Abstract: A method and apparatus for humidifying residential and commercial buildings in which a flue gas generated by a residential of commercial furnace is provided to one side of a porous liquid water transport membrane and habitable space air is provided to an opposite side of the porous liquid water transport membrane in an amount sufficient to provide a habitable space air to flue gas volume flow rate ratio of at least 8.3:1. At least a portion of the water vapor in the flue gas is condensed, providing condensed liquid water which is passed through the porous liquid water transport membrane to the habitable space air side of the porous liquid water transport membrane. On the habitable space air side of the membrane, the condensed liquid water is evaporated into the habitable space air, producing humidified habitable space air which is provided to the rooms of the residential and commercial buildings. Beneficially, no supplemental water source is required for the humidification process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for humidifying residential and commercial buildings in which a flue gas generated by a residential of commercial furnace is provided to one side of a porous liquid water transport membrane and habitable space air is provided to an opposite side of the porous liquid water transport membrane in an amount sufficient to provide a habitable space air to flue gas volume flow rate ratio of at least 8.3:1. At least a portion of the water vapor in the flue gas is condensed, providing condensed liquid water which is passed through the porous liquid water transport membrane to the habitable space air side of the porous liquid water transport membrane. On the habitable space air side of the membrane, the condensed liquid water is evaporated into the habitable space air, producing humidified habitable space air which is provided to the rooms of the residential and commercial buildings. Beneficially, no supplemental water source is required for the humidification process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for humidifying residential and commercial buildings in which a flue gas generated by a residential or commercial furnace is provided to one side of a porous liquid water transport membrane and habitable space air is provided to an opposite side of the porous liquid water transport membrane in an amount sufficient to provide a habitable space air to flue gas volume flow rate ratio of at least 8.3:1. At least a portion of the water vapor in the flue gas is condensed, providing condensed liquid water which is passed through the porous liquid water transport membrane to the habitable space air side of the porous liquid water transport membrane. On the habitable space air side of the membrane, the condensed liquid water is evaporated into the habitable space air, producing humidified habitable space air which is provided to the rooms of the residential and commercial buildings. Beneficially, no supplemental water source is required for the humidification process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for humidifying residential and commercial buildings in which a flue gas generated by a residential or commercial furnace is provided to one side of a porous liquid water transport membrane and habitable space air is provided to an opposite side of the porous liquid water transport membrane in an amount sufficient to provide a habitable space air to flue gas volume flow rate ratio of at least 8.3:1. At least a portion of the water vapor in the flue gas is condensed, providing condensed liquid water which is passed through the porous liquid water transport membrane to the habitable space air side of the porous liquid water transport membrane. On the habitable space air side of the membrane, the condensed liquid water is evaporated into the habitable space air, producing humidified habitable space air which is provided to the rooms of the residential and commercial buildings. Beneficially, no supplemental water source is required for the humidification process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for humidifying air in which the first side of a permselective water transport membrane is contacted with water vapor laden flue gas from a combustion process having a first water vapor partial pressure and a first temperature and at least a portion of the water vapor is condensed, producing condensed water. The condensed water is transported through the membrane to the opposite side of the membrane, which is contacted with an air stream having a second water vapor partial pressure, which second water vapor partial pressure is less than the first water vapor partial pressure, and having a second temperature, which second temperature is less than the first temperature. Upon contact with the air stream, the condensed water evaporates into the air stream, resulting in a humidified air stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for humidifying air in which the first side of a permselective water transport membrane is contacted with water vapor laden flue gas from a combustion process having a first water vapor partial pressure and a first temperature and at least a portion of the water vapor is condensed, producing condensed water. The condensed water is transported through the membrane to the opposite side of the membrane, which is contacted with an air stream having a second water vapor partial pressure, which second water vapor partial pressure is less than the first water vapor partial pressure, and having a second temperature, which second temperature is less than the first temperature. Upon contact with the air stream, the condensed water evaporates into the air stream, resulting in a humidified air stream.

Abstract: A combustion system having at least one wall enclosing a combustion chamber and forming a plurality of burner or burner nozzle openings. Disposed within each of the openings is a premix burner or burner nozzle, each of which has a premixed fuel/oxidant outlet proximate the combustion chamber and a fuel/oxidant inlet distal from the combustion chamber. At least a portion of the premix burners or burner nozzles are sized to produce different fuel/oxidant delivery disturbance response times in response to a pressure disturbance within the combustion system. Differences in fuel/oxidant delivery response times are achieved by using burners or burner nozzles having different internal dimensions, different volume flow rates, and, optionally, by varying the fuel/oxidant ratios of the mixtures flowing through the burners or burner nozzles.

