Abstract: A fluidized bed combustor having a distributor plate assembly including an inverted frustopyramidal surface with slots and offset shields thereover to form laterally oriented air flow openings into the combustion chamber from a first plenum for debris particle classification along said surface. At the bottom of each frustopyramidal surface is an outlet for classified debris. Air flow riser tubes project up from a second plenum to a position above said surface. Forced air is supplied to the slots and the risers, with means to regulate relative flow to them.Projecting down from the debris outlets are drop tubes having cooling fins, such tubes connecting to inlets of an auger conveyor. The auger conveyor has a coolant-cooled housing and a coolant-cooled auger.

Abstract: A fluidized bed combustor having in its distributor plate assembly at the bottom of the combustion chamber, air outlets in the distributor plate surface, air flow riser tubes projecting above said surface, light liquid fuel nozzles located adjacent certain of the riser tubes for injection of liquid fuel into the air forcefully flowing up these riser tubes, and the share of air flowing through the riser tubes relative to the share of air flowing through the outlets being controlled by regulating means.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating workpieces in a bed of particles, e.g. for heat treating workpieces in a fluidize bed, comprises a chamber which contains the bed, a conveyor for conveying workpieces through the chamber into contact with particles of the bed within the chamber, and transporting means for transporting back to the bed particles which fall from the conveyor or workpieces after the conveyor and workpieces have advanced from the bed. The conveyor may comprise a rotatable open work drum, having an internal helical formation for advancing workpieces through it and an external helical formation of opposite hand to that of the internal helical formation to constitute the transporting means.

Abstract: Apparatus for carrying out a reaction in a fluidized bed comprises a rotatable drum with a circumferential wall which is permeable to gases. A bed of particles is supported on the circumferential wall of the rotating drum during operation and the reactants are fed into the bed, at least a fluidizing gas through the circumferential wall. A receiver is provided to retain during operation small particles carried from the bed by the fluidizing gas. The small particles are returned to the bed when operation ceases. A reservoir for discharging larger particles into the bed after operation has commenced may be provided.