Patents Assigned to Combustion Engineering
  • Combined separator vessel and gas absorber vessel
    Patent number: 4115084
    Abstract: A gas-liquid separator vessel has mounted within its internal volume the adsorber tower of a dehydrator for the separated gas. The connections between the internal volumes of the two vessels are kept to minimum length, and heat exchange between the separating fluids and reconcentrated dessicant of the dehydrator is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Wayne Coggins
  • High density fuel storage racks
    Patent number: 4115700
    Abstract: An apparatus for the safe and compact storage of nuclear fuel assemblies in an array of discrete open-ended neutron absorbing shields for which the theoretical minimum safe separation distance and cell pitch are known. Open-ended stainless steel end fittings are welded to each end of each shield and the end fittings are welded to each other in side-by-side relation, thereby reducing the cell pitch tolerance due to fabrication uncertainties. In addition, a multiplicity of ridges on the sides of each shield having a height equal to one half the theoretical minimum safe separation distance further reduce shield bowing tolerances. The net tolerance reduction permits a significant increase in the number of fuel assemblies that can be safely contained in a storage area of fixed size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Malcolm Duane Groves
  • Turbine meter for bi-directional measurement of fluid flow
    Patent number: 4109526
    Abstract: A multi-bladed turbine meter is in a fluid flow line and has two magnetic pick-ups at the periphery of its blade tips positioned to be pulsed at different times by each blade as each blade passes the pick-ups. A circuit is connected to both pick-ups to determine which pick-up is pulsed first and to register the volume of fluid which is passed through the meter in each direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: John B. Rosso
  • Method of preventing explosions using a smelt water explosion inhibitor
    Patent number: 4106978
    Abstract: A method of preventing a physical explosion caused by the contact of water with a molten material such as molten smelt and molten metal by the addition of a porous, high surface area powder which is coated with an anti-wetting agent. The material sinks through the water layer to the interface between the water and the molten material carrying air or gas bubbles with it. The invention is particularly applicable to smelt-water explosion in kraft chemical recovery furnaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Hugh Wharton Nelson
  • Process for simultaneous removal of hydrogen sulfide and water from a gas mixture without substantial removal of carbon dioxide or hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4107270
    Abstract: A high boiling organic liquid, including 1-formylpiperidine or an alkylated derivative, is continuously applied to absorb hydrogen sulfide and water from a gas mixture, and is subsequently regenerated with heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Robert Ferrin, William Patrick Manning
  • Liquid waste processing system
    Patent number: 4105556
    Abstract: A reverse osmosis liquid waste processing system for purifying liquid waste. The liquid waste processing system comprises a liquid waste collection tank with a recirculation line containing an eductor for permitting the addition of chemical additives, a filter with a back-flushing circuit and a reverse osmosis module which delivers its concentrate to a thin-film evaporator and its permeate to an ion exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene R. O'Amaddio, David N. Enegess
  • Static fuel holddown system
    Patent number: 4104120
    Abstract: A holddown column for preventing upstream motion of nuclear-reactor fuel assemblies during operation of the reactor is disclosed. The holddown column is a composite of three concentric individual columns. Lips on the intermediate column engage the other two columns so that the intermediate column expands under load as the other two columns contract. This results in a greater deflection of the column under load than would result if the column were only a single column, but the thermal expansion experienced by the composite column is not different from the thermal expansion experienced by a simple column of the same material and length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis Thomas Grubelich
  • Centrifugal gas scrubber
    Patent number: 4102657
    Abstract: Air quality control system scrubs flue gas of SO.sub.2 and particulates with a slurry of lime/limestone and water. The contact between the slurry is in a centrifugal section which is the upper part of a tank in which the chemical action is completed and from which the slurry is recirculated to the contact section. The gas to be scrubbed is inserted into a circular path within the scrubbing section into which the slurry is sprayed. The treated gas is withdrawn from the circular path in heat exchange relationship with the incoming gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Arun Kumar Mehta
  • Band type tube support
    Patent number: 4100889
    Abstract: A tube support for horizontal tubes supported by vertical tubes, including lugs welded to opposite sides of the vertical tubes, and a band encircling two horizontal tubes positioned on opposite sides of the vertical support tube. The band rests on and is supported by the lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman Chanine Chayes
  • Internal fuel pin oxidizer
    Patent number: 4100020
    Abstract: A nuclear fuel pin has positioned within it material which will decompose to release an oxidizing agent which will react with the cladding of the pin and form a protective oxide film on the internal surface of the cladding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Mena G. Andrews
