Abstract: An auxiliary boiler is provided for substantially reducing fuel consumption of a conventional forced-air heating system. A boiler tank substantially filled with water is connected by hot and cold water lines to a heat exchanger disposed within the cold air duct of the forced-air heating system. A firebox which extends into the boiler tank is adapted to receive combustible material such as wood for heating the water in the tank. A pump directs hot water from the tank through the hot water line to the heat exchanger whereby cool air moving through the cold air duct is preheated as it passes through the heat exchanger. Heating tubes in communication with water in the boiler tank may extend through the firebox for supporting logs therein. Additional heating tubes may extend through a flue directed upwardly from the firebox through the boiler tank.

Abstract: An underfire system for a controlled starved-air incinerator and incinerating process which minimizes high localized temperatures in the main combustion chamber to lessen clinker formation and vaporization of inorganics for minimizing the particulate emission rate and which maximizes conversion of the fixed carbon portion of the waste materials into volatile matter for maximizing the thermal efficiency of the incinerator. The underfire system supplies air at less-than-stoichiometric requirements which creates an exothermic reaction between some of the fixed carbon in the waste material and the oxygen in the air to produce volatile carbon dioxide. In addition, steam is supplied to the burning waste materials, preferably alternately with the air supply, for creating an endothermic "water-gas reaction" between additional fixed carbon in the waste material and the steam to produce volatile carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas and for absorbing undesired heat from the exothermic reaction.

Abstract: An underfire system for a controlled starved-air incinerator and incinerating process which minimizes high localized temperatures in the main combustion chamber to lessen clinker formation and vaporization of inorganics for minimizing the particulate emission rate and which maximizes conversion of the fixed carbon portion of the waste materials into volatile matter for maximizing the thermal efficiency of the incinerator. The underfire system supplies air at less-than-stoichiometric requirements which creates an exothermic reaction between some of the fixed carbon in the waste material and the oxygen in the air to produce volatile carbon dioxide. In addition, steam is supplied to the burning waste materials, preferably alternately with the air supply, for creating an endothermic "water-gas reaction" between additional fixed carbon in the waste material and the steam to produce volatile carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas and for absorbing undesired heat from the exothermic reaction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling hot bulk material, such as glowing coke, clinker, or sinter material, include a vertically oriented cooling tank into which the hot bulk material is introduced and in which the material flows downwardly under gravity and is discharged from an outlet. At least two partial currents of cooling gas are fed into the cooling tank at respective feeding points therein, the feeding point being respectively arranged one over the other so that the cooling gas fed into the tank flows upwardly around the bulk material as the latter flows downwardly to cool the same with the cooling gas being correspondingly heated.

Abstract: A heating boiler for substantially continuous controlled combustion of baled straw. The boiler includes a straw feed channel communicating with a combustion chamber having a combustion zone adjacent the rear wall of the combustion chamber, a flue gas heat exchange chamber above the combustion chamber in communication with a flue gas vent and an ash collecting pit below the combustion chamber. A horizontal floor is disposed between the combustion chamber and the ash collecting pit, the floor having a slot adjacent the rear wall of the combustion chamber for passage of ash from the combustion zone into the ash collecting pit and for intake of primary air into the combustion zone. A vertically rotatable ash stripper assembly extends from the rear wall of the combustion chamber, and serves to strip ash from the straw bale surface being combusted in the combustion zone. The ash stripper assembly can be rotated by means of a hollow shaft which also constitutes a secondary air intake.

Abstract: A shaft furnace is provided for gasifying granular fuels in a fluidized bed. Such a furnace comprises a gasification zone containing the fluidized fuel bed and an overlying gas cooling zone having surfaces cooled by the tube surfaces of a radiation tube boiler. By providing such a gas cooling zone with a cross-sectional area substantially greater than that of the gasification zone, the gas effluent is cooled in such a manner that residues entrained in the effluent do not sinter onto the surfaces of the equipment in the subsequent path of the effluent.

Abstract: A hot water probe for use with a wood or other solid fuel burning appliances (stoves, furnaces, fireplaces, etc.) to provide supplemental hot water heating whereby the use of natural gas or other non-renewable fuel can be conserved. The probe may comprise a pair of elongated, coaxial tubes of a predetermined length which extend outwardly from a header block which contains an inlet chamber sealingly coupled to the inner one of said pair of coaxial tubes and an outlet chamber sealingly coupled only to the outer one of said pair of coaxial tubes. The tubular portion of the probe is fitted through a hole formed in a wall of the appliance and it extends for a predetermined distance into the firebox at a desired level relative to the flame. The header block may be bolted or otherwise affixed to the outer side wall of the appliance. A connection is then made between a water outlet of the water heating tank and the inlet chamber of the header.

