Abstract: A method for torrefaction of wood which includes providing a first endless conveyor belt; heating the first endless belt; and positioning a planar wood product on the first belt to heat the wood product by conduction to achieve torrefaction. Other forms provide a second endless belt that disposed in sandwich relation to wood to be torrefied. Some embodiments of the method provide a metal chamber having opposed planar sides dimensioned and configured for receiving a wood sheet with the respective opposed sides of the wood sheet in intimate thermal contact with respective opposed sides of the metal chamber. Other embodiments include the apparatus for torrefaction of an associated wood sheet.

Abstract: A method of decreasing pollutants produced in a combustion process. The method comprises combusting coal in a combustion chamber to produce at least one pollutant selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen-containing pollutant, sulfuric acid, sulfur trioxide, carbonyl sulfide, carbon disulfide, chlorine, hydroiodic acid, iodine, hydrofluoric acid, fluorine, hydrobromic acid, bromine, phosphoric acid, phosphorous pentaoxide, elemental mercury, and mercuric chloride. Oil shale particles are introduced into the combustion chamber and are combusted to produce sorbent particulates and a reductant. The at least one pollutant is contacted with at least one of the sorbent particulates and the reductant to decrease an amount of the at least one pollutant in the combustion chamber. The reductant may chemically reduce the at least one pollutant to a benign species. The sorbent particulates may adsorb or absorb the at least one pollutant.

Abstract: An organically complexed nanocatalyst composition is applied to or mixed with coal prior to or upon introducing the coal into a coal burner in order to catalyze the removal of coal nitrogen from the coal and its conversion into nitrogen gas prior to combustion of the coal. This process leads to reduced NOx production during coal combustion. The nanocatalyst compositions include a nanoparticle catalyst that is made using a dispersing agent that can bond with the catalyst atoms. The dispersing agent forms stable, dispersed, nano-sized catalyst particles. The catalyst composition can be formed as a stable suspension to facilitate storage, transportation and application of the catalyst nanoparticles to a coal material. The catalyst composition can be applied before or after pulverizing the coal material or it may be injected directly into the coal burner together with pulverized coal.

Abstract: Methods for reducing and eliminating carbon dioxide from the emissions of solid fuel fired power plants, particularly coal fired power plants, and to sequester the carbon dioxide, typically by using existing equipment. In some embodiments, the methods involve pyrolyzing the solid fuel to remove volatile matter and using the volatile matter to produce hydrogen. Additionally, the methods may involve burning the solid fuel or pyrolized solid fuel at very fuel rich stoichiometric conditions. Sequestration may include the production of a carbon dioxide-containing solution and the pumping of the solution into the ground, particularly in areas high in limestone.

Abstract: A process for mitigation of fouling deposits within a combustion zone, capturing of toxic metal emissions, and reduction of visible sulfur emissions attributable to sulfuric acid mist during coal combustion. SO3 formed during coal combustion is reduced by the addition to the coal of raw, unprocessed magnesium-containing minerals such as magnesite ore or brucite ore. The minerals are pulverized to a fine particle size and combined with pulverized coal to provide a mixture of the particles. The mixture is combusted and the ore particles calcine and decrepitate to very fine magnesium oxide particles that have a significant particle surface area. The magnesium oxide particles react with the SO3 produced during combustion of the coal and also capture toxic metals to reduce the quantity of undesirable stack discharge components.

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: An apparatus is disclosed for disposing of biomass material. The apparatus may include a receiving chamber for receiving a biomass, a maceration chamber for macerating the biomass received from the receiving chamber and producing macerated biomass, and an incinerating chamber incinerating the macerated biomass into a incinerated biomass. The apparatus is particularly suited to operate in remote or zero-gravity environments.

Abstract: An improved process for burning solid fuel particles in a combustion chamber and creating a flue gas is disclosed. The method comprises creating a fuel gas stream by mixing the solid fuel particles with a conveying gas, transporting the fuel gas stream through a fuel duct terminating at the combustion chamber at a fuel exit plane and injecting an oxygen stream through an injection device into said fuel gas at an oxygen injection location selected to create a mixing zone to mix the oxygen stream and the fuel gas stream immediately prior to or coincident with combustion of the fuel. Operating parameters of the process can be varied to optimally reduce NOx emissions.

