Abstract: A grain treatment system incorporating a steam vessel and centrally disposed, grain diverting steam sparger unit for facilitating the flow of homogeneous plugs of grain therearound. The system incorporates a discharge unit having garner valves and/or flow restrictors for facilitating the anti-coring grain flow through the steam vessel with side and corner draw-off therein and the even percolation of steam upwardly therethrough for iniformly heating and moisturizing the grain. A vapor generator is used for providing a heating medium comprising a mixture of condensible and non-condensible gases introduced into the grain through the centrally disposed steam sparger. In this manner, homogeneous plugs of grain are uniformly passed through and discharged from the grain treatment system permitting controlled heating and moisturizing of grain and substantially eliminating problems of coring, grain clingage, static sludge build-up and associated grain treatment problems prevalent in many prior art systems.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for heating and utilizing fluids by the use of vapor generators of the kind in which a flowing fuel/air mixture is combusted in the presence of a stream of feed water to produce a stream of steam and non-condensibles, preferably at low pressure. This hot stream is then heat exchanged with a stream of the fluid desired to be heated and utilized, to heat it to the level desired for use, including partly or completely vaporizing it, if the use so requires. The fluid may be divided into two or more streams during the heat exchange, with different amounts of heat delivered into each stream. Preferably, the heat exchange is so conducted as to condense the steam from the stream of steam and non-condensibles, and the condensate so formed is selectively recycled to the vapor generator as feed water.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for the controlled heating and utilization of fluids by the use of vapor generators of the kind in which a flowing fuel/air mixture is combusted for heating a stream of feedwater to produce a stream of steam and non-condensibles, preferably at low pressure. The hot stream is then heat exchanged with a stream of the fluid desired to be heated and utilized, to heat it to the level desired for use, including partly or completely vaporizing it, if the use so requires. The fluid may be divided into two or more streams during the heat exchange, with different amounts of heat delivered into each stream. Preferably, the heat exchange is so conducted as to condense the steam from the stream of steam and non-condensibles, and the condensate so formed is selectively recycled to the vapor generator as feedwater.

Abstract: A versatile hot water supply system incorporating a feedback control network and vapor generator of the kind in which a fuel air mixture is combusted in a chamber through which water is flowed. The vapor generator produces a low pressure steam which is permitted to mix with a low pressure water supply at a controlled rate dependent upon the desired temperature and rate of flow of the resultant mixture. The steam formed in the vapor generator is a product of fuel combustion and evaporated feed-water accompanied by the noncondensibles remaining after combustion in the vapor generator. The vapor generator may be run on transportable fuels and therefore affords portability to the system. Control systems are coupled to temperature sensors and related feedback devices and permit the efficient and advantageous use of low pressure steam and condensibles to produce high temperature water at low or high pressures. An upstream, cold water reserve provides high volume, variable temperature capacity to the system.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved vapor generator of the kind in which a fuel-air mixture is combusted in a chamber through which water is flowed. The water acts as a coolant for the unit and is vaporized or converted to steam in the chamber in the presence of the flame. The steam formed from the feed water, the steam formed as a product of combustion, and the non-condensibles remaining after combustion issue from the chamber as a hot mixture suitable for a variety of uses, such as process steam, comfort-heating steam, and the like. The improvements include means for dividing the air feed into two parts, and means for forming a well-mixed stoichiometric mixture of fuel and the air of one part, which mixture is ignited and burned in a prechamber surrounded by and cooled by the air of the other part. The second part of the air is fed into the midregion of the soformed flame in the main chamber to lean it out and insure completeness of combustion, reducing production of carbon monoxide to extremely low levels.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved vapor generator of the kind in which a fuel-air mixture is combusted in a chamber through which water is flowed. The water acts as a coolant for the unit and is vaporized or converted to steam in the chamber in the presence of the flame. The steam formed from the feed water, the steam formed as a product of combustion, and the non-condensibles remaining after combustion issue from the chamber as a hot mixture suitable for a variety of uses, such as process steam, comfort-heating steam, and the like. The improvements include means for dividing the air feed into two parts, and means for forming a well-mixed stoichiometric mixture of fuel and the air of one part, which mixture is ignited and burned in a prechamber surrounded by and cooled by the air of the other part. The second part of the air is fed into the mid-region of the so-formed flame in the main chamber to lean it out and insure completeness of combustion, reducing production of carbon monoxide to extremely low levels.