  • Apparatus for cleaning the air nozzles and regulating air flow thereto in chemical recovery boilers
    Patent number: 4099471
    Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning the air nozzles of a chemical recovery boiler, including a scraping sleeve slidable back and forth in the nozzle for removing built-up deposits. Also included is an air damper for regulating air flow to the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Georg Sander, Sven Eric Jacobson, Ake Magnus Ivar Ericson
  • Holddown structure for a nuclear reactor core
    Patent number: 4097332
    Abstract: The core support barrel of a nuclear reactor is clamped and loaded from the closure head of the vessel with a holddown barrel extending as a link from the closure head to a seat on the core support barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: John Francis Gibbons, Daniel John McLaughlin
  • Low BTU gas horizontal burner
    Patent number: 4095929
    Abstract: Apparatus for burning a product gas having a low BTU content wherein a single burner is adapted to burn the low energy gas alone with the turndown capability of a multi-burner arrangement. The gas flow is separated into two independent flow streams with one flow stream being exhausted into a primary air stream and the other into a secondary air stream prior to combustion. A common control means responsive to changes in load is provided to modulate the secondary air stream and its associated gas stream whereby at decreasing loads proportionately increased amounts of air and gas are directed through the primary air and gas streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. McCartney
  • Holddown structure for a nuclear reactor core
    Patent number: 4096034
    Abstract: The core support barrel and upper guide structure of a nuclear reactor are hung from the upper internal ledge of the reactor vessel and clamped to the ledge with spring structure actuated from the vessel closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew James Anthony
  • Welding flux curing apparatus
    Patent number: 4094630
    Abstract: An apparatus for curing bonded welding flux wherein the flux is passed along a series of vibrating inclined planes. Gas fired radiant heaters are positioned above the planes to heat the flux, with combustion gases and vapor driven off the flux passing upwardly between the radiant heaters and the flux covered planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: James Franklin Turner
  • Alumina refractories
    Patent number: 4093470
    Abstract: An alumina refractory material and its method of preparation are disclosed. The material includes a volatilized silica binder wherein the volatilized silica binder is added to the batch as a thoroughly dispersed, acidified, aqueous slurry. Graphite and silicon carbide may also be included to control erosion by molten metal. Green strength binders are also usually included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl James Cherry
  • Boiler start-up air heater
    Patent number: 4090455
    Abstract: A coal fired steam generating system including an auxiliary oil fired burner combined with an air heater. The air heater provides heated air that is adapted to heat and dry the coal for combustion, while hot products of combustion exhausting from the oil fired burner supply heat to a precipitator that raises its operating temperature to increase its collecting efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Scott McCartney
  • Control of air flow in a burner for a tangentially fired boiler
    Patent number: 4089637
    Abstract: A fuel admission assembly for a tangentially fired furnace that utilizes oil, gas, or other utility grade fuels. The assembly disclosed has the ability to achieve a positive control of the air flow through a specially designed swirler. Because of this unique feature of its design, this assembly will permit efficient tangential boiler operation at 5% excess air or less over a fuel turndown ratio of at least 3 to 1 on each assembly. At the same time, it will not produce unacceptable levels of noxious emissions such as oxides of nitrogen, carbonaceous soot or sulfur smuts over its full operating range. Finally, it requires no additional fan head (windbox pressure drop).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Arthur Smith, David Joseph Horan
  • Nuclear reactor ex-core startup neutron detector
    Patent number: 4090083
    Abstract: A scintillation type neutron detector is provided herein for the measurement of neutrons with optimum neutron sensitivity and minimum gamma sensitivity. A large diameter nuclear radiation insensitive photomultiplier tube is optically connected to a scintillating medium which is responsive to thermalized neutrons. The neutrons available for detection are thermalized by a neutron moderating material adjacent to the scintillator medium. Enclosing and shielding the photomultiplier, the scintillator medium, and the moderator is a combined lead and borated silicone resin housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Roland Wyvill
  • Articulated Schnabel car
    Patent number: 4083311
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising separable wheeled sections that supports an elongated load therebetween in the manner of a Schnabel-type railway car or over-the-road vehicle. The vehicle is characterized by the inclusion of a pivotal arrangement intermediate coupled wheeled sections that reduces the longitudinal distance between vertical pivot points and, thus, reduces the side clearance required when empty cars are joined together and subjected to routine transportation over a curved roadway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian Peter Wivagg