With Programmed Or Cyclic Control Means Patents (Class 110/191)
-
Patent number: 10208532Abstract: A thermally insulating curtain for windows and rooms provided with glass or transparent material. The curtain has an outer solar-energy-absorbing surface outside a thermally insulating layer. A space is disposed between the solar-energy-absorbing surface and a transparent layer situated outside the solar-energy-absorbing layer and/or between the solar-energy-absorbing surface and the thermally insulating layer. The curtain includes a structure that transports air through the space, and a fastener for arranging the curtain on the inside of a window, so that absorbed solar energy is supplied to the room behind the curtain.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2014Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Inventor: Peter Hertz
-
Patent number: 9429315Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus of controlling an oxygen supply in an oxyfuel combustion boiler capable of attaining stable oxyfuel combustion even when properties of coal are changed. A boiler-brought-in oxygen density is obtained when coal with a fuel ratio measured by fuel measuring means 39 is burned stably with oxygen in a boiler 4 so that a relationship between the fuel ratio and/or carbon content of the coal and the boiler-brought-in oxygen density is obtained and inputted in advance into the controller. When the coal is changed to the new kind of coal, a total amount of gases recirculated is regulated such that a boiler-brought-in oxygen density becomes accordance with a fuel ratio and/or a carbon content which is measured in advance for the new kind of coal.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2008Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignees: IHI Corporation, ELECTRIC POWER DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Shuuhei Terushita, Toshihiko Yamada, Shuzo Watanabe, Terutoshi Uchida
-
Patent number: 8961170Abstract: A pulverized coal thermal power generation system that significantly reduces the amount of NOx emissions from a boiler and does not require a denitration unit is provided. When a denitration unit is not used, performance to remove mercury from a boiler waste gas is reduced. A waste gas purification system for a pulverized coal boiler, that compensates for this is provided. A pulverized coal boiler having a furnace for burning pulverized coal, burners for supplying pulverized coal and air used for combustion into the furnace so as to burn the pulverized coal in an insufficient air state and after-air ports provided on the downstream side of the burners for supplying air used for perfect combustion characterized in that, an air ratio in the furnace is 1.05 to 1.14, and the residence time of a combustion gas from the burner disposed on the uppermost stage to a main after-air port is 1.1 to 3.3 seconds.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2008Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Babcock-Hitachi K.K.Inventors: Hisayuki Orita, Masayuki Taniguchi, Akihito Orii, Yuki Kamikawa, Hirofumi Okazaki
-
Patent number: 8777119Abstract: A heated air makeup unit comprising a heating chamber with a modulated furnace one or more non-modulated furnaces air temperature control and efficient furnace operation over a wide heating rate range. The utilization of indirect fired furnaces in the heated air makeup unit is disclosed. A control system is included to provide control of heated air temperature to within +/?1 F.° using continuous control of the heating rate of the modulated furnace and stepwise activation and de-activation of the non-modulated furnaces in response to heating demand. A programmed combustion air flow controller programmed to provide optimal airflow for any gas flow in a flow range of a modulating gas valve is provided to assure combustion efficiencies of at least 83%.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Captive-Aire Systems, Inc.Inventors: William Brian Griffin, Brandon Charles Wellington
-
Patent number: 8591608Abstract: A gasifier includes a combustion zone where a gas is introduced and fuel is combusted and at least one sensor for measuring a predetermined condition in the gasifier. A grate subsystem contains the fuel and includes at least one grinding mechanism. A controller is responsive to the at least one sensor and controls the grinding mechanism by activating the grinding mechanism if the predetermined condition exists to reduce the collection of non-fuel products on the grate subsystem.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2009Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: MSW Power CorporationInventors: Matthew Young, Steven Anthony, Stephen Armstrong, Steven Chase
-
Patent number: 8578869Abstract: A method and apparatus to batch de-coat the organics in metal scrap, and/or gasify the organics from certain types of waste material (including biomass, municipal solid waste, industrial waste, and sludge). The apparatus is suited for use on a batch tilting single entry rotary furnace of the type used to melt the metal scrap in the aluminum industry. The apparatus uses a burner in the tilting rotary furnace but does not necessarily melt the metal scrap. It preferably operates below the melting temperature of the metal scrap (<1400 F) and below the stoichiometric level (more specifically <12% oxygen) to partially combust the organic in the tilting rotary furnace. The gasified organics depart the furnace in a complete closed circuit where no air is allowed to entrain into the flue gases. These organic filled gases (synthetic gases) are fully incinerated in a separate thermal oxidizer where a stoichiometric burner uses either natural gas or liquid fuel to ignite the synthetic gas.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2008Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Chinook Sciences LLCInventor: Fanli Meng
