Abstract: A multi-stage heating apparatus having a first stage combustion chamber, a second stage combustion chamber, a primary porous matrix chamber disposed between the first and second stage combustion chambers, a secondary porous matrix chamber, heat exchanger tubes for transfer of heat from the combustion products to a working fluid, a recirculation device for recirculating combustion products in the first and second stage combustion chambers to the root of flames therein. A mixture of fuel and primary oxidant is introduced into the first stage combustion chamber, and the products of combustion therein are conveyed to the porous matrix chamber disposed between the first and second stage combustion chambers. After undergoing intensive heat transfer in the porous matrix chamber, the cooler products of combustion flow into the second stage combustion chamber forming additional products of combustion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for low-NOx combustion of a pulverized solid fuel in which combustion products from a partial oxidation combustor are mixed with a pulverized solid fuel, thereby preheating the pulverized solid fuel and resulting in devolatilization of at least a portion of the pulverized solid fuel. The preheated pulverized solid fuel and the devolatilization products are then burned in a burner firing directly into a combustion chamber.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for premixing a gaseous fuel and air, the apparatus comprising a back plate having a plurality of back plate openings, a front plate having a plurality of front plate openings corresponding to and substantially aligned with the back plate openings, a gaseous fuel inlet through in which a gaseous fuel is introduced into the area between the back plate and the front plate, and a plurality of air jet tubes disposed between the back plate and the front plate, the air jet tubes conveying combustion air from said back plate openings through said front plate openings, resulting in aspiration of the fuel through the front plate openings.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for combustion of a fuel/oxidant mixture in which at least a portion of the fuel is preheated and, thereafter, burned with any remaining portion of fuel in a flame having fuel-rich zones, thereby forming soot within the resulting flame to produce a luminous, high heat transfer, low NO.sub.x flame.

Abstract: A hybrid direct/indirect liquid heater and a process for heating a liquid in which an unheated liquid is introduced into a direct contact chamber of a hybrid direct/indirect liquid heater where it is directly contacted with hot flue gases exhausted from a cyclonic combustor-heat exchanger. The unheated liquid in the direct contact chamber condenses any moisture in the hot flue gases, forming contaminated liquid droplets and the contaminated liquid droplets are introduced into an indirect heating chamber of the hybrid direct/indirect liquid heater where they are indirectly heated by contact with the exterior of the combustor-heat exchanger, forming heated contaminated liquid. Gaseous contaminants are separated from the heated contaminated liquid, forming decontaminated liquid which is accumulated in a hot liquid storage.

Abstract: A porous matrix, surface combustor-fluid heating apparatus in which combustion of a fuel/oxidant mixture is carried out in stages within a stationary porous bed disposed in a combustion chamber. A fuel-rich fuel/oxidant mixture is burned within a region of the stationary porous bed disposed near the inlet end of the combustion chamber, forming a primary combustion zone. A secondary oxidant is introduced into the stationary porous bed downstream of the primary combustion zone forming a secondary combustion zone. Finally, heat resulting from the combustion is removed by fluid flowing through heat exchanger tubes embedded within the stationary porous bed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for thermal treatment and stabilization of waste materials in which waste material is introduced into an uppermost first combustion zone of a vertically oriented combustion chamber and a fuel and an oxidant are tangentially injected into the first combustion zone, oxidizing at least a portion of any organic material in the waste materials and melting at least a portion of any inorganic material in the waste materials. A second portion of fuel and oxidant is injected into a second combustion zone disposed immediately below and in communication with the first combustion zone, melting any remaining inorganic material in the waste material after which the melted waste material is removed from the bottom area of the combustion chamber for disposal.

Abstract: A process for combustion of the combustible material includes introducing the combustible material into the combustion chamber, advancing the combustible material through the combustion chamber, supplying combustion air to the combustion chamber for drying and partially combusting the combustible material and final ash burnout in a primary combustion zone, and removing ash products from the combustion chamber. The fuel or fuel/carrier fluid mixture is supplied into the combustion chamber to create an oxygen deficient secondary combustion zone for NO.sub.x reduction and other nitrogen bearing compounds decomposition. An oxidizing fluid is supplied into the combustion chamber above the oxygen deficient secondary combustion zone for thorough mixing with combustion products and at least partial burnout of combustibles in an oxidizing tertiary combustion zone.

Abstract: A process for cyclonic combustion of fuel in a combustor comprising mixing the fuel and oxidant forming a fuel/oxidant mixture prior to injection into said combustor, tangentially injecting the fuel/oxidant mixture into a first combustor chamber, igniting the fuel/oxidant mixture producing combustion products, exhausting the combustion products at a downstream end of a second combustor chamber in fluid communication with the first combustor chamber, and cooling a wall of the second combustor chamber, and an apparatus for carrying out this process.

Abstract: A process for combustion of the combustible material includes introducing the combustible material into the combustion chamber, advancing the combustible material through the combustion chamber, supplying combustion air to the combustion chamber for drying and partially combusting the combustible material and final ash burnout in a primary combustion zone, and removing ash products from the combustion chamber. The fuel or fuel/carrier fluid mixture is supplied into the combustion chamber to create an oxygen deficient secondary combustion zone for NO.sub.x reduction and other nitrogen bearing compounds decomposition. An oxidizing fluid is supplied into the combustion chamber above the oxygen deficient secondary combustion zone for thorough mixing with combustion products and at least partial burnout of combustibles in an oxidizing tertiary combustion zone.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for oxygen-enriched combustion of a fuel in an industrial furnace in which a preheated primary oxidant from a heat exchanger and a fuel to be combusted are introduced into a combustion chamber and ignited, a secondary oxidant having an oxygen concentration in excess of the concentration of oxygen in air is introduced into the combustion chamber downstream of the flame, and the resulting combustion products are exhausted. In accordance with one embodiment, the secondary oxidant comprises preheated oxidant aspirated from the heat exchanger using industrial-grade oxygen, resulting in an oxygen-enriched mixture being injected into the combustion chamber downstream of the flame. As a result, NO.sub.x emissions are reduced without adverse effects on the overall furnace operation.

Abstract: A furnace for combustion wherein a combustion chamber is configured such that waste can be advanced from a drying zone, to a combustion zone, to a burnout zone, and then into an ash pit. An air source provides air for drying, combustion and burnout in a primary combustion zone (PCZ). Fuel or a fuel/recirculated flue gas mixture is injected above the PCZ to create a mostly reducing substoichiometric secondary combustion zone (SCZ), to reduce NO.sub.x and decompose other nitrogen bearing compounds entering the SCZ. Vitiated air is injected into the combustion chamber above the mostly reducing SCZ. A process for combustion of the waste includes introducing the waste into the combustion chamber, advancing the waste through the combustion chamber, supplying combustion air to the combustion chamber for drying and combusting the waste and final ash burnout, and removing ash products from the combustion chamber.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for fuel combustion providing oscillation of fuel or combustion air provided to a burner to generate successive fuel-rich and fuel-lean zones in a flame thereby reducing NO.sub.x emissions.

Abstract: A glass melting furnace and process wherein a second combustion zone toward the glass discharge end of the glass melting chamber is underport sideport fired while a first combustion zone toward the batch charge end of the glass melting chamber is side-of-port and/or overport sideport fired.