Patents by Inventor Thomas Niehoff

Thomas Niehoff 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).

  • Publication number: 20210131734
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a furnace (12), comprising a furnace chamber (14), which is heated by means of at least one burner (16), wherein the method comprises a monitoring of a combustion in the furnace chamber (14), and monitoring a calorific value of a fuel determined for the burner (16). The invention further relates to a furnace system (10), and to a control unit (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventor: Thomas NIEHOFF
  • Publication number: 20170191757
    Abstract: A cupola furnace includes at least one tuyere opening into an interior of the cupola; and at least one oxygen stream and at least one natural gas (NG) stream in fluid communication with said at least one tuyere for providing oxygen and NG to the cupola furnace interior. A related method is also provided for heating a cupola furnace, and includes introducing at least one oxygen stream and at least one NG stream into the cupola furnace for reaction therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Reed Heine, Andrew Richardson, Thomas Niehoff
  • Patent number: 8419420
    Abstract: A burner includes a first fuel feed and a first oxidant feed surrounding the first fuel feed in the shape of a ring. The burner includes a second fuel feed arranged about the first oxidant feed in the shape of a ring, and a second oxidant feed arranged about the second fuel feed in the shape of a ring. In addition, a plurality of oxygen lances are provided, which have a smaller radial distance from the burner centre than the second fuel feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Niehoff
  • Publication number: 20120189965
    Abstract: A burner includes a first fuel feed and a first oxidant feed surrounding the first fuel feed in the shape of a ring. The burner includes a second fuel feed arranged about the first oxidant feed in the shape of a ring, and a second oxidant feed arranged about the second fuel feed in the shape of a ring. In addition, a plurality of oxygen lances are provided, which have a smaller radial distance from the burner centre than the second fuel feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas NIEHOFF
  • Patent number: 8163062
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearth furnace encompassing a furnace chamber heated by at least one burner, including: a) introducing metal-containing material into the hearth furnace, b) melting the metal-containing material in a first melting phase until a melting bath surface has formed, c) melting the metal-containing material in a second melting phase after the melting bath surface has formed, d) removing and/or holding the melted metal, characterized in that the at least one burner is operated during the phase (b) such that a larger portion of burner capacity is emitted in convection rather than in radiant energy, and that respective portions of convection heat and of radiant heat emitted by the at least one burner are adjusted specifically via adjustment of brightness and/or size, in particular length of a flame of the at least one burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Niehoff
  • Patent number: 8127574
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing mineral wool, wherein a mineral base material is melted in a cupola furnace having a shaft to hold the base material, the lower section of said shaft being provided with a grate, and beneath said grate there is a combustion chamber. The combustion chamber is heated by one or a plurality of burners, the burner or burners being run on liquid or gaseous fuel and an oxygen-containing gas. The burners are operated such that the length of the flames occurring during combustion of the fuel with the oxygen-containing gas is between 60% and 100% of the combustion chamber diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Niehoff, Herbert Plaschke, Dirk Rogge, Bernd Rudolph
  • Patent number: 8071013
    Abstract: The invention relates to operating a shaft furnace, in particular a cupola furnace, for melting starting material, wherein the shaft furnace is heated by combustion of a solid fuel and wherein an injection gas, which has an oxygen portion of more than 21%, is injected into the shaft furnace. The shaft furnace is heated by means of at least one burner, wherein a gaseous or liquid fuel and a gaseous oxidant, which encompasses an oxygen portion of more than 21%, is supplied to the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Niehoff, Peter Kokas
  • Publication number: 20110162485
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearth furnace encompassing a furnace chamber heated by at least one burner, including: a) introducing metal-containing material into the hearth furnace, b) melting the metal-containing material in a first melting phase until a melting bath surface has formed, c) melting the metal-containing material in a second melting phase after the melting bath surface has formed, d) removing and/or holding the melted metal, characterized in that the at least one burner is operated during the phase (b) such that a larger portion of burner capacity is emitted in convection rather than in radiant energy, and that respective portions of convection heat and of radiant heat emitted by the at least one burner are adjusted specifically via adjustment of brightness and/or size, in particular length of a flame of the at least one burner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventor: Thomas NIEHOFF
  • Publication number: 20100186552
    Abstract: The invention relates to operating a shaft furnace, in particular a cupola furnace, for melting starting material, wherein the shaft furnace is heated by combustion of a solid fuel and wherein an injection gas, which has an oxygen portion of more than 21%, is injected into the shaft furnace. The shaft furnace is heated by means of at least one burner, wherein a gaseous or liquid fuel and a gaseous oxidant, which encompasses an oxygen portion of more than 21%, is supplied to the burner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas NIEHOFF, Peter KOKAS
  • Publication number: 20090314035
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing mineral wool, wherein a mineral base material is melted in a cupola furnace having a shaft to hold the base material, the lower section of said shaft being provided with a grate, and beneath said grate there is a combustion chamber. The combustion chamber is heated by one or a plurality of burners, the burner or burners being run on liquid or gaseous fuel and an oxygen-containing gas. The burners are operated such that the length of the flames occurring during combustion of the fuel with the oxygen-containing gas is between 60% and 100% of the combustion chamber diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Niehoff, Herbert Plaschke, Dirk Rogge, Bernd Rudolph
  • Publication number: 20090293548
    Abstract: Method and device for manufacturing siliceous melts to produce light-yellow mineral wool fibres using a cupola furnace includes (a) a charge including at least two different types of briquet, wherein chemical components take into account an anticipated proportion of iron, (b) the components of Al2O3 in the briquets are a supporting structure for the melting process, (c) a plurality of high temperature gas burners for heating, an arrangement of said gas burners chosen such that the burner flames reinforce each other, (d) collecting pan flared conically downwards from a mantle of a shaft in the furnace to a floor of the furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Niehoff, Herbert Plaschke, Reinhard Jager, Dirk Rogge, Bernd Rudolph