Abstract: A furnace system suitable for independent use and for retrofitting conventional central heating oil furnaces to permit controlled continuous and efficient combustion of fragmented wood type fuels. Wood chips or other fuel fragments are trickle fed into a refractory wood type combustion chamber. For retrofitting an oil furnace the oil burner gun is removed. A flame tube adapter couples the wood type fuel combustion chamber into the oil combustion chamber and heat exchanger plenum of the conventional furnace. The oil burner gun of the retrofitted furnace is used to ignite the wood chips or other fuel fragments during start up. A blower establishes forced draft. The furnace system includes automatic controls for sequencing operation of the elements of the retrofitting furnace system. An independent wood chip furnace system is also described.

Abstract: A stove or furnace for efficient combustion of wood fuel includes a vertical feed combustion chamber (15) for receiving and supporting wood fuel in a vertical attitude or stack. A major upper portion of the combustion chamber column comprises a water jacket (14) for coupling to a source of water or heat transfer fluid for convection circulation of the fluid. The locus (31) of wood fuel combustion is thereby confined to the refractory base of the combustion chamber. A flue gas propagation delay channel (34) extending laterally from the base of the chamber affords delayed travel time in a high temperature refractory environment sufficient to assure substantially complete combustion of the gaseous products of wood burning with forced air prior to extraction of heat in heat exchanger (16). Induced draft draws the fuel gas and air mixture laterally through the combustion chamber and refractory high temperature zone to the heat exchanger and flue.

Abstract: A wood boiler surrounded on five sides by a water jacket with a series of water-carrying pipes forming a grate adapted to hold the wood while burning and an exhaust pipe extending through the top of the water jacket beside a tankless coil for producing hot water, and a return duct provided at the junction of the exhaust pipe and the chimney adapted to return condensates to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A furnace and associated heat storage assembly includes a firebox arranged within a rock storage area that incorporates a recirculating flue arrangement for returning unburned gases to below a fuel grate for mixing with fresh inlet air. The rock in the heat storage area is heated by conduction of heat from the firebox, circulating flue gases and a smoke exhaust flue. Inlet air is preheated. An open grate arrangement provides for efficient burning of solid as-producing fuel. A system for circulating air and/or liquid through the rock can be provided, as can a water storage tank.

Abstract: Process for solid refuse disposal in which a vertical shaft furnace is maintained at 30-250 psia, part of the recycle-condensate is filtered to form liquid waste a portion of which is incinerated with a minor part of the product gas to form hot exhaust gas used to heat feed water in steam boiler zone, and energy from the resulting steam is recovered as part of the process energy requirement.

Abstract: A fluidized bed coal reactor includes a combination nozzle-injector ash-removal unit formed by a grid of closely spaced open channels, each containing a worm screw conveyor, which function as continuous ash removal troughs. A pressurized air-coal mixture is introduced below the unit and is injected through the elongated nozzles formed by the spaces between the channels. The ash build-up in the troughs protects the worm screw conveyors as does the cooling action of the injected mixture. The ash layer and the pressure from the injectors support a fluidized flame holder combustion zone above the grid which heats water in boiler tubes disposed within and/or above the combustion zone and/or within the walls of the reactor.

Abstract: A boiler construction is disclosed which eliminates the need for bolting together of internal parts thereby greatly facilitating mass production and rapid assembly procedures. Internal side protectors, in addition to establishing the size of the boiler in the front-to-back direction, serve as support rails for a removable boiler module and as a retainer for fire bricks which are further retained by a firebox grate. Front and back protectors for the boiler interior rest upon the grate support members and are maintained in properly spaced relationship through interfitment with the side protectors. A boiler scraping attachment and boiler tube cleaner are disclosed. A positive releasable retainer arrangement for the slide-in, slide-out boiler module is included.

Abstract: PCT No. PCT/US79/00929 Sec. 371 Date Nov. 1, 1979 Sec. 102(e) date Nov. 1, 1979 PCT Filed Nov. 1, 1979 PCT Pub. No. WO81/01295 PCT Pub. Date May 14, 1981A rotating fluidized bed gasifier system especially useful in compound engines comprising an annular fluidization chamber containing a bed of carbon containing pulverulent solid materials. The chamber, which is defined by inner and outer spaced apart coaxial, cylindrical, perforated walls, rotates about the longitudinal axis of the cylinders. Steam enters the bed, which is maintained at about 1800.degree. F., through the outer perforated wall and fluidizes the particles. The steam reacts endothermically with the carbon to produce reaction product gas which exits the bed, together with unreacted steam, through the inner perforated wall. In a preferred form of the invention the bed is maintained at approximately 1800.degree. F. by combining a rotating fluidized bed combustor with the gasifier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying and processing moisture-containing solids comprising organic and/or mineral inorganic components, wherein a maximum utilization of energy is attained by providing for an energetic cross-linkage between the drying and subsequent processing stages. With energetic cross-linkage between a pair of the component units of a system at least some of the energy generated in a first component unit is fed for utilization in a second component unit and at least some of the energy from the second component unit is fed to the first component unit so as to serve as at least a partial energy input for that first component unit.

