Abstract: According to the invention it is suggested that, in a heating boiler with a vibrating grate (3), a supply pipe (6) from which fuel material in particle form, in particular pellets, is supplied to the grate, is mechanically connected to the grate (3) and arranged to freely support the grate, which is thereby freely suspended in the combustion chamber without contact with the bottom and walls of the combustion chamber. A vibrating means (19) is also mechanically connected to the supply pipe (6) and arranged to produce a rectilinear movement and to function as drive source to feed the fuel particles to the grate via the supply pipe (6). The vibrating means gives the fuel particles a toss movement obliquely upwards and forwards in the supply pipe and on the grate whereby the fuel particles move onto the grate and towards the end of the grate opposite the supply pipe (6).

Abstract: The present invention concerns an ignition device for igniting fuel within a heating boiler having a combustion section operating according to the fluidized bed principle. The ignition device comprises a jacket-like body portion with a surface facing away from the fluidized bed of particles such as sand being furnished with a heating member, and the surface of the jacket-like body portion facing the fluidized bed of particles having heat transfer elements. The heat transfer elements may be rib-shaped, while a lagging or equivalent structure may encircle the ignition device, to form an intermediate space therebetween through which combustion gas is arranged to flow into the jacket-like body portion. A member for pre-heating the combustion gas flowing through this intermediate space, may also be provided, which is in turn cooled by the inflowing combustion gas.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a vapor generator each wall of which has spaced lower and an upper portions to accommodate relative movement there between. The seal assembly includes a trough containing water and connected to one of the portions of each wall. A dip skirt extends into the trough and divides same into an inner chamber and outer chamber, and a partition extends from the dip skirt, across the space between the wall portions, and to the other wall portion to expose the water in the inner chamber to the boiler pressure and the water in the outer chamber to atmosphere. As a result, relative movement between the wall portions is accommodated by corresponding movement of the dip skirt in the water trough while maintaining an airtight seal.

Abstract: The combustion gas passages leading to a fluidized bed in a hot water or steam boiler are kept free of deposits which might block them by pulses of gas. The gas pulses may be generated from a pressurized reservoir with periodic or aperiodic openings of a valve in a gas line leading from the reservoir to the passages. Where the bottom of a fluidized bed comprises a pair of plates defining a plenum space therebetween and the combustion gas passages define nozzles extending through the plenum space, combustion air may be fed to the nozzles via the plenum space and the cleaning pulses may also be generated from gas supplied to the plenum space.

Abstract: A fluidized bed combustor having a velocity control zone for developing optimum aerothermodynamic conditions for improved combustion, fluidized bed operation, and heat transfer capabilities.

Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor and a method of operating same in which three discrete chambers are formed in a housing and a main fluidized bed containing particulate fuel and adsorbent material is established in a first chamber. The fluidizing air in the first chamber entrains a portion of the particulate material as it passes through the bed and the first chamber. A portion of the particulate material that is entrained by the air is separated and introduced to additional grid means disposed in a second chamber to establish a bed of the separated particulate material. Air and a cooling fluid are passed through the bed of separated particulate material for cooling same. The cooled separated particulate material is passed to a third chamber for storage and the latter is connected to the main fluidized bed for selectively reinjecting the cooled separated particulate material back to the main fluidized bed.

Abstract: A fluidizing feed apparatus (20) for supplying particulate material to a fluidized bed furnace (12) having a housing (22) which defines a chamber which is divided by a perforated distribution plate (24) into a gas plenum (26) beneath the plate and a particulate fluidizing plenum (28) above the plate. Conveying gas is fed under pressure to the gas plenum to pass upwardly therefrom through the perforated distribution plate. The upwardly directed conveying gas fluidizes the particulate material so as to establish a discrete bed (60) of fluidized particulate material superadjacent the distribution plate (24) and a splash zone (70) thereabove. Transport conduits (14) open into the splash zone (70) at a selected distance above the surface (65) of the discrete bed (60) to receive particulate material and conveying gas therefrom for transport to the fluidized bed (16) of the furnace (12).

Abstract: A modular in bed tube unit including a hatch cover bolted over a hatch-opening in the front wall of a fluidized bed boiler. The modular unit also includes a feed fluid manifold, a steam manifold, and a plurality of in-bed tubes connected at one end to the feed fluid manifold and that are connected to and extend through the hatch cover in the fluidized bed of the combustion chamber and extend from the bed back through the hatch cover to the steam manifold. Bolted connecting flanges, between the feed fluid pipe of the boiler system and between the steam manifold and the steam pipe of the boiler system can be quickly disconnected. The entire unit can be quickly removed and replaced when the in-bed tubes become deteriorated. For water wall boilers, the tubes of the front water wall are bent inwards at the hatch opening to allow positioning of the in-bed tubes. The modular unit can be adapted to multiple boiler units.

