Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined cycle power plant comprising a air compressor providing pressurized air at pressure greater than 2 bar; a gas turbine means for driving the gas compressor means; a pressure vessel, circular in cross-section, connected to said air compressor and being capable of withstanding pressures greater than 2 bar; a pressurized circulating fluidized bed reactor enclosed by the pressure vessel, the circulating fluidized bed reactor having a reactor chamber, including substantially planar steam generation tube walls having a bottom section; means for leading hot combustion gases away from said reactor; one or more non-circular centrifugal separator(s) disposed within said pressure vessel being adapted to the reactor chamber and internal pressure vessel geometry for receiving and purifying hot combustion gases, having a gas outlet leading from said separator out of said pressure vessel; said centrifugal separator comprising a vertical vortex chamber having distinctly planar steam

Abstract: A pressurized fluidized bed reactor is provided utilizing a centrifugal separator having a gas space that is distinctly non-circular, preferably having a circularity of greater than or equal to 1.15. Most desirably the cyclone has a quadrate (e.g. square) cross-section, and is disposed inside of the pressure vessel along with the reactor chamber containing the fluidized bed. A number of ceramic candle or honeycomb filters may be provided connected to the gas outlet from the cyclone separator, within the pressure vessel, to filter the gas. This construction provides a minimized diameter of the pressure vessel because the reactor chamber with square cyclones is more compact than if conventional circular cross-section cyclones are employed. Also a second pressure vessel is not needed for the candle or honeycomb filters since there is sufficient room within the pressure vessel to accommodate them.

Abstract: A fluidized bed combustor or gasifier has a combustion chamber(s) with a non-symmetrical horizontal cross section. The chamber may be trapezoidal, hemispherical, or may have five or more side walls of at least two different lengths. The walls of the combustion chamber may be water tube panels. An external pressure vessel surrounds the combustion chamber(s) and associated particle separator(s), and may be spherical or cylindrical.

Abstract: Filter assemblies, such as ceramic or super alloy filter tubes, for combustible gases laden with particles, are safely cleaned by providing a back pressure pulse of a clean combustible gas. The clean combustible gas, such as methane, ethane, propane, or butane, and may either be stored in an accumulator or tank as gas, or may be stored in liquid form and flashed into a gas before use. The pulsing gas may pass through a venturi, intermittent or periodic control of the valve to supply the back pressure gas through the venturi being provided. The cleaned combustible gas mixes with the clean combustible gas and passes through the filter assembly to a use station, such as a combustor where the gases are burned.