Abstract: Pyrolyzing pulverized coal to form char and volatiles, separating the char from the volatiles, burning the char in heat-transfer relationship with a stoichiometric excess of air, forming thereby ash and a mixture of gases, the excess of air being chosen to produce in the ash a temperature below the fusion temperature thereof, separating the mixture of gases from the ash, and thereafter burning the volatiles in the mixture of gases.

Abstract: A system of operating an engine on a recyclable, relatively non-polluting fuel. The fuel may include any one or more of the following: magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), magnesium plus aluminum, magnesium-aluminum alloy, magnesium hydride (MgH.sub.2) aluminum hydride (AlH.sub.3) and magnesium aluminum hydride (Mg(AlH.sub.4).sub.2). The fuel when burned produces oxides and hydroxides of magnesium and/or aluminum. The oxides and hydroxides can be reduced to magnesium and/or aluminum and/or their hydrides and reformed for reuse in the engine. The system is intended for use not only in automotive engines but also stationary power plants including refrigeration.

Abstract: A method of operating a pulverized coal furnace wherein the coal is introduced with minimal oxygen through an intermediate zone of the furnace which also has a relatively low oxygen content. The carbon particles are projected into an upstream portion of the furnace where secondary air is introduced to burn the carbon particles. The combustion products pass upwardly through the intermediate zone to a downstream zone where tertiary air is added to complete combustion.

Abstract: An additive, e. g., MgO.Mg silicate, is injected into the flue gas stream of a coal-or oil-fired furnace, at 2300-1700 deg. F., thereby reducing accumulation of sulfuric acid on the air heater inlet and outlet.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for efficiently burning a wide variety of fuels without having to add auxiliary fuel to the system or provide special air handling equipment. In the main embodiment of the invention, two cylindrical burning sections are superimposed one over the other in a cross-like configuration. The lower cylinder serves as a primary burning chamber in the system while the upper cylinder serves as an afterburner. A conveyor transports raw fuel from the front of the primary chamber through an extended burning zone. The rear of the chamber remains open to the atmosphere so that air is drawn over the moving fuel bed in the burning zone in counterflow relationship therewith. An elongated duct is aligned within the primary chamber over the burning bed of fuel and is arranged to accelerate volatile gases generated in the primary chamber into the afterburner. The angular relationship between the two cylinders is adjusted so that a turbulent vortical flow is created in the afterburner.

Abstract: A system of operating an engine on a recyclable, relatively non-polluting fuel. The fuel is preferably a magnesium-aluminum alloy which when burned produces oxides of magnesium and aluminum. The oxides can be reduced to magnesium and aluminum and alloyed for reuse in the engine. The system is intended for use not only in automotive engines but also stationary power plants including refrigeration.