Abstract: In a method of reducing NO.sub.x a water-fixed nitrogen solution is injected into a furnace near the exit from the furnace where the temperatures exceed 2000.degree. F. and combustion is occurring. Preferably the solution is injected through a combination of atomizing nozzles and spray jets into a region of the furnace which does not exceed 2700.degree. F. A calcium compound to react with sulfur dioxide may also be added.

Abstract: A method of reducing NO.sub.x determines an NO.sub.x concentration profile within a zone of the furnace which is at a temperature below 2600.degree. F. A stream of fluid fuel is injected into at least one region of relatively high NO.sub.x concentration so that the fluid fuel mixes therein with the flue gas. The fluid fuel is natural gas, hydrogen, C.sub.x H.sub.y compounds, C.sub.x H.sub.y O.sub.z compounds or mixtures primarily of those compounds, in sufficient quantity to promote a reaction between nitrogen oxide in the flue gas and the fluid fuel, so as to substantially reduce nitrogen oxide content of the flue gas. The injector through which the fluid fuel is injected can be moveable and may have valves or deflectors to aid in directing the fluid fuel to regions of relatively high NO.sub.x concentration.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for combustion of a solid carbonaceous material, for example coal, in which a mixture of the solid carbonaceous material and combustion air is injected into a combustion chamber and ignited, thereby forming a fuel-lean primary combustion zone. A gaseous fuel is injected into the combustion chamber in a region downstream of the primary combustion zone, thereby forming a fuel-lean secondary combustion zone. Temperature in the secondary combustion zone is in the range of about 1800.degree. F. to 2400.degree. F.

Abstract: A method for reducing the rate of side wall corrosion in a coal-fired utility boiler. A plurality of side wall slots are provided in the side walls of the boiler so that a protective layer of air may be introduced through the slots and propelled upward by the updraft from the burners.

Abstract: In a method for reducing NOx in the flue gas a coal water slurry is injected into the furnace above the primary combustion zone into a region having a temperature from 1800.degree. F. to 2700.degree. F. The slurry is preferably injected through atomizers and through injectors that introduce a continuous stream. Lime, ammonia, urea and completion air can also be injected.

Abstract: An improved pulverized coal burner that reduces the formation of nitrogen oxides. The coal burner includes fuel splitters that separate a mixture of primary air and coal into a plurality of streams while the mixture is discharged through a diffuser having a plurality of partially open areas and a plurality of blocked areas. After passing through the diffuser, the plurality of streams are discharged into a furnace to be burned. The plurality of partially open areas and blocked areas are created by removing sections of the diffuser and replacing the removed sections with fuel spiders. Creation of these discrete streams delays mixing with secondary air. Because primary air is supplied in sub-stoichiometric quantities, the coal in these split streams will be burned under fuel-rich conditions for the first 100 to 200 milliseconds of combustion, until the delayed mixing of secondary air occurs. Combustion in a fuel-rich environment retards formation of nitrogen oxides in two ways.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for supplying combustion air in a roof-fired furnace. Part of the combustion air, overfire air, enters through the roof of a roof-fired furnace at positions separate from the coal burners. The separated entry of overfire air ensures that the initial stages of combustion occur in a fuel-rich environment. A fuel-rich environment during the early stages of combustion favors the formation of molecular nitrogen and disfavors the formation of nitrogen oxides during combustion. The overfire air flows roughly parallel to the flow of combustion products emanating from the coal burners. The overfire air can be angled by vanes either slightly towards or slightly away from the combustion products, depending on how long combustion needs to be retarded in order to inhibit the formation of nitrogen oxides.

Abstract: A fuel injector has an inner pipe within an outer pipe. The distal end of the inner pipe is set back from the distal end of the outer pipe to create a flame stabilization and mixing zone. A combustible gas and air mixture injected through the outer pipe forms a flame shroud around a gas stream injected through the inner pipe. This injector provides increased flame penetration and improved NO.sub.x reduction particularly when used to inject a flame shrouded gas stream into regions of the furnace at which the flue gas is at a temperature not greater than 2400.degree. F.

Abstract: An improved pulverized coal burner that reduces the formation of nitrogen oxides. The coal burner includes fuel splitters that separate a mixture of primary air and coal into a plurality of streams while the mixture is discharged through a diffuser having a plurality of partially open areas and a plurality of blocked areas. After passing through the diffuser, the plurality of streams are discharged into a furnace to be burned. The plurality of partially open areas and blocked areas are created by removing sections of the diffuser and replacing the removed sections with fuel splitters. Creation of these discrete streams delays mixing with secondary air. Because primary air is supplied in sub-stoichiometric quantities, the coal in these split streams will be burned under fuel-rich conditions for the first 100 to 200 milliseconds of combustion, until the delayed mixing of secondary air occurs. Combustion in a fuel-rich environment retards formation of nitrogen oxides in two ways.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the formation of nitrogen oxides during combustion in a roof-fired furnace is disclosed. By blocking at least some of the fuel nozzles associated with a roof-fired burner while leaving open the secondary air openings associated with the blocked fuel nozzles, reduction in NOX emissions from roof-fired furnaces is accomplished. This blocking results in the creation of a localized fuel-rich or just slightly fuel-lean environment near open fuel nozzles because part of the secondary air needed for combustion is being added at a location distant from where the initial combustion occurs. By creating a localized fuel-rich or slightly fuel-lean environment near the open fuel nozzles, the initial stages of combustion occur with little or no excess oxygen present. Because much of the fuel-bound nitrogen is liberated during the initial stages of combustion, it will preferentially react to form molecular nitrogen rather than nitrogen oxides because of the lack of available oxygen.

