Abstract: An arrangement for directing exhaust gases from at least one particle separator of a circulating fluidized bed reactor system to a heat recovery section includes a gas plenum located above a reaction chamber, the gas plenum being defined by a ceiling, a bottom, and walls and being integrated with the reaction chamber. The walls of the gas plenum are provided with at least one inlet opening for cleaned exhaust gases, each of which is coupled with a discharge duct connected to one of the particle separators, for directing the cleaned exhaust gases from the particle separators to the gas plenum, from where the cleaned exhaust gases are directed to the heat recovery section downstream of the gas plenum. The reaction chamber is at least partially formed by water tube panels, and the enclosure of the gas plenum is also formed by water tube panels as extensions of water tube panels of the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A power generating system having a hybrid gasification cycle, in which CO2 is recycled to a gasifier to be used as a gasification reactant and working fluid. The power generating system includes a source of fresh, pure oxygen, a gasifier, a particle separator arranged in flow connection with the gasifier, a syngas combustor, a gas turbine arranged in flow connection with the syngas combustor, a steam generator arranged in flow connection with the outlet of the gas turbine, and a gas compressor system which discharges a stream of compressed exhaust gas. A first portion of the stream of compressed exhaust gas is conducted to the gasifier to control the temperature in the gasifier, to provide CO2 and steam for gasification, and to decrease the demand for fresh, pure oxygen therein.

Abstract: A roller mill includes a base, a pulverizing table having a substantially horizontal upper surface, supported against the base and arranged to rotate around a vertical axis intersecting the upper surface in a center point thereof, an annular groove, formed on the upper surface of the pulverizing table, adjacent to an outer periphery of the table, at least one roller shaft mounted pivotally on the base in proximity to the table, at an angle &agr; with respect to a horizontal direction, toward the center point and having an end portion located above the table, a pulverizing roller supported rotatably against the end portion of the at least one roller shaft and a device for pressing the pulverizing roller toward the annular groove. An outer peripheral surface of the pulverizing roller has a smooth, generally arcuate cross section with at least one substantially flat section in the central portion thereof.

Abstract: A vertical polygonal heat exchange chamber includes an upper opening, a lower opening, and an enclosure formed between the upper and lower openings. The enclosure includes at least one tapered portion that narrows in a direction toward one of the openings. The tapered portion is lined with N first water tube panels arranged adjacent to and alternately with N second water tube panels, where N is an integer greater than two. Each of the first and second water tube panels is angled inwardly from the widest part of the tapered portion toward the interior of the enclosure, with each of the first water tube panels being angled inwardly to a greater degree than each of the second water tube panels.

Abstract: A vertical polygonal heat exchange chamber includes an upper opening, a lower opening, and an enclosure formed between the upper and lower openings. The enclosure includes at least one tapered portion that narrows in a direction toward one of the openings. The tapered portion is lined with N first water tube panels arranged adjacent to and alternately with N second water tube panels, where N is an integer greater than two. Each of the first and second water tube panels is angled inwardly from the widest part of the tapered portion toward the interior of the enclosure, with each of the first water tube panels being angled inwardly to a greater degree than each of the second water tube panels.

Abstract: A system and a method for controlling NOX emissions from a boiler that combusts carbonaceous fuels. The method includes the steps of (a) introducing carbonaceous fuel and combustion air into a furnace of the boiler for combusting the carbonaceous fuel in oxidizing conditions and producing flue gas including NOX and CO, and (b) leading flue gas from the furnace to a catalyst section in a flue gas channel for converting, free from introducing an external agent for NOX reduction, NOX to N2 and CO to CO2 by using CO as the reductant of NOX on a catalyst in the catalyst section.

