Abstract: A regenerator for glass melting tanks for storing waste heat from combustion cycles and emitting the stored heat to oxidation gases supplied from the outside, having a gas-permeable chamber lattice in which the chamber lining is made of fire-resistant stones held together by lateral wall elements. A cover region is situated over the chamber lattice for the combustion gases entering into the chamber lattice and for the oxidation gases exiting from the chamber lattice, the chamber cover forming a flow duct together with a further cover segment, connected to the cover, limited by a downward-extending terminating wall that is connected to the burner throat and with the wall element. A segment of the lateral wall element between the flow duct running essentially vertically and the upper region of the chamber lattice is fashioned as an intermediate wall having a cooling duct system situated therein.

Abstract: A method includes the steps of operating a regenerative burner in cycles, including a firing cycle in which fuel and combustion air are discharged from the burner into a process chamber, and a nonfiring cycle in which a quantity of gas is withdrawn from the process chamber through a regenerative bed associated with the burner. The method further includes steps of detecting and responding to a temperature that differs from a predetermined temperature at a location in the process chamber. In a first step of responding to the detected temperature, a flue damper system is operated to vary a flow of gas within the process chamber relative to the location of the detected temperature. A second step of responding to the detected temperature reduces the quantity of gas to be withdrawn from the process chamber through the regenerative bed in a subsequent nonfiring cycle.

Abstract: In the method according to the invention for producing cement clinker, raw cement meal is preheated in a preheater, the preheated raw cement meal is precalcined in a calciner and the precalcined raw cement meal is burnt in a kiln, fuel and combustion air having an oxygen content of at least 75 mol % being used in the calciner, and the raw cement meal being precalcined in a fluidised bed in the calciner. The exhaust gases occurring in the kiln are delivered to the preheater, bypassing the calciner, and the exhaust gases of the calciner are delivered to a CO2 preparation device.

Abstract: Temperature overshoot of internal components of a counter-flow shell and tube heat heat exchange may be reduced or avoided by adjusting the degree to which a tube-side fluid partially bypasses the heat exchanger.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling regenerative burners used as a firing device, particularly for iron and steel product heating furnaces or for radiating tubes for continuous strip steel processing lines, according to which the supply of at least one of the fluids involved in the combustion (fuel and comburent) is carried out through a rotary injector (12) rotating by means of a rotatable actuator (M) so as to supply fluid alternately to one and then the other of the burners (B1, B2), the rotary injector (12) being placed on the comburent inlet duct (6), particularly air, and is provided to partially obstruct the supply pipe (19.1; 19.2) to the burner (B1; B2) such that one portion of the fumes from a regenerator (2.2; 2.1) for the non-operating burner (B2; B1) is led to the operating burner (B1; B2) and such that the other portion of the fumes is discharged to the stack.

Abstract: A method for operating a regenerative heater including a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber having a burner arranged therein, the second chamber having heat storage means; the method including: a heating cycle where fuel and oxidizing gas are fed to the burner of the first chamber and allowed to burn and where hot flue gasses are led through the second chamber to heat the heat storage means; and a blowing cycle where a process gas is fed through the second chamber to pick up heat from the heat storage means where the heating cycle includes the following steps: feeding a first stream of fuel to the burner of the regenerative heater; feeding a second stream of fuel to a pre-combustion chamber; feeding oxygen to the pre-combustion chamber; allowing the second stream of fuel and the oxygen to interact so as to form oxidizing gas; feeding the oxidizing gas to the burner of the regenerative heater, where, at the end of the heating cycle, the supply of oxygen to the pre-combustion chamber is disco

Abstract: A valve lift mechanism for actuating a valve in the vertical direction, and a regenerative thermal oxidizer including the valve and lift mechanism is disclosed. The valve is allowed to move vertically and oscillating rotary motion is possible. Vertical movement is achieved using the valve lift mechanism without the use of compressed air. In certain embodiments, the valve lift mechanism includes a torque motor. Preferably, a non self-locking screw jack is used to adjust the vertical height of the valve. Vertical movement can reduce the torque needed to rotate the valve, and also facilitates servicing of the valve. For example, if the valve experiences high temperature, and consequently expands, rotating the valve against the mating seal plate can be difficult, if not impossible. By lowering the valve slightly, the frictional forces between the valve and the mating seal plate are reduced, allowing freer rotational movement of the valve.

