Abstract: A kiln plant for burning a pulverous material such as cement, which includes a preheater string for preheating raw material and a precalciner for receiving preheated raw material, the precalciner being fired with solid fuel, and a disintegrator provided adjacent the precalciner. Within the disintegrator the solid fuel, preferably coal, is crushed and mixed with a portion of the preheated raw material before passage into the precalciner. The invention also relates to a unique method for firing in the precalcining zone of the invention kiln plant.

Abstract: The invention is an improved system for solid fuel gasification, such as coal. A coal type fuel is reduced to as near a one hundred percent molecularly dispersed condition as possible to achieve the maximum efficiency of combustion in a combustion type device. The system consists of a series of steps. The first step mechanically pulverizes the coal to pass through a 300 mesh screen. The second step thermally drives off the volatile gases and the char is burned to a carbon monoxide gas state. The resulting gasified coal combination is then fed to the burners of the combustion type device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for drying and pulverizing coal which is to be used as a powdered fuel in the manufacture of cement. Air which has been heated in the cooling step of the cement making process is passed through a tertiary air conduit for delivery to a calcining step of the cement making process, and at least a part of the dust-laden air from the grinding step is introduced into the tertiary air conduit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for operating a process in which combustible solid particles are mixed during processing with air and circulated through a plurality of stages, thereby tending to build up an oxygen enriched combustible mixture during shutdown, the invention involving adding additional fuel to the oxygen enriched combustible mixture during such shutdown in a closed burner system, burning the resulting mixture in the closed burner system, and recirculating the flue gas from such combustion back into the plurality of stages to thereby function as an inert gas to prevent accidental combustion or explosion.

Abstract: A furnace structure has a particle separator for separating a mixture of a transport fluid and pulverized coal into a coarse coal fraction and a fine coal fraction, a furnace, a burner assembly for burning the pulverized coal, and a windbox for providing combustion supporting gas to the burner assembly. The burner assembly has separate, concentrically disposed elements to burn coarse and fine coal particles under different combustion conditions to reduce the production of nitrogen oxides from the combustion of coal as a fuel. The burner assembly further includes a control nozzle for maintaining a swirling motion in the combustion flame and a separate, axially-movable adjustable sleeve for regulating the quantity flow of turbulence-free combustion-supporting air.

Abstract: A method of preparing and delivering coal to a coking plant, comprises, conveying the coal to the plant on a moving conveyor while an inert combustion gas is directed over the coal being conveyed. The combustion gas is generated by burning a fuel with air to produce a substantially inert combustion gas which is passed over the coal during its conveying and, thereafter, passed through a cooler for removing the moisture which has been picked up from the coal by the gas. The heating and predrying inert gases are advantageously generated by the direct combustion of air and fuel which are passed through flash dryer tubes and one or more separate separator systems and then delivered into a conveyor pipeline through which the coal is conveyed. A portion of the gases which are generated are also directed with a return gas to a filter for removal of any coal therefrom and to a cooler for removing the moisture picked up from the coal and then back into the stream for delivery to the conveyor for the coal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the preparation of coaldust for use with a preheater and a cement calcination apparatus. Exhaust gas from the preheater is mixed with a source of coal and input to a pulverizing mill. The output of the pulverizing mill passes through an air current separator and a cyclone separator. The output of the air-current-separator, a stream of coal gravel, is supplied as a fuel at a calcination point in the calcination apparatus. The exhaust output from the separator provides an input to the cyclone separator which separates coaldust from the gas. The exhaust from the cyclone separator is in part fed-back to a calcination point in the calcination apparatus and is also a part of the stream of gravel. The entire process is closed so that no burnable coaldust is lost to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A coal pump is provided in which solid coal is heated in the barrel of an extruder under pressure to a temperature at which the coal assumes plastic properties. The coal is continuously extruded, without static zones, using, for example, screw extrusion preferably without venting through a reduced diameter die to form a dispersed spray. As a result, the dispersed coal may be continuously injected into vessels or combustors at any pressure up to the maximum pressure developed in the extrusion device. The coal may be premixed with other materials such as desulfurization aids or reducible metal ores so that reactions occur, during or after conversion to its plastic state. Alternatively, the coal may be processed and caused to react after extrusion, through the die, with, for example, liquid oxidizers, whereby a coal reactor is provided. Alternative utilization of the device may be to secure continuous pyrolysis of the coal or to feed the extruded coal into furnaces operating at pressures near ambient.

Abstract: Combustion gases from combustion of a coal-in-oil fuel mixture are used as an inert carrier gas in a fluid energy pulverizer used in the formation of the fuel mixture. A portion of the hot combustion gases is separated, cooled and compressed and passed to a heat exchanger where that portion is heated by the remainder of the combustion gases, the hot, pressurized portion led to the fluid energy pulverizer for use as a carrier gas for pulverizing of further coal.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for individually and independently controlling the distribution of powdered solid fuel to each of a plurality of individual burners. A plurality of fuel outlet ports respectively and individually corresponding to individual ones of the plural burners are aligned with and spaced from a respectively corresponding plurality of air outlet ports. The air oulet ports are individually and controllably supplied with pressurized air while a supply of powdered solid fuel is fed into the spaces between the fuel outlet ports and the air outlet ports. In the preferred embodiment, a baffle is disposed between each pair of respectively corresponding fuel outlet and air outlet ports.

Abstract: A coal fired steam generating system including an auxiliary oil fired burner combined with an air heater. The air heater provides heated air that is adapted to heat and dry the coal for combustion, while hot products of combustion exhausting from the oil fired burner supply heat to a precipitator that raises its operating temperature to increase its collecting efficiency.