Abstract: A method according to the present invention for reducing the creation of dioxins during the burning of a biomass containing a contaminant, wherein the contaminant is solvated or neutralized in the presence of a corresponding solvent, includes the steps of prior to the burning or reacting (herein collectively referred to as burning) of the biomass, conveying the biomass and the solvent into a biomass washing means, washing the biomass in the solvent in the washing means, and once at least a portion of the contaminant has been washed from the biomass, conveying the biomass from the washing means and into a biomass burner, and conveying the solvent from the washing means.

Abstract: The present invention is a waste incinerating method and a device for the method, characterized in that, using a combustion furnace (111) incorporating a high temperature resistant coil-shaped flue (117) and having flue heating means and a thermo sensor (128), while maintaining the temperature inside the flue at a high temperature by suppressing an air feed amount and a temperature of the heating means, exhaust smoke produced by the combustion of waste is passed through the flue for complete combustion to completely eliminate the exhaust smoke. Because any harmful substance such as dioxin is not exhausted, the method and device are suitable as the incinerating method and incinerating device for inflammable waste.

Abstract: In the manufacture of cement clinker from cement raw meal, sulfide-containing raw materials or raw materials with a high TOC (total organic carbon) level can be used for cement manufacture, which are uncontrollably incompletely burned in the upper cyclone of a heat exchange line, thus leading to high emissions of CO, VOC (volatile organic carbon), and S2− in the waste gas. To reduce or completely eliminate such elevated emissions, an oxidation zone is provided in an waste gas duct downstream of the heat exchange line in the gas flow path, having an afterburner, the waste gas being caused positively to pass through open flames of the afterburner to assure the economical oxidation of the waste gas.

Abstract: The present invention is a rubber tire recycling process that does not require the inefficient procedure of cutting and shredding the rubber tires. The entire rubber tire enters the recycling process without ever being cut thereby maintains the integrity of the steel wires within the steel belted rubber tires. The present invention allows virtually every component of the rubber tire to be recycled and results in high quality recycled end products that include, among others, full strands of steel wires and high grade rubber.

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.

Abstract: A method of disposing of combustible materials. The method includes the steps of: providing a heating space; providing a first source to generate heat to a first predetermined level at a first location in the heating space sufficient to reconstitute the combustible materials to a molten slag at the first location and so that heat generated by the first source elevates the temperature at a second location within the heating space to a second predetermined heat level that is below the predetermined heat level and high enough to cause combustion of the combustible materials; directing combustible materials to the second location at which the combustible materials are combusted to produce ash; and causing the ash to be directed to the first location to be reconstituted as molten slag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for combustion of a solid carbonaceous material in which the solid carbonaceous material is preheated and at least a portion thereof pyrolyzed on a stoker grate disposed in the lower portion of a combustion chamber to produce pyrolysis products. Overfire oxidant is then introduced into the combustion chamber above the stoker grate to ensure complete combustion of combustibles in the products of combustion generated by combustion of the solid carbonaceous material and the pyrolysis products. Preheating and pyrolysis of the solid carbonaceous material is carried out by the introduction of a pyrolysis agent directly into the bed of solid carbonaceous material.

Abstract: Materials containing CH polymer chains are treated by a process comprising triggering combustion of the material in an environment insulated from the outside; removing gaseous combustion products from the environment under a vacuum; feeding combustion-supporting gas in a quantity insufficient to create centers of combustion while maintaining the environment under vacuum to favor a process of molecular decomposition of the material; condensing the gases, and collecting the condensate in a non-pressurized environment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for chemically treating combustible materials prior to combustion. Specifically the present invention is directed to a method for treating a combustible material like a coal briquette with a sodium silicate coating to provide a fuel source with greatly reduced pollutant emissions.

Abstract: Process for recycling of liquid carton waste material or other similar waste material having fibrous, metal and plastics materials. The process includes introducing the waste material and a slushing liquid into a slushing apparatus and slushing of the waste material to thereby form defibrated fibrous material therein. The treated waste material is then separated into (i) a fiber suspension which includes the defibrated fibrous material, and (ii) a reject portion which includes the metal and plastics materials. The obtained fiber suspension is cleaned and the fibrous material therein is reclaimed for further use. The reject portion is introduced into a fluidized bed gasifier so as to gasify the plastics therein to produce a hydrocarbon product gas, which is thereafter separated from the metal material.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to additives for coal-fired furnaces, particularly furnaces using a layer of slag to capture coal particles for combustion. The additive(s) include iron, mineralizer(s), handling aid(s), flow aid(s), and/or abrasive material(s). The iron and mineralizers can lower the melting temperature of ash in low-iron, high alkali coals, leading to improved furnace performance.

