Abstract: In a pulverized fuel-fired steam generator, a steam air heater is disposed in the air inlet duct to the main air heater. Steam from an auxiliary in-plant source or from the boiler itself is passed through the steam air heater thereby increasing the temperature of the air entering the main air heater. The flow rate of steam passed through the steam air heater is regulated to maintain the flue gas temperature entering dust collection equipment located in the flue gas stream downstream of the main air heater above the dew point of water vapor and the condensation point of sulfuric acid during start-up and low load operations.

Abstract: A closed-loop, steam generating and distributing system with uniform fluid temperature and pressure everywhere and devoid of any steam-trap or like phase separator, comprising a boiler, a receiver collecting condensates through gravity feed, a pump drawing condensates from said receiver and forcing them back into said boiler, a water make-up tank connected through a feed pipe-line and a feed pump to the bottom of said receiver, and a condensate bleed duct leading from the discharge side of the condensate pump to the top of said receiver through a restriction.

Abstract: In the control of the operation of a power plant including a gas turbine power generating unit, a main boiler whose heat source is exhaust gas of the gas turbine and which supplies steam to a heat load, a back-up boiler which has an independent fuel system and which is operated to supply steam to the heat load when the quantity of supply of steam of the main boiler to the load is insufficient, and a heat exchanger which is disposed in a boiler feeding system common to the main boiler and the back-up boiler and which receives excess steam or condensed water as discharged from the heat load and heats feed water, a method of operating a power plant and apparatus therefor comprising a circulating pipe for connecting a steam generating portion of the back-up boiler and the heat exchanger and for causing boiler feed water to flow from the back-up boiler back to the heat exchanger even during shutdown of the back-up boiler, and valve means disposed in the circulating pipe and adapted to be shut when a condition of t

Abstract: A process is provided for removing pollutants from flue gases generated in a steam generating power plant. The flue gases are partially cooled and directly contacted with a portion of the cooling water of a circulating cooling water system used to remove waste heat of the generated steam in a waste heat condenser. The pollutants are thereby washed out of the flue gases into the cooling water and thereafter removed from the cooling water. The heat exchange of the cooling water and the flue gases can take place in a cooling tower, wherein ambient cooling air is drawn in to cool the circulating cooling water. The flue gases can also be further cooled prior to the direct washing thereof by indirect heat exchange in the cooling tower with said upwardly moving cooling air and washed flue gases.

Abstract: There is always a danger of slagging on and/or corrosion of the tubes of the highest temperature superheater bank and, if present, reheater bank when burning heavy bunker fuel oil. Therefore a clean fuel burning furnace is provided which is separate from the heavy bunker fuel oil burning furnace and only the combustion gases from burning the clean fuel are used to heat the highest temperature superheater bank and, if present, reheater bank. The clean fuel is preferably provided by a gasifier in which a portion of the heavy bunker fuel oil is pre-combusted to give a clean combustible fuel gas.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for preventing thermal shock caused by the introtion of steam into a superheater header by preheating the header with an electrical heating element located on the header before boiler light-off and the introduction of any steam. A temperature sensor located on the header controls the coupling of the heating element to its voltage source to maintain the temperature of the header within a predetermined range.

Abstract: An improvement to a Claus sulfur plant uses heat generated in the partial combustion of hydrogen sulfide to produce high pressure steam which is utilized before each catalytic conversion stage to heat the reactive gas stream to a temperature consonant with that required for the catalytic conversion of the sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide in the gas stream to water and sulfur.

Abstract: A simplified and continuous process for the removal of sulfur compounds and other impurities such as silicates from high sulfur coal or fuel oil during combustion in a molten salt bath containing a collector which reacts with the sulfur and other impurities. Sulfate and silicate impurities together with other by-products are removed by gravity separation from the molten salt bath as slurry from which the soluble salts may be regenerated and recycled continuously. Flue gases are recycled through the molten salt bath for sulfur-free emission to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A simplified and continuous process for the removal of sulfur compounds and other impurities such as silicates from high sulfur coal or fuel oil during combustion in a molten salt bath containing a collector which reacts with the sulfur and other impurities. Sulfate and silicate impurities together with other by-products are removed by gravity separation from the molten salt bath as slurry from which the soluble salts may be regenerated and recycled continuously. Flue gases are recycled through the molten salt bath for sulfur-free emission to the atmosphere.