Abstract: The heat exchanger includes a hot fluid passage for guiding hot fluid through the heat exchanger, a compartment for containing a fluidized bed, a series of nozzles for forcing particulates from the fluidized bed into the hot fluid, a heat transfer device in contact with the fluidized bed, means for separating particulates from the fluid that has passed through the hot fluid passage, and a return passage for returning separated particulates to the fluidized bed in the compartment. The fluid is guided over the upper surface of the fluidized bed. Air is blown through the series of nozzles to force particulates from the fluidized bed into the fluid in the hot fluid passage where they pick up heat from the fluid, and the particulates then fall back into the bed and transfer heat to the fluidized bed. The heat transfer device removes heat from the fluidized bed and transfers it to a working fluid without being in contact with the hot fluid passage.

Abstract: An infectious waste feed system for comminuting infectious waste and feeding the comminuted waste to a combustor automatically without the need for human intervention. The system includes a receptacle for accepting waste materials. Preferably, the receptacle includes a first and second compartment and a means for sealing the first and second compartments from the atmosphere. A shredder is disposed to comminute waste materials accepted in the receptacle to a predetermined size. A trough is disposed to receive the comminuted waste materials from the shredder. A feeding means is disposed within the trough and is movable in a first and second direction for feeding the comminuted waste materials to a combustor.

Abstract: A staged combustion apparatus for a gas turbine to lower the concentration of NO.sub.x and CO in the exhaust gases. Combustion occurs in a first and second stage, the first stage being sub-stoichiometric combustion and the second stage being above-stoichiometric combustion. Cyclonic combustion occurs in one of the first and second combustion stages and a swirling pattern of combustion occurs in the other of the combustion stages. Steam injection is provided to further lower the concentration of NO.sub.x in the exhaust emissions from the gas turbine.

Abstract: A gas turbine cycle in which air is compressed to superatmospheric pressure, water is circulated in heat exchange relation with the compressed air to convert the sensible heat therein to heated water, the compressed air is humidified using the heated water, the humidified air is heated with sensible heat in the turbine exhaust gases, and a solid fuel such as coal is converted to a motive fluid for driving the gas turbine by substoichiometrically burning solid fuel under superatmospheric pressure using oxygen from the heated humidified air for combustion of the solid fuel and to produce combustible fuel gas and char, above stoichiometrically and adiabatically burning the char under superatmospheric pressure by supplying the heated humidified air in sufficient quantity to provide oxygen for combustion of the char and to control the temperature of such combustion, thereby to produce char combustion gases containing oxygen, cleaning the combustible fuel gas and the char combustion gasses to remove particulate mat

Abstract: A cyclone combustion apparatus includes a combustion chamber having a substantially cylindrical wall, a substantially cylindrical exit throat at the rear end of the combustion chamber, means for supplying fuel into the combustion chamber at a front end thereof, means for supplying air into the combustion chamber and for forming a cyclonic flow pattern of hot gases for combustion within the chamber, and heat exchange means surrounding and extending throughout the axial length of the combustion chamber. The means for supplying air includes a plenum chamber having an air inlet and an annular air supply opening in communication with and coaxial with the combustion chamber. The annular air supply opening has spaced radial vanes tilted at a selected angle from the axis of the combustion chamber. The means for supplying fuel includes a fuel plenum chamber having a fuel inlet and a plurality of radially spaced fuel holes for supplying fuel in the annular air supply opening between the spaced radial vanes.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus for staged combustion inside the Morison tube of a firetube boiler for lowering the concentration of NO.sub.x in the exhaust gases. Combustion occurs in a first and second stage, the first stage being sub-stoichiometric combustion and the second stage being above-stoichiometric combustion. In two embodiments of the combustion apparatus, the first stage combustion occurs directly adjacent the inlet end of the boiler furnace and the second stage combustion occurs inside the boiler furnace which acts as a combustion apparatus. In other embodiments of the combustion apparatus, both the first and second stage combustion occur inside the boiler furnace which acts as a combustion apparatus. Swirling and/or cyclonic combustion is utilized in the first and second stages of the combustion apparatus. There is provided heat exchange means surrounding and extending substantially throughout the axial length of the combustion chamber, i.e.

