Patents Assigned to Energy Systems Associates
  • Patent number: 6357367
    Abstract: In an improved method for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions from a furnace wherein at least one injector is attached to the furnace above the primary combustion zone a biomass or biowaste and water slurry is injected into the flue gas through the injectors. The biowaste or a biomass material can be supplemented with a fixed nitrogen source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Energy Systems Associates
    Inventors: Bernard P. Breen, Jeffrey J. Sweterlitsch, James E. Gabrielson
  • Patent number: 6213032
    Abstract: An in-furnace method and apparatus reduces nitrogen oxides in flue gas by injecting an oil water emulsion into flue gas so that the oil and water mixes with said flue gas. The emulsion has from 35% to 80% water and is injected in sufficient quantities to provide enough oil to promote a reaction between the nitrogen oxides in the flue gas and the oil, so as to reduce nitrogen oxide content of the flue gas and to maintain overall fuel lean conditions above the primary combustion zone. The emulsion preferably is atomized before injection and may also be injected in jet streams. Other materials such as limestone, ammonia and urea could be added to the oil water emulsion prior to injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Energy Systems Associates
    Inventors: Bernard P. Breen, James E. Gabrielson
  • Patent number: 5809913
    Abstract: A method for reducing the rate of side wall corrosion in a coal-fired utility boiler. A plurality of side wall slots are provided in the side walls of the boiler so that a protective layer of air may be introduced through the slots and propelled upward by the updraft from the burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignees: Cinergy Technology, Inc., Energy Systems Associates
    Inventors: Edward D. Kramer, Joseph A. Urich, Keith S. Lochart, Bernard P. Breen, James E. Gabrielson
  • Patent number: 5724897
    Abstract: An improved pulverized coal burner that reduces the formation of nitrogen oxides. The coal burner includes fuel splitters that separate a mixture of primary air and coal into a plurality of streams while the mixture is discharged through a diffuser having a plurality of partially open areas and a plurality of blocked areas. After passing through the diffuser, the plurality of streams are discharged into a furnace to be burned. The plurality of partially open areas and blocked areas are created by removing sections of the diffuser and replacing the removed sections with fuel spiders. Creation of these discrete streams delays mixing with secondary air. Because primary air is supplied in sub-stoichiometric quantities, the coal in these split streams will be burned under fuel-rich conditions for the first 100 to 200 milliseconds of combustion, until the delayed mixing of secondary air occurs. Combustion in a fuel-rich environment retards formation of nitrogen oxides in two ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignees: Duquesne Light Company, Energy Systems Associates
    Inventors: Bernard P. Breen, John P. Bionda, James E. Gabrielson, Anthony Hallo
  • Patent number: 5694869
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for supplying combustion air in a roof-fired furnace. Part of the combustion air, overfire air, enters through the roof of a roof-fired furnace at positions separate from the coal burners. The separated entry of overfire air ensures that the initial stages of combustion occur in a fuel-rich environment. A fuel-rich environment during the early stages of combustion favors the formation of molecular nitrogen and disfavors the formation of nitrogen oxides during combustion. The overfire air flows roughly parallel to the flow of combustion products emanating from the coal burners. The overfire air can be angled by vanes either slightly towards or slightly away from the combustion products, depending on how long combustion needs to be retarded in order to inhibit the formation of nitrogen oxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Duquesne Light Company and Energy Systems Associates
    Inventors: Bernard P. Breen, John P. Bionda, Jr., James E. Gabrielson, Anthony Hallo, John M. Koltick, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5568777
    Abstract: An improved pulverized coal burner that reduces the formation of nitrogen oxides. The coal burner includes fuel splitters that separate a mixture of primary air and coal into a plurality of streams while the mixture is discharged through a diffuser having a plurality of partially open areas and a plurality of blocked areas. After passing through the diffuser, the plurality of streams are discharged into a furnace to be burned. The plurality of partially open areas and blocked areas are created by removing sections of the diffuser and replacing the removed sections with fuel splitters. Creation of these discrete streams delays mixing with secondary air. Because primary air is supplied in sub-stoichiometric quantities, the coal in these split streams will be burned under fuel-rich conditions for the first 100 to 200 milliseconds of combustion, until the delayed mixing of secondary air occurs. Combustion in a fuel-rich environment retards formation of nitrogen oxides in two ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignees: Duquesne Light Company, Energy Systems Associates
    Inventors: Bernard P. Breen, John P. Bionda, Jr., James E. Gabrielson, Anthony Hallo
  • Patent number: 5546874
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the formation of nitrogen oxides during combustion in a roof-fired furnace is disclosed. By blocking at least some of the fuel nozzles associated with a roof-fired burner while leaving open the secondary air openings associated with the blocked fuel nozzles, reduction in NOX emissions from roof-fired furnaces is accomplished. This blocking results in the creation of a localized fuel-rich or just slightly fuel-lean environment near open fuel nozzles because part of the secondary air needed for combustion is being added at a location distant from where the initial combustion occurs. By creating a localized fuel-rich or slightly fuel-lean environment near the open fuel nozzles, the initial stages of combustion occur with little or no excess oxygen present. Because much of the fuel-bound nitrogen is liberated during the initial stages of combustion, it will preferentially react to form molecular nitrogen rather than nitrogen oxides because of the lack of available oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignees: Duquesne Light Company, Energy Systems Associates
    Inventors: Bernard P. Breen, John P. Bionda, Jr., James E. Gabrielson, Roger W. Glickert, Anthony Hallo