Patents by Inventor Richard C. LaFlesh
Richard C. LaFlesh 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).
-
Patent number: 9669351Abstract: A method for more efficiently removing pollutant gases from flue gases of a solid-fueled steam generator includes storing a silo a carbonaceous sorbent in a powdered form; extracting a superheated steam from a superheated steam source; and reducing a temperature, pressure and moisture content of the superheated steam to provide a processed steam of a desired pressure, temperature and moisture content. The method further includes providing a sorbent mill receiving the carbonaceous sorbent and the processed steam, wherein the sorbent mill is operable to de-agglomerate and comminute the carbonaceous sorbent using the processed steam to provide a processed sorbent. Further the method includes injecting the processed sorbent into the flue gases at a desired location in the solid-fueled steam generator thereby adsorbing the pollutants therefrom; and collecting and thereby remove the carbonaceous sorbent from the flue gas fluidly downstream from the desired location.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2016Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBHInventors: Richard C. LaFlesh, John Iovino, Shin G. Kang, Carl D. Edberg, Raymond W. Cournoyer
-
Publication number: 20160199772Abstract: A method for more efficiently removing pollutant gases from flue gases of a solid-fueled steam generator includes storing a silo a carbonaceous sorbent in a powdered form; extracting a superheated steam from a superheated steam source; and reducing a temperature, pressure and moisture content of the superheated steam to provide a processed steam of a desired pressure, temperature and moisture content. The method further includes providing a sorbent mill receiving the carbonaceous sorbent and the processed steam, wherein the sorbent mill is operable to de-agglomerate and comminute the carbonaceous sorbent using the processed steam to provide a processed sorbent. Further the method includes injecting the processed sorbent into the flue gases at a desired location in the solid-fueled steam generator thereby adsorbing the pollutants therefrom; and collecting and thereby remove the carbonaceous sorbent from the flue gas fluidly downstream from the desired location.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2016Publication date: July 14, 2016Inventors: Richard C. LAFLESH, John Iovino, Shin G. Kang, Carl D. Edberg, Raymond W. Cournoyer
-
Patent number: 9321002Abstract: A system for removing gaseous pollutants, such as mercury from flue gases of a solid-fueled furnace (17), includes a sorbent mill (34) that receives superheated steam and a sorbent (28), such as activated carbon, in a partially agglomerated state, that processes the sorbent (28) by de-agglomerating and comminuting the sorbent (28). An educator (35) transports the processed sorbent (28) to a distributor (36) that injects it into the flue gases at a contact location having a temperature between 500° F. and 900° F., whereupon the sorbent (28) adsorbs mercury from the flue gas. A particle collection device (24) removes the processed sorbent (28) having adsorbed mercury, from the flue gas.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2012Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Richard C. LaFlesh, John Iovino, Shin Gyoo Kang, Carl D Edberg, Raymond W. Cournoyer
-
Patent number: 9205430Abstract: A steam mill system for transport of powdered activated carbon (PAC) from a storage silo to a steam powered jet mill to produce milled sorbent for use in a coal-fired power plant flue gas for mercury control. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a cyclone separator arranged in a PAC transport line prior to a steam powered jet mill for separation of PAC according to particle size for the purpose of achieving reductions in associated compressed air usage, operating costs and capital costs.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2013Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Carl David Edberg, Raymond W. Cournoyer, Richard C. Laflesh, Timothy Joseph Braun
-
Publication number: 20140361105Abstract: A steam mill system for transport of powdered activated carbon (PAC) from a storage silo to a steam powered jet mill to produce milled sorbent for use in a coal-fired power plant flue gas for mercury control. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a cyclone separator arranged in a PAC transport line prior to a steam powered jet mill for separation of PAC according to particle size for the purpose of achieving reductions in associated compressed air usage, operating costs and capital costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2013Publication date: December 11, 2014Inventors: Carl David Edberg, Raymond W. Cournoyer, Richard C. Laflesh, Timothy Joseph Braun
-
Publication number: 20130078169Abstract: A system for removing gaseous pollutants, such as mercury from flue gases of a solid-fueled furnace (17), includes a sorbent mill (34) that receives superheated steam and a sorbent (28), such as activated carbon, in a partially agglomerated state, that processes the sorbent (28) by de-agglomerating and comminuting the sorbent (28). An educator (35) transports the processed sorbent (28) to a distributor (36) that injects it into the flue gases at a contact location having a temperature between 500° F. and 900° F., whereupon the sorbent (28) adsorbs mercury from the flue gas. A particle collection device (24) removes the processed sorbent (28) having adsorbed mercury, from the flue gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2012Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTDInventors: Richard C. LaFlesh, John Iovino, Shin Gyoo Kang, Carl D Edberg, Raymond W. Cournoyer
-
Patent number: 7921738Abstract: An apparatus (100) operative for purposes of detecting the presence of a coal rope within a coal delivery pipe (200) is provided. The apparatus (100) includes a rod (105) that is operative to flex when struck by a coal rope that is present inside the coal delivery pipe (200), a strain gauge (115) that is operative to produce an electrical signal based upon the amount of flexing that the rod (105) is subjected to when struck by a coal rope that is present in the coal delivery pipe (200), and a processor that is operative to determine based upon the electrical signal that is received thereby from the strain gauge (115) at least one of either the location of the coal rope within the coal delivery pipe (200) or the density of the coal rope within the coal delivery pipe (200).Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2008Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: William P. Bailey, Richard C. LaFlesh, Jeffrey S. Mann, David H. Nilson, Joseph W. Quinn