Abstract: A furnace adapted to burn a low grade, granulated fuel. The furnace has a combustion vessel to receive a fuel and spaced inner and outer walls. A lid is positionable on the top of the combustion vessel and there is an exhaust vent in the lid. A bottom to the combustion vessel. A false bottom to the combustion vessel spaced above the bottom to define a passageway. There is at least one perforate column extending from the bottom through the combustion vessel to adjacent the lid. Air may be fed to the fuel and the burned residue of any fuel can be supported.

Abstract: Novel solid fuel combustion and heat transfer geometry/process and illustrative embodiments, which include log burning space heaters, a boiler and a hot air heat exchanger are described. The illustrative boiler embodiment depicts a standard module that when joined with other similar modules makes the construction of any size boiler possible. The combuster is designed to burn nearly any solid fuel, depending on price and availability, and also incorporates an auxilliary fuel oil combuster to either aid in the combustion of certain solid fuels or to convert over entirely to fuel oil. This novel geometry/process consists of solid fuel dispersed over two nearly intersecting surfaces with a third adjustable surface introduced to provide control of the combustion rate by a mutual radiant feedback. The fuel retaining surfaces are so constructed and positioned to enhance radiant heat interchange which maintains highest combustion temperatures along fuel surfaces that are directed toward the heat absorbing medium.

Abstract: A combustion system for particulate wood waste, coal, peat and other combustible materials is disclosed. The system comprises means for feeding combustion material into the combustion chamber of a furnace and means for recirculating a portion of the exhaust gases from the furnace back into the combustion chamber for increasing the temperature of the combustion chamber and so improve the thermal efficiency of the furnace.

Abstract: A heating and cooling system utilizing solid waste for selectively heating and cooling a confined area. The heating and cooling system comprises a pyrolytic incinerator which is capable of combusting the solid waste in an oxygen lean atmosphere. A fan is used to supply outside air to the pyrolytic incinerator to support combustion therein. The fan is also used to exhaust the flue gases through an exhaust system. An afterburner is located in the exhaust duct of the incinerator to allow further combustion of waste gases which have become mixed with the outside air during combustion of the solid waste. A heat exchanger is located in the exhaust duct downstream of the afterburner and transfers the heat of the outside air and waste gas combustion products to heating water passing through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A compact rectangular boiler for hot water heating systems serves as a booster or helper boiler but can be used in some cases as a primary boiler. A boiler power module consisting of fire tubes and a surrounding water chamber is readily removable like a sliding drawer for cleaning and repair, when necessary. Beneath the boiler power module is a sturdy refractory lined fire box for burning wood or other solid fuel including a cast iron grate. Beneath the grate is a readily removable ash receiving drawer or pan. The boiler power module may employ an alternate heating source in the form of an electrical heating element. Forced draft and manual draft arrangements are included.

Abstract: Overall heat recovery from wet wood waste, particularly sawmill-generated hog fuel, is improved by a process for predrying the fuel. A wet oversize fraction of the fuel is combusted in a fluid bed reactor providing heat for drying the remaining smaller sized fraction of the waste pile to about 10-30% moisture by weight. The gaseous products of the fluid bed burning are contacted with the fuel fraction in, preferably, a rotary dryer. The dried fuel is then screened into coarse and fine fractions. The coarse fraction is fed onto a grate of a wood waste boiler. The fines fraction is injected into the boiler combustion in an air suspension. The amount of fuel fed to the fluid bed reactor is 10-25% of the total fuel flow, depending upon the moisture content of the fuel. The gases fed to the rotary dryer are less than about 1,200.degree. F., to minimize "blue haze," by combining with minimum outside air.