Abstract: A nozzle cap for a gas inlet fluidizing nozzle in the bottom plate of a post-combustion bed in a hot water or steam boiler with at least two fluidized beds is provided. Flue gases from an underlying combustion bed enter the post-combustion bed via a plurality of such gas inlet nozzles. Each nozzle cap is formed as a deflecting member for guiding the flue gases to the bed material and is shaped to minimize the risk of clogging of the cap with particles entrained in the flue gases and the risk of the cap being eroded by the fastly moving particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of igniting, upon start-up, a combustion chamber (8) in a power plant with combustion of fuel in a fluidized bed (14). The air flow through the nozzles (13) of the combustion chamber bottom (12) for fluidization of the bed (14) and for combustion of the fuel can be reduced upon start-up; bed material, which is heated to the ignition temperature of a start-up fuel, is transferred from a storage container (40) to the combustion chamber (8), and fuel is supplied to the bed (14). In those cases where the air flow has been reduced during the transfer of the bed material, it is increased again when the fuel is supplied. The invention also relates to a power plant having means for temporarily bypassing the nozzles (13) of the combustion chamber bottom (12) while transferring hot bed material from a storage container (40) to the combustion chamber (8), and a fuel system (30-38) for the supply of fuel to the combustion chamber (8).

Abstract: A method for combustion of sulfur-containing fuel in a circulating fluid bed combustion system wherein the fuel is burned in a primary combustion zone under reducing conditions and sulfur captured as alkaline sulfide. The reducing gas formed is oxidized to combustion gas which is then separated from solids containing alkaline sulfide. The separated solids are then oxidized and recycled to the primary combustion zone.

Abstract: The enclosure of a generator comprises a combustion zone 1 surrounded at least partially by a heat exchange zone 2, the combustion zone comprising a premix chamber 25 having means for supplying with air at 12 and with fuel 10,11 and inert recycling particles coming from zone 2.The premix chamber has mounted thereover a vertical duct 21 filled with a refractory stack 6 and comprises above the stack an opening 22 serving as overflow communicating with a vertical duct 4 situated outside duct 21 and opening into zone 2. The heat exchange zone 2 is formed as a dense fluidized bed zone and contains fluid circulation tubes 3. The vertical duct 21 serving as combustion hearth is filled with a fixed structure formed by a stack of several layers of spaced parallel bars, offset angularly from one layer to the next.

Abstract: A ring-gap nozzle for distributing a fluid medium over a plate, for instance over a bottom plate in a fluidized bed dryer, having two dish-shaped pressed parts suiting to each other complementarily being assembled in facing relationship and nested into each other and forming a ring gap through which the medium, deflected by 90.degree. or more, flows to the bottom plate, preventing both the settling of the product to be treated in the fluidized bed dryer on the plate as well as the reflux of the product backwardly into the nozzle when the flow of medium is cut off. This type of nozzle is simple to manufacture and does close the passage without any complicated manipulation automatically.

Abstract: A thermal decomposition furnace in which waste tires having original shape, not broken up, can be laid horizontally and be thermally decomposed. The furnace is constructed by providing a feeder above, forming downward a fluidized bed-forming section having inlets for air, forming beneath a sealing bed-forming section of right cylindrical shape having a diameter smaller than that of fluidized bed-forming section, and installing a conveyor below said sealing bed-forming section. At the lower end of sealing bed-forming section, an oblique opening is formed so as to keep an progressively increasing clearance to the conveyor in the direction of advance of conveyor.

Abstract: A low BTU, low volatile content, low carbon and high ash fuel is combusted in a combined shaft kiln combustor and fluidized bed combustor to generate heat which is converted to useful energy. The fluidized bed combustor is mounted vertically above the shaft kiln combustor. A venturi is provided in a passageway connecting the shaft kiln combustor and the fluidized bed combustor to produce a gaseous stream moving at a velocity sufficient to separate finer particles from the low BTU, low volatile content, low carbon and high ash fuel so that the coarser particles are burned in the shaft kiln combustor and the finer particles are burned in the fluidized bed combustor.

