Abstract: A self-contained single structure for NOX disposal and heat recovery, comprising a burner means (12), including means to supply NOX (oxides of nitrogen) gases (146) to be reduced, primary air (130) in less-than-stoichiometric flow rate, and gaseous fuel (128) at selected flow rate. The gases flow into a first reducing section (114), in which the fuel is burned in a reducing atmosphere, and the NOX gases are reduced. Fire tubes (124) carrying water or steam are positioned to receive heat from the burning gases. At the outlet of the reducing section precooled stack gases (135) are injected (137) into the flame so as to cool the hot products of combustion. The direction of flow of hot gases is turned to 90.degree. (164) in a second section. At the end of the second section the direction of flow is turned 90.degree.

Abstract: A burner system for gaseous or liquid fuels adapted for insertion through a circular tile opening in a furnace wall, comprising a burner tube for alternate supply of gaseous or liquid fuel. The burner tube is coaxial with, and inserted into said circular opening. A first stationary annular vane assembly comprises a plurality of symmetrically-placed tangentially-directed vanes enclosing a cylindrical open chamber coaxial with and upstream of said burner means. A second movable assembly of radial vanes is adapted to slide axially about the burner tube and to be moved from a first position where it is entirely outside of the chamber space, inwardly to a second position, where it is entirely inserted into the chamber space, and inside of the first annular vane assembly. Means are provided for flowing combustion air at selected pressure through the tangential vanes and into the chamber space.

Abstract: A gas burner system for providing a thin, flat flame for use in a long narrow combustion space, has a first air supply plenum which has a long narrow rectangular cross-section, which is placed above a second plenum or combustion chamber of substantially the same cross-section. At the junction between the first and second plena there are longitudinal projections inwardly from both long walls of the second plenum, forming a long narrow rectangular inlet to the second plenum. A burner assembly comprising an elongated flattened pipe having a plurality of short air baffles welded on each side is supported in this narrow inlet to the second plenum and substantially in the center thereof. The overall width of the burner assembly is less than that of the inlet so that there are two longitudinal gaps between the burner assembly and the projections for the passage of combustion air. There are two sets of ports in the lower edge of the flattened pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing hydrocarbon fuel requirements for Haber Ammonia Synthesis by the supply of selected gases to the second reformer of such system, comprising a first cylindrical conduit, a second smaller coaxial cylinder inside of the first conduit, forming a first annular space therebetween, the downstream end of said second conduit closed, and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced orifices in the wall of said conduit upstream of the closed end. Means to supply air at selected pressure P1, temperature and flow rate to the first annular space, means to supply at least methane at a pressure P2 greater than P1, to said second conduit, so that the concentration of methane in the air will be less than the lower explosive limit, and means to shield the jets of gas from the orifices in the second conduit, as they flow radially outwardly across the annular space.

Abstract: In a flare stack system for the flaring of waste gases, in which the flare stack is equipped with steam injection parts, such as nozzles or manifolds, adjacent the flame zone at the outlet end of the stack, means are provided for alternate injection of air from a blower, or live steam, through the steam injection parts. The alternate flow is controlled by two pneumatically controlled valves, one in the blower air line, and the other in the steam line, such that when one valve is closed, the other is open, and vice versa. The objective of the alternate supply of air and steam is for the purpose of cooling the steam injection parts when the full flow of steam is not required, because there is no waste gas flow or only a minimal gas flow. In that case, the heat of the maintenance gas flow may be sufficient to injure the steam injection parts, which must be cooled by passage of a gas through them.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovery of condensible vapors as components in waste gases which are to be flared, comprising a flare system, including a flare gas line leading to a flare stack. Inserted in the flare gas line is a gas-to-liquid heat exchanger, to cool the flare gases prior to passage to the stack. The cooling is to be selected temperature, where condensible vapors in the waste gases, the dew points of which are above the selected temperature, will condense. Means are provided for separating the condensed vapors from the remaining flare gases. Thermostatic means are provided for stopping the circulation of said cooling liquid whenever the ambient temperature drops below the selected temperature.

Abstract: A gaseous fuel burner for enhanced flame adherence to a tile surface in a furnace, comprising a gas burner tube having a nozzle at its end, including a plurality of radial orifices circumferentially spaced in a transverse plane. A cylindrical combustion air plenum is coaxial with said burner tube, and means are provided to supply combustion air to said plenum at a selected super-atmospheric pressure P1. There is a circular concentric opening in the wall of the plenum and a short length of air tube welded to the opening, which is inserted into an opening in the furnace tile. A plurality of curved vanes are provided, and means to lead air from the pressurized plenum through the vanes to provide a rapidly spinning air flow which moves helically along the air tube into the tile and into the furnace. The central opening of the tile is flared in an arcuate manner. There is sufficient pressure drop between the air plenum at P1 and inside of the air tube P2, after passage through the vanes, of the order of 0.8 W.C.

