Patents Examined by Edward G. Favors
  • Patent number: 5273000
    Abstract: A method of controlling the reheat steam temperature in a circulating fluidized bed combustion system wherein the circulating solids are cooled in a heat recovery fluid bed system containing reheat heat exchange surface. The rate of heat transfer and thus the reheat steam temperature are controlled by adjusting the flow rate of fluidizing air to the portion of the heat recovery fluid bed system containing the reheat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Regan
  • Patent number: 5273003
    Abstract: A cyclone furnace includes a cyclone cylinder having five separate tubular water circuit panels which are serviced by substantially independent lower inlet upper outlet header segments. One hundred and twenty three tubes each having a 1.125" OD and 0.210" MWT replaces 134 smaller OD and thinner MWT tubes of the prior art, for increasing the available sacrificial material by more than a factor of two, without substantially increasing pressure drop in the forced circulation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: Fredrick A. Rothwell
  • Patent number: 5273001
    Abstract: A quadrangular type multi-tube once-through boiler having an arrangement in which a feed path combuation air, combuation chamber, and an exhaust gas channel passing through a flue are alined in substantially the same plane, and provided with a burner duct (5) and a blower (4) each installed in any desired regions in lateral wall portions (s.sub.1, s.sub.2, s.sub.3 and s.sub.4) defining the width of the boiler body (1). The boiler body (1) comprises an assembly (A) of a plurality of substantially vertically disposed water tubes (10), so that combuation gas flows crosswise of the water tubes (10). A burner (3) is disposed in close adjacency to the first row (1.sub.1) of water tubes the water tube assembly (A), whereby even if fuel from the burner is ignited in a space between the first row (1.sub.1) of water tubes and the burner (3), actual combuation does not proceed to completion therebetween but the most of the unburnt gas burns completely while it flows through water tube clearances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kayahara, Seiji Tai, Sadayoshi Shibakawa
  • Patent number: 5271356
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for a sootblower used to project a fluid cleaning medium against internal surfaces of a combustion device. The nozzle block assembly of this invention incorporates a converging/diverging throat configuration having a truncated center plug in the flow nozzle which provides improved jet flow characteristics within the limited nozzle length available in the sootblower environment. Various techniques for supporting the truncated plug of this invention are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: The Babcock and Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Sean Kling, Mark A. Bunton, Thomas E. Moskal
  • Patent number: 5271340
    Abstract: Burners for burning waste, comprising a conventional fuel nozzle and a waste slurry nozzle. Waste slurry nozzles, comprising a first conduit, a second conduit and an acceleration zone comprising a mixing chamber and an acceleration conduit. Waste slurries comprising a continuous phase and a solids phase, the solids phase consisting essentially of solids having at least one dimension less than about 1/8 inch and solids having no dimension less than 1/8 inch and no dimension larger than about 5/8 inch. Methods for burning waste, comprising feeding a slurry of cement raw materials to an up end of a rotating kiln, and ejecting a waste slurry from a burner such that a portion of the waste slurry lands in the calcining zone of the kiln.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Rineco Chemical Industries
    Inventor: John P. Whitney
  • Patent number: 5271378
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating boiler in which a combined absorption and heat conveyor fluid (22) is heated by the direct contact with the exhaust combustion gas (20) of a fuel. This fluid (22) at the same time cleans the exhaust gas, provides a heat shield between the combustion chamber (4) and the container (1) of the boiler and extracts the heat of condensation of the fuel. In such an arrangement of the boiler it is possible to make the container (1) of the heat conveyor fluid (22) economically of synthetic material while obtaining great efficiency and environmental acceptability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Herwi-Solar-GmbH Forschung und Entwicklung
    Inventor: Lothar Herold
  • Patent number: 5269263
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor system and method of operating same, in which a fluidized bed of fine particles is combusted in a reactor forming a mixture of flue gases and relatively fine particles entrained by the flue gases. The mixture is passed to a separator which separates the entrained fine particles from the flue gases. The flue gases are passed to a heat recovery area for the extraction of thermal energy and the separated fine particles are collected in a dipleg seal. A portion of the separated fine particles is passed to the reactor and the remaining portion is discharged to the heat recovery area where the fine particles mix with the flue gases and heat is recovered from the latter mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventor: Juan A. Garcia-Mallol
  • Patent number: 5269235
