Suspended In A Gaseous Medium Patents (Class 110/244)
  • Patent number: 11142717
    Abstract: A method for reducing the emission of contaminants by a furnace is provided. The method includes forming a bed from a stream of fuel within the furnace; fluidizing the bed with flue gas from the furnace; and heating the fuel within the bed so as to generate char, ash and contaminants. The method further includes capturing the contaminants via the ash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Frederic Vitse, Steven Unker, Carl Edberg
  • Patent number: 10684075
    Abstract: A system for supporting castings during thermal treatments, such as solution heat treatment, quenching and aging, that includes a tray defining a horizontal base plane and having a plurality of tray openings therethrough, and a fixture extending over one or more of the tray openings. The fixture is formed by a plurality of support plates oriented vertically with lower portions extending across the tray opening and top edges extending above the tray opening with shaped profiles along the lengths thereof. The plurality of support plates form an open lattice having a plurality of top edges that together define an open support surface that is substantially complementary with an underside surface of a casting and configured to loosely support the casting atop the lattice and align the casting in space above the tray opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Shanker Subramaniam, Paul Fauteux, Andrew Turner
  • Patent number: 10207251
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for limiting the emissions of gases from a porous material in the form of particles comprising a porous inorganic support and at least 0.1% by weight of one or more compounds chosen from organic compounds, halogen compounds, boron compounds and phosphorus compounds. The particles are placed in motion within a hot gas stream traversing them, and a liquid composition containing one or more film-forming polymer(s) is sprayed over the moving particles by means of a twin-fluid atomization nozzle, in which the liquid composition is mixed with a pressurized gas, with a relative atomization pressure of greater than or equal to 0.7×1005 Pa, until a protective layer containing the film-forming polymer(s) and exhibiting a mean thickness of less than or equal to 20 ?m is obtained on the surface of the said particles. A material resulting from this process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Eurecat S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Dufresne, Pauline Galliou, Mathieu Baffert, Fabien Laboulfie
  • Patent number: 10174999
    Abstract: A system for supporting castings during thermal treatments, such as solution heat treatment, quenching and aging, that includes a tray defining a horizontal base plane and having a plurality of tray openings therethrough, and a fixture extending over one or more of the tray openings. The fixture is formed by a plurality of support plates oriented vertically with lower portions extending across the tray opening and top edges extending above the tray opening with shaped profiles along the lengths thereof. The plurality of support plates form an open lattice having a plurality of top edges that together define an open support surface that is substantially complementary with an underside surface of a casting and configured to loosely support the casting atop the lattice and align the casting in space above the tray opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Shanker Subramaniam, Paul Fauteux, Andrew Turner
  • Patent number: 9777919
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a combustion apparatus capable of reducing the emission amount of nitrogen oxide and enabling stable combustion in the entire area of a set load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: KYUNGDONG NAVIEN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Young Mo Kim
  • Patent number: 9528700
    Abstract: A reactor (110) serves to combust residual carbon in fine particulate matter, remove a contaminant from fine particulate matter, or change the composition of fine particulate matter. The reactor output is processed by particle collection devices (115, 125, 140, 155, 175) and heat exchangers (135, 150, 165) to provide particle outputs (118, 124, 131, 144, 159) of different sizes. A contaminant, such as carbon or a metal, is combusted, vaporized, volatized, broken down, or substantially appears on one particle output (144) so that another particle output and the exhaust gas (142) are substantially contaminant-free. Different outputs can also be selectively mixed, as desired, to product a combined output (171). Fly ash and silica fume can be processed separately or together to reduce the amount of unburned carbon in both. Metals can also be removed from the fine particulate matter. Kaolin can also be processed to produce metakaolin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: The SEFA GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Jimmy C. Knowles, John M Castleman, III
  • Patent number: 9003675
    Abstract: A fuel preprocess system for a coal combustion boiler is disclosed. The fuel preprocess system for a coal combustion boiler that dries biomass or refuse-derived fuel in accordance with the present invention can include: a dryer configured to dry the biomass or refuse-derived fuel by use of flue gas generated after combustion in the boiler; and a torrefier configured to devolatilize a fibrous component contained in the dried fuel from the fuel dried in the dryer by use of primary air that is heat-exchanged after the combustion in the boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Korea Electric Power Corporation
