttechnik, AG
    Inventor: Josef Mercx
  • Publication number: 20080053348
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method of controlling on-line the steam output of a waste incineration plant that is fed with waste of varying composition. Process or system quantities (u2, u3, xGC, xLL, w0) are measured repeatedly, at different times during operation of the plant, and a relation with linear parameters (?i) as coefficients of non-linear expressions (?i) of the process quantities is established by evaluating said measurements. From this relation, an optimal waste feed rate to obtain a desired steam output ({dot over (M)}steam) is determined and applied to a waste feed actuator of the waste incineration plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Silvia Bardi, Alessandro Astolfi
  • Patent number: 7318381
    Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring and controlling the percent stoichiometric oxidant in the pyrolyzing section of incinerators are provided. The methods and systems rely on measurements of the oxygen concentration and temperature of the gases within the pyrolysis section and mathematical relationships between these values and the percent stoichiometric oxidant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: John Zink Company, LLC
    Inventors: Kenny M. Arnold, Jianhui Hong, Joseph D. Smith
  • Patent number: 7161678
    Abstract: Excess oxygen in the combustion process of a facility that bums carbon-based fuels may cause a visible plume in the atmosphere at the stack of the facility. Traditional optical based opacity monitors may be unable to detect this plume or the plume may form at a location downstream from the opacity monitor toward the stack. The present invention discloses methods to utilize common combustion control variables to detect and signal the presence of a visible plume of exhaust gasses. Also disclosed are systems that detect the visible plume and provide a signal so that the combustion process may be manually or automatically adjusted to reduce or eliminate the visible plume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Florida Power and Light Company
    Inventor: Paul Clarence Schultz
  • Patent number: 7063027
    Abstract: A self-contained, transportable air curtain incinerator for combustion of low calorific value waste comprises a transportable frame supporting a firebox, a fuel supply tank, a fuel-burning electric power generator in communication with the fuel supply tank, at least one fuel-burning burner unit in communication with the fuel supply tank for directing a flame into a combustion chamber defined by the firebox, and an air curtain blower powered by the generator for providing a sheet of high velocity air flow generally across an open top of the firebox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Air Burners LLC
    Inventor: Brian M. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 6959654
    Abstract: A solid fuel fed combustor method having a first chamber portion with an inlet feeding a metered amount of a solid fuel to a first burner stage having a first traveling conveyor firebelt. A metered amount of air is introduced in progressively increasing proportions along the length thereof to cause endothermic reduction of the solid fuel. The first stage feeds a second burner stage having a second traveling conveyor firebelt. Air is introduced in a progressively decreasing amount along the length of the second traveling conveyor firebelt to induce exothermic combustion and decomposition of fuel. The amount of air introduced and speed of the conveyors are controlled to minimize the quantity of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides and other pollutants. Radiative energy generated from fuel traveling on the traveling conveyor firebelts is reflected on fuel traveling on the first firebelt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Inventor: Stan E. Abrams
  • Patent number: 6945179
    Abstract: An apparatus for the application of heat to remove ammonia compounds from fly ash is disclosed. The apparatus includes a source of fly ash comprising particulates having ammonia compounds affixed to the fly ash particulates, a heating chamber including a treatment bed comprising a media having openings, a fly ash supply conduit for transferring fly ash from the source of fly ash to the treatment bed of the heating chamber, a source of heated air, an air supply conduit for providing a flow of heated air to the treatment bed of the heating chamber for contacting the fly ash on the treatment bed with the flow of heated air, a heated air conduit in communication with the heating chamber for transferring the flow of heated air from the heating chamber, and an ash removal conduit in communication with the heating chamber for transferring heated fly ash from the heating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Wisconsin Electric Power Company
    Inventors: Bruce W. Ramme, Bryan C. Fisher
  • Patent number: 6909495
    Abstract: An emissivity probe for measuring reflected energy from interior wall surfaces of large scale boilers. The emissivity probe uses a pair of light guides which respectively receive light energy from the interior of the boiler and that reflected off a wall surface. Using appropriate photo detectors sensitive to a desired light wavelength range, a ratio of the reflected and incident radiation is provided. This provides a measure of the reflectivity of the wall surface. The reflectivity values are used to control boiler cleaning systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Diamond Power International, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Huston, Simon F. Youssef
  • Patent number: 6886476
    Abstract: In a vertical refuse incinerator for incinerating wastes according to the present invention, an incinerator body 1 is made up of an upper cylindrical part CP and a lower funnel part FP covered by a cooling case, and an exhaust gas mixing device 4 promoting the mixing and secondary combustion of combustion gas stream CG is provided between a flame zone FZ and a re-combustion chamber 45. On the other hand, completely incinerated bottom ash is discharged below the incinerator body 1 by the opening and closing operations of a bottom ash discharge device DD by cooled refuse supporting means RS and bottom ash discharge plates 35.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Plantec Inc.
