Patents by Inventor John J. Nowakowski
John J. Nowakowski has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10281140Abstract: A steam generator system employing a fired burner with a flue gas recirculation system with low NOx emission is disclosed. A method to retrofit fired burners for low NOx emission is also disclosed. In the system, the flue gas recirculation system is configured to include a pre-mixer, and the recirculated flue gas (RFG) is routed to the stage of the pre-mixer for mixing with a portion of the fuel stream, forming a secondary RFG fuel mixture. The secondary RFG fuel mixture is routed to the secondary stage of the burner via a plurality of injector ports. The injection of the second RFG fuel mixture results in a reduction of temperature for the NOx emission to be less than 5 ppm at 3% O2, dry basis.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2015Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.Inventors: Thomas F. Robertson, John J. Nowakowski, Mark C. Hannum, Stein J. Storslett
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Patent number: 9909755Abstract: A low NOx combustion method includes steps of injecting reactants into a combustion chamber. A primary reactant stream, including fuel and combustion air premix, is injected from a premix burner port into the combustion chamber. A staged fuel stream is injected into the combustion chamber from a staged fuel injector port adjacent to the premix burner port. A stream of recirculated flue gas is injected into the combustion chamber from a flue gas injector port that is adjacent to the premix burner port and adjacent to the staged fuel injector port. In this manner, the stream of recirculated flue gas is injected into the combustion chamber unmixed with the primary reactant stream and unmixed with the staged fuel stream.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Thomas F. Robertson, Bruce E. Cain, John J. Nowakowski, Mark C. Hannum
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Publication number: 20160018102Abstract: A steam generator system employing a fired burner with a flue gas recirculation system with low NOx emission is disclosed. A method to retrofit fired burners for low NOx emission is also disclosed. In the system, the flue gas recirculation system is configured to include a pre-mixer, and the recirculated flue gas (RFG) is routed to the stage of the pre-mixer for mixing with a portion of the fuel stream, forming a secondary RFG fuel mixture. The secondary RFG fuel mixture is routed to the secondary stage of the burner via a plurality of injector ports. The injection of the second RFG fuel mixture results in a reduction of temperature for the NOx emission to be less than 5 ppm at 3% O2, dry basis.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2015Publication date: January 21, 2016Inventors: Thomas F. Robertson, John J. Nowakowski, Mark C. Hannum, Stein J. Storslett
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Publication number: 20140272736Abstract: A low NOx combustion method includes steps of injecting reactants into a combustion chamber. A primary reactant stream, including fuel and combustion air premix, is injected from a premix burner port into the combustion chamber. A staged fuel stream is injected into the combustion chamber from a staged fuel injector port adjacent to the premix burner port. A stream of recirculated flue gas is injected into the combustion chamber from a flue gas injector port that is adjacent to the premix burner port and adjacent to the staged fuel injector port. In this manner, the stream of recirculated flue gas is injected into the combustion chamber unmixed with the primary reactant stream and unmixed with the staged fuel stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Inventors: Thomas F. Robertson, Bruce E. Cain, John J. Nowakowski, Mark C. Hannum
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Publication number: 20140272737Abstract: A primary reactant stream is injected from a burner port into a combustion chamber along an axis. Staged reactant streams are injected into the combustion chamber adjacent to the primary reactant stream in differing configurations. The differences between the configurations of the staged reactant streams include differences in radial distance from the burner port, axial distance from the burner port, and direction relative to the axis. The reactant streams are shifted between differing modes, with differences between the modes including the presence or absence of a flame at the burner port, differences in fuel flow rates, and differences in combustion air flow rates. A heat release profile developed by combustion of the primary reactant stream, or the length of a flame developed by combustion of the primary reactant stream, can be controlled by shifting between the differing modes with reference to the heat release profile or the length of the flame.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Inventors: Thomas F. Robertson, Bruce E. Cain, John J. Nowakowski, Mark C. Hannum
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Patent number: 8662887Abstract: A NOx suppression apparatus is configured for use with a burner that injects fuel into a stream of process air flowing into and through a rotary kiln. The apparatus comprises a premix injection system that forms a premix of fuel gas and air, and injects the premix into the stream of process air upstream of the burner port. This enables premix products of combustion to suppress the production of NOx by vitiating a combustion air portion of the process air before the combustion air portion combusts with fuel injected from the burner port.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2009Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Bruce E. Cain, Thomas F. Robertson, John J. Nowakowski
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Publication number: 20120288810Abstract: An indurating furnace has a heating station and an air passage leading to the heating station. A draft of preheated recirculation air is driven through the passage toward the heating station, and is mixed with fuel gas to form a combustible mixture of preheated recirculation air and fuel gas that ignites in the passage. This is accomplished by injecting the fuel gas into the passage in a stream that does not form a combustible mixture with the preheated recirculation air before entering the passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2012Publication date: November 15, 2012Applicant: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Bruce E. Cain, Thomas F. Robertson, John J. Nowakowski
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Patent number: 8202470Abstract: An indurating furnace has a heating station and an air passage leading to the heating station. A draft of preheated recirculation air is driven through the passage toward the heating station, and is mixed with fuel gas to form a combustible mixture of preheated recirculation air and fuel gas that ignites in the passage. This is accomplished by injecting the fuel gas into the passage in a stream that does not form a combustible mixture with the preheated recirculation air before entering the passage.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2010Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Bruce E. Cain, Thomas F. Robertson, John J. Nowakowski
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Publication number: 20120135360Abstract: An apparatus includes a furnace structure defining a combustion zone, and a tube that discharges fuel-oxidant premix into the combustion zone through an outlet from the tube. A reactant supply system provides the tube with unmixed fuel and oxidant for forming the premix. A flashback control means inhibits or extinguishes flashback in the tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2011Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Mark C. Hannum, John J. Nowakowski, Thomas F. Robertson