    Inventors: Dong-Won Kim, Jong-Min Lee, Young-Joo Kim, Jae-Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 8960107
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing fly ash comprising a heated refractory-lined vessel having a series of spaced angled rows of swirl-inducing nozzles which cause cyclonic and/or turbulent air flow of the fly ash when introduced in the vessel, thus increasing the residence time of airborne particles. Also disclosed is a method of fly ash beneficiation using the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: The SEFA Group Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy Clements Knowles, Richard F. Storm
  • Publication number: 20140261112
    Abstract: A mixing apparatus for producing a feedstock for a reformer, the mixing apparatus including at least one mixing vessel comprising a cylindrical vessel with a conical bottom; a steam inlet configured for introducing steam into the conical bottom; a carbonaceous material inlet configured for introducing a carbonaceous feed into the cylindrical vessel; and an outlet for a reformer feedstock comprising at least 0.3 pounds of steam per pound of carbonaceous material, with the at least one mixing vessel configured for operation at a pressure of greater than about 10 psig.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: RENTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Randy BLEVINS, Joshua B. Pearson, Harold A. Wright
  • Patent number: 8833275
    Abstract: A process for at least one of a chemical and a physical treatment of fluidizable substances in a reactor. The process includes introducing a hot gas into an interior of the reactor through a gas supply tube and cooling at least one of the hot gas and the gas supply tube with a coolant. The cooling is performed by contacting the hot gas with the coolant so as to provide a temperature of a wall of the gas supply tube at least 50° C. lower than a temperature of the gas at an inlet of the gas supply tube facing away from the interior of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Michael Missalla, Edgar Gasafi, Jean Claude Hein, Andreas Orth, Jean-Paul Nepper
  • Patent number: 8714094
    Abstract: A grate assembly for a fluidized bed reactor includes a plurality of parallel air ducts extending side-by-side in a substantially horizontal plane and defining spaces therebetween through which coarse material from the fluidized bed descends. A plurality of nozzle assemblies is attached to each air duct for supplying fluidizing air from within the air duct into the fluidized bed. Each of the nozzle assemblies includes a nozzle formed from a tube having an inlet end in fluid communication with the air duct, and an outlet end in fluid communication with the inlet end. An orifice is disposed at the outlet end of the nozzle, and the nozzle is bent proximate the outlet end to direct a primary direction of a stream of fluidizing air flowing from the orifice toward the air duct such that an angle ? between the primary direction and the substantially horizontal plane formed by the air ducts is between about 30 to about 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Thomas Richard Bober, Michael Chris Tanca
  • Patent number: 8597525
    Abstract: Water purification and recycling system having a large reservoir and a small reservoir adapted to provide potable water to a water user structure. After use by the water user structure, wastewater is applied from said water user structure via at least one wastewater path to wastewater treatment apparatus. The wastewater treatment apparatus receives and processes the wastewater using a coal free power plant that operates continuously to produce steam. The wastewater treatment apparatus is also powered by a co-adjuvant gas turbine generator is adapted to generate supplemental steam for the coal free power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventor: William E. Coleman
  • Patent number: 8516968
    Abstract: A fluidized bed is described and which includes a multiplicity of fluidizing manifolds positioned in spaced relation one relative to the others; an enclosure positioned in gravity receiving relation relative to the multiplicity of fluidizing manifolds and which has an intake and a discharge end, and wherein particulate matter received in the fluidized bed moves under the influence of gravity from the intake end to the discharge end, and a moveable gate is mounted on the second discharge end of the enclosure and which is operable to selectively occlude a discharge aperture and which further facilitates the selective removal of particulate matter and waste material entrained with same, and which moves under the influence of gravity to the discharge end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: LeRoy B. Pope, Michael L. Murphy, James M. Scranton, James R. Thomas, Peter Mohr, Ben H. Cosby, Michael E. Tracey, Mark R. Castle, Douglas W. Scrafford, Greg Dahlstrom
  • Patent number: 8499702