    Inventor: Seizo Katsui
  • Patent number: 6859285
    Abstract: An optical system for viewing hot objects is disclosed. The system projects electromagnetic radiation to the part surface and detects the reflected portion. Based on wavelength and/or modulation of the applied illumination, the surface characteristics of the part can be observed without interference from self-emitted radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: OG Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Tzyy-Shuh Chang
  • Patent number: 6848373
    Abstract: In a method of measuring heat flux and corrosion in a furnace, pairs of thermocouples are attached to the back side of the furnace wall. One thermocouple of each pair is attached to a tube and the second thermocouple is attached to a web connected to that tube. A temperature differential is determined for each pair at selected time intervals. A decrease in the difference between temperature differentials indicates slag on the furnace wall has melted indicating corrosion can be occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Breen Energy Solutions
    Inventors: Bernard P. Breen, Robert A. Schrecengost
  • Patent number: 6848375
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and device for converting energy by combustion of solid fuel, especially incineration of bio-organic fuels and municipal solid waste to produce heat energy and which operates with very low levels of NOx, CO and fly ash, in which that the oxygen flow in the first and second combustion chambers in at least one separate zone and by sealing off the entire combustion chambers in order to eliminate penetration of false air into the chambers, the temperatures in the first and second combustion chamber are strictly controlled, in addition to the regulation of the oxygen flow, by admixing a regulated amount of recycled flue gas with the fresh air which is being led into each of the chambers in each of the at least one separate zones, and both the recycled flue gas and fresh combustion gases are filtered in unburned solid waste in the first combustion chamber by sending the unburned solid waste and the gases in a counter-flow before entering the gases into the second combustion chambe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Organic Power ASA
    Inventor: Sigvart Kasin
  • Patent number: 6807913
    Abstract: A plurality of fluxing agent inlets are provided at the lower part of a waste processing chamber to enable the direct application of fluxing agents to deposited “unprocessed solids” and/or to liquid products of high viscosity therein. Means are provided for sensing the presence of such blockages in the lower part of the chamber and for providing the fluxing agents thereto to remove the blockage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: E.E.R. Environmental Energy Resources LTD
    Inventors: Valeri G. Gnedenko, Alexandre L. Souris, David Pegaz
  • Patent number: 6752093
    Abstract: A method for operating a refuse incineration plant and to a regulating system, in which, after the fire has been fanned, the generation of heat is made more uniform by regulating at least one of the following operating parameters: refuse metering; residence time on a grate; quantitative supply of primary air; and quantitative preheating of primary air. To match the operating parameters to a varying calorific value of the refuse, the calorific value of the refuse is recorded as well as the standard regulating variables and is used to adapt the regulating device. The measure used for the calorific value is, for example, the moisture content of the flue gas generated during the incineration. Consequently, there is no need for the operator to estimate the calorific value and manually adapt the operating parameters accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Von Roll Umwelttechnik AG
    Inventors: Alfons Schirmer, Josef Mercx
  • Patent number: 6713437
    Abstract: The method of preparing an oxide superconducting wire comprises steps of preparing a wire by coating raw material powder for a Bi—Pb—Sr—Ca—Cu—O based oxide superconductor including a 2223 phase with a metal and heat treating the wire in a pressurized atmosphere containing oxygen in a prescribed partial pressure, and the total pressure of the pressurized atmosphere is at least 0.5 MPa. The pressure heat treatment apparatus comprises a pressure furnace storing and heat treating a target in a pressurized atmosphere, a pressure regulator for measuring the total pressure in the pressure furnace, an oxygen concentration meter for measuring the oxygen concentration in the pressure furnace and a controller for controlling the oxygen partial pressure in the pressure furnace in response to the total pressure measured by the pressure regulator and the oxygen concentration measured by the oxygen concentration meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kobayashi, Tetsuyuki Kaneko, Ryosuke Hata
  • Patent number: 6712012
