Abstract: The invention includes mixing gas or solid particulate fuel in a conduit segment that houses a mixing chamber. Fuel is fed through a fuel inlet port into the mixing chamber. High velocity combustion air from a blower is forced into the mixing chamber through a restricted orifice that generates a suction pressure for drawing gas or solid particulate fuel into the mixing chamber. A combustion chamber supply conduit delivers fuel from the mixing chamber into a burner.

Abstract: The grate is used for burning a granular fuel material, for instance a biomass material, to be fed onto a loading area of the grate while a primary air feed is coming from below the grate. The grate includes a perforated bed floor having a downwardly-sloping upper surface converging towards a discharge opening where char is concentrated as the granular fuel material is burned during operation. The grate also includes an elongated and bottom-perforated char-receiving conduit positioned immediately under the bed floor. The char-receiving conduit has an inlet end positioned under the discharge opening, and an outlet end that is opposite the inlet end. The char-receiving conduit downwardly slopes between the inlet end and the outlet end. A method of burning a granular fuel material is also disclosed. The proposed concept can increase the overall thermal efficiency of a heat generator and reduce gas and particle emissions in the atmosphere.

Abstract: A biomass gasification system for efficiently extracting heat energy from biomass material. The biomass gasification system includes a primary combustion chamber, a rotating grate within the primary combustion chamber for supporting the biomass during gasification, a feeder unit in communication with the primary combustion chamber for delivering biomass, a secondary combustion chamber fluidly connected to the primary combustion chamber, an oxygen mixer positioned between the primary combustion chamber and the secondary combustion chamber, a heat exchanger and an exhaust stack.

Abstract: Apparatus for batch processing source material into charcoal in a battery of kilns, each of which use forced convection of process gases through the source material to shorten the process cycle time, and all of which use an external combustor to burn the process waste gases from each kiln to provide the primary source of applied energy for the process.

Abstract: The gasifier includes a furnace bed segmented into individual cells, each cell is independently monitored using a ramp temperature probe, and provided with controlled air injection to provide individually controlled burn regions within the gasifier. Gasifier air injection includes tuyere arrays, lances, or both.

Abstract: A biomass gasification system for efficiently extracting heat energy from biomass material. The biomass gasification system includes a primary combustion chamber, a rotating grate within the primary combustion chamber for supporting the biomass during gasification, a feeder unit in communication with the primary combustion chamber for delivering biomass, a secondary combustion chamber fluidly connected to the primary combustion chamber, an oxygen mixer positioned between the primary combustion chamber and the secondary combustion chamber, a heat exchanger and an exhaust stack.

Abstract: In one aspect, a grate segment for a burner, comprises a substantially rigid body (30) having a dispersed array of cavities (38) filled with a refractory material. In another aspect, a solid fuel gasifier includes a housing (12) defining a gasifier chamber (14), and a solid fuel inlet (21), grate structure (22, 24) in the gasifier chamber. The grate structure includes base means, a plurality of agitator segments (32) positioned relative to the base means for reciprocating movement to agitate a fuel load in the gasifier, and means to support the base means and the agitator segments so that the latter reciprocate in a direction at a substantial inclination to both horizontal and vertical. In use of the gasifier a deep burden of fuel accumulates on the grate structure and the outward stroke of the reciprocation of the agitator elements is in the overall direction of flow of the fuel burden or generally oppositely thereto.

Abstract: An automatic coal stoker is disclosed having at the base of its hopper an enclosed reciprocating pusher assembly rectangular box shaped which delivers compressingly a defined but variable quantity of coal into a restricted passageway. Successive quantities form a compressed strip of coal to be burned between side rails of a fire grate situate and over an air box fed with a forced air supply. As the strip works its way across the substantially horizontal grate, it burns without forming clinkers, discharges ashes at the bottom of the incline, and effects a minimal degree of uncombusted coal in the ashes. The fire grate of the present invention is substantially horizontal throughout its functional length.

Abstract: A closed tube extension or deadleg is included below the vertical tube of a hydrocarbon pyrolysis furnace. The deadleg passively collects spall coke particles to avoid plugging of the tube or its hydrocarbon inlet. Inspection or cleaning devices can be inserted through the deadleg into the tube and blocked tubes can be cleared. Pressurized steam and/or air can be injected through the deadleg to accelerate decoking of individual tubes.

Abstract: Improvements for an incinerator system including double reburn tunnels, an excitor within a reburn tunnel, a choker for closing off part of a reburn tunnel, a grate near the incinerator's inlet to permit the drying and initial combustion of refuse, an ash scoop which remains out of the water during most of its operation. The use of dual reburn tunnels, along with a damper that permits the closure of at least one of them, permits the efficient and environmentally acceptable utilization of the main incinerator chamber even with minimal refuse contained there. With less refuse, only one reburn unit operates; it will still have sufficient heat and throughput to maintain, with minimal auxiliary fuel, the temperatures needed for complete combustion. An excitor, or solid stationary object placed within the reburn tunnel, permits the retention and reflection of the heat generated by the burning to assure complete combustion of all hydrocarbons within the reburn unit.

Abstract: An automatic coal stoker is disclosed having at the base of its hopper an enclosed reciprocating pusher assembly rectangular box shaped which delivers compressingly a defined but variable quantity of coal into a restricted passageway. Successive quantities form a compressed strip of coal to be burned between side rails of an inclined fire grate situate over an air box fed with a forced air supply. As the strip works its way down the inclined grate it burns without forming clinkers and discharges ashes at the bottom of the incline.

Abstract: An improved process of the type wherein a fuel is first pyrolyzed in a chamber and the resulting volatiles and non-volatiles then transferred to a combustion region for burning, the improvement comprising temporarily storing at least a portion of the volatiles in an enclosure spaced from the chamber and the combustion region when volatiles production exceeds the volatiles incineration capability of the combustion region. Apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: Sulfur is readily and efficiently removed from solid fuel in a boiler installation which comprises a hearth for burning and thereby gasifying the solid fuel, the hearth including a grid supporting a fluidized bed of the solid fuel spread thereover, and a tubular boiler body superimposed on, and integral with, the hearth, the boiler body including a lower portion receiving the gasified fuel from the hearth, an upper portion, a common transverse wall dividing the tubular boiler body into the lower and upper portions, and a burner extending into the upper boiler body portion near the dividing transverse wall and receiving a supply of secondary combustion air. A conduit connects the lower boiler body portion to the burner for feeding the gasified fuel therefrom to the burner, and dust removing and desulfurization cyclones in the conduit remove dust and sulfur from the gasified fuel.