Abstract: A furnace includes a housing having a charging end, a discharge end downstream of the charging end, and a combustion chamber within the housing between the charging and discharge ends; a first pair of lances disposed at a first side of the housing proximate the charging end and in communication with the combustion chamber, one lance of said first pair to provide a first fuel to said combustion chamber, and another lance of said first pair to provide a first oxidant to said combustion chamber; and a second pair of lances disposed at a second side of the housing opposite to the first side proximate the charging end and in communication with the combustion chamber, one lance of said second pair to provide a second fuel to said combustion chamber, and another lance of said second pair to provide a second oxidant to said combustion chamber. A method is provided.

Abstract: A regenerative firing system is disclosed which functions in a heat treating furnace or other high temperature technology. The system comprises a plurality of regenerator heat transfer boxes which absorb the heat contained in high temperature exhaust from the furnace. Each regenerator box transfers this absorbed heat to a flow of ambient air. The now heated air flows from the regenerator box into a common air stream which is then fed to a plurality of burners. The preheated air stream is supplied to a common air stream that is then simultaneously provided to each of a plurality of burners. In addition, the current invention comprises a method of heat recovery for a furnace utilizing the inventive system.

Abstract: A purge air control for a regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) having a plurality of exhaust towers containing a heat-exchange media includes a controller to determine an amount of clean air needed to purge the media. The controller opens a balancing damper to draw the determined amount of air into the RTO to purge the solvent-laden air from the heat-exchange media. As such, by determining the precise amount of air needed to purge the heat-exchange media, energy consumption associated with the purge process is reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention are a combustion furnace with coaxial staged hearth and heating method thereof, in which the combustion furnace comprises a metal furnace body (40) whose internal part is provided with a furnace chamber. The furnace chamber is divided into two sections at the middle by fire resistant material to form a left and a right independent combustion chambers (18, 19). Two independent combustion chambers (18, 19) are respectively connected with the ends of flue gas chambers (2, 60), while the other ends of the flue gas chambers (2, 60) are respectively connected with a burner (3). The peripherals of two independent combustion chambers (18, 19) are respectively provided with a flue gas heat radiation pipe (14). A middle flue gas chamber (100) is set in the middle position of the furnace chamber. Two ends of the flue gas heat radiation pipe (14) are respectively connected with the flue gas chamber (2, 60) and the middle flue gas chamber (100).

Abstract: A fluid-cooled through-port oxy-fuel burner for converting an air-fuel regenerator port from air-fuel combustion to oxy-fuel combustion and an associated furnace and method. The oxy-fuel burner is suitable for installing through a regenerator port neck. The burner has an elbow-like bend to accommodate the geometry of the regenerator port neck. The burner has a cooling fluid jacket, a fuel conduit, a first oxidant conduit, and optionally an oxidant staging conduit.

Abstract: A method for melting meltable stock, such as glass includes a melting furnace (10) heated via a burner flame (25,29) generated by a burner port, through which fuel and oxidizer are supplied, a fuel-rich gas stream introduced into the furnace downstream from the burner port via at least one substoichiometrically operated burner (20,22) and/or a fuel or fuel mixture being introduced into the furnace downstream from the burner arrangement via at least one fuel nozzle, and a oxygen containing gas stream being introduced into the furnace downstream from the at least one substoichiometrically operated burner and/or the at least one fuel nozzle. A furnace device is also provided.