-
Publication number: 20090205544Abstract: An apparatus (100) operative for purposes of detecting the presence of a coal rope within a coal delivery pipe (200) is provided. The apparatus (100) includes a rod (105) that is operative to flex when struck by a coal rope that is present inside the coal delivery pipe (200), a strain gauge (115) that is operative to produce an electrical signal based upon the amount of flexing that the rod (105) is subjected to when struck by a coal rope that is present in the coal delivery pipe (200), and a processor that is operative to determine based upon the electrical signal that is received thereby from the strain gauge (115) at least one of either the location of the coal rope within the coal delivery pipe (200) or the density of the coal rope within the coal delivery pipe (200).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2008Publication date: August 20, 2009Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTDInventors: William P. Bailey, Richard C. LaFlesh, Jeffrey S. Mann, David H. Nilson, Joseph W. Quinn
-
Patent number: 6202575Abstract: An air compartment of a corner windbox of a tangential firing system of a fossil fuel-fired furnace for injecting secondary air into the furnace. The air compartment includes a channel portion with an entrance end communicating with an air delivery duct and an exit end communicating via an exit assembly with the furnace opening. The exit assembly includes at least one vane for guiding an air stream and a mounting frame for supporting the vane relative to the channel portion for guiding thereby of an air stream passing from the channel portion through the furnace opening into the furnace. The vane includes a surface portion which intersects the horizontal plane at an acute angle and a pair of opposed transverse edges. The vane and the mounting frame are disposed within the channel portion such that the leading edge of the vane is upstream of the furnace opening.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1999Date of Patent: March 20, 2001Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.Inventors: Wesley P. Bauver, II, Richard C. LaFlesh, John C. Lewis, Robert D. Lewis
-
Patent number: 5960724Abstract: A method for effecting control over a radially stratified flame core burner that is particularly suited for employment in a firing system of a fossil fuel-fired furnace for purposes of reducing the NO.sub.X emissions from the fossil fuel-fired furnace. The subject method for effecting control over a radially stratified flame core burner enables the foregoing to be accomplished while yet at the same time minimizing CO emissions and the opacity of the exhaust from the stack of the fossil fuel-fired furnace without extending the envelope of the flame produced by the radially stratified flame core burner.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 1998Date of Patent: October 5, 1999Inventors: Majed A. Toqan, Richard W. Borio, Thomas G. Duby, Richard C. LaFlesh, Julie A. Nicholson, David E. Thornock
-
Patent number: 5315939Abstract: An integrated low NO.sub.x tangential firing system (12) that is particularly suited for use with pulverized solid fuel-fired furnaces (10), and a method of operating a pulverized solid fuel-fired furnace (10) equipped with an integrated low NO.sub.x tangential firing system (12). The integrated low NO.sub.x tangential firing system (12) when so employed with a pulverized solid fuel-fired furnace (10) is capable of limiting NO.sub.x emissions therefrom to less than 0.15 lb./10.sup. 6 BTU, while yet maintaining carbon-in-flyash to less than 5% and CO emissions to less than 50 ppm. The integrated low NO.sub.x tangential firing system (12) includes pulverized solid fuel supply means (62), flame attachment pulverized solid fuel nozzle tips (60), concentric firing nozzles, close-coupled overfire air (98,100), and multi-staged separate overfire air (104,106).Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1993Date of Patent: May 31, 1994Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Rini, Todd D. Hellewell, David P. Towle, Patrick L. Jennings, Richard C. LaFlesh, David K. Anderson
-
Patent number: 4562966Abstract: An atomizer (14) for producing a finely dispersed spray (16) of a solid-liquid slurry (18) includes a mixing body (22) having an internal mixing chamber (28) and a spray outlet passage (30). The flow cross-section of the mixing chamber (28) is elongated in shape, with an atomizing medium inlet passage (24) for injecting an atomizing medium (20) into the mixing chamber (28) co-linearly with the spray outlet passage (30). The slurry inlet passage (26) injects the slurry (18) into the mixing chamber (28) at an angle (32) oblique to the flow of atomizing medium and perpendicular to the mixing chamber flow cross-section elongation.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1983Date of Patent: January 7, 1986Assignee: Canadian Patents and Development Limited/Societe Canadienne des Brevets et d'Exploitation LimiteeInventors: Donald A. Smith, Richard C. LaFlesh
-
Patent number: 4221174Abstract: A method of direct ignition of pulverized coal to furnish energy for warm-up or low load operation of a coal burning furnace comprises forming a fuel stream consisting of a mixture of pulverized coal and air, the fuel stream having an air to coal ratio and/or a flow velocity which fluctuates. The fluctuating fluid stream is introduced into a combustion area where the coal is ignited by an energy source. The fluctuation of the air to coal ratio and/or the fluctuation of the flow speed provide for the air to coal ratio and/or the flow speed to be swept through a range of values which includes the optimum conditions for ignition.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 1978Date of Patent: September 9, 1980Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Donald A. Smith, Richard C. LaFlesh