Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Arthur E. Fournier, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7252701
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of cleaning an electric filter and to an electric filter. In the method gas containing particles is fed to a chamber (2) of the electric filter. The gas is further fed to gas channels (5) in an emission system (3) provided in the chamber (2). What is brought about is electric charging of the particles in the gas and attachment to the separation electrode (1). Gas purified of particles is removed from the gas channel (5). The separation electrode (1) is shaken with shaker (8) to remove the particles attached to the separation electrode (1) therefrom. In this method, the gas flow is limited in such a gas channel (5) which adjoins the separation electrode (1) to be shaken by the shaker (8) when the separation electrode (1) to be shaken by the shaker (8) is shaken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Juha Tolvanen
  • Patent number: 7165404
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optimizing a large-scale industrial facility, especially a power plant, consisting of m subassemblies (BGj), wherein j=1(1)m) and wherein the following steps are successively carried out: comparing the parameters (KGj) of all subassemblies (BG1 to BGj) with predetermined reference values (RWj); detecting the subassemblies (Bgi) with i=1(1)m, whose parameters (KG1) are worse than the reference values (RWi) and optimizing the subassemblies (BG1) whose parameters (KGi) are worse than the reference values (RW1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Alan Bird, Volker Schule, Manfred Gietz, Ewald Kitzmann
  • Patent number: 7153481
    Abstract: A device (1) for separating sulphur dioxide from a gas (4) by means of an absorption liquid has an inlet (2) for gas (4) containing sulphur dioxide, an outlet (18) for gas (16), from which sulphur dioxide has been separated, and as essentially horizontal apertured plate (8), which is arranged to allow passage from below of sulphur dioxide containing gas (4) and to carry, on its upper side (12), a flowing layer (14) of the absorption liquid. An outlet box (20) beside the apertured plate (8) is arranged to be passed by liquid, which is distributed in the gas (4) coming from the inlet (2). A first pumping means is arranged to feed a coolant flow to the outlet box (20) and a second pumping means is arranged to feed an absorption liquid flow, which is essentially independent of the coolant flow, to the apertured plate (8) to form the flowing layer (14). In a method of separating sulphur dioxide, the above-described device (1) can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Sune Bengtsson, Fredrik Jens Brogaard, Kerstin Forsgren, Rikard Hakansson, Kjell Nolin
  • Patent number: 7118721
    Abstract: A method for removing pollutants from flue gas generated by a plant having one or more burners located at an inlet end of a vertically extending stack, the flue gas being discharged through an outlet end of the stack. The pollutants are removed by an emission treatment system which includes a major component module and inlet and outlet ductwork providing fluid communications between the stack and the major component module. The major component module includes an SCR segment, a heat exchanger segment, and an ID fan, the SCR segment having at least one catalyst unit composed of materials for selectively catalyzing at least one pollutant. The method comprises the steps of drawing the flue gas from the stack and through the major component module with the ID fan, removing the pollutant from the flue gas with the SCR segment to produce a clean flue gas, and discharging the clean flue gas to the stack with the ID fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Michael J. Rini, Mou Jian, Thomas S. Raines, Marie L. Aumaugher, Noel C. Kuck, Arlyn V. Petig, David K. Anderson, Frederic Kozak, Keri N. Cochran, James A. Yann, Tom C. Lillestolen, Robert G. Hilton
  • Patent number: 7094382
    Abstract: A device (1) for separating sulphur dioxide from a gas has an inlet (2) for the gas (4) and an outlet (42) for gas (40), from which sulphur dioxide has been separated. An apertured plate (20) is arranged between the inlet (2) and the outlet (42) and allows the gas (4) to pass from below. On its upper side (22), the apertured plate supports a flowing layer (24) of absorption liquid. An inlet duct (12) connects a container (6) for absorption liquid to the upper side (22) of the apertured plate (20). A means (10) conveys the absorption liquid (8) from the container (6), through the inlet duct (12), to the upper side (22) of the apertured plate (20) and along the apertured plate (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Sune Bengtsson, Lars-Erik Johansson, Kjell Nolin, Mati Maripuu
  • Patent number: 7056478
    Abstract: An emission treatment system for removing NOx from flue gas includes a diversion member that closes the stack at a position intermediate the inlet and outlet ends. A major component module includes a first sub-module, having an inlet and an SCR segment, a second sub-module, having a heat exchange segment, and a third sub-module, having an ID fan and an outlet, forming a flue gas flow path extending from the inlet to the outlet. Inlet ductwork, which is in fluid communication with the stack at a position intermediate the inlet end of the stack and the diversion member, provides a passageway from the stack to the inlet. Outlet ductwork, which is in fluid communication with the stack at a position intermediate the diversion member and the outlet end of the stack, provides a passageway from the outlet to the stack. An ammonia addition subsystem injects ammonia vapor into the inlet ductwork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LTD