Abstract: A thermal decomposition furnace in which waste tires having original shape, not broken up, can be laid horizontally and be thermally decomposed. The furnace is constructed by providing a feeder above, forming downward a fluidized bed-forming section having inlets for air, forming beneath a sealing bed-forming section of right cylindrical shape having a diameter smaller than that of fluidized bed-forming section, and installing a conveyor below said sealing bed-forming section. At the lower end of sealing bed-forming section, an oblique opening is formed so as to keep a progressively increasing clearance to the conveyor in the direction of advance of conveyor.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method and apparatus for operating a fluidized bed chemical processing unit of the type having steam generating coils, so as to reduce the occurrence of thermally-induced stresses in the coils and thereby extend the useful life of the coils.The invention involves causing the tube wall temperature of a coil being brought into service to be lowered from bed temperature prior to initiating water flow in the coil, so as to decrease the thermal shock temperature gradient and thereby reduce the magnitude of thermally-induced stress in the coil.The invention utilizes a base coil in addition to the steam generating coil that is being cycled, and a pair of steam drums which operate at a pressure differential. The method involves generating saturated steam in the base coil and superheating the saturated steam in the coil being brought on line. Steam is directed from one drum to the other in a predetermined manner so as to provide proper temperature control of the coil being cycled.

Abstract: Description is of fluidized bed shell boiler arrangements in which the sides of the bed within the furnace tube are generally vertical, being provided by vertical walls within the furnace tube. The bed walls may include water tubes or be substantially vertical portions of arcuate panels mounted within the furnace tube. Fluidizing gas is fed to fluidizing gas ducts communicating with the bed from a plenum chamber including paddles movable into positions closing off at least some of the ducts during initial start up of the boiler to reduce the amount of combustible gas (or hot gases) fed to the ducts when heating the bed to its operating temperature. The ducts may be formed by mounting halfround or U-shaped member on the bottom of the furnace tube, the ducts tapering along their lengths such that the gas passing into the bed exits at substantially the same velocity across the width and length of the bed.

Abstract: Exhaust gas treatment method and apparatus extract heat from an exhaust gas by operating in a water-condensing mode which allows more heat to be recovered, removes particulate matter and condensed acid from the exhaust gas, and washes heat exchange surfaces to keep them clean and wet to improve heat transfer. Systems for heating water, air and both water and air are disclosed. Methods of constructing and assembling improved heat exchangers are disclosed.

Abstract: An installation for gasifying coal in a fluidized bed under high pressure has a vessel resistant to the high pressure and a reactor disposed in the interior of the vessel and having a principal chamber constituting a gasification chamber which permits the establishment of a principal fluidized bed of substantial depth and an auxiliary fluidized bed of a smaller depth. An inclined traveling grate forms the bottom of the gasification chamber and has a lower grate portion supporting the principal fluidized bed and an upper grate portion supporting the auxiliary bed situated in a space between the vessel walls and the gasification chamber. The principal and auxiliary fluidized beds are maintained in hydrostatic equilibrium.

Abstract: A fluidized bed furnace and boiler for the combustion of flyash with a moisture content of 45% by weight. The flyash is produced as a by-product of a coal gasification process and transported in water to a slime dam. From the slime dam a slurry of flyash and water is initially thickened in a gravity thickener (1) (FIG. 1) and then converted to filter cake in a tubular filter press (4). The filter cake is fed through pressurized hoppers (8) and chutes to the base of the boiler (10) and is distributed across the floor through chutes in the side walls and through chutes surrounded by a tubular array of water tubes and extending into the boiler furnace chamber terminating approximately one quarter of the furnace width from the side walls. A fluidized bed with a depth of about 3 meters is formed by discharging air heated in an associated air heater through nozzles in the floor of the furnace chamber to effect combustion.

Abstract: A water gas furnace comprising an outer container to provide a housing in which coke is placed into its lower part. A water container is placed within the housing. The coke is ignited and heats the water in the container converting it into steam. The steam is ejected into the coke, which together with air, produces water gas. Preferably, pumice stones are placed above the coke. The water gas is accepted into the pores of the pumice stones, where the heated pumice stones ignite the water gas, producing heat. The heat is extracted by a heat exchanger provided about the housing.

Abstract: An erosion resistant waterwall in which a plurality of erosion resistant stud members are attached to the exposed surface of a waterwall consisting of a plurality of spaced water tubes connected together by continuous fins. The size of the stud members relative to the tubes are such that a plurality of the stud members extend around the periphery of each exposed tubes surface in a spaced relationship in a direction perpendicular to the axis of each tube. The stud members may be in the form of steel balls or small rod members attached to the exposed surface, and a ceramic sleeve can extend around the rod members.