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Publication number: 20120129111Abstract: A method of combusting non-gaseous fuel to heat a load in a process chamber includes the steps of injecting reactant streams into a combustion chamber. The combustion chamber does not contain a load to be heated, but communicates with the process chamber through a burner port. A first reactant stream includes the non-gaseous fuel, and is injected into the combustion chamber to cause the non-gaseous fuel to volatilize in the combustion chamber. A second reactant stream, which includes a premix of gaseous fuel and primary oxidant, also is injected into the combustion chamber. The first and second reactant streams then combust together to yield products of combustion that flow through the burner port from the combustion chamber to the process chamber. Importantly, the second reactant stream is injected into the combustion chamber adjacent to the first reactant stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2011Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: Fives North America Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Thomas F. Robertson, John J. Nowakowski, Bruce E. Cain
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Publication number: 20120100493Abstract: A combustion system is operated with reference to compliant values of a governmentally regulated exhaust emission parameter. If an alarm condition is detected during an ordinary mode of operation, the combustion system is shifted into an assured compliance mode of operation. The shift to the assured compliance mode is made while continuing to operate the combustion system without a shut-down interruption.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2012Publication date: April 26, 2012Inventors: Thomas F. Robertson, Thomas B. Neville, Charles E. Kilfoyle, John J. Nowakowski
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Patent number: 8109759Abstract: A combustion system is operated with reference to compliant values of a governmentally regulated exhaust emission parameter. If an alarm condition is detected during an ordinary mode of operation, the combustion system is shifted into an assured compliance mode of operation. The shift to the assured compliance mode is made while continuing to operate the combustion system without a shut-down interruption.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2006Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Fives North America Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Thomas F. Robertson, Thomas B. Neville, Charles E. Kilfoyle, John J. Nowakowski
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Patent number: 8087930Abstract: Hot products of combustion are provided beside an outer surface of a load to be heated, and are given a non-uniform temperature profile in a control direction extending across the outer surface of the load. The non-uniform temperature profile of the hot products of combustion is varied within a range that is predetermined relative to the distance that the outer surface of the load extends in the control direction, whereby the load can be given a predetermined temperature profile in the control direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2009Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.Inventors: John J. Nowakowski, Julius J. Lukacs, Todd A. Miller, Thomas F. Robertson
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Patent number: 8083517Abstract: A method of firing a burner into a furnace process chamber supplies the burner with fuel and combustion air at a ratio that provides a level of excess air. The method includes the steps of reducing the flow rate of combustion air, and maintaining the level of excess air when the flow rate of combustion air is being reduced. Other steps include withdrawing exhaust gas from the process chamber, and supplying the burner with the exhaust gas at an increasing flow rate when the flow rate of combustion air is being reduced.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2008Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.Inventors: John N. Newby, Thomas F. Robertson, John J. Nowakowski
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Patent number: 8033254Abstract: A submerged combustion vaporizer may include a premix burner with multiple integral mixers for forming premix and discharging the premix into the duct system that communicates the burner with the sparger tubes. The SCV may further include a NOx suppression system that injects a staged fuel stream into the exhaust in the duct system, and/or a NOx suppression system that mixes water with the premix.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2008Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Mark C. Hannum, Thomas F. Robertson, John N. Newby, John J. Nowakowski
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Patent number: 8002541Abstract: A burner has a port facing into a combustion chamber along an axis. A secondary fuel injector structure has secondary fuel injection ports that face into the combustion chamber at locations spaced radially outward from the burner port. A tertiary fuel injector structure has tertiary fuel injection ports that face into the combustion chamber in directions perpendicular to the axis at locations spaced axially downstream from the secondary fuel injection ports.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2010Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Thomas B. Neville, John J. Nowakowski, Mark C. Hannum, Thomas F. Robertson
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Publication number: 20110027731Abstract: A burner has a port facing into a combustion chamber along an axis. A secondary fuel injector structure has secondary fuel injection ports that face into the combustion chamber at locations spaced radially outward from the burner port. A tertiary fuel injector structure has tertiary fuel injection ports that face into the combustion chamber in directions perpendicular to the axis at locations spaced axially downstream from the secondary fuel injection ports.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2010Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Thomas B. Neville, John J. Nowakowski, Mark C. Hannum, Thomas F. Robertson
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Patent number: 7837462Abstract: A burner has a port facing into a combustion chamber along an axis. A secondary fuel injector structure has secondary fuel injection ports that face into the combustion chamber at locations spaced radially outward from the burner port. A tertiary fuel injector structure has tertiary fuel injection ports that face into the combustion chamber in directions perpendicular to the axis at locations spaced axially downstream from the secondary fuel injection ports.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2008Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Thomas B Neville, John J Nowakowski, Mark C Hannum, Thomas F Robertson
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Patent number: 7832365Abstract: A submerged combustion vaporizer may include a premix burner with multiple integral mixers for forming premix and discharging the premix into the duct system that communicates the burner with the sparger tubes. The SCV may further include a NOx suppression system that injects a staged fuel stream into the exhaust in the duct system, and/or a NOx suppression system that mixes water with the premix.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2006Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Mark C. Hannum, Thomas F. Robertson, John N. Newby, John J. Nowakowski
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Publication number: 20100244337Abstract: Techniques for suppressing NOx in an indurating furnace include the use of a premix burner, the use of a staged fuel injector structure to enhance fuel lean conditions in the downdraft, and the use of a Venturi mixture structure in the downcomer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2009Publication date: September 30, 2010Inventors: Bruce E. Cain, Thomas F. Robertson, John J. Nowakowski