Abstract: A process for stabilizing sludge containing flyash and calcium sulfate formed by a lime or limestone scrubber increases the sludge particles to a size at which leaching of toxic metals from the particles no longer occurs at toxic levels. The sludge is dewatered and injected into the furnace in a manner to cause the flyash to soften and stick together. The agglomerated particles then fall into a bottom ash pit for removal as a common waste.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to improve pulverizer operation and reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from furnaces which burn pulverized coal from at least one pulverizer. A duct type burner burns a fuel in the primary air which heats the primary air supplied to the pulverizers. The combustion increases the primary air temperature and improves the drying of the coal, thus improving the pulverizer throughput and/or the fineness of the pulverized coal. Operation of the duct burner also reduces the oxygen in the primary air. The reduction in oxygen reduces the propensity of the coal to ignite in the pulverizers and cause fires or even explosions. The reduced oxygen in the primary air also reduces NO.sub.x formation.

Abstract: A combustible fuel containing 3% to 45% of the fuel needed to operate a gas turbine is introduced into the compressor air stream for the gas turbine. The mixed fuel and air stream is introduced to the gas turbine prior to the combustor stage through a pipe, orifice or nozzle. The mixed air and fuel stream serves to reduce the nitrogen oxide emissions of the gas turbine. Waste air streams such as mine ventilation air may be used as the mixed fuel and air stream.

Abstract: In a process to limit the production of flyash by dry bottom boilers, flyash is collected from flue gas using a collector such as an electrostatic precipitator. The collected flyash is carried in a carrier gas stream to which a fuel is added. The stream is introduced into the boiler in a manner to cause the flyash to soften, agglomerate and fall into the bottom ash pit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions from the products of combustion is provided in which a vortex generator introduces natural gas, or other fluid fuel into the upper portion of a combustion device. The fuel introduced forms vortices, such as vortex rings, and the fuel reacts with the nitrogen oxide in the combustion products to form ammonia-like compounds, hydrogen cyanide and similar compounds, and nitrogen. The ammonia and cyanide-like fragments react with additional amounts of nitrogen oxide in the combustion products to form nitrogen gas, water vapor and carbon dioxide. The vortex rings can be controlled and will maintain their integrity longer than puffs or simple jets of fuel.

Abstract: Nitrogen oxide and dioxide content of flue gas from combustion devices is reduced by mixing combustion air and a gas or volatilized fuel in proportions below the lower combustible limit of the mixture and utilizing that mixture for at least a part of the combustion air supplied to the devices. The mixture may take the form of air contaminated with a fuel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions from furnace flue gas is provided in which natural gas or other fluid fuel which has little or no fixed nitrogen is introduced into the upper portion of the furnace. The fuel diffuses by laminar or turbulent diffusion into oxygen-rich flue gas where it reacts with oxygen and nitric oxide to form CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 O and N.sub.2, thus reducing the nitrogen oxide emissions from the furnace. In this manner, the amount of nitrogen oxide in the flue gas is reduced. The apparatus and method can be easily applied to new furnaces or retrofitted on existing furnaces.

Abstract: A method of recycling fly ash as slag in a wet bottom furnace is described. The furnace may have a cyclone furnace, a pulverized coal furnace, or any other type of furnace producing wet slag. All or part of the collected fly ash is collected and returned to the furnace and combined with enough fuel to melt the ash. Melted ash directed against a wall, floor or side of the cyclone or furnace will flow to the bottom of the furnace so as to facilitate the liquid slag. The fly ash may be collected by an electrostatic precipitator, baghouse, cyclone (multiclone) or other device. The fly ash may be returned to the furnace or the cyclone using air, flue gas, steam, fuel, or other gas as a carrier.

Abstract: An improved method for burning carbonaceous material containing sulfur to reduce emissions of SO.sub.2 is disclosed wherein the carbonaceous material is projected into a furnace as one or more streams and each stream is continuously ignited with a volatile fuel such as natural gas, oil, liquefied petroleum gas or naptha. The volatile fuel is supplied separately from the carbonaceous material and is directed into each stream of the carbonaceous material as it enters the furnace so as to cause the material to be enveloped in a reducing atmosphere during its volatilization. In consequence, at least a portion of the sulfur contained in the carbonaceous material is retained within the ash slag in its reduced or sulfide form.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which overcomes the problems which tend to occur in application low-NOx burners to coals in which the volatile matter is low in heat content. A gaseous or volatile liquid fuel is introduced into the ignition zone and/or the primary flame immediately downstream of the burner. This fuel will have the same effect as increased quality and quantity of the volatile content of the coal.