    Abstract: Char-handling processes for controlling overall heat balance, ash accumulation, and afterburn in a reheater are provided. Carbonaceous biomass feedstock is pyrolyzed using a heat transfer medium forming pyrolysis products and a spent heat transfer medium. The spent heat transfer medium is separated into segregated char and char-depleted spent heat transfer medium. The char-depleted spent heat transfer medium is introduced into a dense bed of heat transfer medium fluidized by a stream of oxygen-containing regeneration gas. All or a portion of the segregated char is combusted in the dense bed using the stream of oxygen-containing regeneration gas. A portion of the segregated char may be exported out of the pyrolysis system to control the overall heat balance and ash accumulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Paul Alvin Sechrist, Daniel N. Myers, Sid Kulprathipanja, Stanley Joseph Frey, Barry Freel
  • Patent number: 8443740
    Abstract: A cyclonic incinerator includes a cylindrical outer burn chamber having a defining wall, a central axis, a first end, a second end, and a forced air opening extending through the wall between the first end and the second end. A forced air manifold is provided which is adapted to direct forced air into the forced air opening of the outer burn chamber to create a cyclonic air flow about the central axis of the outer burn chamber. A cylindrical inner burn chamber is concentrically disposed within the outer burn chamber. The inner burn chamber has a defining wall, a first end and a second end. The first end of the inner burn chamber has an exhaust gas opening. The second end of the inner burn chamber is in communication with the outer burn chamber. A gas inlet is positioned at the first end of the outer burn chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Maralto Environmental Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Marlin Romeo
  • Patent number: 8397400
    Abstract: High-temperature method for the treatment of lumber, the method comprising the steps of providing stacks (10) of lumber, restraining those stacks, subjecting the stacks to a first conditioning phase, drying the stacks in an air stream at a temperature of not less than 120° C., cooling the stacks and subsequently subjecting the stacks to a second conditioning phase, and further cooling the dried stacks in ambient temperature air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Forest Research Institute Malaysia
    Inventors: Kheng Ten Choo, Huei Shing Sik
  • Patent number: 8382470
    Abstract: A fluidized bed boiler plant and a method of combusting sulfurous fuel in the fluidized bed boiler plant, a furnace of which plant is provided with a fluidized bed of particles. Sulfurous fuel, CaCO3-containing sulphur-binding agent and combusting air are introduced to the bed of particles, whereby fuel burns and generates flue gases and the sulphur-binding agent calcinates to CaO and binds SO2 generated in the combustion. Energy is recovered to a heat exchange medium circulating in heat exchange tubes of a condensing heat exchanger arranged in a flue gas channel, and a water solution of acid condensing on outer surfaces is neutralized by mixing it in a mixing vessel to a CaO-containing ash from a plant, preferably, fly ash collected by a dust separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energia Oy
    Inventor: Pertti Kinnunen
  • Patent number: 8234986
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing fly ash comprising a heated refractory-lined vessel having a series of spaced angled rows of swirl-inducing nozzles which cause cyclonic and/or turbulent air flow of the fly ash when introduced in the vessel, thus increasing the residence time of airborne particles. Also disclosed is a method of fly ash beneficiation using the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: The Sefa Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy C. Knowles, Richard F. Storm
  • Publication number: 20120031307
    Abstract: Techniques are generally described for producing cement clinker that includes forming cement clinker in a kiln, heating waste additives, and applying the heated waste additives to the cement clinker in the kiln. Additionally, examples are generally described that include an apparatus for producing cement clinker that includes a kiln in which cement clinker is formed and a device having an opening positioned inside the kiln which provides heated waste additives to the kiln for application to the cement clinker. An example device for applying waste additives to cement clinker includes an eductor configured to receive waste additives and transport air in which the waste additives are pneumatically entrained, and includes a lance coupled to the eductor and configured to receive the pneumatically entrained waste additives and receive a support gas that reacts with the waste additives and heats the same for application to the cement clinker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventor: John Graham Whellock
  • Publication number: 20110100272
    Abstract: An incinerator for burning waste material includes a horizontally extended combustion chamber through which a mixture of waste material and air is introduced under pressure tangentially for establishing a vortical movement of the waste material toward one of the end walls. The waste material is ignited during its vortical movement. A second discharge port extends for discharging from the chamber non-combustible material entrained in the outer region of the vortex. The discharged material is conveyed through a conduit to a separator which separates the discharged gases and solid material. A baffle is mounted on the flue adjacent its open end for deflecting outwardly toward the side wall solid material which moves from adjacent the one end wall toward the open end of the flue. Additionally, control means are provided for the use of specialized sensors to monitor the temperature, air flow and volume of the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Joel Hasselbring, Ralph Wallace VanNatta