Abstract: An incineration apparatus and method for disposal of infectious hazardous waste including a fluidized bed reactor containing a bed of granular material. The reactor includes a first chamber, a second chamber, and a vertical partition separating the first and second chambers. A pressurized stream of air is supplied to the reactor at a sufficient velocity to fluidize the granular material in both the first and second chambers. Waste materials to be incinerated are fed into the first chamber of the fluidized bed, the fine waste materials being initially incinerated in the first chamber and subsequently circulated over the partition to the second chamber wherein further incineration occurs. Coarse waste materials are removed from the first chamber, comminuted, and recirculated to the second chamber for further incineration. Any partially incinerated waste materials and ash from the bottom of the second chamber are removed and recirculated to the second chamber for further incineration.

Abstract: A boiler with a cyclonic combustor includes a first chamber which is substantially uncooled and refractory lined, a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber, ducts for supplying air and fuel directly into the first chamber and for forming a cyclonic flow pattern of hot gases for combustion within the first and second chambers, an exit throat at the end of the second chamber and a heat exchanger surrounding the second chamber for keeping low combustion temperature in both chambers.

Abstract: A swirl combustion apparatus includes a combustion chamber with a substantially cylindrical wall. A peripheral swirl of air is supplied into the combustion chamber adjacent said inner surface of the cylindrical wall. Partially preburned fuel is supplied from a precombustion chamber to the combustion chamber to mix with the swirl of air, burn in said combustion chamber and form hot combustion gases. The combustion chamber has a rear end well with an annular combustion chamber outlet concentrically aligned with the combustion chamber and defined by an outer cylindrical outlet wall and an inner cylindrical outlet wall. The annular combustion chamber outlet has slots for directing hot combustion gases through said annular combustion chamber outlet in a direction substantially tangential to said inner surface of said combustion chamber wall.

Abstract: A cyclone combustion apparatus includes a combustion chamber having a substantially cylindrical wall, a substantially cylindrical exit throat at the rear end of the combustion chamber, means for supplying partially preburned fuel into the combustion chamber at a front end thereof, means for supplying secondary air into the combustion chamber and for forming a cyclonic flow pattern of hot gases for combustion within the chamber, and heat exchange means surrounding and extending throughout the axial length of the combustion chamber. The apparatus may also include a substantially cylindrical cooling chamber extending beyond the exit throat from the rear end of the combustion chamber and substantially longitudinally aligned with the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber, the exit throat and the annular secondary air supply opening are dimensioned and configured to effect a cyclonic flow pattern in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for burning fuel includes supplying fuel and primary air to the upstream end portion of a longitudinally extending precombustion chamber having a longitudinally extending outer wall. Fuel and primary air are flowed in a longitudinal downstream direction through the precombustion chamber while self-sustained combustion is maintained in the precombustion chamber by partially precombusting, mixing and heating the mixture of fuel and primary air. The uncombusted fuel and combustion products are flowed through a primary nozzle at the downstream end of the precombustion chamber. Secondary air is flowed longitudinally in a downstream direction through a longitudinally extending secondary air chamber having a longitudinally extending outer wall surrounding the outer wall of the precombustion chamber. The longitudinally flowing secondary air is heated while it cools the outer wall of precombustion chamber.

Abstract: A method of operating a circulating fluidized bed combustion reactor includes providing a reactor with an upright combustion chamber and an upright and cylindrical cyclonic combustor, feeding in combustible matter, supplying first and second streams of pressurized air, permitting combustion product gases to exit while retaining and returning granular material and uncombusted matter to the lower region of the combustion chamber and controlling the various flows.