    Abstract: A process for disposing of a waste chemical stream containing materials which can produce objectionable combustion products, such as NO.sub.x, free bromine, carbon, particulates or ash, the process comprising the steps of passing the waste chemical stream to an oxidizing first zone where burning occurs in stoichiometric oxygen excess above about 2000.degree. F.; then to a reducing second zone where reaction occurs in stoichiometric reduction at a temperature of above about 2000.degree. F.; and then to an oxidizing third zone to oxidize the combustibles at temperatures of between about 1400.degree. F. and 2000.degree. F. The process provides high efficiency destruction of waste compounds, whether solid, liquid or gaseous, in a substantially NO.sub.x free manner. In the case of brominated compounds, the process generates HBr which is readily scrubbed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Koch Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene C. McGill, Kevin W. McQuigg
  • Patent number: 5269262
    Abstract: The invention relates to a combustion unit, which for effecting a circulating mass process comprises a reactor chamber, whose lower part is, for formation of a fluidized bed, fitted with a grate structure (10), at least one particle separator with means for purifying the combustion gas containing solid material, formed in the fluidized bed, from said solid material, and a return duct (6a) for returning the solid material particularly to the fluidized bed. A gas lock structure (KL) as an extension of the return duct (6a) prevents the gas flow to the opposite direction and comprises a combination formed by a closed bottom structure (14), a cover structure (11) placed above the bottom structure (14) and having openings (12a), an interspace (13) formed between the bottom structure (14) and the cover structure (11), and openings (15a) placed in the wall of the return duct (6a) between the bottom structure (14) and the cover structure (11), as seen in vertical direction, and connected with the interspace ( 13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Tampella Power Oy
    Inventor: Pasi Salonen
  • Patent number: 5269236
    Abstract: A method of preventing dust from adhering to a wall of a combustion apparatus, such as a furnace wall or exhaust duct, is carried out by forcing gas through a porous refractory member forming the wall. Specifically, the furnace wall or exhaust duct wall to which dust might otherwise adhere is made of a porous refractory member and gas is injected through the pores of the refractory member. In an incinerator, the refractory porous member extends around the periphery of a liquid injection nozzle, so that gas fed to the inside of the incinerator through the refractory porous member prevents flower from accumulating at the periphery of the end of the nozzle and attenuates the wake of the injected liquid so as to suppress the entrainment of dust in the liquid. In a melting furnace, the refractory porous members provide the ceiling of a slag separating chamber and the entrance of an exhaust gas duct open to the upper portion of the slag separating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Okuno, Toshihisa Gouda, Kazuo Sato, Shizuo Yasuda, Hiroki Honda, Susumu Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 5267533
    Abstract: A self-adjusting joint packing for a sootblower of the type having a stationary feed tube gland with an overfitting lance tube which is moved within the combustion device to emit a blowing medium for cleaning purposes. The joint packing gland mechanism causes the axial loading on the joint packing which forms a seal between the lance tube and the feed tube to be automatically adjusted upon each sootblower actuation cycle. The joint packing gland includes an actuator which engages the sootblower frame upon actuation of the sootblower causing relative rotation between the actuator and lance tube. A friction clutch is interposed between the actuator and a threaded gland to transmit rotation only when a packing preload force is below a predetermined level, thus adjusting packing force when needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: Don W. Smith
  • Patent number: 5265671
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for projecting a stiffly flexible conduit or cable through a bore of a tube to be cleaned, surveyed or otherwise processed, said apparatus comprising a drum enabling the conduit or cable to be stored therein in a plurality of wound coils with a distal or free end of the conduit or cable to be projected from the apparatus and into the bore of the tube to be cleaned, surveyed or the like, the drum being mounted for simultaneous axial and rotary motion and drive means being provided to effect the axial and rotary motion of the drum, restraining means being provided to prevent radial expansion of the wound coils on the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Barry Brothers Specialised Service
    Inventor: Robert W. Vowles
  • Patent number: 5265587
    Abstract: An apparatus for preventing ash build-up and clinker formation of a particulate fuel mass in a stove includes a grate having a plurality of openings therein and on which the particulate fuel mass resides. A bottomless container retains the particulate fuel mass on the grate. The grate is reciprocated with respect to the bottomless container and the particulate fuel mass such that the position of the grate openings is altered relative to the particulate fuel mass to channel stove air flow through various portions of the particulate fuel mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Inventor: Timothy R. Carlson