Abstract: The exchanger is placed in a fluid of elevated temperature and comprises tubes connected to an inlet header and to an outlet header. The exchanger comprises a plurality of panels (4) constituted by tubes (41 to 48) extending below two inlet headers and two outlet headers, to which they are connected at the upstream and downstream ends, and forming two semi-panels which are imbricated one inside the other, each semi-panel comprising a subheader tube (41 or 42) connected to an inlet header (21 or 22) and being divided into at least one tube (43,44,45 or 46, 47, 48) which is coiled into a laced configuration so that the two sub-header tubes (41 or 42) extend vertically within the envelope of said tubes having a laced configuration and they support them through cantilever supports (411, 421). This exchanger may be in particular employed in a fluidized bed apparatus or for the recovery of the heat of gas or fumes.

Abstract: Method and a device for controlling the temperature of a reaction carried out within a vessel in a fluidized bed containing solid particles which can be entrained with the smoke and then recovered in a separating device and recycled into the fluidized bed after passage through a heat exchanger where they yield up their heat. The flow of particles separated from the smoke is divided into two parts, a hot part recycled directly into the fluidized bed and a cool part constituted by particles taken up at the outlet of the separating device and passed into the heat exchanger to constitute a reserve of cold material which can be mixed with the hot part before reinjection into the fluidized bed, the relative flow rates of the hot particles and of the cold particles being regulated so as to control the flow-rate and the average temperature of the flow of particles recycled into the fluidized bed for maintaining at the desired level the reaction temperature in the midst of the latter.

Abstract: A steam generator arranged as a single-pass boiler with a stationary fluidized-bed hearth and a superimposed ash-circulating system. The fluidized bed is divided into several individually controllable sections to which, in each instance, there is associated a belt-charging machine, an ash separation and ash return system, and a secondary air feed line.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for supplying combustible material to a fluidized bed in a vessel connected to a separating device for the solid particles entrained with the smoke and containing a certain proportion of unburnt matter, the particles recovered being recycled into the fluidized bed. During a normal operation of the fluidized bed supplied with combustible matter, the solid particles recovered in the separating device are accumulated in a silo and periodically, the supply of combustible matter is stopped and the particles accumulated in the silo are recycled into the fluidized bed with a regulated flow rate, so that the combustion of the unburnt matter contained in the recycled particles maintains the temperature of the fluidized bed at the desired level. The exothermic reaction is maintained alternately by the combustion of the combustible matter in the normal operating phase and by the combustion of the unburnt matter in the recycling phase.

Abstract: A process for quenching and cooling reactor effluent is provided. The apparatus utilized to practice the process includes a section for introducing relatively cool particulate solids into a hot effluent stream to effect initial quenching and a section to further cool the composite quenched effluent and solids. The process employs relatively cool particulate solids to quench hot effluent and indirect heat exchange between water and the quenched effluent-solids mix to generate high pressure steam and further cool the mix.

Abstract: Apparatus for burning material such as fuel, waste material and the like, which when burned produces gases within which pollutants are entrained and for cleaning the gases. The apparatus comprises an incinerator or a furnace having a combustion chamber in which the material is burned and in which tubes, preferably apertured, extend through the burning coke to which solid fuels are reduced and through the flames of an oil burner gun, for example within the confines of the combustion chamber which in such an instance is also a refractory chamber, act to conduct the polluted gases of combustion from the burning material through the same burning material where they are super heated and cleaned.

Abstract: A fast fluidized bed reactor, comprising an upright reaction chamber for containing a bed of granular material, the chamber having a cylindrical upper region and a lower region; a feeder for feeding matter into the lower region; apparatus for supplying pressurized air to the reaction chamber to fluidize the granular material in the circulating regime, whereby a portion of the granular material is entrained into the upper region; apparatus for tangentially supplying pressurized air to the upper region, the second stream of air being supplied, and the reactor being constructed, in a manner to provide a Swirl number of at least 0.