Abstract: The present invention makes possible the economic and environmental use of high sulfur coal by removing the sulfur at the power generating plant. This process reduces the risk of fire, explosion, and freezing in storing and transporting reclaimed, ground coal, and moves the reclamation process to the site of the power plant, while providing electronic controls to monitor and adjust the reclamation process to produce controlled feedstock for the power plant.

Abstract: A method of treating a fossil fuel for combustion, which includes heating the fossil fuel and an additive in a combustion zone. The additive contains a lime flux that lowers the melting point of lime sufficiently so that lime in the combustion zone melts wholly or partially. The additive reacts with the fossil fuel char and its sulphur plus ash components, in the combustion zone to achieve the following results alone or in combination: accelerated combustion, desulphurization, nitrogen oxides emission reduction, pozzolanic or cementitious product production or combustor anti-fouling.

Abstract: The invention concerns a plant for the thermolysis of waste products containing an organic fraction, and for simultaneous energetically upgrading these waste products comprising: a unit for loading and supplying the waste products to be treated; a thermolysis reactor for thermal dissociation under reduced pressure at high temperature. The invention is characterized in that it comprises: upstream and downstream of the reactor, a lock chamber for maintaining a partial vacuum in the reactor for ensuring thermolysis in an atmosphere with low oxygen content; first means for recuperating, in the upper part of the reactor, the organic gas fraction formed during thermolysis, and for bringing this fraction to a combustion chamber supplying a steam generator; second means for recuperating at the bottom of the reactor the solid carbon products formed during thermolysis, and for bringing these solid products to a combustion chamber supplying a steam generator or an evacuating system.

Abstract: In a delivery pipe for pulverized coal fines from a coal mill to a combustion chamber, a device for diffusing unevenly distributed coal flow evenly across the pipe. In a first form, the invention comprises a plurality of static, lateral, linear diffuser elements comprising rows of protrusions or teeth spaced laterally across the coal flow path in the pipe, preferably in a staggered and overlapping relationship. In a second form, the diffuser elements are rotatably mounted across the coal flow path in the pipe, and may be rotated at different speeds and in different directions. The diffuser elements spaced across the coal flow path in the pipe may be supplemented by peripherally-mounted diffuser elements at the inlet of that portion of the pipe or housing to provide an angled pre-diffusion of the coal flow from the sides of the pipe toward the lateral elements extending across the interior of the pipe.

Abstract: A method of blowing a synthetic resin material into a furnace comprising preparing a synthetic resin material having an average specific surface area of at least 50 m2/kg; and blowing the synthetic resin material from tuyeres of a shaft furnace for ironmaking.

Abstract: The invention provides a method which includes the step of locating a burner of a low NOx boiler that produces a disproportionately high quantity of unburned carbon. The air-to-fuel ratio at the burner is then increased to decrease the percentage of unburned carbon attributable to the burner. The air-to-fuel ratio at a second burner of the low NOx boiler is reduced to maintain a substantially constant total air-to-fuel ratio in the low NOx boiler.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating a high-temperature reactor for treating heterogeneous waste materials, in which the waste materials are introduced via an intake point into the reactor and form beneath the intake point a loose-piled gasification bed, in which the inorganic or organic components are subjected to fusion or gasification and homogenisation by oxygen and above the intake point the gaseous gasification products are subjected to high-temperature treatment with added oxygen in order to form and stabilise synthesis gas, water-cooled oxygen lances being used for high-temperature treatment.