Abstract: A combustion air supply apparatus 9 of alternating heat exchange type supplies combustion air and discharges combustion exhaust gas at a flow velocity of 80 to 200 m/sec. A burner assembly 4 is configured in such a manner that low-caloric fuel gas is pre-heated with heat of pre-combusting high-caloric fuel gas before the low-caloric fuel gas reaches a mixing starting space CA in the combustion chamber where the pre-combusting high-caloric fuel gas and the low-caloric fuel gas come to burn together in a full scale in the mixing starting space CA. When an air amount of the combustion air supplied through the high-temperature air supply ports of the plurality of fuel gas combustion apparatuses is defined as Q1 and an air amount of the pre-combustion air to be mixed with the high-caloric fuel gas, supplied from the fuel gas combustion apparatuses, is defined as Q2, a total air amount (Q1+Q2) is 1.02 to 1.10 times more than a theoretical air amount QS required for combustion, and a ratio of Q2/(Q1+Q2) is 0.

Abstract: A device for managing unburned residues, the device comprising a regenerator (5) having one end connected to a combustion enclosure (3) and an opposite end connected to a fuel admission pipe (4) and a flue gas exhaust pipe (8), the pipes being fitted with valves (2; 10) to alternate between an admission stage and an exhaust stage through the regenerator. A purge circuit (1) connected to the regenerator (5) acts before the exhaust stage to purge the regenerator of the fuel that it contains. The invention provides a corresponding method of managing unburned residues and a burner including such a device.

Abstract: A regenerative chamber for a glass melting furnace having a defined cross-section and wherein the regenerative chamber includes multiple slotted arches and above the same there are disposed transfer layers, and wherein a grating is installed on the transfer layers. A movable flow barrier is provided above the slotted arches that is inserted from the outside into the regenerative chamber and by means of which the cross-section of the regenerative chamber can be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a furnace (12) for melting heated glass using burners (13), wherein the combustion energy is at least partially produced by oxy-fuel combustion, and wherein at least a portion of the oxygen used in the burners (13) is produced by separation, on a ceramic separation membrane (18), from a gaseous mixture including oxygen, the oxygen from the separation being directly channeled into at least one burner (13).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a furnace (12) for melting heated glass using burners (13), wherein the combustion energy is at least partially produced by oxy-fuel combustion, and wherein at least a portion of the oxygen used is produced by separation, on a ceramic separation membrane (18), from a gaseous mixture including oxygen.

Abstract: A System for reducing organic contaminates from the condensate discharge of a closed loop industrial drying process. The system includes a dryer, a regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) in flow communication with the dryer, and an energy recovery unit in flow communication with the RTO.

Abstract: A heat accumulating-type burner that operates by alternately repeating heat accumulation and combustion where the heat accumulating element is heated by exhaust gas to accumulate heat therein, and combustion air is passed through the heat accumulating portion to preheat the combustion air by thermal exchange with the heat accumulating element that holds the heat accumulated therein, and the preheated combustion air is used to carry out combustion. The cross-sectional area of the heat accumulating portion at the furnace-inner side is made to be smaller than the cross-sectional area of the heat accumulating portion at the air supply/discharge port side, and in addition, the thickness of the fireproof heat insulating member that covers the heat accumulating portion is made to be thick at the furnace-inner side of the heat accumulating portion, and is made to be thin at the air supply/discharge port side of the heat accumulating portion.

Abstract: A heat exchanger 500 for transferring heat between a first gas flow 28, such as flue gases, and a second gas flow 34, such as air or oxygen, includes a housing 514 having a first inlet plenum 520 for receiving the first gas flow 28, a first outlet plenum 522 for discharging the first gas flow 28, a second inlet plenum 526 for receiving the second gas flow 34, and a second outlet plenum 528 for discharging the second gas flow 34. The heat exchanger 500 further includes heat exchange elements 512 disposed within the housing 514. Radial seals 224, 226, 228, 230 are disposed between the housing 514 and the heating elements 512 that define a radial plenum 535, 536. Axial seals 220, 222 are further disposed between the housing 514 and the heating elements 512 to define an axial plenum 530. A third gas flow, such as recirculated flue gas, is provided in the radial plenum 535, 536 and the axial plenum 530 to reduce the leakage between the first gas flow 28 and the second gas flow 34.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for injecting natural gas in an RTO. The RTO may be, for example, a known type that has a rotary distributor, a center section divided into pie-shaped segments above the rotary distributor, a heat exchanger section above the center section, and a combustion chamber above the heat exchanger. According to an aspect of the invention, the system introduces gas into segments of the center section in a sequenced manner via cycling on/off control valves. In a particular embodiment, the natural gas is injected at a specific location of a respective segment within the center section that is past the rotary distributor seals and directly under the bottom of the heat exchanger bed. According to the injection sequence, the injection of natural gas into the segment commences when the segment begins to receive inlet waste gas streams, and injection ceases before the flow through the sector changes or stops.