-
Patent number: 8489241Abstract: An exemplary method is disclosed for controlling on-line the steam output of a waste incineration plant that is fed with waste of varying composition. Process or system quantities (u2, u3, xGC, xLL, w0) can be measured repeatedly, at different times during operation of the plant, and a relation with linear parameters (?i) as coefficients of non-linear expressions (?i) of the process quantities can be established by evaluating the measurements. From this relation, an optimal waste feed rate to obtain a desired steam output ({dot over (M)}steam) can be determined and applied to a waste feed actuator of the waste incineration plant.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2007Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: ABB Technology AGInventors: Silvia Bardi, Alessandro Astolfi
-
Patent number: 8443739Abstract: Through the addition of tertiary air and a reduction of secondary air, NOx emissions from a waste-to-energy (WTE) boiler may be reduced. The tertiary air is added to the WTE at a distance from the secondary air, in a boiler region of relatively lower temperatures. A secondary NOx reduction system, such as a selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) system using ammonia or urea, may also be added to the boiler with tertiary air to achieve desirable high levels of NOx reductions. The SNCR additives are introduced to the WTE boiler proximate to the tertiary air.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2011Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Covanta Energy CorporationInventors: Stephen P. Goff, Mark L. White, Stephen G. Deduck, John D. Clark, Christopher A. Bradley, Robert L. Barker, Zenon Semanyshyn
-
Patent number: 8293646Abstract: A high quality interface is formed at a low oxygen-carbon density between a substrate and a thin film while preventing heat damage on the substrate and increase of thermal budget. This method includes a step of loading a wafer into a reaction furnace, a step of pretreating the wafer in the reaction furnace, a step of performing a main processing of the pretreated wafer in the reaction furnace, and a step of unloading the wafer from the reaction furnace after the main processing. Hydrogen gas is continuously supplied to the reaction furnace in the period from the end of the pretreating step to the start of the main processing and at least during vacuum-exhausting an interior of the reaction furnace.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2005Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.Inventors: Takashi Ozaki, Osamu Kasahara, Takaaki Noda, Kiyohiko Maeda, Atsushi Moriya, Minoru Sakamoto
-
Publication number: 20110079653Abstract: A heated air makeup unit comprising a heating chamber with a modulated furnace one or more non-modulated furnaces air temperature control and efficient furnace operation over a wide heating rate range. The utilization of indirect fired furnaces in the heated air makeup unit is disclosed. A control system is included to provide control of heated air temperature to within +/?1 F.° using continuous control of the heating rate of the modulated furnace and stepwise activation and de-activation of the non-modulated furnaces in response to heating demand. A programmed combustion air flow controller programmed to provide optimal airflow for any gas flow in a flow range of a modulating gas valve is provided to assure combustion efficiencies of at least 83%.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2009Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicant: Captive-Aire Systems, Inc.Inventors: William Brian Griffin, Brandon Charles Wellington
-
Patent number: 7849805Abstract: A primary air system for a combustion plant provides a flow of primary air to at least one coal pulverizer, which emits pulverized coal in a downstream direction to a furnace. The primary air system includes a first primary air line for feeding hot primary air to the coal pulverizer and a second primary air line for admixing of cold primary air into the hot primary air line at a mixing location positioned upstream of the coal pulverizer. A control system shuts off the flow of primary air to the coal pulverizer, when the coal pulverizer is being repaired or serviced while the furnace is in operation. The control system includes a first flow control butterfly valve disposed in the first primary air line at a position upstream of the mixing location and a second flow control butterfly valve disposed in the second primary air line at a position upstream of the mixing location.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2008Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.Inventors: Hellmuth Brüggemann, Frank Rauch, Hasthika Weerasinghe
-