    Inventors: Michael J. Rini, Mou Jian, Thomas S. Raines, Marie L. Aumaugher, Noel C. Kuck, Arlyn V. Petig, David K. Anderson, Frederic Kozak, Keri N. Cochran, James A. Yann, Tom C. Lillestolen, Robert G. Hilton
  • Patent number: 7056086
    Abstract: A steam turbine 1 constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a high-pressure module 2 and a low-pressure module 3, a speed-reducing gearbox 4, and an alternator, and wherein the high-pressure module 2 has a single stage of blades 20. This single stage of blades 20 performs the same function as a multi-stage high-pressure module, but with a blade design that is different from the blade design of multi-stage steam turbines. For example, the pressure ratio between the inlet and the outlet of the high-pressure module 2 may be in the range 3 to 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Alain Hassan
  • Patent number: 7042725
    Abstract: A power switching module is provided having at least one power switch placed above at least one other power switch, each power switch in turn including an upper wall and a lower wall, each of which is cooled through thermal conduction by a cooling medium that circulates in channels and voids that are provided along the walls for this purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: Nathalie Martin, Benoit Boursat, Emmanuel Dutarde, Jose Saiz, Jacques Cettour-Rose, Pierre Solomalala
  • Patent number: 7036563
    Abstract: A tubesheet support arrangement 11 supports a tubesheet 10 within a vessel 12, the tubesheet 10 maintaining a plurality of tubes 22 at fixed radial spacings from one another with the tubes 22 extending from the tubesheet 10 on a tube projecting side of the radial plane RP. The tubesheet support arrangement 11 comprises a fully circumferentially extending intermediary support element 24. The intermediary support element 24 is subjected to compression due its support of the weight of the tubesheet 10 and the tubes 22 on the lower portion of the vessel 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: John H. Angel, Gregory G. Homoki, Eric W. Jenkins, Clifford B. Mikesell, James G. Oyler, C. David Roland, Bryon E. Williams
  • Patent number: 7028847
    Abstract: A two-stage dynamic classifier (30, 30?) for classifying a pulverized feed material (34, 34?, 38) entrained in an air flow (31) includes a vertically extending housing having a lower feed material inlet (18), an upper feed material outlet (24), a processing section (47, 47?) disposed between the feed material inlet and the feed material outlet, and a lower tailings discharge (26). A classifier conditioner (32) is disposed in a lower portion of the processing section and a turbine classifier (42, 44) is disposed in an upper portion of the processing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Michael M. Chen, Jianrong Chen
  • Patent number: 7017844
    Abstract: A wear plate 52 for mounting in a wear protecting disposition on a rotor disc 50 of a pulverizer 38 includes a body portion 64 having a radially outer circumferential edge 74 and a radially inner circumferential edge 76, an abutment shoulder 72 along the one angular edge of the wear plate 52, an underlap flange 78 on the one angular edge of the body portion 64, and an overlap rim 80 on the other angular edge of the body portion 64. The underlap flange 78 is cooperatively configured with respect to an overlap rim 80 of a respective adjacent wear plate 52 that is in interengagement with the wear plate 52 such that the overlap rim 80 of the respective adjacent wear plate 52 at least partially overlaps the underlap flange 78 of the wear plate 52.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Randal M. Racine, Danny L. Vaughn
  • Patent number: 6995409
    Abstract: This power switching cell comprises: at least two power components (4–6) forming a chain (2) of components electrically linked in series by way of at least one intermediate bond (52, 70), and a dielectric substrate inside which are incorporated said at least two components (4–6). Each intermediate bond (52, 70) as well as the faces of the components linked to this intermediate bond are entirely incorporated inside said substrate, and the faces not linked to an intermediate bond (52, 70) of the components situated at the ends of said chain (2) are disposed in such a way as to be separated from one another by way of the dielectric material forming said substrate (22). This substrate is formed of a stack of parallel sheets (24–27) of dielectric material, and each of the components (4–6) following in said chain is incorporated in the thickness of a different sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: Fabrice Breit, Thierry Lebey
  • Patent number: 6994205
    Abstract: An apparatus 40 for controlling the deposition of feed material, such as coal 24, on a deposition build-up surface 64 subjected to deposition loading of feed material is provided for use in a feeder arrangement having an endless conveyor 42 for conveying feed material to the rotating blades 46 of a distribution rotor 44 for further conveyance of the feed material. The deposition control apparatus 40 controls the deposition on the deposition build-up surface 64 of feed material that has exited the endless conveyor 42 yet has not been conveyed beyond the distribution rotor 44. The deposition control apparatus 40 includes a device for influencing the movement of feed material relative to the deposition build-up surface 64 such that the deposition of feed material on the deposition build-up surface 64 is hindered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Michael Joseph Grochowski