  • Publication number: 20110083593
    Abstract: A system and method to permit fluidized combustion without requiring a separate fluidizing medium, such as sand. The system may include a combustion chamber, a fuel feed system coupled to the combustion chamber, an ignition system coupled to the combustion chamber, a fluidizing system coupled to the combustion chamber, where the fluidizing system includes a fuel and fluidizing medium formed from the same material, and a heat recovery system. The method may include delivering a pelletized fuel into a combustion chamber by a fuel feed system and onto a fluidizing plate, igniting the pelletized fuel with an igniter system coupled to the fluidizing plate, fluidizing the pelletized fuel after combustion is started in the absence of a fluidizing medium beyond the pelletized fuel, and heating a medium in a heat exchanger with combustion gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: AirClean Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Hunter, Eric A. Hille
  • Patent number: 7740026
    Abstract: A thermal storage type gas treating apparatus has a high sealing performance while achieving a simple apparatus construction. The thermal storage type gas treating apparatus includes a valve member rotatable to place successively a supply port for a gas to be treated and an exhaust port for a treated gas formed in the valve member, in an opposed and communicating relationship with supply and exhaust ports formed in a distributor, thereby successively passing gas to be treated and treated gas through a plurality of thermal storage chambers communicating at one end with a combustion chamber. The valve member is supported to be displaceable toward and away from the distributor. A valve biasing device is provided for pressing the valve body to the distributor, while being inoperative with respect to a gas chamber device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Taikisha Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Matsui, Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Horisawa, Tomotaka Miwa
  • Publication number: 20100071602
    Abstract: A processing facility can dispose of food waste in environmentally undisruptive manners. The processing facility can convert the food waste into bio-energy and bio-fuel products, such as bio-diesel, ethanol, and electricity. The processing facility can sort the food waste based on the fats or carbohydrates content of the food waste, and the processing facility can include a fluidized bed combustion module for combusting portions of the food waste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventor: Daniel R. Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20090211503
    Abstract: A combustor 110 is operative to effect therewith the combustion of fossil fuel 114? in order to thereby both heat to a working fluid 102 and generate a flue gas 104. An air preheater 144 receives the flue gas 104 generated in the combustor 110. A blower 180 causes air 188 to flow to the air preheater 144 when operating in an air fired mode, and causes both O2 and recycled flue gas 188? to flow when operating in the O2 firing mode. The air preheater 144 is operative to transfer heat from the flue gas 150 received thereby to the air 188 that is received when operating in an air fired mode or to both the received O2 and the recycled flue gas 188? that is received when operating in the O2 firing mode in order to thereby effect a preheating of the air 188 or of both the O2 and recycled flue gas, 188? depending upon the specific nature of the mode of operation thereof, and to thereby effect therewith a cooling of the flue gas received thereby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Herbert E. Andrus, JR., Gregory N. Liljedahl, John L. Marion, Nsakala Ya Nsakala
  • Publication number: 20090199748
    Abstract: A method of incinerating sludge in a combustor is disclosed including establishing at least one target performance characteristic of the combustor; introducing the sludge into the combustor as primary fuel; monitoring at least one performance parameter of the combustor; calculating an actual performance characteristic based on the performance parameter; and adjusting the quantity and/or quality of fuel introduced into the combustor in response to a monitored performance characteristic to substantially maintain the target performance characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Infilco Degremont, Inc. a corporation of New York
    Inventors: Ky Dangtran, Robert F. Kelly
  • Patent number: 7513061