Abstract: A heating assembly and a method for burning fuel of organic origin, includes a substantially enclosed hollow assembly including a predetermined region within the assembly for receiving the fuel for ignition purposes, a first oxygen supply device for supplying the predetermined region with oxygen at least at a rate adequate for producing a gas flow of distilled-off gases, air gases and combustion gases from the ignited fuel, an elongated outer shell disposed within the predetermined region and having a plurality of passages for dividing the gas flow into a plurality of streamlets, an elongated inner shell, having an inlet and an outlet, disposed within the outer shell and defining a space between the inner and outer shells, the space communicating with the inlet, the streamlets being recombined into a gas stream in the space, a second oxygen supply device for supplying the inner shell with oxygen near its inlet for burning the stream of gas; and an exhaust conduit communicating with the outlet for exhausting t

Abstract: A water heating stove, comprises a fire box substantially surrounded by a water jacket through which water to be heated circulates. The fire box is completely closed by sealing, loading and clean out doors, to provide that the only access for combustion air is a special aperture below the fire, controlled by a thermostatically operated damper. The fire box bottom wall is inclined to allow drainage of water condensates without losing combustion air flow control, via a water trap. The stove includes a heat transfer coil through which water is circulated to supply hot water.

Abstract: A furnace for the combustion of solid fuel is disclosed comprising two juxtaposed grate portions and a passageway for conducting combustion gases from the area above one grate portion to the fuel contained on the other grate portion. One grate portion is steeply inclined, and the other is spaced therefrom and has a facing first, mainly upright part and a second, mainly horizontal part extending backwards below the first grate portion to receive fuel residues therefrom. The combustion gases are conducted from the second, mainly horizontal part of the second grate portion to the upper part of the first grate portion.

Abstract: A waste disposal system for the thermal conversion of municipal and industrial solid wastes into essentially pollution free products of combustion is disclosed. The waste disposal system includes a building enclosure having an interior storage area for accumulating combustible refuse, and an incinerator for thermally oxidizing the refuse. In a preferred embodiment, the incinerator includes a combustion chamber which is maintained at a reduced pressure level relative to the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere. This subatomspheric pressure arrangement produces a positive flow of air into the chamber as it is loaded thereby permitting loading during combustion virtually without risk of injury to personnel or damage to surrounding combustible material. In another preferred embodiment, the incinerator includes a primary combustion chamber which is maintained in an excess air condition as combustion occurs, and a secondary combustion chamber into which an auxiliary source of fuel such as natural gas is injected.

Abstract: A charging shaft in a furnace housing, communicating at its bottom with an adjoining combustion chamber, is topped by a sloping lid having an air-intake opening near its lower end, that opening registering with an underlying baffle defining with that lid a narrow rising channel for incoming air. Distillation gases evolving in the shaft, admixed with some of the entering air but prevented by that air from escaping through the channel, are recirculated through a port at the top of the shaft to an entrance near its bottom -- just above a horizontal grate -- by way of an adjacent duct provided with a lateral air inlet, the duct narrowing at that inlet into a constricted throat from which the recirculated gases are aspirated by the entering additional air. The connection between the charging shaft and the combustion chamber may be formed by an upright grill, or by a diverging passage accommodating an ancillary combustion device such as an oil burner.

Abstract: Solid municipal waste refuse is pre-treated by partial burning in a moving grate hot carbonizer furnace and then further burned on a reciprocating step-grate stoker in the same furnace chamber. Limited amounts of air are fed to the waste through the grates to avoid the formation of hot spots in the burning material, thereby preventing the formation of clinkers and restricting the burning of volatile matter in the refuse. Hot low-Btu gas exhausted from the furnace chamber is burned in a boiler.

Abstract: A furnace, especially a coal burning furnace, in which the coal to be burned is placed on a grate near the bottom of a combustion chamber. According to the invention, a fan, or blower, has the inlet and the outlet connected to conduits which lead downwardly at opposite sides of the furnace and turn inwardly into the combustion chamber and blow the flue gases back into the combustion chamber at about 3 inches above the flame center and slightly forward thereof to provide an over and under draft. The conduits extending downwardly from the fan, or blower, at the sides of the boiler preferably have clean-outs at the lower ends thereof, with doors, and solid particles entrained in the flue gas which drop out therefrom can thereby be removed from the conduits. Further, each conduit is preferably provided with a blowdown nozzle at the top to which compressed air can be supplied to blow down the conduit and thereby dislodge solid material that may accumulate therein during operation of the boiler.

Abstract: An entirely dry, solid waste disposal system is provided which incinerates waste in a manner to minimize pollution and to utilize the heat energy which is a by-product of the incineration. The waste material is shredded and then dried by mixing it with heated ambient air in an elongated dryer. A helix propels the waste through the dryer and into a combustion chamber together with the hot ambient air which was employed to dry the waste material. The hot gases resulting from incinerating the wastes are directed to a boiler wherein steam is generated. The steam thus produced is used to generate electricity and additionally may be utilized as a source of heat for heating or drying. The hot gases from the combustion chamber and the boiler are fed to the dryer for waste drying purposes. Exhaust gases from the dryer are fed to a scrubber to remove any remaining pollutants prior to being exhausted into the atmosphere.