Abstract: The forced-flow steam generator is provided with a control means for controlling the amount of water fed to the evaporator. The control means includes a controller which receives a load-dependent signal and an actual value signal from a temperature measuring means. The steam generator includes an injection line which communicates at a point downstream of the temperature measuring means. The controller may be connected directly to a valve in the injection line in order to regulate the amount of water which is bypassed around the evaporator or may be connected directly to the feedwater supply to maintain a constant flow to the evaporator during injection of water.

Abstract: A moisture-containing viscous secondary fuel is combusted in the chamber of an industrial furnace by comminuting the secondary fuel to a particle size of 5-50 mm and propelling the particles at an initial speed of 1-10 m/sec. onto a layer of intensely burning primary fuel, such as solid refuse, coal or wood. The particles are propelled from a level at 0.5-2 m above the burning layer and in such a way that the length of their flight spans is 0.2-2 m. This insures that the particles retain moisture during travel in the combustion chamber and do not agglomerate prior and/or subsequent to contacting the burning layer of primary fuel. The rate of admission of comminuted secondary fuel is regulated in dependency on changes of temperature in the chamber, in dependency on changes of the CO.sub.2 or O.sub.2 content of combustion products and/or in dependency on variations of a parameter (e.g., length) of the burning layer of primary fuel.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing useful heat from solar radiation and which in the operating position is oriented in an inclined plane. The apparatus includes a coilable conduit structure which is provided with an inlet and an outlet for a flowable heat carrier medium and is formed of two elongated flexible foils, with one being colored so as to absorb solar radiation, which are sealingly connected together along their edge regions and are sealingly connected together along lines in their center regions to form a plurality of parallel flow channels which extend along the longitudinal axis of the foils, and first and second transverse flow channels which connect the respective adjacent ends of said parallel flow channels together.

Abstract: Solar energy collectors, devices and systems utilizing selective solar absorbers for more efficient collection of radiant energy from the sun and its conversion to useful form at relatively high heat transfer temperatures. Each collector unit is made up solely of a closed shell-like enclosure having a continuous, unpenetrated boundary wall evacuated and hermetically sealed to form a structurally strong radiation collecting chamber whose boundary wall surrounds a rarified atmosphere environment such as a vacuum, the wall having a window portion which transmits substantially all of the received solar spectrum to a selective solar radiation absorber in the chamber and energy derived therefrom is collected at any energy collecting and transferring portion of the wall from which heat is conducted to the exterior.

Abstract: A flat plate hydronic solar collector combining features of both the trickle and pressurized type of collector and also of metal and plastic collectors, the invention consisting of a plastic film tube divided into pockets into which heat transfer liquid flows by gravity, moving through a multiple number of pockets as the liquid progresses through the tube, removing heat from the side of the tube facing the sun, the pressure in each pocket being limited by the depth of the pocket. An important embodiment of the invention has a metal solar energy absorber plate secured over the film tube and its mounting surface so that the swelling of the film tube causes it to make extensive contact with the metal absorber.

Abstract: A window unit for heating a room with solar heat comprising a heat collector section and a heat storage section. A three position fan directs air either from the collector to the interior, from the collector to the store, or from the store to the interior.

Abstract: A solar heating panel includes a unitary rectangular shell having a low thermal conductivity urethane foam liner sandwiched between inner and outer fiberglass boxes. The inner box is impregnated with a dark coloring and has spaced raised support and expansion ridges extending traversely across its bottom. An integral lip located at the top of the shell stiffens its sidewalls and mounts a thermally insulated window comprised of paired sheets of glass separated by a sealed space. A thermal collector assembly adapted for placement within the shell on the support and expansion ridges is comprised of a serpentine heat transfer coil and an adjacent planar collector sheet which are integrally formed by joinder of a plurality of stamped unitary modular units dimensioned to be received within the collector shell. An inlet and an outlet pass from opposite ends of the heat transfer coil out of the shell through openings in its sidewalls.

Abstract: A relatively thin solar heat collector, for solar heat collecting units, having a series of discontinuities in its surface in the form of projections, increasing surface area for absorption and heat transfer.

Abstract: Apparatus for and method of collecting, concentrating, and transmitting solar energy including: one or more reflector surfaces for directing the solar rays to a focus area, absorption means disposed in said focus area, a heat transfer medium external to the focus area, and a heat conduit operatively interconnecting said absorption means, and said transfer medium.

Abstract: Fibrous wall materials that are substantially transparent to solar radiation and substantially impervious to long-wave radiation wherein the fibers are arranged in a parallel relationship are disclosed as being useful to form cell structures, in the form of a honeycomb. Heat losses from such solar energy collectors are substantially minimized.

Abstract: A solar pond for collecting solar energy preferably filled with a shallow layer of water over a blackened sunlight-absorbing surface which is in turn in contact with a heat-storage or heat exchanging medium. Convection in the solar pond is inhibited by raising the viscosity of the pond by adding gelling agents, for example, a polyethyleneoxide adduct of a hydrophobic residue. Convection is further inhibited by dividing the pond into cells such that the Rayleigh number of the fluid within the cell structure is less than the critical Rayleigh number at which convection may occur. The dividers may be translucent or transparent generally horizontal sheets or generally vertical sheets, forming matrices which are rectangular, hexagonal or triangular in horizontal cross-sections. Alternatively, the gelled fluid medium of the solar pond may be bagged in translucent elongated bags which when arranged in the pond have their shortest dimension less than that which will support convection.