Abstract: In a method for processing solid residues from refuse incineration plants the slag is melted and heavy metals from the melt (16) are separated for reutilization. The slag is directly transferred from the refuse incineration plant into a first heating chamber (2) and melted there under oxidizing conditions. The melt (16) produced therefrom is transferred to a second heating chamber (3), in which the heavy metal compounds are reduced to their metallic form. Furthermore, additional finely divided residues, such as fly ash, boiler ash and filter dust, are introduced into the second heating chamber (3) via a hollow graphite electrode (19). The melt (16) is then passed on to a third heating chamber (4), in which the residual readily volatile metals are vaporized and the residual non-volatile metals are sedimented. The essentially heavy-metal-free melt is then cooled to form vitreous granules.

Abstract: An apparatus for the combustion of a suspension of a combustible liquid and combustible solids in particle shape, for instance carbon particles, includes a tank, a burner unit and a pipe which is connected to the burner unit and which protrudes into the tank where it is connected to a pump system. The pump system includes an eddy current pump with a branched outlet, where one of the outlet branches is connected to the pipe, while the other branch or branches is formed as a nozzle or a jet with its outlet directed into the tank, thus serving to stir the suspension in the tank.

Abstract: A gasification system for biomass fuel. The system includes a bulk biomass feeder in which biomass fuel is stored and from which biomass fuel is supplied to the system. A pneumatic conveyor system is employed that transports the biomass fuel from the feeder to a high pressure feed tank. Once deposited in the feeder, the pressure on the fuel is raised and maintained throughout the balance of the gasification process. From the feeder, the fuel travels on a variable speed pressurized conveyance and is dispensed in a controlled and regulated manner to the reactor vessel that takes the form of a fluidized bed reactor. The fuel is gasified in the reactor and the resulting gas and ash mixture is separated. At a cyclone, most of the suspended ash is removed from the mixture. After the cyclone, the gas may be is further filtered before transmission to an end use. The system may optionally be automated by computer control.

Abstract: A dryer for particulate materials comprising an elongated, peripherally enclosed combustion tunnel having a combustion chamber and an exhaust outlet, a liner spaced from and around the combustion tunnel, having an exterior radiant heat reflective shield, a peaked upper roof portion defining a pair of diagonal, flow dividing, slide surfaces, the upper roof portion being of a metal alloy having a low coefficient of friction and high thermal conductivity, a jacket surrounding and generally spaced from the liner, cooperative with the liner to form a material drying chamber between the liner and jacket, the jacket having a configuration similar to that of the liner and an interior heat reflective shield, an elongated, particulate material inlet conveyor in the housing above the upper roof portion of the liner for dispensing particulate material over the length of the roof portion to evaporate volatilizable substances therefrom, an elongated, particulate material discharge conveyor in the jacket, beneath the liner,

Abstract: The method of incinerating a combustible material (1) comprises, before custion, the following steps:dividing (2) the material into particles,incorporating (3) the divided material into an aqueous medium at a rate of not more than 35% by weight of solid relative to the liquid,foaming and pressurizing the suspension thereby obtained, by incorporating an oxidizer gas (10) and surface-active additives (9) in a mixer (8) of the suspension.

Abstract: Processes and arrangements that provide for the separation of pyrite from coal in a fluidized bed. The processes provide for more efficient and complete stratification of the bed materials in a vertical direction, so that the very top layer of the fluidized ved is coal having a reduced pyrite content. The process includes feeding the coal to be cleaned on top of a layer of magnetite. The process also includes fluidizing the bed until bed-bubbling separation occurs in the absence of steady-state conditions. The cleaned top layer of coal having a reduced pyrite content is then separated from the refuse coal in the bottom of the bed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting heat from a combustible material are disclosed which include the formation of a solid material strip of the combustible material, the formation of a series of spaced holes in the material strip, and the combustion of the material strip. The method and apparatus are particularly useful when a mixture of coal, clay, and lime is used as the combustible material, and the products of the combustion then include a structurally intact, solid residual strip composed substantially only of dehydrated clay and calcium sulfate, and a fluegas substantially free of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and micro fly-ash. Because of the stable and uniform combustion characteristic, it is also suitable for the co-combustion and reduction of most toxic and solid wastes into safe, recyclable residues.

Abstract: A method and a system for providing thermal power to an electrical power plant wherein substantially whole trees are supplied as fuel without being processed into small woodchips or chunks. The substantially whole trees stored in the drying building to lower their moisture content, and thereafter are transported to a charge pit located adjacent to a combustion chamber. The substantially whole trees are fed into the combustion chamber by a ram feeder and burned therein. The heat created by the combustion is absorbed by a boiler section and in the form of steam it is supplied to a conventional electrical power generator.

