Abstract: Methods and apparatus for extracting gas samples from a particle-laden fluid stream are disclosed. An exemplary sampling probe apparatus includes a probe head having an upstream face and a downstream face, an intake orifice inwardly tapering from the upstream face into a central bore region of a cavity within the probe head, and an outlet orifice outwardly tapering from said central bore region to the downstream face, so as to permit fluid gas flow through the central bore region of the cavity. A filter device disposed within the cavity of the probe head extends between the intake orifice and the outlet orifice so as to divide a low-pressure sampling region of the cavity from the central bore region. A sampling tube in fluid communication with the low-pressure sampling region provides for extracting gas samples from the low-pressure sampling region of the cavity.

Abstract: An adjustable, diffusing coal valve for use in controlling flow of air and pulverized fuel to a burner is disclosed. An exemplary embodiment comprises a conduit section having an inner cross-sectional area and a diffusing damper plate mounted to said conduit section and rotatable within the conduit section between an open position and a closed position. The diffusing damper plate has a periphery dimensioned to occupy a majority, but less than all, of said inner cross-sectional area when in the closed position, and includes a plurality of perforations distributed within an outer region of the plate, thus allowing coal particles to flow through the damper plate when it is in a closed or partly-closed position.

Abstract: An adjustable, diffusing coal valve for use in controlling flow of air and pulverized fuel to a burner is disclosed. An exemplary embodiment comprises a conduit section having an inner cross-sectional area and a diffusing damper plate mounted to said conduit section and rotatable within the conduit section between an open position and a closed position. The diffusing damper plate has a periphery dimensioned to occupy a majority, but less than all, of said inner cross-sectional area when in the closed position, and includes a plurality of perforations distributed within an outer region of the plate, thus allowing coal particles to flow through the damper plate when it is in a closed or partly-closed position.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for extracting gas samples from a particle-laden fluid stream are disclosed. An exemplary sampling probe apparatus includes a probe head having an upstream face and a downstream face, an intake orifice inwardly tapering from the upstream face into a central bore region of a cavity within the probe head, and an outlet orifice outwardly tapering from said central bore region to the downstream face, so as to permit fluid gas flow through the central bore region of the cavity. A filter device disposed within the cavity of the probe head extends between the intake orifice and the outlet orifice so as to divide a low-pressure sampling region of the cavity from the central bore region. A sampling tube in fluid communication with the low-pressure sampling region provides for extracting gas samples from the low-pressure sampling region of the cavity.