Abstract: The present invention provides a regenerative thermal oxidizer which burns and eliminates harmful process gases generated in industrial sites. The present invention provides the regenerative thermal oxidizer in which different parts of the rotor are used as inlet and outlet process gas flow paths to increase the ability to process the process gases. According to the present invention, the ability to process the process gases is enhanced in spite of the rotor being similar in size to typical rotors and, as well as, the structure of the rotor and adjacent components is simplified.

Abstract: In a high efficiency regenerator burner for heating spaces, the exhaust gas generated by the burner is provided which is conducted alternately through different regenerator cartridges and a partial stream of the exhaust gas is conducted under the control of an orifice plate through a bypass space in which the regenerator cartridges are disposed. A control structure is disposed in a burner head for controlling the exhaust gas bypass flow volume and also to control the main exhaust gas flow as well as the combustion air flow through the regenerator cartridges.

Abstract: An improved flue gas cooler (10), or bank of coolers (10), handles flue gas G from aluminium reduction cells in an aluminium smelter plant. The or each flue gas cooler (10) has a gas inlet chamber (14), a gas outlet chamber (16), and a matrix of gas cooling tubes (18) extending between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber. Each cooling tube (18) has a bell-shaped inlet end (19) comprising an aerodynamically curved gas-accelerating profile effective to facilitate streamlined flow of flue gas G into the tube. The improved flue gas cooler makes it possible to connect the flue gas cooler to receive hot raw flue gas G direct from the aluminium reduction cells without getting clogged by dust and sublimates present in the flue gas. Once cooled, the flue gas can be safely passed on to a flue gas cleaning plant of the dry scrubbing type.

Abstract: A self-regenerative burner has a burner tile coupled to the head portion of the burner. The burner tile includes a fuel injection hole formed through the center of a body; intake/exhaust holes formed around the fuel injection hole; a mixing-preventing separation wall formed with respect to the fuel injection hole, the separation wall bisecting the intake/exhaust holes to prevent air movement between the intake/exhaust holes; and first and second combustion sections formed at both sides with respect to the separation wall, the first and second combustion sections acting to alternately perform main combustion and exhaust, respectively. The separation wall allows intake/exhaust flows in the two combustion sections to be separated from each other. Accordingly, a flame in the burner is stabilized and the combustion and exhaust performances of the burner are improved, leading to an improvement in the energy efficiency of the burner.

Abstract: A steam generator in a heat regenerative engine includes a cylindrical combustion chamber that encloses a circularly wound coil of densely bundled tubes. The tube bundle is heated by two combustion nozzle assemblies, each having an air blower, a fuel atomizer, and an igniter. The igniter burns atomized fuel that exits the atomizer and is mixed with preheated air. The flames and heat from the combustion nozzle assemblies are directed in a centrifuge within the circular combustion chamber. This cyclonic circulation of combustion gases within the combustion chamber creates higher efficiency in the engine by subjecting the coil of tubes to multiple passes of heat, thereby promoting greater heat saturation relative to the amount of fuel expended. The relatively small diameter and large surface area of the tubes in the bundle allows the water and steam in the tubes to be heated to higher temperatures and pressures within a compact space, providing a highly efficient steam generator.

Abstract: Device for pollution control where a polluted stream of air or gas is purified from both oxidisable material and nitrogen oxides simultaneously by a combination of regenerative high temperature treatment and catalytic treatment.

Abstract: An integrated mass air flow sensor/broadband silencer assembly comprises a molded body having a plurality of walls formed therein. The molded body is over-wrapped with a layer of acoustic foam that, together with the plurality of walls, define a plurality of chambers within an interior volume of the assembly. A mass air flow sensor can be inserted into one of the chambers. The chambers are sized and spaced to provide a uniform velocity, low turbulence air flow to the sensor, and a minimally-restricted air flow to an internal combustion engine located downstream of the assembly.