Abstract: A reaction chamber with a fluidized bed encloses two superposed cyclone separators connected in series. In order to prevent combustion gases from entering the lowermost separator by way of its particulate matter outlet, this is formed as a downwardly extended pipe, which is enclosed by a sleeve through which secondary air passes. The sleeve projects somewhat below the mouth of the pipe, and the issuing air causes an ejector action, which prevents gas from entering the pipe. The particulate matter return flow pipe from the upper cyclone is also extended downwards and terminates within the ejector.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for regulating the heat transfer coefficient between a granular material and an exchange surface inside a heat exchanger in which a descending flow of a charge of material is arranged in the form of a mobile bed in contact with an elongated exchange member extending between lower and upper levels of the tank of the exchanger. The latter is provided with injection means for a gas into the charge of material. The flow conditions of the gas passing through the charge from below upwards are regulated so that the ascending flow speed is initially less than, at the base of the tank, the critical fluidization speed and then increases gradually to reach such critical speed at an adjustable level comprised between the lower and upper levels of the exchange member. The invention is especially applicable to heat exchangers used for cooling a granular material and/or for the heating of a heat transfer fluid.

Abstract: A two-stage process for staged combustion of crushed retorted particles, especially sulfur and nitrogen-bearing shale, provides maximum heat from combustible materials in shale while emissions of carbon monoxide and oxides of sulfur and nitrogen are minimized. In the first stage, combustion is maintained under fluidizing conditions with a substoichiometric amount of oxygen. Off-gases from the first stage are burned in a second-stage combustion zone utilizing an oxygen-containing gas stream controlled to limit emission of carbon monoxide in the flue gas. To minimize production of sulfur oxides, combustion temperature is concurrently maintained below a peak value of 1700.degree. F. by introducing inert gas or recycled decarbonized fines to the first-stage combustion zone to reduce temperature therein.

Abstract: A boiler comprising a fluidized bed combustion chamber which communicates with an exchange enclosure containing water tubes heated by the combustion tubes and within which is arranged an exchange and dust removal chamber equipped with water tubes and containing a vertical internal partition dividing it into two half chambers communicating with one another. One of these half chambers communicates with the upstream part of the enclosure through an inlet orifice situated at the top part and constrains the fumes to follow a descending path along the partition, while the other communicates with the downstream part of the enclosure through an outlet orifice situated at the top part and constrains the fumes to follow an ascending path.

Abstract: The invention includes the steps of, and suitable apparatus for, maintaining a plurality of relatively dense bead-like particles of inert solid material dispersed throughout the fluidized combustion bed, for circulation through heat exchange means separated from the combustion bed and return to the fluidized bed along with other bed constituents. Fine limestone particles may also be introduced into the combustion bed along with fresh fuel particles. The circulating bed constituents are discharged from an arched heat exchange outlet to direct the returning bed constituents in a generally horizontal direction directly over the combustion bed for generating increased circulation in the bed. In addition, the inlet for introduction of fresh fuel and fine limestone is located just below the arched discharge channel to enhance horizontal discharge velocity.

Abstract: A completely cooled fast fluidized bed boiler comprises a reactor (4) having a bottom section (3), an integrated primary non-centrifugal mechanical particle separator (5), a gas pass (7) containing convective heat exchangers (10), and means (6,8,9) for controllably recirculating separated particles into the reactor bottom section (3). Reactor (4), separator (5) and gas pass (7) are built as an integrated unit within one and the same cooling system. The boiler is controlled by maintaining the bed temperature substantially constant or within a relatively narrow temperature interval by regulating the recirculation rate dependent on boiler load. For regulating the recirculation rate a non-mechanical valve, preferably a so-called L-valve (8), is used.

Abstract: Fluidised bed combustor comprising a housing (10) and an air diffuser bed support arrangement (12, 14, 15, 16) disposed in the housing (10) to support and fluidise a bed of material (11) in the housing (10) in such a manner that there is formed in the bed (11), a combustion zone (17) in which material is burned. A feed zone (19) into which material of fuel to be burned may be fed and mixed with the material of the bed (11), an ash segregation zone (20) in which ash resulting from combustion may be at least partially separated from the bed material, and in which the diffuser (13, 14, 15, 16) is arranged to cause the bed material to circulate in operation from the combustion zone (17), through the feed zone (19), through the ash segregation zone (20) and back into the combustion zone (17). In a second mode a circulation takes place through the combustion zone (17), a drive zone (18) over and onto the surface (26) of the bed (11), partly into the feed zone (19) and partly back into the combustion zone (17).

Abstract: In a tube boiler, fuel is burned in a fluidized bed which has a shallower part and a deeper part. The tubes extend only through the shallower part which can be fluidized independently of the deeper part so that the rate of heat transfer from the bed to the tubes can be varied according to demand. Water flows through specially configurated, upwardly oriented tubes by natural convection. There is also a general circulation of particles within the bed.