Abstract: Apparatus for burning combustible gases at very low pressure, in combination with a combustion chamber having an opening through one wall. The burner system comprises a burner tube for supplying the low pressure gas, comprising a tube of selected diameter and length, with an annular flange extending inwardly at the end inserted into the opening in the wall. A steam tube of smaller diameter than the burner tube, is mounted axially inside of the burner tube, and has a closed end in the plane of the inwardly extending flange. A plurality of orifices are drilled through the closed end of the steam tube at a selected angle to the axis, whereby when steam is supplied to the steam tube, at 5# gauge or more, high velocity jets of steam will flow outwardly through the orifices along the surface of a cone, and will aspirate into the steam streams the low pressure gas, which will be mixed with the steam, and will flow as a conical wall of steam and gas.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in conjunction with boiler flue gases, for generating inert blanketing gases, for safety in the pumping out of hydrocarbons or other flammable liquids from tanks or containers, such as might be used on board ship while unloading liquid fuels, etc. The apparatus comprises a circular vessel with a vertical axes. Coaxial with the outer wall of the vessel is an inner refractory wall of lesser diameter, which houses a combustion zone. Liquid fuel is supplied under pressure axially at the top of the combustion zone and, with atomizer means, a spray of liquid fuel droplets is projected downwardly in the combustion zone. Flue gases from a boiler or similar source is supplied, along with combustion air from a blower, to a plenum upstream of the fuel spray. This provides a downgoing flame inside of the combustion chamber, which flows downwardly, past the bottom edge of the refractory wall, and upwardly in the annular space between the refractory wall and the vessel wall.

Abstract: Apparatus for vaporization of liquids having a boiling point lower than that of water, comprising a vessel having at least three narrow planar plena, contiguous to each other, so that there is a single metal wall between each adjacent pair of plena. Gaseous fuel and air is supplied to the first plenum to provide a downflowing flame and hot products of combustion which, at the bottom of the first plenum, pass through the wall into the second plenum, which is filled with water. The hot gases and water rise rapidly in the second plenum and the water flows over the intervening wall into the third plenum, which is also filled with water, which moves downwardly and back under the wall separating the second and third plena, and again rises in the second plenum. A vertical array of horizontal pipes is arranged in the third plenum, through which the liquid to be vaporized is flowed.

Abstract: Apparatus for the smokeless combustion of gases, supplied at substantial pressure, such that they will aspirate the required combustion air when discharged to atmospheric pressure. The apparatus comprises a plurality of spaced apart burner assemblies, each of which has a plurality of orifices arranged in a circular symmetrical pattern. Each burner assembly comprises a vertical tube supplying gas, with a plurality of short substantially radial arms, each of which has a plurality of orifices in its top surface. The arms themselves are tilted upwardly at a selected angle to the horizontal so that the orifices that are perpendicular to the arms will provide gas jets which will intersect each other along the axis of the assembly. In another embodiment, the top surface of the arms form a plane fingered plate of substantial thickness. The orifices are drilled at a selected angle toward the axis, in the top surface of the plate.

Abstract: A system of preheating of gaseous fuels to a furnace in which the fuels have a wide range of molecular weights, and corresponding calorific values, and in which all of the combustion air is provided by inspiration, due to the flow energy of the fuel. The invention involves the monitoring of oxygen in the products of combustion moving from the furnace to the stack, or, alternatively, monitoring the molecular weight of the fuel on the inlet line, and controlling the preheating of the fuel in a heat exchanger, so as to maintain a selected temperature of the fuel going to the burners, in accordance with the molecular weight of the fuel.

Abstract: An improved air injector for use in feed preparation in the primary reformer of a HABER processor for ammonia synthesis. In the HABER process, process gas is introduced at relatively high velocity downwardly in a process reactor through a vertical conduit. Along the axis of the conduit is an air supply pipe with a fixture which produces a plurality of downwardly and radially outwardly directed pipes attached to a plenum on the bottom of the air pipe. In this invention the number of circumferentially spaced pipes is doubled over the prior art and they are spaced circumferentially into rows directed outwardly at about a 45.degree. angle so as to present, more or less, a continuous plurality of streams of air which block the annular space and force the downflowing process gas to be turbulently mixed with the air and to form a pressurized mass of process gas and air, which is then forced, by the gas pressure, to flow downwardly in, more or less, a uniform manner through a volume of catalyst.