Publication number: 20100151397Abstract: Method of controlling the operation of a combustion device to provide safe and reliable operation while reducing NOx emission that includes providing a flow of fuel and diluent at a determined volume ratio to a flame in the combustion device; providing a flame stability sensor to generate a measurement of a characteristic of the flame, providing a flow measurement for each of the fuel and diluent, and controlling the determined volume ratio of fuel:diluent using the measurement from the flame stability sensor and/or flow measurements. A combustion system incorporating this method also is included.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2009Publication date: June 17, 2010Applicant: ExxonMobile Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: John T. FARRELL, San CHHOTRAY, Gary T. DOBBS, Manuel S. ALVAREZ, Patrick D. SCHWEITZER
-
Publication number: 20100139532Abstract: An apparatus for generating heat and consisting of: a) a firebox; b) a combustor assembly; c) a fuel inlet; d) an air inlet through which air is delivered to a combustion location; e) an outlet for releasing heated air; f) an outlet damper assembly; and g) an inlet damper assembly. The inlet and outlet damper assemblies are constructed to both be placed or maintained in safety states in response to the apparatus being placed in certain predetermined states to thereby prevent, or smother, combustion of solid fuel within the apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2008Publication date: June 10, 2010Inventor: Steven E. Guzorek
-
Patent number: 7636992Abstract: In a continuous-feed thermomolding machine a foil is advanced in a transport direction at a constant travel speed through a heat station where it is exposed to a heat source such that each piece of the foil is exposed for a predetermined residence time. When the machine is stopped, a shield is positioned in the station between the foil and the source so that substantially no heat is imparted to the foil from the source. The machine is started by accelerating the foil to the travel speed while simultaneously and synchronously accelerating the shield opposite to the travel direction such that, as the shield fully retracts from the station, the foil reaches the travel speed and, before the shield has fully retracted from the station, every piece of the foil in the station exposed by the retracting shield is exposed to the source for the residence time.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2005Date of Patent: December 29, 2009Assignee: Uhlmann PAC-Systeme GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Jürgen Matzenmüller, Wolfgang Grube
-
Publication number: 20090117752Abstract: A high quality interface is formed at a low oxygen-carbon density between a substrate and a thin film while preventing heat damage on the substrate and increase of thermal budget. This method includes a step of loading a wafer into a reaction furnace, a step of pretreating the wafer in the reaction furnace, a step of performing a main processing of the pretreated wafer in the reaction furnace, and a step of unloading the wafer from the reaction furnace after the main processing. Hydrogen gas is continuously supplied to the reaction furnace in the period from the end of the pretreating step to the start of the main processing and at least during vacuum-exhausting an interior of the reaction furnace.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2005Publication date: May 7, 2009Applicant: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.Inventors: Takashi Ozaki, Osamu Kasahara, Takaaki Noda, Kiyohiko Maeda, Atsushi Moriya, Minoru Sakamoto
-
Publication number: 20090000530Abstract: A waste oil combustion apparatus can use various kinds of waste oils and burn the same efficiently, and permits effective utilization of the thermal energy resulting from the combustion thereof. The apparatus includes a bottomed cylindrical combustion furnace, a waste oil supply unit for supplying waste oil into the furnace, an auxiliary-fuel supply unit for supplying auxiliary fuel for burning the waste oil in the furnace, an ignition burner for heating the furnace inside and the waste oil and auxiliary fuel to ignite the fuels, an air supply unit for supplying air to the furnace, and a controller for controlling each of the igniting burner, waste oil supply unit, auxiliary-fuel supply unit and air supply unit to act at a predetermined time and operate for a predetermined time. The waste oil is spirally swirled inside the furnace under the action of air from the air supply unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: Fujita Manufacturing Co., LtdInventor: Syuichiro Fujita
-
Publication number: 20080156236Abstract: A pulverized coal combustion boiler 100 comprising: a furnace 50; a plurality of burners 6 for supplying and burning pulverized coal fuel in the furnace arranged at positions of a plurality of stages having different heights on a furnace front wall 51 and a furnace rear wall 52 of furnace wall surfaces forming the furnace 50, the furnace rear wall 52 arranged for facing the furnace front wall 51; a plurality of mills 2 arranged for supplying the pulverized coal fuel to the plurality of burners 6 arranged at each of the plurality of stages; and pulverized fuel pipes 5 arranged for distributing and supplying the pulverized coal to the plurality of burners 6 at each of the stages of the furnace front wall 51 and the furnace rear wall 52 from each of the plurality of mills 2.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2007Publication date: July 3, 2008Inventors: Osamu Ito, Masayuki Taniguchi, Hironobu Kobayashi, Keiichiro Yamamoto, Yoshio Shimogori, Teruyuki Okazaki, Kenji Kiyama
-