Abstract: A heat exchanger with a housing defining a main fluid flow passage therethrough and a tube bundle access opening to the fluid flow passage, a tube bundle unit removably positioned in the housing in the fluid flow passage through the access opening, and a cover for removably closing the access opening so that heat exchange fluid flowing through the tube bundle unit is in a heat exchange relation with the fluid flowing through the housing main fluid flow passage around the tube bundle unit. Also shown is an economizer for a stream boiler incorporating a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A solar heating system including a specially designed tank divided into zones in which heat is stored in water, the hottest water in each zone rising to the top thereof by convection. A solar flow circuit draws water from the bottom of the coldest zone, and delivers it through a solar heat collection device back to the bottom of the hottest zone it is capable of heating. A heating flow circuit is drawn from the top of the hottest zone and delivered through a heat dispersing device in a comfort zone back to the top of the coldest zone, and then across the tops of the zones back to the hottest zone. An auxiliary heater fired by external fuel is provided to supply heat when the solar unit cannot carry the heating load. Provision is also made for collecting heat from any other external source available and storing it in the tank, so as to reduce any load on the auxiliary heater.

Abstract: A solar heat absorber, generally used in series, induces relatively high temperatures in a liquid or gas medium from the sun's rays at any angle above the horizon. The absorber consists of a substantially spherical vessel made of a transparent material encasing one or more similar but somewhat smaller vessels, all of which are provided with an opening or neck, the outer one of which overlaps the inner one and is sealed thereto. The annular space or spaces between the vessels are evacuated of air thereby insulating the inner vessel against heat loss to the atmosphere. One surface of the inner vessel is coated with a solar heat absorbing material or the vessel material is integrally colored. The combined vessels are sealed at the neck to a tubular fitting having longitudinal passages for supplying a heat transfer medium to, and discharging it from, the inner vessel.

Abstract: A reflector array is disclosed that provides for the collection and concentration of a relatively constant daily total quantity of usable energy for one or more energy receivers through use of a collector array support configuration that provides for the efficient use of collector surface and land. This is accomplished by combining a plurality of collectors with a support structure wherein the collectors are carried by a terraced support surface of the structure and the reflective surfaces of the collectors lie in essentially a common sun facing plane at noon. In a preferred embodiment, the terraced support surface is a terraced east-west extending wall of an enclosure such as comprising a residential, commercial or industrial building.

Abstract: The waste heat steam generator employs two parallel channels for receiving flows of exhaust gas from a gas turbine. In one channel, the exhaust gas flow is heated by a supplemental burner to a temperature less than 900.degree. C while the flow of exhaust gas in the second channel is heated to a temperature above 900.degree. C. The amount of fuel supplied to each burner is controlled by various control means responsive to the temperature within the steam generator or the temperature of the live steam or by the pressure of the live steam. A distribution means is provided at the entrance to the channel in which the exhaust gas is heated to a temperature above 900.degree. C so as to control the flow therein. The steam generator can be easily adapted to partial load operation by regulating the amount of fuel to the supplemental burners.

Abstract: The heating power of the fire box of a boiler burning powdered fuel maintained in suspension by fluidizing air is regulated in dependence on the temperature of the burning fluidized fuel layer by means of a heat transmitting system filled with a liquid medium, a first part of the heat transmitting system being embedded in the burning fluidized fuel layer, a second part of such system being disposed in the boiler drum, and a third part of the system being disposed within the fluidizing air supply. The heat transmitting liquid which is heated by its flow through the first part of the heat transmitting system selectively transmits heat to either the second or the third part of the system whereby to regulate the heat output of the boiler.

Abstract: Apparatus for collecting solar radiation in the form of heat and transferring it to a working fluid, including in combination, a collector surface and a highly porous open cell material used as a fluid carrier which abuts and allows the working fluid to contact the back side of the collector surface.

Abstract: A versatile, low cost solar heat collecting module made up of a minimum of presized basic parts has a cover portion for passing solar energy into an inner cavity where it is absorbed by a collector plate and converted to heat which in turn heats a stream of air in a flow passage along the back face of the collector plate. Manifold portions at the ends facilitate the moving of a stream of air through each module and an array of interconnected modules are arranged side-by-side in such a way that the flow path for air from inlet to outlet for the array is substantially the same distance. A heat-washing means projects into the flow passage from the back side of the collector plate to cause a turbulence in the air stream, the heat-washing means being provided by a support strap for supporting the collector plate that is bent to project into the flow passage and place a tension in the support strap and collector plate.

Abstract: A solar energy collector providing both concentrating-tracking functions and non-concentrating diffuse absorption functions in a single unit. The solar energy collector and process may provide both a higher temperature heat transfer fluid and a lower temperature heat transfer fluid for utilization in various processes, such as air conditioning, which may advantageously utilize thermal energy of two different temperatures. The solar energy thermal collector and process of this invention provides a high temperature thermal output in combination with a simplified tracking capability.