Abstract: A burner system for burning gaseous or liquid fuel, comprises a primary burner system, which includes a liquid burner tube closed at one end and provided with a plurality of primary combustion ports symmetrically arranged to provide a plurality of jets forming a conical sheet of particles of fuel. Surrounding the liquid burner is a gas burner tube, which comprises the annular space between two coaxial tubes closed at the end, and including therein a plurality of primary combustion ports arranged symmetrically to provide jets arranged on the surface of a cone. Combustion air is drawn into the space around the gas burner tube, to supply combustion air for the liquid and/or gaseous fuel. Upstream of the primary combustion ports is a secondary burner which is circular in configuration, and surrounds, and is spaced from the gas burner tube. A limited quantity of gaseous fuel is supplied in the form of a circumferentially directed jet in the lee of an annular plate.

Abstract: An improved gaseous fuel burner system for minimizing the production of NOx in a gas burner, comprising a primary burner, including a burner tube and a primary burner head, having a plurality of primary burner ports, in a two dimensional array, over a selected, substantially planar area, transverse to the burner tube. A mixture of gaseous fuel and primary air is supplied to the burner tube, and to the primary burner ports. Secondary combustion air is supplied around the burner tube and flows downstreamwardly to the primary burner and to the combustion zone downstream of the primary burner ports. Secondary burner ports are provided upstream of the primary burner ports, which carry the gaseous fuel and primary air in the form of jets, mixing with the secondary air, and burning to provide combustion products CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O, which flow downstreamwardly with the secondary air into the combustion zone of the primary burner.

Abstract: This invention is an improvement over the conventional molecular seal, used for the purpose of preventing the reverse flow of air into the top of a flare stack system upon cessation of flow of the lighter-than-air waste or dump combustible gases. A cylindrical chamber or housing surrounds vertical pipe sections which are parts of the flare stack system. The cylindrical housing is of significantly larger diameter than the flare stack and is closed at the top between the housing and the flare stack. A vertical pipe projects through and downwardly below the upper closure of the housing. Below the bottom of the vertical pipe inside of the housing, is a bulkhead containing a plurality of circular openings near its outer perimeter, into which a plurality of pipes have been welded, which extend upwardly in the annulus between the vertical pipe and the outer housing. These pipes terminate at a selected distance below the top closure of the housing.

Abstract: An improved flare system in which steam is injected into the column of gas to be burned, from circumferential nozzles at at least two spaced levels, above the tip of the flare stack. A circular manifold surrounds the stack just below the tip and an even number of small diameter riser pipes are attached to the manifold, spaced equally circumferentially. The riser pipes have nozzles all of which are directed radially inwardly and upwardly at a selected angle. Half of the nozzles are spaced at a first selected distance above the tip of the flare stack, and the other half are positioned at a greater selected elevation above the tip of the flare stack. Alternate risers have different elevations of the nozzles. By this means, a minimum diameter of the cross-section of the gas flow is occluded by the steam flow.

Abstract: An improved molecular seal for installation in a flare stack system designed for burning of waste gases of lesser density than air, and for installation at an intermediate point in the flare stack, comprising a housing of larger cross-section than that of the flare stack, the housing being closed by plates at both ends with an outlet conduit sealed through the plate at the outlet end of the housing, and connected to the flare stack. An inlet conduit is sealed through the inlet end of the housing and is connected to the source of waste gases. Inside the housing the two conduits are deflected past each other so that they are substantially parallel, and have their axes in the same plane. The downstream end of the inlet conduit goes to a higher elevation inside the conduit than the upstream end of the outlet conduit.

Abstract: Apparatus for burning gaseous and liquid fuels in a furnace, to retard formation of NO.sub.x, comprising a fuel tube of selected length and diameter, closed at the end which is inserted into a combustion zone. There are a plurality of ports drilled in the closed end of the fuel tube, the axes of which lie on a conical surface coaxial with the fuel tube. The fuel tube is inserted coaxially into a burner tube of selected larger diameter, and the distant ends are substantially coplanar. A plurality of jets of low pressure steam are injected through a plurality of ports into the annular space between the fuel tube and the burner tube at the outer end of the burner tube. The steam jets flowing through the ports induce a flow of primary combustion air, which mixes with the steam and flows down the annular space to mix with the high velocity jets of fuel as they emerge from the ports on the fuel tube. The fuel, air, and steam mix together prior to entering the combustion reaction zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for discharging to the atmosphere, combustion gases containing sulphur trioxide, means are provided for injecting into the stream, prior to venting to the atmosphere, a selected quantity of diluting gas. The diluting gas and sulphur containing combustion gases are turbulently mixed to provide dilution of the sulphur trioxide in the combined effluent from the stack. In one embodiment, the diluting gases are injected through a pipe positioned axially in the stack, below the top. A column of diluting gas is injected at high velocity into the upwardly moving combustion gases to entrain, mix with, and dilute the sulphur trioxide in the combination gases prior to escape from the stack to the atmosphere. In an improved embodiment, an annular plenum is constructed around the stack at a point upstream of the top of the stack, and a plurality of pipes are directed inwardly radially and upwardly through the wall of the stack.