    Abstract: A control system for an incineration plant, comprising an incineration furnace with a combustion path along which the material to be burned is transported, air supply means, a steam generator, and control means with a steam controller and an oxygen controller which, depending on respectively the generated amount of steam and the oxygen in the furnace, generate control signals for adjusting the size and/or speed of a stream of material in the furnace and/or adjusting the air supplied. The control signals control the generated amount of steam to a first adjusting value and via air supplied the amount of oxygen to a second adjusting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventor: Lambertus Bernardus Maria van Kessel
  • Patent number: 6675726
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for thermal combustion processes of matter such as, for instance, waste incineration. The system comprises a computer for measuring parameters of the combustion of the matter, wherein use, matter, such as for instance waste, is supplied to the system and combusted, thereby forming a flue gas. The system further comprises means for determining the concentration of CO2, O2 and H2O in the flue gas. The computer is arranged for determining, on the basis of the measured concentrations, the rate of combustion and/or the composition of the combustible part CHyOz of the waste supplied to the system, for the purpose of process control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenchappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Lambertus Bernardus Maria van Kessel, Gerrit Brem
  • Patent number: 6644222
    Abstract: The system for continuous thermal combustion of matter, such as waste, comprises an incinerator, air supply means for supplying heated air to the incinerator, and a steam generator for generating steam on the basis of heat generated in the incinerator. The system further comprising a controller which generates at least one control signal for setting the magnitude of a supply stream of the amount of material to the incinerator and/or for setting the amount of air which is supplied to the incinerator by means of the air supply means. The controller controls the at least one control signal, such that by the steam generator an amount of steam per unit time is generated which is equal to a first value and/or that by the air supply means so much air is supplied that an amount of oxygen is present in the incinerator which is equal to a second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Lambertus Bernardus Maria van Kessel, Martijn Leskens
  • Patent number: 6553924
    Abstract: A system and method for treating, injecting and co-combusting sludge in a municipal waste or other solid fuel combustor. The system includes a sludge receiving and treatment module and a sludge injection and combustion module. The sludge is received and stored in one or more storage hoppers where its moisture content is monitored and varied to obtain a sludge having a desired moisture content. The treated sludge is then pumped to a furnace injection nozzle where it is preferably atomized with steam and sprayed into the combustion zone of the furnace. Improved odor control in sludge handling is also provided by a storage tank and a sludge tanker trailer each having an air diffuser for mixing and aerating the sludge and a filter system for filtering odors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: ECO/Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: E. Larry Beaumont, Larry D. Richardson, Kevin G. Rousseau
  • Patent number: 6532768
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vitrification process for a pulverulent material and an apparatus for implementing said process. The process consists in introducing the pulverulent material into the fusion area of a furnace via injection means, where it is melted by means of at least one plasma torch to obtain a melt, and where the melt is removed from the furnace via a casting zone, the material being introduced laterally into the fusion zone in a direction comprising a horizontal component, and the melt being removed from the furnace by overflowing via the said casting zone, more or less along said horizontal component and away from the means for injecting the material into the furnace, in relation to the fusion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignees: Europlasma, Societe Anonyme d'Economie Mixte Communautaire de Gestion, Aeropatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
    Inventors: Maxime Labrot, Vincent Beudin, Bruno Guihard, Didier Pineau
  • Publication number: 20030037713
    Abstract: A garbage incinerator comprises an incinerator body having an elongated incinerating chamber, which forms an angle with a horizontal plane. A plurality of inlets are provided on the incinerator body for feeding burnable construction garbage and house refuse, respectively. A plurality of house refuse drying channels are provided in the incinerating chamber for drying the house refuse received from the inlets. A waste oil burner is provided at the bottom of the incinerating chamber. Also provided are a dust-removing device for removing dust from exhaust of the incinerator and a harmful substance detecting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventor: Koon Kwan Lo