Abstract: A once-through boiler system for use in conjunction with a combustion chamber includes a water inlet through which water having a high total dissolved solids content is supplied to the system, at least one tubular preheating surface for preheating the water as the water flows through the preheating surface, and at least one tubular evaporation surface for further heating the water flowing therein to produce a steam/water mixture. The preheating surface is disposed downstream from the inlet and encloses at least part of the combustion chamber, and the evaporation surface is disposed within the combustion chamber, downstream from the preheating surface.

Abstract: A method of removing mercury from flue gas containing mercury and particulate solids emanating from a fossil-fuel energy conversion plant and passing through a flue gas duct. The method includes (a) contacting the mercury in the flue gas with a solution containing at least one chloride-containing salt dissolved in a solvent by injecting the solution into the flue gas duct at an injection location, in order to oxidize mercury into HgCl2, (b) heating the solution prior to or after step (a) to at least about 300° C., and (c) removing oxidized mercury from the flue gas with a device for removing particulate solids from the flue gas.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating coarse particles from a stream of gas entrained with a mixture of coarse and fine particles includes an outer casing, an inner casing disposed within the outer casing and configured to define a passageway between the outer casing and the inner casing through which the stream of gas and mixture of coarse and fine particles can flow substantially upwardly, a plurality of angled vanes for imparting a rotational flow to the stream of gas and particles as the stream passes from the passageway to within the inner casing in order to separate the coarse particles from the fine particles entrained within the stream of gas, a plurality of outlets for discharging the stream of gas and fine particles from the apparatus, and at least one distribution vane pivotably mounted with respect to the outlets for controlling the distribution of fine particles among the various outlets by affecting the rotational flow of the stream of gas and fine particles.

Abstract: A system for removing gas from a stream of a mixture of gas and particulate solids. The system includes a separation vessel having an upstream end portion and a downstream cowl portion, the upstream end portion having an inlet for introducing the stream tangentially into the vessel to separate centrifugally from the stream (i) a rich portion, comprising a solids-rich mixture, proceeding along a helical path at an outer annular portion of the separation vessel to the cowl portion, and (ii) a lean portion, comprising a solids-lean mixture, proceeding along a helical path at an inner portion of the separation vessel to the cowl section, multiple helical ports through which the rich portion proceeds axially through the cowl section, without significantly losing its momentum, to be discharged axially from the separation vessel, and multiple passages between the helical ports through which the lean portion proceeds radially outwards to be discharged from the separation vessel.

Abstract: A combined cycle power generation plant includes a boiler for producing steam, the boiler including a furnace for combusting first fuel to produce flue gas, a back-pass for receiving the produced flue gas and a flue gas duct for passing the flue gas from the back-pass to the environment, a process gas supply for supplying processed gas to the furnace, a steam turbine for receiving and being driven by the steam to generate power, a combustor for combusting a second fuel to produce exhaust gas, a gas turbine for expanding the exhaust gas from the combustor to generate power and for passing the exhaust gas to the process gas supply. The boiler is designed to provide effective steam production and low emissions to the environment in first operating conditions of the combustor when using exhaust gas alone or as a major portion of process gas being supplied to the boiler.

Abstract: A horizontal cyclone separator in which a furnace section and a vortex chamber communicating with the furnace section and having an inlet which extends a fraction of the length of the furnace section receives a mixture of the gaseous products of combustion and solids entrained by the gases. A coaxially disposed tube extends partially into the chamber to allow the separated gases to exit the separator. A ring-shaped solids deflector is disposed on the vertical wall opposite the coaxially disposed tube to prevent solids from bouncing off the rear wall towards the center of the separator and into the path of the separated gas stream. The separated solids fall into an outlet trough formed in a lower portion of the furnace section for returning the solids to the furnace section.

Abstract: A cyclone furnace combustion system and method in which a burner is mounted relative to a cyclone furnace for discharging a relatively fine particulate fuel in an axial direction into the furnace. Relatively coarse particulate fuel is discharged into the furnace in a tangential relationship thereto and air is provided in the furnace to support combustion of the fuels.