Abstract: The invention comprises an unfired fluidized bed dryer and sorter. Pressurized fluidizing air is preheated passing through steam heat exchangers. Bed outlet air/vapor temperature is held in a range of 100 F. to 150 F. Smaller/low density solids are removed from the top of the bed and larger/heavier solids are removed from the bottom of the bed after some retention in the bed. Feedstock is fed continuously to the bed. The exhaust air/water vapor from the bed is postheated at least 20 F. before passage through a bag house by addition of steam heated air to the air/vapor stream exhausting from the bed. Moisture content of the effluent solid materials from the bed is controlled by mass flow rate of the fluidizing air and rate of steam flow to the bed air heater.

Abstract: An integrated method of removing alkali metal compounds from sulfur-bearing coal is disclosed. The coal is comminuted (4) and mixed (10) with water (8) to form a slurry (12). In the preferred embodiment, the slurry (12) is comingled with an SO.sub.2 -bearing gas (16) in a transport pipeline (52) to form an acidic slurry which dissolves the alkali compounds out of the coal. The slurry is then separated (22) into a solid portion (24) and a liquid portion (26), the solid portion (24) being combusted (34) to form the SO.sub.2 -bearing gas (16).

Abstract: Coal is continuously fed into an extruder and reacts therein at elevated pressure and temperature and possibly in the presence of a catalyst with hydrogen and/or hydrogen containing compounds added to the contents of the extruder on at least one spot situated at a distance of at least three times the inner diameter of the extruder in front of the end of the screw. From the reaction product leaving the extruder hydrocarbons which are fluid under normal conditions are separated.Part of these hydrocarbons which are liquid under normal conditions may be recycled to the extruder.

Abstract: A method for pneumatically conveying solvent refined coal to a burner under conditions of dilute phase pneumatic flow so as to prevent saltation of the solvent refined coal in the transport line by maintaining the transport fluid velocity above approximately 95 ft/sec.

Abstract: A system for transferring solid material to and from a high pressure reactor as a water slurry is disclosed. In a wet oxidation reaction system comminuted solid hydrocarbonaceous material, such as shale, coal, tar sand, wood or waste, flows in a continuous circulation loop to mix and supply a slurry of water and a high concentration of comminuted solid hydrocarbon-containing particles to the reactor. Such a slurry is reacted with oxygen at high temperature and pressure to extract hydrocarbon fluids as a gaseous phase and to remove metal, sulfur and nitrogen components from the material in the residual liquid. Flow into and out of the reactor vessel is through hydraulically actuated cylinders each isolated from atmosphere and the reaction vessel by a pair of full flow gate valves having no valve seats, throats or stems subject to abrasion.

Abstract: An improved method of removing pyritic sulfur and other contaminants from the coil in a coal-oil slurry. In such a slurry, raw pulverized coal is suspended in fuel oil. In practicing the process, the slurry is heated to a temperature of about 220.degree. C., at which temperature hexagonal pyrrhotite is converted to highly ferromagnetic monoclinic pyrrhotite which can be removed by a magnetic separator.

Abstract: A process for producing a dispersion composition suitable for use as a fuel is described, comprising kneading (a) a bituminous substance, (b) a low molecular weight aliphatic alcohol, and (c) water, a water-containing organic compound, or an aqueous organic compound suspension to provide a dispersion composition wherein the aqueous alcohol solution as a dispersed phase is dispersed in the bituminous substance as a continuous phase. By causing the phase inversion of the thus-obtained w/o type dispersion composition by kneading it along with a protective colloid at 5.degree. C. to 60.degree. C., and o/w type dispersion composition suitable for use as a fuel can be produced.

Abstract: A process is provided for removing noxious pollutants containing sulfur and/or fluorine compounds from gaseous or liquid media by adsorption of the compounds on coke. The coke is produced by conventional processes from lignite (brown coal) containing alkaline ash compounds, particularly CaO and MgO as well as possibly Na.sub.2 O, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and K.sub.2 O. The coke with adsorbed sulfur and/or fluorine pollutants is incinerated at temperatures selected from 700.degree. C. and 1050.degree. C. such that the pollutants combine chemically with the alkaline ash compounds so that the pollutants become bound in the coke ash rather than being emitted to the environment in the combustion gases.