  • Patent number: 6499412
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method of controlling the incineration temperature of industrial waste incineration processes such that the incineration emissions products comply with governmental regulations and operating and capital costs are minimal. Modifying the incineration temperature in response to changes in the emission products and the waste streams results in optimal and reliable control of the incineration process and the resultant incineration emissions. Capital and operating costs are reduced significantly as a result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventors: Mayra Rodriguez Cochran, Charles Anthony Dafft, Michael Stanley DeCourcy, James Edward Elder, John Edward Henderson, Frederick Paul Fendt
  • Publication number: 20020170474
    Abstract: A method of decomposing a thermosetting resin by a decomposer comprising the steps of: pre-heating the thermosetting resin up to a pre-heating temperature T0; kneading the pre-heated thermosetting resin together with a decomposer, and concurrently heating a mixture comprising the thermosetting resin and the decomposer up to a kneading temperature T1, thereby allowing a reaction to take place between the decomposer and the thermosetting resin to obtain a kneaded matter wherein the decomposer becomes consumed; and heating the kneaded matter to a maximum temperature T2 to thereby decompose the thermosetting resin; wherein the preheating temperature T0 is not higher than the boiling temperature of the decomposer; the kneading temperature T1 is not lower than the pre-heating temperature T0 but is lower than the thermal decomposition temperature of the thermosetting resin; the maximum temperature T2 is lower than the decomposition temperature of the thermosetting resin; and the pre-heating of the thermosetting resi
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yumiko Oyasato, Cao Minhthai, Shioko Saya, Shinetsu Fujieda, Tomiaki Furuya
  • Publication number: 20020157582
    Abstract: The invention provides a furnace having a frozen lining inbetween a furnace lining and a furnace charge, the furnace having means to control the operation of the furnace, including means to measure the temperature in a wall of the furnace adjacent the frozen lining, and to estimate the thickness of the frozen lining as a function of the temperature in the wall, and means to control the rate of heat production in the furnace to urge a thickness of the frozen lining towards a predetermined value. Variables including side wall thermocouple measurements, gas plant instrument measurements, cooling system measurements and electrical, in-feed and chemical composition recordings are monitored, analysed and manipulated. There is also provided means to estimate a future furnace charge composition, perform chemistry control, estimate a material balance of the furnace, and perform inventory control over the furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Frederick Stephen McComb, David John Morris
  • Publication number: 20020117093
    Abstract: A device to mitigate hydrogen explosions in a vacuum furnace includes at least one igniter, an ignition transformer, and an electrical switch. The at least one igniter includes a set of high-voltage electrodes and is connected to the ignition transformer by high-voltage wires. The electrical switch activates the ignition transformer to provide power to the at least one igniter forming a continuous electrical arc between the electrodes. The at least one igniter is located inside the vacuum furnace at an opening where air may enter the vacuum furnace, which may contain a hydrogen and steam gas mixture under accident conditions. The device consumes hydrogen by controlled combustion as flammable mixtures are formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventor: Douglas Wayne Stamps
  • Patent number: 6435113
    Abstract: A method for decreasing the concentration of a chlorinated aromatic compound in the exhaust gas from a combustion furnace. The exhaust gas from the combustion furnace is passed through a bag filter. The concentration of the chlorinated aromatic compound in the exhaust gas is measured and the operating temperature of the bag filter is adjusted based on the measured concentration of the chlorinated aromatic compound in order to decrease the concentration of the chlorinated aromatic compound in the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: NKK Corporation
    Inventors: Kunio Miyazawa, Hideki Nagano, Satoshi Fujii, Manabu Kuroda, Takashi Yokoyama, Takaaki Kondo
  • Patent number: 6401633
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating organic waste material characterized by high ash content is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Minergy Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Baudhuin