Abstract: A fluidized bed combustion system in which a separator receives a mixture of flue gases and entrained particulate material from a fluidized bed in a furnace. A loop seal valve, in the form of three ducts, connects an outlet of the separator to the furnace for recycling the separated particulate material back to the furnace. One of the ducts extends vertically from the separation and another duct extends horizontally from the latter duct and connects this latter duct to an angled duct which registers with an opening in the furnace wall. The last duct is angled downwardly to provide an increased throughput when compared to standard loop seal devices.

Abstract: A fluidized bed combustion system in which a separator receives a mixture of flue gases and entrained particulate separated material from a fluidized bed in a furnace. A pressure seal valve connects an outlet of the separator to the furnace or a fluidized bed heat exchanger disposed adjacent the furnace for recycling the separated particulate separated material back to the furnace. The pressure seal valve includes a downflow leg, and upflow leg and a horizontal leg connecting the downflow leg to the upflow leg. A horizontal overflow leg is connected to the upflow leg and at least two return legs connect the overflow leg to the furnace. The separated material from the separator passes through the legs of the pressure seal valve and sometimes through a heat exchanger (if included) before reentering the furnace.

Abstract: A system and method for preheating a mixture of fuel and air as the mixture is introduced into a furnace combustion chamber comprises passing the mixture through a nozzle extending into an upstream portion of an opening defined in a wall enclosing the combustion chamber. The nozzle is sized so that an annular space is formed between the nozzle and the opening. Hot air is introduced through the annular space and mixes with and preheats, in a downstream portion of the opening, the mixture passing through the nozzle. The preheated mixture then passes into the furnace combustion chamber for combustion therein.

Abstract: A solids pulverizing mill for producing fine particles such as coal dust, which includes a housing having a centrally located coal feed chute and enclosing an annular-shaped air port ring containing multiple nozzles located around a rotatable grinding table. Multiple grinding rollers press down and rotate upon the coal on the rotatable grinding table so as to pulverize the coal, which is then entrained by multiple intersecting and strongly interacting air jet streams upwardly from the grinding table through a classifier section to an exit conduit. The air port nozzle ring is fitted with multiple angled flow passages from which adjacent air jet streams intersect and interact strongly with the adjacent streams to product intense turbulence, which prevents undesirable acoustic vibration of the upflowing air/coal material within the mill housing. The centerlines of adjacent air jet nozzles intersect at an included angle of at least 20.degree. and not exceeding 90.degree.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating gas introduced into a vessel containing a particulate material at a temperature less than that of the gas in a manner so that said material reduces the temperature of the gas and the gas entrains at least a portion of the material. The entrained material is then separated from the gas and passed to a heat exchanger to cool the material while the separated gas is passed to a turbine to drive same. At least a portion of the exhaust gas from the turbine is passed to the heat exchanger in a manner to fluidize the material in the heat exchanger and the cooled separated material is returned back to the vessel.

Abstract: An acoustically pulsating burner assembly which includes an elongated outer tube, a fuel supply means located within the tube, and utilizes one or more integral axially adjustable Sondhauss thermoacoustic tubular elements to generate pulsations within the burner. The acoustic pulsations are generated inside the axially movable closed end tube element provided within the burner, and these vibrations promote more efficient combustion of the fuel so as to reduce undesired emissions in the combustion products. If desired, multiple thermoacoustic tubular elements of different lengths can be advantageously used to generate pulsations of different frequencies within the burner assembly. The burner assembly is located in a furnace windbox, and can be adapted for combusting gas, oil or particulate fuels such as coal.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a pressurized fluidized bed system in which a bed of particulate material is fluidized by distributing air through the bed. A mixture of flue gases and entrained, relatively fine, material from the reactor is passed to a separator and the material is separated from the gases and passed to an external heat exchanger. A portion of the material is cooled in the heat exchanger and it, along with the remaining portion of material, is recycled to the reactor.