Publication number: 20080053348Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method of controlling on-line the steam output of a waste incineration plant that is fed with waste of varying composition. Process or system quantities (u2, u3, xGC, xLL, w0) are measured repeatedly, at different times during operation of the plant, and a relation with linear parameters (?i) as coefficients of non-linear expressions (?i) of the process quantities is established by evaluating said measurements. From this relation, an optimal waste feed rate to obtain a desired steam output ({dot over (M)}steam) is determined and applied to a waste feed actuator of the waste incineration plant.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2007Publication date: March 6, 2008Applicant: ABB Technology AGInventors: Silvia Bardi, Alessandro Astolfi
-
Patent number: 6952997Abstract: A process for incinerating combustible materials including the steps of: delivering combustible material and inlet gases to a primary combustion chamber, the inlet gases having an oxygen content of at least 50 vol %; burning the combustible material with the oxygen of the inlet gases in the primary combustion chamber producing flue gases and solid particulates as thermal decomposition products of the burnt combustible material; passing the flue gases and particulates to a secondary combustion chamber where further combustion occurs; cooling the flue gases exiting the secondary combustion chamber; returning a portion of the cooled flue gases to at least one of the combustion chambers where the cooled gases moderate the temperature in the at least one chamber; and passing the remaining portion of cooled flue gases on to a flue gas purification system where pollutants in the flue gases and particulates are substantially converted to benign compounds or removed entirely before the flue gases are emitted into theType: GrantFiled: June 24, 2002Date of Patent: October 11, 2005Assignee: Pure Fire Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Yoram Shimrony, Zachary Bachmutzky
-
Patent number: 6748883Abstract: A control system for controlling the storing, feeding and burning of a pulverized fuel in a glass melting furnace, wherein a series of burners are arranged one in front of the other to carry out combustion and non-combustion cycles during a glass melting process. Pulverized fuel feeding systems are provided, which are filled up and emptied out with the pulverized material for providing a constant flow of the pulverized fuel to each of the burners dunng the glass melting process. The control system including control means for monitoring and controlling the filled up and discharge out of said pulverized fuel feeding system based on the measurement and monitoring of the amount of pulverized fuel that is being storaged and feeded by the pulverized fuel feeding system. Control means are provided for monitoring at least one operating variable involved on the glass melting furnace, the control means detecting a series of different variable during the glass melting process.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2002Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Vitro Global, S.A.Inventor: Iván Jorge Solis-Martinez
-
Patent number: 6499412Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method of controlling the incineration temperature of industrial waste incineration processes such that the incineration emissions products comply with governmental regulations and operating and capital costs are minimal. Modifying the incineration temperature in response to changes in the emission products and the waste streams results in optimal and reliable control of the incineration process and the resultant incineration emissions. Capital and operating costs are reduced significantly as a result.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2001Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Rohm and Haas CompanyInventors: Mayra Rodriguez Cochran, Charles Anthony Dafft, Michael Stanley DeCourcy, James Edward Elder, John Edward Henderson, Frederick Paul Fendt
-
Patent number: 6439135Abstract: A municipal waste gasification system comprises a plurality of primary gasification chambers for receiving municipal waste, a means for operating the municipal waste gasification system so that one or more of the primary gasification chambers may be idle while the other primary gasification chambers are operating to produce an effluent by an oxygen-starved process, a means for heating the municipal waste under oxygen-starved conditions in the primary gasification chambers in order to gasify the municipal waste and produce the effluent, and at least one mixing chamber positioned to receive the effluent produced by the primary gasification chambers with an effluent pathway extending through each mixing chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1997Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignee: International Environmental Technologies, Inc.Inventor: G. Michael Pope
-
Patent number: 6401632Abstract: An animal carcass incinerator including a housing defining a combustion chamber and a charge opening in the housing sized to permit an animal carcass to be inserted therethrough the charge opening having a corresponding charge door. The burner including a blower, is mounted to the incinerator and disposed to produce a flame within the combustion chamber. A heat sensor is disposed to monitor the combustion chamber. A control unit is included for controlling the operation of the burner. A line for communicating temperature signals is included and connects the heat sensor and the control unit. The control unit terminates the burner flame upon receiving a temperature signal corresponding to a first predetermined temperature in a combustion chamber. The blower of the burner introduces air into the combustion chamber after the combustion chamber has reached the first predetermined temperature and the control unit has terminated the burner flame.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1998Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: R & K Incinerator, Inc.Inventor: Mark A. Kaehr
