Abstract: A filter cartridge according to the present invention is provided having a unitary structure with a pleat pack formed securely about an interior screen. Opposite ends of the pleat pack and interior screen are integrally formed within a bottom end cap and an upper sleeve. The bottom end cap is constructed to follow the contour of the pleat pack to minimize the collection of dust about the bottom perimeter thereof. The upper sleeve is formed of a flexible material which may be manually deformed to pass through an opening in a tube sheet which retains the filter cartridge. The upper sleeve includes a lower lip extending along the interior of the inner screen to securely engage the inner screen. The lower lip is formed integrally with a radially extending ledge which is formed with an upwardly projecting funnel shaped side wall. The side wall includes an inner grove at its upper end which extends about a perimeter of the top sleeve.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling an evaporative gas conditioning system utilizes a controller for controlling the rate at which liquid is introduced into a conditioning chamber, thereby closely controlling the rate at which temperature within the conditioning chamber is adjusted to a desired temperature. Nozzle characteristics of a plurality of different nozzle types are stored in a memory associated with the controller, so that when existing nozzles are replaced with a different nozzle type, an operator can select the new nozzle type, and data stored in memory will be retrieved to permit efficient control of the system without the necessity for manual reconfiguration. Additionally, spray nozzles for spraying water into the conditioning chamber of the system are organized into banks of nozzles, and the banks of nozzles are controlled to maintain optimum water flow through each nozzle, and to evenly distribute the water into the conditioning chamber.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling an evaporative gas conditioning system utilizes a controller for controlling the rate at which liquid is introduced into a conditioning chamber, thereby closely controlling the rate at which temperature within the conditioning chamber is adjusted to a desired temperature. Nozzle characteristics of a plurality of different nozzle types are stored in a memory associated with the controller, so that when existing nozzles are replaced with a different nozzle type, an operator can select the new nozzle type, and data stored in memory will be retrieved to permit efficient control of the system without the necessity for manual reconfiguration. Additionally, spray nozzles for spraying water into the conditioning chamber of the system are organized into banks of nozzles, and the banks of nozzles are controlled to maintain optimum water flow through each nozzle, and to evenly distribute the water into the conditioning chamber.

Abstract: A filter cartridge according to the present invention is provided having a unitary structure with a pleat pack formed securely about an interior screen. Opposite ends of the pleat pack and interior screen are integrally formed within a bottom end cap and an upper sleeve. The bottom end cap is constructed to follow the contour of the pleat pack to minimize the collection of dust about the bottom perimeter thereof. The upper sleeve is formed of a flexible material which may be manually deformed to pass through an opening in a tube sheet which retains the filter cartridge. The upper sleeve includes a lower lip extending along the interior of the inner screen to securely engage the inner screen. The lower lip is formed integrally with a radially extending ledge which is formed with an upwardly projecting funnel shaped side wall. The side wall includes an inner groove at its upper end which extends about a perimeter of the top sleeve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning baghouse filters includes a baghouse having an upper, clean air chamber and a lower, dirty air chamber. Particulate-laden air is introduced into the dirty air chamber, particulates are collected onto filters suspended within the dirty air chamber, and the clean air exits outwardly up through open tops of the filters into the clean air chamber. A compressed air supply, a pressure regulator, a controller, a transducer, and a gauge are provided. Piping supplies compressed air from the supply to a header located at the baghouse, where the compressed air can be distributed to a selected row of filters for the purpose of cleaning the filters in the row. The transducer receives static pressures of air from the clean and dirty air chambers, respectively, and generates an electrical signal indicative of the differential air pressure between each of the chambers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for enhancing the efficiency of combustion in a combustion chamber with the use of acoustic energy. A means for generating acoustic energy (34) is located in relation to a combustion chamber (12) such that acoustic energy is transmitted into the combustion chamber (12) resulting in excitation of particulate and gases flowing therein and increased combustion efficiency. In the preferred embodiment, increased combustion efficiency is accomplished by operation of a horn (34) located at substantially the top of the combustion chamber (12) for generating acoustic energy into the chamber (12).