  • Patent number: 5265545
    Abstract: A method of treatment of waste material includes the steps of mixing the waste material with binder and pelletizing the mixture. The pellets are then coated with a non-agglomerating material selected to permit firing of the mixture without pellet agglomeration at a temperature above 1300.degree. C. The coated pellets are fed to a kiln and fired at a temperature above 1300.degree. C. before being discharged from the kiln. At least some of the heat of firing the pellets is recovered and recycled to the kiln.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Miltox Holdings Pte, Limited
    Inventor: William R. Milner
  • Patent number: 5263425
    Abstract: A door assembly for an air lock of a waste processing system comprising a vertical sliding door member having a perimeter entirely supported when the sliding door member is in a closed position and is sealed by a selectively inflatable gasket assembly located along the perimeter. The sliding door member is supported by inner and outer panels separated by a rectangular spacer gasket, wherein the inner and outer panels each contain a rectangular opening having a perimeter for receiving the inflatable gasket assembly. The inflatable gasket assembly includes a retainer frame and a rectangular inflatable seal element. The door assembly is opened and closed by including a pair of vertical tracks located between the inner and outer panels for receiving vertically extending ribs from the sliding door member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Inventor: Larry E. Koenig
  • Patent number: 5263426
    Abstract: A combustion apparatus including a mixture feeding pipe for injecting a mixture of pulverized coal and combustion air into a furnace, with the mixture then being ignited. A radially outwardly flared flame maintaining ring is provided at a tip end of the mixture feeding pipe, with the maintaining ring being exposed to a reduced atmosphere and to high temperatures due to radiant heat from the furnace. A projection extends into the furnace beyond the flame maintaining ring so as to protect the flame maintaining ring from radiation from inside the furnace thereby suppressing an excessive increase in temperature. Combustion air flows along a surface of the projection so as to provide at oxidized atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Babcock-Hitachi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeki Morita, Kouji Kuramashi, Shigeto Nakashita, Keiji Ishii, Tadashi Jimbo, Kunio Hodozuka, Akira Baba, Hironobu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5261335
    Abstract: An automatic firebox provided with a fuel hopper that delivers fuel through a pivoting funnel to a grate burning area. The grate burning area is provided with at least one pivoting fuel grate which operates automatically in sequence with the fuel feed and hopper so as to provide automatic stoking. An automatic control operated by temperature and/or time is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Inventor: Leslie Blevins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5261354
    Abstract: A PFBC power plant with a combustor (3) enclosed within a pressure vessel (1). The combustor (3) is formed as a polygonal prism with, for example, hexagonal cross section. The bed section (3a) of the combustor (3) accomodates a steam generator constructed from at least three groups (23) of plane tube discs (24), in which groups (23) the discs are oriented parallel to opposite sides walls in the combustor (3). Each tube disc (24) may comprise both evaporation and superheater tubes (25a, 25b, 25c) which may comprise tubes in several parallel planes. In a preferred embodiment, each group (23) of tube discs (24) fills up a parallelepipedic space in the lower part (3a) of the combustor (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: ABB Carbon AB
    Inventors: Arne Jonsson, Sven-Olov stman
  • Patent number: 5261337
    Abstract: The present invention aims for the object thereof at preventing unburnt gas and noxious gas components from being generated in a refuse incinerator, and provides a combustion control method by which it is arranged so that a feeder (2) and a stoker (3) are not only controlled so as to keep evaporation (S1) of the boiler at a target value thereby to achieve stabilized combustion extending over a long period of time, but also feed water quantity (S2) and the like from a boiler water pipe section (2) forming a combustion chamber (6) are detected, and the rate of overfire air quantity to main combustion air quantity to a lower part of the stoker is controlled at a constant total gas capacity so that the fluctuation width of the feed water quantity (S2) falls within a set range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihiko Orita, Hidetaka Ono, Masaharu Kira, Shizuo Yasuda
  • Patent number: 5259362
    Abstract: A furnace having a thrust grate formed of grate bars which are loosely disposed on alternate movable and stationary grate bar supports, having freedom of movement to tilt in a vertical direction. In a horizontal direction, a grate bar is fixed on each grate bar support, preferably in the middle, and neighboring grate bars are connected to each other, the outermost grate bar on the stationary grate bar support being coupled to a driving element and which, upon thermal expansion, displaces a side shield with respect to the furnace wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Noell K&K Abfalltechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich Krieger