Abstract: Electric drive for a switching valve, the switching valve having such a drive, and a regenerative thermal oxidizer including the switching valve and drive system. The electric drive system allows for the starting and stopping of the rotation of a rotary valve with accurate positioning. The stopping of the valve includes dissipation of the kinetic energy of the valve by electric means. The valve is allowed to move vertically and oscillating rotary motion is possible. The drive system preferably includes a gear, gearbox, variable speed drive and at least one positioning sensor. Valve acceleration and deceleration can be carried out in a controlled fashion and with repeatability, so that the final end position of the valve is consistent. The accommodation of vertical movement of the valve is also within the scope of the present invention.

Abstract: A device including a burner (6) for directing a fuel/air mixture into a reaction chamber (2) for flameless oxidation of fuels. The burner (6) discharges a fuel/air jet transversely to a longitudinal axis (A) of the burner and an exhaust gas channel (17) is arranged in or on the burner concentric or parallel to the burner longitudinal axis (A). An outlet direction (R) of the fuel/air jets from the burner and the direction (A) of the exhaust gas channel cross each other. Hence, the burner introduces fuel parallel or at an angle to the wall into the furnace chamber where the burner is mounted for flameless oxidation of the fuel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for on-line wash-down of a heat sink media bed in a regenerative heat exchanger of a regenerative fume incinerator is disclosed. When a heat sink media bed requires cleaning, the selected regenerative heat exchanger is cooled while the remaining regenerative heat exchangers are operated in their normal mode of operation. When the selected media bed reaches a temperature which is less than the thermal-shock temperature of the media material, a cleaning fluid is sprayed on the media surfaces through spray-pipes which are installed within the media bed. After the media surfaces are washed down, the selected regenerative heat-exchanger is reverted back to its normal mode of operation. The regenerative heat exchanger can also be automatically burnt-out of deposited gasifiable matter prior to the wash-down. Random or sequential burn-out and wash-down of the regenerative heat-exchangers can be performed.

Abstract: A method of burning off accumulated contaminants from heat sink media of a regenerative oxidizer having a plurality of segments containing media arranged around a central axis and a rotary valve which includes repeatedly rotating the rotary valve 180 degrees to alternatively direct waste gas through a first plurality of segments, direct the hot gas through a second plurality of segments and purge gas through a third segment to burn off the contaminants, then indexing the rotary valve one segment and repeating the burn-off process of all segments.

Abstract: Switching valve utilizing a rotatable seal suitable for use in a regenerative thermal oxidizer, and oxidizer including the switching valve. The valve of the present invention exhibits excellent sealing characteristics and minimizes wear. The valve has a seal plate that defines two chambers, each chamber being a flow port that leads to one of two regenerative beds of the oxidizer. The valve also includes a switching flow distributor that provides alternate channeling of the inlet or outlet process gas to each half of the seal plate. The valve operates between two modes: a stationary mode and a valve movement mode. In the stationary mode, a tight gas seal is used to minimize or prevent process gas leakage. The gas seal also seals during valve movement.

Abstract: During the heating of glass melting furnaces having a combustion chamber with regenerators for preheating oxidation gases, with port necks that open into the combustion chamber, with primary burners and with secondary burners that are installed in a cascade arrangement relative to the primary burners, the secondary burners are operated as cascade burners with a relatively low proportion of the fuel, the secondary fuel. Flames are thereby created in over- and sub-stoichiometric conditions and the flame gases formed are mixed with one another so that the complete combustion process in the combustion chamber is more or less stoichiometric. The secondary fuel is supplied by the secondary burners to a step, installed in the port neck.

