Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include high-temperature staged recirculating burners and radiant tube burner assemblies that provide high efficiency, low NOx and CO emissions, and uniform temperature characteristics. One such staged recirculating burner includes a combustion tube having inside and outside helical fins forming opposing spiral pathways for combustion gases and products of combustion, a combustion nozzle coupled to the combustion tube, a gas tube running axially into the combustion tube, and a staging gas nozzle coupled to the gas tube, where the staging gas nozzle includes radial exit holes into the combustion tube and an axial gas staging tube extending into the combustion nozzle to stage combustion.

Abstract: An efficient high-temperature water vapor generator includes a combustion chamber and a surrounding structure, wherein a cavity is located therebetween. Water is pumped into the cavity at a location near a first end of the combustion chamber. Water is removed from the cavity at a location near a second end of the combustion chamber, opposite the first end. The water removed from the cavity is injected into the combustion chamber at a location near the first end. Fuel and air are also introduced into the combustion chamber at the first end. The fuel and air are ignited near the first end of the combustion chamber, thereby creating high-temperature water vapor, and pre-heating the water in the cavity surrounding the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An efficient high-temperature water vapor generator is used to heat heavy oil located in an underground cavity, thereby reducing the viscosity of the oil and enabling the oil to be pumped to the surface. The vapor generator includes a combustion chamber and a surrounding structure, wherein a cavity is located therebetween. Water is routed through the cavity and into the combustion chamber, where water vapor and heat are generated in the presence of fuel, ignition and air. The generated heat pre-heats the water in the cavity, thereby creating an efficient system. The water vapor is forced into the underground cavity, thereby heating the oil located in the cavity.

Abstract: An efficient high-temperature water vapor generator is used to de-contaminate soil. The vapor generator includes a combustion chamber and a surrounding structure, wherein a cavity is located therebetween. Water is routed through the cavity and into the combustion chamber, where water vapor and heat are generated in the presence of fuel, ignition and air. The generated heat pre-heats the water in the cavity, thereby creating an efficient system. The water vapor is forced into a vapor tube (which has openings for emitting the vapor), thereby heating the vapor tube to temperatures of 800° F. or greater. A soil tube having lifting paddles located therein surrounds the vapor tube. Contaminated soil enters one end of the soil tube. The soil tube is rotated, thereby moving the contaminated soil into contact with the vapor tube (decontaminating the soil). The lifting paddles move the soil toward the second end of the rotating soil tube.

Abstract: A vertical heat exchanger including a vertical tube bundle connected between a lower inlet manifold and upper outlet manifold. The tube bundle comprises numerous pairs of concentric tubes with the inner tube being spaced from the outer tube to form an annular flow passage positioned around an inner flow passage. The inner tubes are welded between outer tube sheets that form a part of the upper and lower manifolds while the outer tubes are welded between inner tube sheets forming part of these manifolds. Each of the manifolds has a distributor ring which has radially directed openings throughout its periphery so as to provide for a radial flow in the manifold. Fluid enters the lower manifold through suitable inlet nozzles and exits the upper manifold through suitable outlet nozzles. A high temperature heating gas is directed up through the inner tubes of each pair of tubes by a conical inlet distributor and exits the upper end of the tube bundle through a similar conical distributor.

Abstract: Hot water or steam boiler comprising a furnace section and a convection section in which the furnace section is limited by a wall section formed of liquid or steam tubes placed side by side, said tubes being arranged transversal to the flue gas flow and at fixed interrelated distances to form slots allowing passage of gas or steam.