Abstract: A mixture of fine-particle mineral coal and a fine-particle solid carrier of carbon is stored in a bulk store from which the mixture is withdrawn and continuously blown into a shaft furnace, e.g. a blast furnace. Sufficient carbon carrier is used to loosen the mixture and to prevent it from caking and sticking. A suitable carbon carrier is particulate compost obtained by rotting household refuse or sewage sludge.

Abstract: A fuel, such as coal, is prepared by mixing with a petroleum product and possibly other materials to form a grease-like substance. In a motionless mixer the grease-like substance is combined with air to form a foam-like dispersion of fuel and air. Such foam-like dispersion is delivered substantially continuously to a combustion chamber for combustion thereat. The combustion chamber is relatively closed and has means cooperative with the foam-like dispersion and the pressure of expanding gases of the combustion process to impede flow of the foam-like dispersion therein; consequently the foam-like dispersion is maintained at a pressure head to maintain the air dispersion therein. The speed and heat of combustion may be controlled by controlling flow rate or pressure of the foam-like dispersion. Means are provided for reducing pollutants and for efficiently transferring heat out from the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A method is provided for recovering energy from wasted coal by the steps of creating at least one channel through the wasted coal, igniting the wasted coal in said channel, subjecting said wasted coal, at least at said channel, to a negative pressure applied at a preselected point, connecting said wasted coal, at least at said channel, to a source of air remote from said preselected zone whereby air is induced through said ignited coal to burn said coal to produce hot gaseous products of combustion, and the hot gaseous products of combustion are drawn from said zone, and utilizing said hot gaseous products of combustion in a heat exchange relationship to recover the heat energy therefrom.

Abstract: A process for the desulfurization of coal and apparatus for carrying out the process. The process includes the steps of: first, treating dry coal particles with dry chlorine gas; and, second, treating the coal particles with a purging gas. The purging gas may be, for example, dry steam or an inert gas, such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide. The apparatus includes a chlorinator means for treating the dry coal particles with dry chlorine gas and a stripper means for treating the coal particles with a purging gas.

Abstract: The following specification discloses a process and burner for combusting fossil fuels such as coal to provide low SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x emissions. The process includes pulverizing the coal together with an alkaline material, such as limestone in an amount calculated to provide an alkaline metal stoichiometric equivalent of one to seven times the stoichiometric equivalent of the sulphur contained in the coal. The resulting pulverized coal-limestone mix is then combusted under fuel rich conditions. For example, 25% of the theoretical air required to combust the coal is preheated and injected into the combustion zone together with the pulverized coal-limestone mixture. The primary or transport air is swirled to increase mixing and to stabilize the flame. Preheated secondary air is introduced to the combustion zone. The amount of the preheated secondary air amounts to approximately 40% to about 100% of the theoretically required air.

Abstract: A furnace or generator for reacting a hydrocarbon gas which undergoes a reaction having an exothermic phase followed by an endothermic phase, is disclosed. The generator consists of concentric inner and outer tubes having a reacting gas inlet at the top of the inner tube and a reacted gas outlet near the top of the outer tube. The inner tube has holes adjacent its bottom for communicating the bottom of the inner tube with the annular space between the inner tube and the outer tube. The bottom portion of the generator forms a reactor portion while the top portion forms a recuperator portion. A gas air mixture entering near the top of the inner tube is heated in the recuperator portion by the reacted gas in the annular passage. Additional heating means may be provided.

Abstract: This defines a process and an apparatus to treat wet organic wastes, such as manures, to protect the environment and to recycle the solid content in the form of a soil conditioner or fertilizer. This process and apparatus are made to remove the bad smell and to separate the solid content in a very dry form, adapted to be readily bagged. This process and apparatus are characterized by an efficient conveying and concurrent agitation of the organic wastes in an evaporation furnace and in combination with use of the combustion gases for heat exchange heating of the fluidizing content of the wet organic wastes.

Abstract: A continuous process for the combustion of solid fuels in the presence of strong sulfuric acid under conditions such that oxides of nitrogen are not formed and oxides of sulfur and particles of ash are effectively prevented from contaminating the gaseous products released to the atmosphere.