Patents Assigned to Babcock & Wilcox
  • Reactor head with integral nozzles
    Patent number: 6888908
    Abstract: A reactor closure head assembly has guide tube nozzles which are integral with the reactor closure head. A dome-shaped forging having a concave surface is prepared with extra thickness equal to or greater than the desired nozzle height. Nozzles having bores therethrough are machined opposite the concave surface. Weld buttering is applied to the ends of the nozzles, the concave surface is clad with a corrosion resistant layer, and the forging is then heat treated. A guide tube flange is attached to the ends of the nozzles. The surfaces of the nozzle bores are covered with a protective layer which is preferably applied without heating, for example by electrochemical deposition, thereby avoiding the need for subsequent post weld heat treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard G. Klarner, Jun Tang
  • EL type pulverizers
    Patent number: 6874715
    Abstract: Improvements in EL type pulverizers provide for longer wear life and reduced incidences of parts failures include: deep-dish contour grinding rings, tight tolerance ball tracks, heavy-duty top grinding ring flukes, larger diameter grinding balls, and an improved all-metal, integral snubber design for limiting the horizontal movement of the top grinding ring in order to increase the useful life of the pulverizer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Noel S. Moen, Andrew E. Jackson, Jeffrey C. Pugh
  • Impact type particle separator made of mutually inverted U-shaped elements
    Patent number: 6869459
    Abstract: Apparatus for separating solids from flue gas in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler comprises plural vertical, impact type particle separators made of a plurality of hung elements which are supported from at least one cooled support tube. The plurality of hung elements cooperate with one another at adjacent ends thereof to form a collecting channel which opens toward a flow of flue gas along the length of the support tube. Each hung element includes two mutually inverted U-shaped parts; the first U-shaped part opens towards the oncoming flow of flue gas, the second U-shaped part embraces the support tube, and the first U-shaped part is shifted relative to the second U-shaped part by some fraction of a height of the hung element. The hung elements may be made of metal or ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Mikhail Maryamchik, Gary L. Anderson, Jeffrey J. Hahn, Edwin L. Collins, III, Timothy F. Connors, Jeffrey J. Bolebruch
  • Bubble cap assembly
    Patent number: 6868795
    Abstract: A bubble cap assembly for use in fluidized bed boilers, furnaces, or reactors, has a bubble cap, a stem, and at least one pin. One end of the stem is inserted into the bubble cap. The bubble cap has outlet holes for delivering a fluidizing medium, typically into a bed of granulated material, but which prevent backsifting of the granulated material into the bubble cap. The bubble cap also has at least one insertion hole, through which a pin may be inserted. When the pin is inserted through the bubble cap insertion hole, it also occupies a groove or indentation on the stem thereby preventing separation or disassembly of the bubble cap and stem combination. An elastic gasket may be provided between the bubble cap and stem to form a fluid tight connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignees: The Babcock & Wilcox Company, Blasch Precision Ceramics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail Maryamchik, Gary L. Anderson, Jeffrey J. Hahn, Edwin L. Collins, III, David J. Walker, Jeffrey J. Bolebruch
  • Compact footprint CFB with mechanical dust collector
    Patent number: 6863703
    Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed (CFB) unit utilizing a mechanical dust collector located in a vertical flue above at least one heat exchange surface, and at least partially underneath the floor of a non-vertical flue, includes a plurality of individual collection elements each having a downward bottom outlet for a flow of cleaned gas conveyed through the collection elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Mikhail Maryamchik, Felix Belin, David J. Walker, Donald L. Wietzke
  • Method for controlling elemental mercury emissions
    Patent number: 6855859
    Abstract: Chlorine and sulfide species are separately introduced to a flue gas passing through a scrubber in order to remove the elemental and oxidized mercury from the gas through the precipitation of mercuric sulfide at near 100% efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignees: The Babcock & Wilcox Company, McDermott Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Nolan, Ralph T. Bailey, William Downs
  • Laser welding boiler tube wall panels
    Patent number: 6852945
    Abstract: A method of welding together the parts of a boiler tube wall panel includes placing at least two parts of the panel to be welded together along a weld line and adjacent each other, and forming a weld along the weld line using a laser beam. The method can advantageously be used to weld boiler tube wall panels solely from one side of the panel. A GMAW process can also be used in combination with the laser beam to form the weld. Where the boiler tube wall panel includes a membrane between tubes, the membrane may be beveled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: George H. Harth, III
  • Heat exchanger tube support structure
    Patent number: 6810101
    Abstract: A support plate for retaining tube array spacing within a heat exchanger tube and shell structure. The support plate having a plurality of individual tube receiving aperture formed therein. Each apertures has at least three inwardly protruding members and bights are formed therebetween when the tube associated therewith is lodged in place to establish secondary fluid flow through the support plate. The inwardly protruding members terminate in flat lands that restrain but do not all contact the outer surface of the respective tube. These flat lands minimize fretting wear and eliminate potential gouging of the outer wall of the tube. The plate wall forming each aperture has an hourglass configuration which, inter alia, reduces pressure drop, turbulence and local deposition of magnetite and other particulates on the support plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Canada, Ltd.