    Abstract: There has been achieved a sludge dehydrating processor with less mechanical operation and with satisfactory dehydrating efficiency and heating efficiency. In order to process and convert sludge including an organic substance into solid fertilizer, a heating treatment zone for feeding and sterilizing an object to be treated and a dehydrating treatment/retrieving zone for separating water from the object to be treated and retrieving a treated object are provided. In the heating treatment zone, induction heating for efficiently heating the object to be treated without rotating a kiln body is introduced. In the dehydrating treatment/retrieving zone, a vortex air current producing mechanism for efficiently drying the object to be treated without rotating a dehydrating treatment chamber is introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignees: Dai-Ichi High Frequency Co., Ltd., Bapic Incorporated
    Inventors: Kotaro Hirayama, Alden D. Pritchard
  • Patent number: 6601526
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of creating a high combustion rate in a combustor used to burn combustible matter. The combustor comprising a cylindrical combustion chamber extending vertically with at least one side loading bin for loading combustible matter into the combustion chamber while combustion is ongoing. The combustor creates a high combustion rate by inducing an acoustic excitation and an ascending vortex in hot gases that is reflected by a conical surface, converting the ascending vortex to a descending vortex. The shear between the ascending and descending vortices increases mixing. The descending vortex acts to separate the small, fully-combusted particles from larger particles that are thrown by centrifugal force back into the combustion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
    Inventors: Ephraim J. Gutmark, Alyson K. Hubbs, Roberto Jimenez, Gary J. Leonards
  • Patent number: 6460472
    Abstract: A fluidized bed material including mineral particles of a gabbro class or darker rock type. The rock type includes several minerals and having a quartz content of 5 wt-% or less. The particles are made by comminuting a gabbro class or darker rock type. A fluidized bed process including performing a reaction or a processing of a material in a fludized bed reaction in connection with the fluidization of a fluidized bed material, wherein the fludization bed material includes particles of the gabbro class or darker rock type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping Oy
    Inventor: Jaani Silvennoinen
  • Patent number: 6418866
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a fluidized bed incinerator which will increase the thermal capacity of the freeboard to respond to fluctuations of the load imposed by waste matter such as sludge or garbage with a high moisture content; which would absorb local and momentary temperature spikes due to load fluctuations or variations in the characteristics of the waste material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihito Shimizu, Hiroki Honda, Masao Takuma, Toshihisa Goda, Shiro Sasatani
  • Patent number: 6349658
    Abstract: An improved auger combustor for the incineration of refuse featuring, in its preferred embodiment, a granular substrate formed as a fluidized bed by underfire air and composed of particulate material with pollution abatement properties, an auger with expandable flights, a post combustor treatment zone comprised of particulate material with pollution abatement properties suspended in the gas stream exiting the auger combustor chamber; and in alternate embodiments, also including the ability to insert combustible fuel gases from the bottom of the combustor chamber, particularly at the input end of the combustor chamber, and/or the volumetric expansion of the combustor chamber from the input to the output end as a means of increasing retention time for gases released by the burning of refuse in the combustor chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Environmental Improvement Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Tyer
  • Patent number: 6338303
    Abstract: A perforated bottom plate for the production of a fluidized bed within a container. The perforated bottom plate has a large number of holes through which a gaseous medium flows in order to produce the fluidized bed. For better mixing of the granular material in the fluidized bed, the perforated bottom plate is provided with evenly distributed areas in which, compared to a uniform perforation, a greater number of holes per unit of area is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Inventor: Jobst O. A. Zoellner
  • Patent number: 6220189
    Abstract: A rotatable fluidised bed incinerator comprises a rotatable combustion chamber, a means for rotating the combustion chamber, a means for introducing combustible material into the combustion chamber, and a means for introducing a gas into the combustion chamber to create a fluidised bed within the chamber. A flow area of the combustion chamber remains substantially constant or increases with decreasing chamber radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: The University of Sheffield
    Inventor: Joshua Swithenbank
  • Patent number: 6213033
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating water material containing hydrocarbon, wherein the waste material is supplied in a reactor, gas containing oxygen is supplied in the reactor, said substances are combusted to form gaseous combustion products and solid residue and said solid residue is discharged from the reactor. The gas containing oxygen is supplied continuously in the reactor in amounts insufficient for complete oxidation of the waste material, said gas containing oxygen is supplied so as to pass it through a layer of said solid residue and the gaseous combustion products are passed through a layer of untreated waste material to form a product gas containing hydrocarbons and droplets of liquid hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Fioter Oy