Abstract: Switching valve utilizing a rotatable seal suitable for use in a regenerative thermal oxidizer, and oxidizer including the switching valve. The valve of the present invention exhibits excellent sealing characteristics and minimizes wear. The valve has a seal plate that defines two chambers, each chamber being a flow port that leads to one of two regenerative beds of the oxidizer. The valve also includes a switching flow distributor that provides alternate channeling of the inlet or outlet process gas to each half of the seal plate. The valve operates between two modes: a stationary mode and a valve movement mode. In the stationary mode, a tight gas seal is used to minimize or prevent process gas leakage. The gas seal also seals during valve movement.

Abstract: Switching valve utilizing a rotatable seal suitable for use in a regenerative thermal oxidizer, and oxidizer including the switching valve. The valve of the present invention exhibits excellent sealing characteristics and minimizes wear. The valve has a seal plate that defines two chambers, each chamber being a flow port that leads to one of two regenerative beds of the oxidizer. The valve also includes a switching flow distributor that provides alternate channeling of the inlet or outlet process gas to each half of the seal plate. The valve operates between two modes: a stationary mode and a valve movement mode. In the stationary mode, a tight gas seal is used to minimize or prevent process gas leakage. The gas seal also seals during valve movement.

Abstract: Valve and valve lift system suitable for use in a regenerative thermal oxidizer, and oxidizer including the switching valve. The valve of the present invention exhibits excellent sealing characteristics and minimizes wear. In a preferred embodiment, the valve is sealed with pressurized air during its stationary modes, and unsealed during movement to reduce valve wear.

Abstract: In order to regenerate the heat exchanger material located in the various segments of a housing section (2) of a regenerative post-combustion device (1), air is heated in the combustion chamber (8) of this post-combustion device (1) by a burner (9), is directly removed from the combustion chamber (8), is adjusted to the desired regeneration air temperature using fresh air, and is returned to the inlet (4) of the thermal post-combustion device (1). The outlet (10) of the thermal post-combustion device (1) remains closed during this operation. The rotary distributor (5) of the thermal post-combustion device (1) rotates during this process which is continued until all segments of the heat exchanger material are heated to a temperature at which the contaminants absorbed by the heat exchanger materials are released and combusted in the combustion chamber (8).

Abstract: A steam/hydrocarbon reformer employing a convection-heated pre-reformer is disclosed. The pre-reformer comprises catalyst-filled tubes disposed in the transition section between the radiant and convection sections. The pre-reformer tubes are transverse to the flow of flue gas from the radiant section. The pre-reformer achieves 10-20% of the total reforming load, and can be installed as a module or modules between the radiant and convection sections without increasing the size of the reformer.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for heating supply of gaseous fluid 1 heats a relatively low temperature gaseous fluid and feeds a heated supply flow to a high temperature gaseous fluid introduction equipment. The heating apparatus has heat exchangers 11, 12 provided with fluid passages through which the low temperature fluid flow passes, a splitting area 15 for dividing a heated supply flow H of gaseous fluid, which is heated by the heat exchanger, into first and second heated gaseous streams H1, H2, and combustion areas 13, 14 in which a combustion reaction of combustible matter takes place in the existence of the first heated gaseous stream. The heated supply flow or the first stream is introduced into the combustion area and the combustible matter is fed thereto, and the combustion area causes the combustion reaction of combustible matter in the existence of the heated supply flow or the first stream. Hot gas produced by the combustion reaction is exhausted through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A burner, particularly for use in thermophotovoltaic (TPV) applications, is provided having a fuel distribution tube with integrated swirl vanes adjacent exit holes in the sides of the fuel distribution tube, a ceramic burner cap attached the top end of the fuel distribution tube and a liquid fuel being provided through a fuel feed tube protruding through the bottom end of the fuel distribution tube, thereby forming a burner assembly. The burner assembly fits slidably into a cylindrical burner sleeve which forces primary combustion air through a passage formed between the sleeve and the swirl vanes. The primary combustion air mixes with the fuel in the vanes and burner slot formed between the burner cap and sleeve. The fuel feed tube used to supply fuel to the burner is a heated tube having a small orifice at the burner end. The tube is heated using an internal heater that vaporizes the fuel and can also use recuperated heat from the burner combustion process.