Abstract: A device (10) and method for monitoring particulate (22) flowing through a conduit (20) has a transmitter (16) and a receiver (18) positioned in optical alignment on opposite sides of the conduit (20). A light beam (50) is transmitted across conduit (20) from the transmitter (16) to the receiver (18). Particulate (22) flowing through conduit (20) interrupts light beam (50) causing a signal to be generated from which particulate concentration is determined. A calibrator assembly (40) has a motor (64) adapted to move a filter (100) having a selected percentage opacity within the path of light beam (50). Movement of the filter (100) modulates light beam (50) and a signal corresponding to the concentration associated with the percentage opacity is generated.

Abstract: A filter and support structure, for a baghouse having a tube sheet with a plurality of apertures, has a filter media wrapped around a core. An end cap is joined proximate the top of the core and has a rim extending over the filter media. The rim of the end cap is joined with a collar having a downwardly depending annular barrel. The barrel has a pair of outwardly protruding ribs. A snap band assembly has a metallic snap band, spring-biased outwardly, and covered with fabric. The snap band assembly has upper and lower outwardly protruding portions. The snap band assembly receives a periphery of a tube sheet aperture between the upper and lower outwardly protruding portions. The upper rib of the pair engages with the inner face of the snap band assembly proximate the plane in which the tube sheet lies, or slightly below that plane. The collar has a flat upper portion which is spatially removed from the snap band assembly and a downwardly depending annular flange which engages with the top of the tube sheet.

Abstract: A non-round unitary filter cartridge according to the present invention is provided having a unitary structure with pleated filter media formed securely about a perforated interior core. Opposite ends of the pleated filter media and perforated core are integrally formed with a bottom end cap and a flexible upper collar. The flexible upper collar is formed of a flexible molding compound which is deformable to pass through an opening in a tube sheet which retains the filter cartridge. The perforated core is oblong in configuration, having first and second parallel major side surfaces and first and second rounded outer ends. The flexible collar is elliptical in cross-section and has an outwardly facing groove located at the top of the barrel portion for sealably receiving a periphery of the tube sheet aperture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for varying an electrically variable current limiting reactor (VICLR) ( 16) are provided in cooperation with an electrostatic precipitator automatic voltage control system. The inductance of VICLR (16) is varied by altering the DC current in control winding (66) of VICLR (16). A power source (10) connects serially to an inverse parallel SCR1 and SCR2, to VICLR (16), and to a TR set comprising a transformer (18) and rectifier (20) which supply power to precipitator (22). System electrical characteristics on both sides of the TR set are monitored. Computer (40) uses these monitored values to continuously calculate form factor and fractional conduction values. Step-down transformer (60) is connected to solid state relay (62) which is in turn connected to full wave bridge rectifier (64). Rectifier (64) is connected to control winding (66) of VICLR (16). Solid state relay (62) is also connected to computer (40).

Abstract: A collector plate (10) for an electrostatic precipitator is provided. Collector plate (10) has end portions (12) which are substantially symmetrical about the plane of the collector plate (10). Each end portion (12) is preferably polygonal and has a substantially unobstructed interior. Dimples (80) may be located in end portions (12) to improve rigidity of the plate. Collector plate (10) yields better precipitation results because of the minimal or nonexistent deflection of plate (10) into voltage discharge regions surrounding electrodes (36) within the precipitator. Precipitation results are further improved because power input to the precipitator is not limited by an instable electric field resulting from irregularities in the surface of plate (10).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for acoustically enhancing cooling of molten liquid. In one embodiment, a cement plant has a mill in which raw materials are mixed and ground into a powder, a kiln in which the powdered raw material undergoes a calcining process and is converted into a molten liquid known as clinker, a cooler for cooling and solidifying the clinker, and a finishing mill for grinding and mixing the clinker with gypsum and/or other raw materials. The clinker cooler has a transport mechanism for transporting clinker from an inlet end to an outlet end and a plurality of fans, located below the transport mechanism, for blowing air up through the transport mechanism and into the bottom surface of the clinker bed. The clinker cooler has one or more horns positioned on the roof of the cooler for emitting acoustic energy into the cooler. A controller controls activation of each horn independently, such that each horn may be operated continuously or intermittently.