  • Patent number: 6994527
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process and a device for transport of gas in a main duct with more than two branch ducts wherein the gas is guided through the branch ducts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) and into the main duct (A) with a direction which is parallel to the direction of the flow in the main duct, while the gas in the branch duct at the inlet to the main duct is kept at a higher velocity than the gas in the main duct and the gas in the main duct is given an impulse, by utilisation of excess energy from the gas in the branch duct, for acceleration of the gas prior to introduction into the main duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Odd Strand, Odd Bjarnø, Lars-Erik Johansson
  • Patent number: 6959653
    Abstract: A pivot mounting apparatus 210 is provided for pivotally mounting to one another the coal nozzle tip 212 and coal nozzle body 214 of a pulverized solid fuel nozzle 208 of a pulverized solid fuel-fired furnace 10. The pivot mounting apparatus 210 includes a latch interconnecting assembly 220 that includes a pin 222 for insertion in a traversing movement through an insertion passage 224 which passes through both the through hole 216 of the coal nozzle tip 212 and the through hole 218 of the coal nozzle body 214 upon the mutually facing positioning of respective sides of the coal nozzle tip 212 and the coal nozzle body 214 with one another with their respective through holes 216, 218 both co-axial with an insertion axis IAX.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Mann, Christopher Gerald Muller, Ronald Henry Nowak
  • Patent number: 6902126
    Abstract: A hybrid turbine classifier for a coal pulverizer includes a cone disposed within the separator body of the pulverizer. The cone extends downwardly from a base to a frustum which forms an opening for depositing coal particles on the grinding table of the pulverizer. The outer surface of the cone and the separator body define an outer passage for coal/air flow, containing a mixture of smaller and larger coal particles, from the grinding table. A circular, first classifier cage disposed proximate to the base of the cone defines a circumferential passage between the outer passage and the cavity of the cone. The first classifier cage includes static, circumferentially-spaced vanes which direct the coal/air flow in a spiraling, circular flow path within the cavity. The flow path defines a first flow direction. A circular, second classifier cage is coaxially disposed within the first classifier cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Michael M. Chen, Jianrong Chen
  • Patent number: 6877670
    Abstract: A method of ventilating a boiler system (10) during boiler system outages includes shifting (64) to the ventilation system (11) by stopping (70) the boiler system induced draft fan (32), closing (71) an internal isolation damper (19) in the boiler system ductwork (14), opening (72) a ventilation isolation damper (18), and starting (73) a ventilation fan (12). At the completion of the outage, before resuming operation of the boiler, the ventilation system (11) is secured (64) by stopping (80) the ventilation fan (12), closing (81) the ventilation isolation damper (18), opening (82) the internal isolation damper (19), and starting (83) the induced draft fan (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Robert John Underhill
  • Patent number: 6648061
    Abstract: A heating element is described for a regenerative heat exchanger that is constructed as a profiled steel sheet. The aim of the invention is to produce a heating element that is resistant to acids, has anti-soiling properties and, however, has a good thermal output. To these ends, the heating element is provided with an enameling, and a fluoroplastic coating is applied to the enameled surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: Hermann Müller-Odenwald, Friedrich Weyland
  • Patent number: 6195998
    Abstract: A method of operating a Kalina cycle power generation system includes directing a stream of vaporized binary working fluid to a turbine where it is expanded to produce power. At least a portion of the expanded binary working fluid is directed to a regenerative heat exchanger where it is transformed into a feed binary working fluid. The feed binary working fluid is directed to a vapor generator where it is vaporized. The binary working fluid flow within the regenerative heat exchanger is actively regulated to balance the expanded binary working fluid and the feed working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Hansen, Paul D. Kuczma, Jens O. Palsson, Jonathan S. Simon
  • Patent number: 6089171
    Abstract: A minimum recirculation flame control (MRFC) solid fuel nozzle tip (12) that is suited to being cooperatively associated with a pulverized solid fuel nozzle (34) of a firing system in a pulverized solid fuel-fired furnace (10). The MRFC solid fuel nozzle tip (12) includes a secondary air shroud (46), secondary air shroud support (50) operative for supporting the primary air shroud (48) relative to the secondary air shroud (46), and a splitter plate (52) mounted in supported relation within the primary air shroud (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Milton A. Fong, Todd D. Hellewell, Robert D. Lewis, Charles Q. Maney, Srivats Srinivasachar, Majed A. Toqan, David P. Towle