    Inventor: Richard G. Klarner
  • Tapered corrosion protection of tubes at mud drum location
    Patent number: 6800149
    Abstract: A method of corrosion protecting a tube having an end portion extending into a tube receiving hole of a mud drum of a boiler and the tube produced by that method. The end portion of the tube is provided with a corrosion resistant cladding layer which may contain chromium. Laser cladding is used to produce the corrosion resistant cladding layer, which advantageously tapers along a length of the end portion of the tube. The tube may be swaged before or after the cladding is applied and suitable heat treatments may be performed on the bare or clad tube to develop suitable properties in the tube, the cladding, or a tube-cladding interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: George H. Harth, III
  • Two-fluted housing liner
    Patent number: 6783091
    Abstract: A pulverizer housing liner for the housing unit of an EL pulverizer is made up of an arcuate liner body having an inner curved surface forming a segment of the circular housing unit and two circumferentially spaced flutes fixed to the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: Craig S. Whaley
  • Heat exchanger tube support bar
    Patent number: 6772832
    Abstract: A support bar for tubes in a heat exchanger, such as the U-bend tubes in the U-bend region of a recirculating, nuclear steam generator, provides positive restraint in both the in-plane direction of the tube planes and the out-of-plane direction. The bar has pairs of parallel surfaces aligned with first and second axes such that the bar may be positioned with either axis arranged parallel to the tube planes. The bar can be used in place of other types of tube support bars, and can also be used as an auxiliary bar for installation into a fully assembled heat exchanger to provide additional support to supplement other tube support arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Canada, Ltd.
    Inventor: William G. Schneider
  • Chilling sleeve for expansion-fitting hollow cylinders
    Patent number: 6769262
    Abstract: A chilling sleeve is provided for insertion into a hollow cylinder, such as a control rod driving mechanism guide tube, for adjusting the temperature and therefore the diameter of the cylinder. The chilling sleeve has external inlet and outlet ports, regulated by a pump. The pump injects high pressure liquid coolant, such as liquid nitrogen into the inlet port and through channels in the body of the sleeve out to a high pressure chamber. The liquid coolant escapes the high pressure chamber via escapes holes and enters a low pressure chamber, bordered by the outer wall of the hollow cylinder. In the lower pressure chamber, the liquid coolant evaporates, which chills the adjacent outer wall of the hollow cylinder, thereby shrinking the outer wall so that the hollow cylinder can be fitted into or removed from a cylindrical hole, for example a closure head hole in a vessel head of a nuclear reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Canada Ltd.