-
Patent number: 6338306Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for discharging ash from a plurality of fossil-fuel boiler hoppers through actuator opened gate valves by opening only selected gate valves during a given discharge cycle and bypassing other hoppers. The time required to discharge a given hopper is determined and compared with a desired time range that would be required to discharge the hopper, if the hopper was filled to a desired percentage. Opening of a given hopper during subsequent cycles is based on a comparison of the actual discharge time with a desired discharge time range. If the actual discharge time is less than the minimum time of the desired time range, a time increment is assigned to the given hopper, and the hopper is bypassed on subsequent cycles until the assigned time increment has expired.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2000Date of Patent: January 15, 2002Assignee: Applied Synergistics, Inc.Inventor: Paul E. Perrone
-
Publication number: 20010027737Abstract: An energy conversion system which comprises a solid fuel fed combustor system having a first chamber portion with an inlet feed for feeding a metered amount of a solid fuel thereto, a first burner stage having a first traveling conveyor firebelt, a metered amount of air introduced in progressively increasing proportions along the length of the first traveling conveyor. A second burner stage having a second traveling conveyor firebelt with air introduced in a progressively decreasing amount along the length of said second traveling conveyor firebelt and a controller for controlling air introduced to the system. The chamber has a sloped common roof section common to the burner stages and is made of radiative energy reflective fire brick and angled to reflect radiative energy generated from fuel traveling on the traveling conveyor firebelts and directing the radiative energy on fuel traveling on the first firebelt.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 1998Publication date: October 11, 2001Inventor: STAN E. ABRAMS
-
Patent number: 6289266Abstract: A method of controlling operation of a particulate fuel burning boiler, such as a coal fired boiler, having a plurality of burners each receiving pulverized coal, primary air and secondary air. The flow rate of the pulverized coal, primary air and secondary air is determined independently for each burner and is compared with a model. In the event that the comparison results in a determination that one or more of the flow rates depart from the desired rate by a predetermined amount, a control signal is emitted to adjust the air to flow ratio entering the specific burner. The control signal which alters the air to fuel ratio may result in alteration of the air or fuel flow rates. The method may be employed to reduce NOx emissions, loss on ignition and to optimize heat rate.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 1999Date of Patent: September 11, 2001Assignee: Allegheny Power Service CorporationInventors: Edward P. Payson, Daniel V. Sendro
-
Patent number: 6276286Abstract: A compression device for feeding a waste material to a reactor includes a waste material feed assembly having a hopper, a supply tube and a compression tube. Each of the supply and compression tubes includes feed-inlet and feed-outlet ends. A feed-discharge valve assembly is located between the feed-outlet end of the compression tube and the reactor. A feed auger-screw extends axially in the supply tube between the feed-inlet and feed-outlet ends thereof. A compression auger-screw extends axially in the compression tube between the feed-inlet and feed-outlet ends thereof. The compression tube is sloped downwardly towards the reactor to drain fluid from the waste material to the reactor and is oriented at generally right angle to the supply tube such that the feed-outlet end of the supply tube is adjacent to the feed-inlet end of the compression tube.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2000Date of Patent: August 21, 2001Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: Paul M. Williams, Kenneth M. Faller, Edward J. Bauer
-
Patent number: 6273009Abstract: A method for automatized combustion of solid fuel in a combustion apparatus which comprises a burner with a device, which is rotatable about the center axis of the burner for stirring the fuel in the burner which is connected to a boiler and has a feeding-in opening for fuel in the rear end of the burner outside of the boiler and an outlet opening for completely or partly combusted flue gases in the front end of the burner which opens in a combustion chamber inside the boiler which comprises a convection unit, from which a hot water conduit extends, the combustion apparatus also including a fan provided to be driven by a second motor for blowing combustion air into the burner, and a fuel charge feeder for fuel provided to be driven by a third motor.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2000Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: Swedish Bioburner System AktiebolagInventor: Jan Magnusson