Abstract: There are provided an evaporative/regenerative incineration system for organic waste water for incinerating organic waste water and volatile organic compounds completely at low expenses and a method therefor. Waste gas is generated by evaporating waste water including organic compounds in an evaporator and the generated waste gas is mixed with air in a regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) in flow communication with the evaporator for oxidation. The heat energy generated from the oxidation is collected and supplied to the evaporator.

Abstract: A setter for burning, which has no influence on the burning behavior of ceramic electronic parts to be situated thereon, is provided. A honeycomb structure is formed in which a plurality of ventilation cells that is formed by each partition wall having a thickness of 0.05 to 1.0 mm in a thick direction of the setter for burning from a side of a front surface of an electronic part placement surface of the setter for burning and that is each partitioned in a pitch of 0.5 to 5.0 mm passes through. A supporting member is provided in a side of a rear surface of the electronic part placement surface. Therefore, the setter for burning can be situated in a floating state.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating gaseous pollutants in an air stream such as a regenerative thermal oxidizer or a selective catalytic reduction system, including a reaction chamber wherein the reaction media bed within the chamber comprises a plurality of nonprismatic ceramic blocks each having end faces, side faces and a chamfered face extending at an angle relative to the side faces of the blocks. The ceramic blocks are stacked in end-to-end and side-to-side relation within the reaction chamber and the ceramic blocks each include spaced parallel passages extending through the end and chamfered faces. The chamfered faces of adjacent blocks form voids between the blocks promoting turbulent gas flow through the voids and equalizing the pressure within the reaction chamber.

Abstract: Switching valve and a regenerative thermal oxidizer including the switching valve. The valve of the present invention exhibits excellent sealing characteristics and minimizes wear. The valve has a seal plate that defines two chambers, each chamber being a flow port that leads to one of two regenerative beds of the oxidizer. The valve also includes a switching flow distributor which provides alternate channeling of the inlet or outlet process gas to each half of the seal plate. The valve operates between two modes: a stationary mode and a valve movement mode. In the stationary mode, a tight gas seal is used to minimize or prevent process gas leakage. The gas seal also seals during valve movement.

Abstract: An oxygen enrichment system is provided which uses the existing air/fuel burners of a regenerative furnace to distribute additional oxygen to the burners for increased efficiency, and reduced nitrous oxide emissions. The centrally positioned cooling air lances in the burners of a regenerative furnace are modified to deliver oxygen when the burners are firing for oxygen enrichment. During the burmer firing cycle, oxygen is delivered from an oxygen supply through the oxygen lance to provide a central oxygen jet. The fuel is delivered concentrically around the oxygen jet. During the non-firing cycle of the burner, cooling air or other cooling fluid is delivered from the cooling air supply through the oxygen jet for cooling the offside of the furnace.

Abstract: An oxygen enrichment system is provided which uses the existing air/fuel burners of a regenerative furnace to distribute additional oxygen to the burners for increased efficiency, and reduced nitrous oxide emissions. The centrally positioned cooling air lances in the burners of a regenerative furnace are modified to deliver oxygen when the burners are firing for oxygen enrichment. During the burner firing cycle, oxygen is delivered from an oxygen supply through the oxygen lance to provide a central oxygen jet. The fuel is delivered concentrically around the oxygen jet. During the non-firing cycle of the burner, cooling air or other cooling fluid is delivered from the cooling air supply through the oxygen jet for cooling the offside of the furnace.

Abstract: The present invention relates to one or more heat exchangers in communication with a combustion zone, each heat exchanger containing a matrix of heat exchange media, the matrix having a plurality of defined parallel or substantially parallel flow passages, the matrix being angled slightly above horizontal in the direction towards the combustion zone. The present invention is also directed to a regenerative thermal oxidizer including the one or more heat exchangers containing the angled matrix.

Abstract: The present invention relates to regenerative thermal or catalytic oxidizers and methods of operation thereof for oxidizing combustible components of feed gas mixtures. In accordance with the disclosed invention, operation of the heater used to supply supplemental heat to regenerative heat transfer oxidizers is controlled such that the input load to the heater is varied between a maximum input load and a nominal input load in response to a measured control temperature. The present invention provides improved temperature uniformity across the system for more efficient operation.