    Inventors: Georgi Manelis, Victor Foursov, Galina Yakovleva, Sergei Glazov, Lev Stesik, Evgeni Poliantchik, Nikolai Alkov
  • Patent number: 6133499
    Abstract: According to the present invention, boiler water is pressurized so that its boiling point is set at approximately 200.degree. C. to 320.degree. C. The boiler water is heated in at least two stages. Thermal energy of gases containing chlorine compounds is used to heat the water to its boiling point. Thermal energy of gases which do not contain chlorine compounds is used to heat the water from its boiling point until superheated steam of a given temperature is generated. The heating which uses the thermal energy of gases containing chlorine compounds is accomplished using the thermal energy from the combustion of pyrolysis gases obtained from a pyrolysis means in which waste material is supplied into a chamber containing a fluidized bed medium which has been heated to at least 300.degree. C., and a pyrolytic reaction is induced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Horizoe, Yoshihito Shimizu, Jun Sato, Shizuo Yasuda, Yuji Kaihara, Yoshimasa Kawami
  • Patent number: 6105515
    Abstract: A device for enabling oil spill waste materials to be incinerated in situ is provided. More specifically, the invention comprises an incinerator for reducing to ashes, used oil spill sorbent pads, oilsocks, and other materials employed in cleaning up oil spills. The device consists essentially of a stainless steel drum lid and flue secured thereto, with a dome screen mounted on the flue. The outlet of a stainless steel tube is formed into a spiral coil and deployed in the flue with the end thereof turned downward into the drum to cause a continuous circulating action in the drum which action provides fast, complete or substantially complete combustion of the materials with little pollution and leaving a residue of only a few inches of ashes. The device is carried on a hand truck and the blower motor is contained in a housing which is fastened to the hand truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventor: Timothy R. Kaylor
  • Patent number: 6006683
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for supplying air to a recovery boiler. In the method, the air is supplied to the recovery boiler at at least one air supply level so that four vortices are formed therein, the vortices spinning, in pairs, in opposite directions to one another so that any two adjacent vortices always spin in opposite directions to one another. The arrangement comprises nozzles that are arranged to blow air so that four vortices are formed in the recovery boiler, any two adjacent vortices always spinning in opposite directions to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping Oy
    Inventors: Kauko Janka, Matti Ylitalo, Tuomo Ruohola
  • Patent number: 5944512
    Abstract: A heating and incineration device includes a heating chamber for being connected to a heating application. A process stream is recirculated between the heating chamber and the heating application. An incineration tube is positioned into the heating chamber for providing the only exit for gases from the heating chamber and the heating application. A heat source is positioned within the heating chamber in spaced coaxial relation with an incineration tube inlet. The process stream is heated to a working temperature when it is passed through the heating chamber around the periphery of the heat source. The heat source is directed at the incineration tube inlet, so that the highest temperature inside the heating chamber is concentrated along an axis between the heat source and the incineration tube inlet. The distance between the incineration tube inlet and the heat source is adjustable for controlling the temperature inside the incineration tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Mark Ludwig
  • Patent number: 5868083
    Abstract: To a fluidized combustor bed there is passed particulate fuel via a fuel flow distributor which comprises a vessel for receiving a particular fuel from a fuel storage. The fuel is fed into the vessel of the fuel flow distributor from the fuel storage, whereupon the fuel is fluidized in a bed above a bed bottom in the vessel of the fuel flow distributor. The fuel flow distributor comprises at least two feed pipes with associated inlets located adjacent the surface of the bed in the fuel flow distributor, where fluidization gas which leaves the vessel via a feed pipe feeds out fuel to at least one nozzle is in the bed of the combustor. Additional gas is supplied to the feel pipes at the inlets thereof, such that the flow of fuel through an individual feel pipe can be controlled by controlling the gas flow supplied to the inlets of the respective feed pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: ABB Carbon AB
    Inventors: Roine Brannstrom, Carl Johan Sandelin
  • Patent number: 5771817