    Inventor: Luke George Mark Gray
  • High temperature gaseous oxidation for passivation of austenitic alloys
    Patent number: 6758917
    Abstract: A method for forming a chromium-rich layer on the surface of a nickel alloy workpiece containing chromium includes heating the workpiece to a stable temperature of about 1100° C., and then exposing the workpiece to a gaseous mixture containing water vapor and one or more non-oxidizing gases for a short period of time. The process conditions are compatible with high temperature annealing and can be performed simultaneously with, or in conjunction with, high temperature annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Canada Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter J. King, David M. Doyle
  • Low profile in-line beveler
    Patent number: 6755101
    Abstract: A compact, low-profile, in-line beveling tool suitable for use in a confined space, such as a tightly packed array of tubes. The tool is inserted within a workpiece via a feeding mechanism, such as a worm gear arrangement, and is secured to the workpiece via an internal expanding mandrel assembly. A motor drives cutting inserts, mounted on a beveling head, in rotational motion to bevel the workpiece. The motor and beveling head with cutter inserts all share the same axis. A gear reduction box, located between and operatively connected with the motor and beveling head, provides the low RPM and high torque needed to make practical use of carbide insert technology. In one embodiment, the motor is a hollow core air motor having vanes symmetrically arranged about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Canada Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas Waring
  • Boiler internal flue gas by-pass damper for flue gas temperature control
    Patent number: 6748880
    Abstract: A flue gas passage arrangement for a steam generator which permits adjustment of the heat transfer effectiveness of a final bank of heat exchanger surface to control a temperature of the flue gas flowing through and exiting from the flue gas passage and conveyed to a downstream NOx reduction device having a minimum operating temperature. The NOx reduction device is advantageously an SCR. Economizer heating surface is located within the flue gas passage, and a baffle plate extends through the flue gas passage and creates two flue gas paths there through. The economizer heating surface may be a single, common bank having a section located in both gas paths, or in only one gas path. Alternatively, two separate banks of economizer heating surface may be employed. A variable position damper is provided in one gas path, either below or above one section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: James F. DeSellem
  • Method of converting a downflow/upflow wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) system to an upflow single-loop WFGD system
    Patent number: 6726748
    Abstract: A method of reducing the pressure drop in a downflow/upflow wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) system and of improving overall sulfur dioxide collection efficiency by converting the downflow/upflow WFGD system to an upflow single-loop WFGD system. The method includes the replacing of the downflow quencher and related duct work with a bypass for connecting the incoming flue gas duct with the upflow absorber, and the adding of a quenching zone in the absorber comprised of spray headers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Goode, Dennis W. Johnson, David W. Murphy, Robert B. Myers, John F. Sulek, David R. Burley, Paul J. Lieb
  • Horizontal spiral tube boiler convection pass enclosure design
    Patent number: 6718915
    Abstract: A convection pass enclosure for a boiler comprising a front wall having a gas inlet for receiving gases from the boiler; right and left side walls connected to the front wall; a rear wall having a gas outlet, the rear wall being connected between the right and left side walls; and a roof, at least one of the front wall, right side wall, left side wall and rear side wall having a heat exchanger surface in the form of a horizontal spiral tube assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Melvin J. Albrecht, J. William Smith
  • Feedwater apparatus
    Patent number: 6708651
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying relatively cool feedwater to a heated pressure vessel, while moderating the thermal gradients within the apparatus and the pressure vessel. The feedwater apparatus is generally comprised of a feedwater inlet nozzle, thermal sleeve and sparger assembly which is structured to provide a thermal barrier and to lengthen the path of heat conduction through the feedwater inlet nozzle; to insure adequate support for the thermal sleeve and the sparger; to improve feedwater flow through the thermal sleeve and the sparger; and to facilitate the inspection and repair of the welds used to structure the feedwater apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Canada Ltd.
    Inventor: Nansheng Sun
  • Collection scoop for flue gas desulfurization systems with bleed streams or ex situ forced oxidation
    Patent number: 6695018
    Abstract: A scoop is used to collect a liquid slurry upstream of an internal collection tank. The scoop is in fluid communication with a downcomer, which receives at least part of the collected slurry, thereby maintaining a continuous flow of liquid slurry through the scoop to prevent plugging. Collected slurry can be removed for treatment from the scoop or the downcomer. In an application to a wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) scrubber, the scoop collects an effluent slurry of partially reacted liquid scrubbing reagent and scrubbing byproducts before they drain into an internal reaction tank. Partially reacted liquid scrubbing reagent and scrubbing byproducts can therefore be withdrawn for treatment before the addition of fresh reagent alters the pH of the treatment stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Dennis W. Johnson, David W. Murphy, Robert B. Myers
  • Floored impact-type solids separator using downward expanding separator elements
    Patent number: 6681722
    Abstract: A collection element arrangement is provided having sleeve attachments near their lowermost ends which simulate a continuous sloping surface, or floor. The sleeve attachments upper surfaces forming the floor permit collected solids to flow down the sloping surface back into the furnace or reactor chamber. Stainless steel can be used for the collection elements and sleeve attachments since the floating floor accommodates differential thermal expansion between CFB components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Mikhail Maryamchik, Michael J. Szmania, David J. Walker, Donald L. Wietzke