-
Patent number: 6189460Abstract: A combustion system for reducing an amount of air polluting substances in a combustion exhaust gas produced in a combustion furnace comprises a combustion furnace configured to produce a combustion exhaust gas upon combustion of a combustible material, wherein the combustion exhaust gas contains an amount of air polluting substances; an analyzer suitable for analyzing the combustion exhaust gas and producing an analytical signal; a conduit suitable for conducting the combustion exhaust gas from the outlet opening to the analyzer, wherein the conduit is located adjacent the outlet opening of the combustion furnace; a controller suitable for processing the analytical signal produced by the analyzer and outputting a first control signal and a second control signal, based on the analytical signal; a neutralizer supplier suitable for supplying the combustion furnace with an amount of neutralizers to reduce the amount of air polluting substances in the combustion exhaust gas, wherein the amount of neutralizers suppType: GrantFiled: December 29, 1997Date of Patent: February 20, 2001Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshiharu Abe, Yoshiyasu Fukui, Noriyuki Yamada, Takanori Shiina, Setsuo Kikuchi, Yoshinori Akagawa
-
Patent number: 6164221Abstract: The invention provides a method which includes the step of locating a burner of a low NOx boiler that produces a disproportionately high quantity of unburned carbon. The air-to-fuel ratio at the burner is then increased to decrease the percentage of unburned carbon attributable to the burner. The air-to-fuel ratio at a second burner of the low NOx boiler is reduced to maintain a substantially constant total air-to-fuel ratio in the low NOx boiler.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1998Date of Patent: December 26, 2000Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Facchiano, Richard A. Brown, Wate T. Bakker, Robert R. Hardman
-
Patent number: 6090180Abstract: A cupola emission control system is provided that includes both improved physical emission control equipment and improved controls for operating such equipment. The physical emission control improvements include an orifice ring of restricted diameter above the cupola main afterburners to improve the turbulence of the air in the upper cupola area to allow improved combustion of carbon monoxide. Further, twin venturis are provided with improved air passage control equipment to affect the temperature in the upper cupola combustion area. Further, an improved control system is provided whereby actual time calculations are made for remaining emission permitted amounts of certain pollutants, mainly carbon monoxide, and real time adjustments are made for cupola operation to assure compliance with such permitted emission limits.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1998Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: AMSTED Industries IncorporatedInventors: Robert G. Peting, Gregory K. Qualizza, Craig E. McNally, Mitchell E. Kidd
-
Patent number: 6055916Abstract: A material processing apparatus includes a casing having a top and bottom and a plurality of sides defining a pyrolysis chamber for receiving and pyrolyzing feed materials therein into fluid materials and a mass of refractory material disposed upon the bottom of the casing and spaced below the top thereof and extending between its sides. The refractory mass includes an upper surface defining a bottom of the pyrolysis chamber and having an end spaced from a first one of the casing sides to define an ash residue collection cavity therebetween. The apparatus also includes a system of tunnels defined within the refractory mass being spaced below the upper surface thereof.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Inventors: Paul H. Stevers, Roger D. Eshleman, Earl H. Sigman, John Kevin Pollard
-
Patent number: 6055915Abstract: A method of wood waste disposal which regulates factors such as the amount of wood residue being fed to an incinerator at any given time so that wood residue from a mill is processed promptly and efficiently without compromising the efficient operation of the incinerator. The wood residue is separated into at least two fractions, the first fraction being directed to a storage bin for later use as required, and the second fraction being directed to the incinerator. During periods of slack feed of the second fraction to the incinerator, portions of the first fraction, as required, are directed to the incinerator as make-up, in order to maintain an optimal range of incinerator conditions by manipulating the volume and flow of wood residue in cooperation with manipulating other factors.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 1997Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Inventors: Roy A. Bickell, Tjeerd E. Vanderveen
-
Patent number: 5988079Abstract: An unburned carbon and other combustibles monitoring and control system for a fly ash producing fossil-fueled boiler, such as a pulverized coal fired boiler. An infrared imaging camera counts the moving hot particles entrained in the hot gases downstream of the furnace region of the boiler and provides a first signal representative of the number of hot particles in the hot gases over a predetermined period of time. A signal processor is connected to the infrared imaging camera for counting the hot particles for receiving the signal representative of the number of particles in the hot gases and providing a second signal representative of the mass flow of unburned carbon and other combustibles content of the fly ash produced by the boiler, the second signal being a function of the first signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 1997Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: Framatome Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Hudson R. Carter