    Abstract: A recovery boiler for combusting spent liquor from cellulose cooking while at the same time recovering chemicals. The recovery boiler is constructed for so-called "rotafire" combustion and the speed of rotation of the secondary air has been increased by a constriction of the boiler being arranged at the tertiary air level. The invention also includes a process for using the boiler which is based on certain ports through which the secondary air is blown in being provided with air which is at a higher pressure than that at the other ports on the same level, thereby achieving a higher inflow velocity than from the other ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventors: Lars Olausson, Jan Bergman, Sven-Erik Jansson, Agneta Larsson
  • Patent number: 5770165
    Abstract: An improved structural support system for a regenerator used with a regenerative thermal oxidizer, including a perforated and corrugated rigid beam resting on a support surface. The perforated beam supports heat exchange materials either directly, or indirectly using a perforated grid. The beam includes a plurality of perforations permitting upward gas flow from the underside of the beam and through the heat exchange materials. The air distribution plenums under the beam are reduced in height from that of conventional systems. The novel structure results in a more reliable and efficient regenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Smith Engineering Company
    Inventors: Thomas James Truppi, Erwin Hendricks, Gary Lee Martin, Melanius D'Souza
  • Patent number: 5730072
    Abstract: A method and system for continuous incineration of solid waste, directed to reducing formation of pathogens (such as dioxins) during incineration by inducing rapid combustion in an oxygen-rich environment. Waste may be shredded first. Waste is then dispersed widely across a first combustion chamber in which it undergoes incineration into ash and gas. Alternative embodiments for continuous removal of hot ash are disclosed. Gas is encouraged to travel a spiral path into a second combustion chamber, in which further incineration occurs. Gas travels through the second combustion chamber also in a spiral path, and is cooled in a quench tube. An evacuator means, advantageously a large fan, draws air through the system continuously during combustion, encouraging flow of waste through the system and replenishing oxygen available for rapid combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Advanced Envirotech Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank H. Wright, Martin A. Sokolowski, Matthew H. Fleeger
  • Patent number: 5727482
    Abstract: A system for waste-to-energy conversion of municipal solid waste and urban forest residue includes as a central element a vortex-cyclone suspended combustion zone furnace, supplied via a shredder and a rotary preheat kiln, and followed by a waste heat boiler. The combustion furnace takes the form of a horizontal tunnel-like structure into which solid waste material from the preheat kiln is introduced near an entry end, with separate exit ports for hot gas and ash at an exit end. The furnace has spaced horizontal waterwall tubes, between which forced draft air is injected in a circular pattern aided by vanes, producing a swirling overfire air curtain surrounding the vortex-cyclone suspended combustion zone along the length of the furnace. In the manner of a cyclone separator, a cylindrical structure surrounds the central exhaust gas opening, and extends from the exit end wall into the combustion chamber to a circular leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventor: Bob W. Young
  • Patent number: 5682827
    Abstract: A fluidized-bed combustor combusts combustible material smoothly while smoothly removing any incombustible material or components from the fluidized-bed furnace without depositing the incombustible material or components therein. The fluidized-bed combustor has a first diffuser plate, a second diffuser plate each having a plurality of fluidizing gas supply holes, and an incombustible material discharge port disposed between the first diffuser plate and the second diffuser plate. A portion of the fluidizing gas is supplied from the incombustible material discharge port to generate an uninterrupted fluidized bed on the bottom of the fluidized-bed furnace. The first diffuser plate has a downwardly inclined surface directed toward the incombustible material discharge port, and the second diffuser plate has an upwardly inclined surface which is progressively higher away from the incombustible material discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Nagato, Takahiro Oshita
  • Patent number: 5625119
    Abstract: A method for treating an emulsion of hydrocarbons and solids such as sludge includes spraying the sludge into a preheater and pneumatically conveying it by primary air into an oxidation chamber. Secondary air is directed into the oxidation chamber through a plurality of perforations in the wall of the oxidation chamber to combine with and sustain the fluidized state of the solid-gas mixture. The primary air is preferably produced by passing the proceeds of an air blower through a preheater to produce hot air. The oxidizer is arranged at an incline so that the gas solid mixture of hot air and contaminated soil flows upwardly. The temperature of the fluidized bed is controlled by the temperature of the primary air so that lighter hydrocarbons spontaneously ignite in the oxidation chamber. The exothermic combustion causes the remaining organic material present in the contaminated solids to vaporize and burn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Successful Venture Enterprises Inc.