Abstract: A heating system having a steam generator or water heater, at least one economizer, at least one condenser and at least one oxidant heater arranged in a manner so as to reduce the temperature and humidity of the exhaust gas (flue gas) stream and recover a major portion of the associated sensible and latent heat. The recovered heat is returned to the steam generator or water heater so as to increase the quantity of steam generated or water heated per quantity of fuel consumed. In addition, a portion of the water vapor produced by combustion of fuel is reclaimed for use as feed water, thereby reducing the make-up water requirement for the system.

Abstract: A firetube boiler furnace having two combustion sections and an in-line intermediate tubular heat transfer section between the two combustion sections and integral to the pressure vessel. This design provides a staged oxidant combustion apparatus with separate in-line combustion chambers for fuel-rich primary combustion and fuel-lean secondary combustion and sufficient cooling of the combustion products from the primary combustion such that when the secondary combustion oxidant is added in the secondary combustion stage, the NOx formation is less than 5 ppmv at 3% O2.

Abstract: An apparatus for combustion of a fuel in stages having at least one wall enclosing a chamber and forming at least one fuel inlet opening, at least one oxidant inlet opening and a plurality of fuel/oxidant outlet openings. A recirculation sleeve is disposed on the fuel/oxidant outlet side of the chamber and is coaxially aligned with the center axis of the apparatus. A plurality of fuel distributors are disposed within the chamber, each fuel distributor having a fuel inlet and a plurality of fuel outlets, each of the fuel outlets being aligned with a corresponding one of the fuel/oxidant outlet openings. Also disclosed is a method for combustion of a fuel in stages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for combustion of a fuel in which a first-stage fuel and a first-stage oxidant are introduced into a combustion chamber and ignited, forming a primary combustion zone. At least about 5% of the total heat output produced by combustion of the first-stage fuel and the first-stage oxidant is removed from the primary combustion zone, forming cooled first-stage combustion products. A portion of the cooled first-stage combustion products from a downstream region of the primary combustion zone is recirculated to an upstream region of primary combustion zone. A second-stage fuel is introduced into the combustion chamber downstream of the primary combustion zone and ignited, forming a secondary combustion zone. At least about 5% of the heat from the secondary combustion zone is removed. In accordance with one embodiment, a third-stage oxidant is introduced into the combustion chamber downstream of the secondary combustion zone, forming a tertiary combustion zone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for combustion of a fuel in which a first-stage fuel and a first-stage oxidant are introduced into a combustion chamber and ignited, forming a primary combustion zone. At least about 5% of the total heat output produced by combustion of the first-stage fuel and the first-stage oxidant is removed from the primary combustion zone, forming cooled first-stage combustion products. A portion of the cooled first-stage combustion products from a downstream region of the primary combustion zone is recirculated to an upstream region of primary combustion zone. A second-stage fuel is introduced into the combustion chamber downstream of the primary combustion zone and ignited, forming a secondary combustion zone. At least about 5% of the heat from the secondary combustion zone is removed. In accordance with one embodiment, a third-stage oxidant is introduced into the combustion chamber downstream of the secondary combustion zone, forming a tertiary combustion zone.

Abstract: A method for removing a condensable component from a process stream in which a first side of a permselective membrane is contacted with the process stream in which is disposed the condensable component. The condensable component is passed through the permselective membrane to a second side of the permselective membrane, forming a condensable permeate. The condensable permeate is then contacted with a liquid stream having a liquid form of the condensable permeate, forming a condensed permeate. The condensed permeate may then be returned to the process which generated the process stream.

Abstract: A method for removing a condensable component from a process stream in which a first side of a permselective membrane is contacted with the process stream in which is disposed the condensable component. The condensable component is passed through the permselective membrane to a second side of the permselective membrane, forming a condensable permeate. The condensable permeate is then contacted with a liquid stream having a liquid form of the condensable permeate, forming a condensed permeate. The condensed permeate may then be returned to the process which generated the process stream.

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 process for producing high-quality pitches comprising atomizing a preheated feed material of carbonaceous tar and/or pitch, forming an aerosol, contacting the aerosol in a reaction vessel with a flowing, non-reactive gas atmosphere for less than about 10 seconds at a gas temperature of about 1400.degree. F. to about 2000.degree. F., and separating and recovering a liquid fraction of the liquid formed in the reaction vessel which remains in a liquid phase up to a distillation temperature of about 750.degree. F.

Abstract: A process for fossil fuel refining by contacting ground solid fossil fuel for about 1/2 to about 3 hours with phenol at a temperature of about 600.degree. to 690.degree. F. and a corresponding saturation pressure of about 250 to 430 psig, the phenol being present in greater amounts by weight than the fossil fuel and dissolving refined product from the fossil fuel leaving a solid fuel residue. The phenol containing the refined product is removed from the fuel residue while heated, followed by cooling and separation of the refined product from the phenol which is recycled to the solvent extraction process. The process provides refined products low in mineral matter and sulfur following a low pressure solvent refining process which does not require a proton donor, acid catalyst or an external source of hydrogen.