-
Patent number: 5979340Abstract: A robotic mechanism which can be attached to a furnace hopper and includes a frame which supports a pole insertion mechanism for inserting a pole into a furnace hopper. The pole insertion mechanism is supported from the Fame by a gimbal and moves the pole axially. Hydraulic actuators rotate the pole insertion mechanism about the gimbal. A control system is associated with the mechanism and enables an operator to position the end of the pole within the hopper to remove clinkers.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1998Date of Patent: November 9, 1999Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas SystemInventors: Carl Thomas Michael Haas, Sidigata Venkataraman Sreenivasan, Alfred Ellis Traver, Kamel Shawki Saidi, Jongwon Seo, Richard Lael Greer
-
Patent number: 5555821Abstract: An apparatus and process for removing unburned carbon in fly ash. The apparatus includes a stainless steel heating chamber heated in a range from 800 to 1200 degrees F. The fly ash is introduced at one end of the heating chamber and moved slowly to an opposite end by a screw auger. The auger mixes the fly ash with oxygen. The oxygen is introduced at spaced apart heating areas along the length of the heating chamber. The oxygen accelerates the heating and burning of the unwanted carbon in the fly ash. The amount of oxygen introduced into the heating chamber is under computer control to regulate the temperature in the heating chamber and the heating of the fly ash. In the burning of the unwanted carbon in the fly ash, the carbon acts as a fuel in combination with the oxygen for heating the fly ash and removing the carbon from the fly ash. The heating chamber is also used to preheat untreated fly ash received through a preheating chamber before it is introduced into the heating chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1994Date of Patent: September 17, 1996Inventor: Morris P. Martinez
-
Patent number: 5361710Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for actively controlling a combustion process such as a waste incinerator by means of a spatial and temporal synchronized injection of fuel. The improved method and apparatus employs an active control system which controls the intentional formation of large scale, coherent vortices and the synchronized injection of the fuel supply at various locations relative to the formation of the vortices. The preferred apparatus comprises an actuator or similar structure that is adapted for producing and stabilizing discrete, large scale vortices in a combustion device. In addition, another device controls or modulates the injection of the fuel into the vortices at the optimal location and timing relative to the vortex cycle. As applied to an incinerator, this method can be optimized to ensures that the fuel and waste are introduced into the highest temperature locations, were extended residence times are obtained by trapping the fuel and waste inside the vortices.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 1993Date of Patent: November 8, 1994Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Ephraim Gutmark, Klaus C. Schadow, Timothy P. Parr, Donna M. Hanson-Parr, Kenneth J. Wilson, Robert A. Smith, Richard A. Stalnaker
-
Patent number: 5280756Abstract: A method and system for controlling and providing guidance in reducing the level of NO.sub.x emissions based on controllable combustion parameters and model calculations while maintaining satisfactory plant performance and not causing other harmful consequences to the furnace. To implement such a system, boiler control values of flow, pressure, temperature, valve and damper positions in addition to emission sensors for data associated with the production of NO.sub.x, O.sub.2, CO, unburned carbon and fuel. This information is received from standard sensors located throughout a boiler which are connected either to a distributed control system (DCS), or another data acquisition system which is time coordinated with the DCS. The DCS passes this information to a computing device which then processes the information by model based optimization simulation programs, also referred to as the NO.sub.x Emissions Advisor.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1993Date of Patent: January 25, 1994Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.Inventor: Donald E. Labbe
-
Patent number: 5044287Abstract: A method for controlling combustion in a furnace into which combustible material, e.g., urban refuse, industrial waste, and a controlled quantity of combustion air are fed. The furnace includes a mixing/stirring region where unburnt gas and secondary combustion air are mixed and stirred. A part of exhaust gas derived from the furnace is blown into the mixing/stirring region depending on variation in the quantity of the secondary combustion air, and a flow rate of mixture gas consists of the exhaust gas and the secondary combustion air to be fed into the mixing/stirring region is maintained within a predetermined region so that effective combustion takes place.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 1990Date of Patent: September 3, 1991Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventors: Masaaki Furukawa, Hiroshi Yoshida, Takeyuki Naito, Keiichi Sato