    Inventor: Siegfried E. Tischler
  • Patent number: 5603906
    Abstract: A low NO.sub.x burner combustion system which may be adjusted for optimum burn rates, temperature and oxygen levels. The burner incorporates a plurality of gas nozzles which individually inspirate a portion of the combustion air and a spin vane diffuser to rotate and mix the gases within the primary combustion zone. The diffuser is axially adjustable in order to vary the distance between the vane and the first combustion zone while the blades of the diffuser can be angularly adjusted to optimize the rotation and mix of the gases. Air for combustion is supplied through primary, secondary and tertiary passages to create distinct combustion zones for complete combustion. The flow rate of the combustion air is controlled through a damper in accordance with the burn characteristics. Further reductions in noxious emissions are accomplished by recirculating flue gases and mixing such gassed directly with combustion fuel prior to introduction into the combustion chamber through eductor nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Holman Boiler Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry M. Lang, David W. Scott
  • Patent number: 5566625
    Abstract: High temperature combustion apparatus incorporating a pneumatically suspended combustion zone and capable of supporting relatively high combustion temperatures, in excess of 2400.degree. C. (4352.degree. F.) for essentially total combustion with minimal pollutant production. The combustion apparatus may be employed for waste material incineration in general, toxic waste incineration, and for smokeless burning of wood and vegetation. The combustion apparatus may be employed in an efficient steam electric power generating plant which employs municipal solid waste as fuel, and/or in combination with a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) electric generator. The pneumatically suspended combustion zone is created by having streams of combustion air directed upwardly from a floor grate and from the sides of a combustion chamber such that combustion occurs in a swirling turbulent mass which does not directly contact either the walls or the floor of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Inventor: Bob W. Young
  • Patent number: 5558028
    Abstract: An incinerator which includes a furnace shell, a filtering device and an ash ejector is provided. Three blowers are placed around the furnace shell along tangent lines to the outer furnace shell wall. The air blown by the blowers forms a whirling airflow within the incinerator. Upper and lower guide plates are affixed within the furnace shell to divide the incinerator into a space for supplying garbage and a second burning region. The hot airflow containing ashes is carried to a filtering device and sprayed with water. The ashes are then trapped on filter material. Ash that remains on the bottom of the furnace shell can be poured into an ash collector by a rotatable grate. The ashes from the ash collector are removed by an auger stem of an ash ejector located below the ash collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Inventor: Wen-Chiang H. Lin
  • Patent number: 5549059
    Abstract: Paper mill sludge or similar organic sludges with a high ash content are converted by burning the sludge in a cyclone furnace along with another source of fuel. The heat content of the sludge is recovered and the ash content of the sludge is converted to a glassy slag. A flux, such as limestone, may be added to the sludge before introduction into the cyclone furnace. The slag is useful as a construction material, an abrasive, for roofing products, or for other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Minergy Corp.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Nechvatal, Thomas J. Jansen
  • Patent number: 5530176
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for disposing of hazardous waste material by burning in a cement-producing kiln includes providing a predetermined quantity of hazardous waste material in a predetermined configuration, and providing an apparatus for aerating and using that apparatus to aerate the hazardous waste material to produce a supplementary fuel having a predetermined density. The method also includes providing an apparatus for injecting the hazardous waste material into the cement kiln and includes the step of injecting the hazardous waste material into the cement kiln at a predetermined injection rate thereby causing the hazardous waste material to burn while suspended in the kiln atmosphere and causing the hazardous waste material to supplement the primary fuel source and maintaining the cement-producing temperature within the kiln.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Pneu-Mech Systems Mfg., Inc.
    Inventor: David Brady
  • Patent number: 5445087
    Abstract: An apparatus for incinerating a waste material by processing the waste material through dry distillation and gasification has a gasification furnace for storing a waste material therein and burning a portion of the waste material and thermally decomposing the remainder of the waste material by way of dry distillation with the heat of combustion of the portion of the waste material, thereby producing a combustible gas, and a combustion furnace connected to the gasification furnace through a gas introduction passage for mixing, with oxygen, the combustible gas introduced therein from the gasification furnace through the gas introduction passage and combusting the combustible gas mixed with the oxygen, the combustion furnace having a gas inlet port connected to the gas introduction passage. An oxygen supply device supplies the combustion furnace with an amount of oxygen required to combust the combustible gas into the combustion furnace while generating a swirling oxygen flow around the gas inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Inventor: Masamoto Kaneko