Abstract: A filter cartridge according to the present invention is provided having a unitary structure with a pleat pack formed securely about an interior screen. Opposite ends of the pleat pack and interior screen are integrally formed within a bottom end cap and an upper sleeve. The bottom end cap is constructed to follow the couture of the pleat pack to minimize the collection of dust about the bottom perimeter thereof. The upper sleeve is formed of a flexible material which may be manually deformed to pass through an opening in a tube sheet which retains the filter cartridge. The top sleeve comprises a lower lip extending along the interior of the inner screen to securely engage the inner screen. The lower lip is formed integrally with a radially extending ledge which is formed with an upwardly projecting funnel shaped side wall. The side wall includes an inner grove at its upper end which extends about a perimeter of the top sleeve.

Abstract: A multiple rapper control (10) for an electrostatic precipitator for monitoring and individually controlling each of a plurality of rappers based on computer (12) stored rapper characteristics including the voltage type, the voltage level, the pre-set electrical input current, the minimum increment between energization cycles, and the maximum duration of energization. Each rapper is connected to a TRIAC switch device (20) linked to a computer (14) and a power control means (16) to vary the input power to each rapper supplied from a power source (18). Current detecting means (22) is bi-directionally connected to the computer (14) and is connected to the power control means (16) to sense and measure the peak electrical input current to each rapper. A preselected logic sequence stored in the computer (12) controls power to each rapper. Optional polarity reversal means (37) eliminate undesirable magnetization of rapper components.

Abstract: Form factor measurement and fault detection equipment to determine proper sizing of electrical components and efficiency of an electrostatic precipitator (22) by calculating a system form factor from either primary voltage or current. A power source (10) connects serially to an inverse parallel SCR1 and SCR2, to a current limiting reactor (16), and to a T/R set comprising a transformer (18) and rectifier (20) which supply power to precipitator (22). A current transformer (26) senses input current between the reactor (16) and T/R set (18,20) to signal an input scaling and signal conditioner (28) connected to a current meter (34), a voltage meter (39) and a computer (40) having a display monitor (42). The computer (40) is also connected to an SCR control circuit (24) of SCR1 and SCR2. The appropriate electrical characteristic is converted to both its RMS value and average value and then sent to the computer (40).

Abstract: For an inside to outside dust collector, a self tensioning device for bag filters for connecting the upper end of a fabric sleeve filter to an overhead support. The device includes a modified double draw bar spring assembly interposed between the overhead support of the baghouse and the upper end of the bag filter. Prior to installation, the spring is compressed and captured by a retainer member. After installation, the retainer member may be removed and the spring flexed to appropriately tension the filter sleeve and to permit controlled flexure during cycling from a filtering to a cleaning operation.

Abstract: For an inside to outside dust collector, a self tensioning device for bag filters for connecting the upper end of a fabric sleeve filter to an overhead support. The device includes a modified double draw bar spring assembly interposed between the overhead support of the baghouse and the upper end of the bag filter. Prior to installation, the spring is compressed and captured by a retainer member. After installation, the retainer member may be removed and the spring flexed to appropriately tension the filter sleeve and to permit controlled flexure during cycling from a filtering to a cleaning operation.

Abstract: For an inside to outside dust collector, a self tensioning device for bag filters for connecting the upper end of a fabric sleeve filter to an overhead support. The device includes a modified double draw bar spring assembly interposed between the overhead support of the baghouse and the upper end of the bag filter. Prior to installation, the spring is compressed and captured by a retainer member. After installation, the retainer member may be removed and the spring flexed to appropriately tension the filter sleeve and to permit controlled flexure during cycling from a filtering to a cleaning operation.