Abstract: A hybrid steam generating system and method in which fluid is passed through the waterwall tubes of a furnace to transfer heat from the furnace to the fluid to convert at least a portion of the fluid to steam. Under certain operating conditions, the heated fluid is passed from the furnace to a separator for separating the steam from the heated fluid and the separated heated fluid is passed from the separator back to the furnace. The steam from the separator is passed to a steam utilization unit, and, under certain operating conditions, the heated fluid is passed from the furnace directly to the steam utilization unit.

Abstract: A steam generating system including an upright furnace section formed by a plurality of tubes, a portion of which have upper and lower tube ends and extend at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane, a portion of which extend vertically downwards from the lower tube ends, and a portion of which extend vertically upwards from the upper tube ends. Additional lower and upper vertical tubes are provided which are coplanar with, parallel to, and evenly distributed and interlaced among the tubes extending vertically from the respective lower and upper ends. Means is provided to pass fluid through the length of the furnace section to convert a portion of the fluid to steam or to heat the fluid, the fluid passing upwards first through the additional lower vertical tubes, then through the length of the angularly extending tubes including the vertical extensions thereof, and then through the additional upper vertical tubes.

Abstract: A pyrolyzer unit and two-staged furnaces are provided in a compact furnace assembly for combusting coal to generate power. Coal is reacted in the pyrolyzer to produce a clean hot fuel gas and char. The hot fuel gas is combusted in the first-stage furnace, which contains a high-temperature heat exchanger utilized to heat a pressurized air stream for expansion in a gas turbine and a heat exchanger for superheating steam for expansion in a steam turbine to produce power. Char is combusted in the second-stage furnace and the resulting combustion products are mixed with primary combustion gas from the first-stage furnace to product a secondary combustion gas and preheat the pressurized air stream, and also to superheat steam. The heated air stream is expanded in a gas turbine to produce shaft power to drive an air compressor and an electric power generator.

Abstract: A plant having a combustion chamber can employ at least one heat pipe. The heat pipe is mounted to exchange heat between flue gas in a flue gas path and combustion air in a combustion air path. A protection system has a dual passage for separately conducting the flue gas and the combustion gas. The dual passage has a wall separating the flue gas path from the combustion air path. The heat pipe is mounted through the wall. A sensor is mounted about the heat pipe for providing a temperature signal signifying the temperature at the heat pipe. A damper is coupled to the sensor and communicates with the dual passage for mixing relatively cooler air with the flue gas in the dual passage, upstream of the heat pipe, in response to the temperature signal violating a predetermined limit.

Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor in which an air distribution plate is disposed within an enclosure for supporting a bed of particulate material including fuel. The air distribution plate includes a plurality of vertically disposed nozzles extending therethrough for receiving air from an air plenum and discharging the air in an upward direction into the bed at a velocity sufficient to fluidize the bed material and support the combustion or gasification of the fuel. A first pressure sensing device is disposed within at least one of said nozzles and a second pressure sensing device is disposed within the air plenum, whereby the rate of air flow into the bed of particulate material can be measured.