-
Patent number: 4909160Abstract: A temperature-controlled exhaust particulate collection system used with a high temperature material processing facility has a serial arrangement of devices in the form of a spray cooler, spark arrester and dust collector which receive the particulate-laden exhaust gas flow from the facility and operate to separate and collect the particulates from the gas flow before venting to atmosphere. The collection system also has control devices in the form of temperature sensors or thermocouples, valves and dampers whose respective functions are to monitor and control operations of the collection system. The thermocouples sense temperatures at strategically located points in the exhaust gas flow, and the valves and dampers regulate operation of the facility and the spray cooler, spark arrester and dust collector in response to the temperatures sensed by the thermocouples to maintain the temperatures at or below predetermined limits and to protect the latter from temperature-induced damage.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 1988Date of Patent: March 20, 1990Assignee: ETA Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Ronald J. Frick, John L. Luttman, William K. Blaskie
-
Patent number: 4751886Abstract: A batch-type pyrolysis furnace fired by a main heat source such as a gas burner or an electric heating coil in combination with an afterburner to burn volatiles generated in the furnace's main chamber, is operated to incinerate high-polymer loads smokelessy, yet is effectively safeguarded from explosions. A single thermocouple (throat TC) senses the instantaneous temperature in the throat of the furnace and in cooperation with a programmable controller, maintains a preselected ramp and soak temperature profile over the entire burn cycle. When the temperature required by the profile is exceeded, a single water spray actuated by a signal from the PC lowers the temperature below the profile. The throat TC thus maintains a fire under controlled temperature conditions in the main chamber without an explosion, using a single-stage system.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 1986Date of Patent: June 21, 1988Inventors: Robert A. Koptis, Robert F. Heran
-
Patent number: 4519323Abstract: The present invention relates to a velocity controlling apparatus and method to be used with a stoker type burning apparatus on a refuse incinerator which moves refuse successively by reciprocating motion of movable fire grates. The movable fire grates, which repeat reciprocating motion in a cycle of forward movement from a backward end, backward movement from a forward end and a stop at the backward end, is so controlled that the total of time Tf of the forward movement, time Tb of the backward movement, and time Ts of the resting at the backward end equals a standard cycle time Tc calculated on the basis of a predetermined frequency N (N/min.) of the reciprocating motion of the movable fire grates.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1984Date of Patent: May 28, 1985Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TakumaInventors: Osamu Takano, Koji Fujiwara
-
Patent number: 4422067Abstract: A safety circuit which connects a condition responsive circuit to a cyclic signal detecting circuit. In order to provide the cyclic signal detecting circuit with a continuous cyclic input, the condition responsive circuit and a cyclic redundancy checker is provided. The cyclic redundancy checker identifies a specific series of logic bits from the condition responsive circuit and responds favorably only to that series of logic bits. If any other series of logic bits occurs, the cyclic redundancy checker of the system ceases to function, thereby causing the cyclic signal detecting circuit to cease to function and it in turn opens a series contact to deenergize a critical load in a control system.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1981Date of Patent: December 20, 1983Assignee: Honeywell Inc.Inventors: Rodney L. Clark, William R. Landis, Paul B. Patton, Charles B. Yancey
-
Patent number: 4398472Abstract: A recirculating oven in which air and oxidized gases from a burner tube are directed to evaporation zone outlets at the bottom of the oven and curing zone outlets at the top and fed into a pair of wire work chambers, the gas streams mixing between the zones and return with volatile substances through a return duct to a burner mounted in the upper portion of the burner tube. The burner tube is mounted within a burner tube housing partitioned so that the volatile fumes returning to the burner are maintained separately from the oxidized gases and air exiting from the burner tube. The burner is electrically energized and has a cylindrical housing supporting a number of radial vanes supported between spaced baffle plates, the vanes imparting a vortex pattern to the gases entering holes in the housing periphery. A support plate on the top of the housing carries two high temperature ceramic igniter heater elements surrounded by a multiplicity of resistance type electrical heating elements.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1982Date of Patent: August 16, 1983Assignee: Hudson Wire CompanyInventors: Richard E. Burke, Edward H. Harris, Joseph W. Bolton