Abstract: Exhaust gas treatment method and apparatus extract heat from an exhaust gas by operating in a water-condensing mode which allows more heat to be recovered, removes particulate matter and condensed acid from the exhaust gas, and washes heat exchange surfaces to keep them clean and wet to improve heat transfer. Systems for heating water, air, and both water and air are disclosed. Methods of constructing and assembling improved heat exchangers are disclosed.

Abstract: An improved heat pipe comprising a duct having disposed at opposite ends thereof an evaporator with wick-lined hollow fins in the form of extended corrugations thereon, and operable to supply heat to the evaporator comprised of a gas combustor having an internal volume for containing the evaporator and combustion air for supply to a combustion chamber located therein; a wick capable of transporting liquid by capillary action lining substantially all internal surfaces of said heat pipe; an external heat sink operable to remove heat from the condenser; and a heat transport medium contained by said heat pipe. The evaporator is further comprised of a coarse porous material lining and completely filling the spaces within the hollow fins open to the evaporator for increased structural stiffness and ease of fabrication; and a porous mass completely filling the evaporator for increased compressive strength.

Abstract: A combustion boiler is described for use with low quality feedwater. A combusting fluidized bed is circulated through a substantially vertical elongated combustion chamber in an upward path from the lower end of the combustion chamber to the upper end. A single layer of a tubular fluid conduit surrounds the outer periphery of the combustion chamber. The configuration is such that an ascending helical flow path is provided for fluid passing therethrough. This configuration is designed to minimize solids decomposition leading to the tube burnout.

Abstract: The burner system is adapted for retrofit into the combustion chambers of firetube boilers. The burner is comprised of a hollow shell molded from a porous ceramic fiber matrix. Fuel and air reactants flow outwardly through the fiber matrix shell and are combusted along a shallow reaction zone on the outer surface. Heat is transferred primarily by radiation to the walls of the combustion chamber at temperatures which result in relatively low NO.sub.x emissions and high combustion efficiencies as compared to boiler systems with conventional burners.

Abstract: A heat exchanger system exhibits an improved coefficient of heat transfer over a conventional convection heat exchanger while maintaining the beneficial high temperature driving force of conventional convection heat exchanger. A plurality of heat extraction means are provided in heat flow communication with a plurality of shallow beds of particulate matter, which beds are fluidized by a heat-laden gas stream.A method for extracting heat from a heat-laden gas stream is also disclosed.

Abstract: A boiler (10) made up of three separate sections consisting of (1) a bottom supported fluidized bed (12); (2) a top supported upper furnace portion (14); and (3) a vertical boiler section (24) in fluid communication with the furnace outlet. Seals (34, 36) are located between each of the three sections, so they can expand thermally relative to each other while preventing the surrounding atmosphere from exposure to the hot combustion gases. The seals consist of fluid cooled (48, 70) troughs (38, 60) containing sand (40, 62), with fluid cooled (48, 70) plates (42, 64) extending down into the sand.

Abstract: The invention describes a process wherein high-purity hydrogen and oxygen gases can be economically produced via a water electrolysis method, utilizing cheap energy recovered from an incineration process of industrial, municipal, agricultural and other waste materials in a fluidized-bed incinerator. In the said process combustible solid and/or liquid wastes with high energy content are exploited to supply the energy required to incinerate and decompose other solid or liquid wastes with lower or no energy content. Also the process provides a method wherein any solid, liquid or gaseous emissions or effluents from the process are effectively trapped, controlled and converted to environmentally acceptable, inert and harmless products. Also the process includes an energy recovery system such that the thermal energy from the incineration is used to produce steam and generate electricity required for all operations in the process including the production of oxygen.

Abstract: The invention comprising a drying and sorting apparatus for preparation of solid fuel and other solid materials having substantial surface moisture. Ambient air/gas is preheated by indirect heat exchange or other unfired means sufficiently to provide heat needed by the downstream process. The air/gas is then passed up vertically through a bed containing the solid materials, heating and fluidizing them along with the surface moisture. When in a fluidized state, the smaller/lower density particles rise to the top of the bed. At least a portion of the surface moisture on the particles is evaporated. The quantity and temperature of the air/gas flow is sufficient to retain the evaporated surface moisture in the vapor phase. Feedstock of solid materials is added to an intermediate location of the bed. The larger/more dense fluidized particles are removed from bottom location/s of the bed. The smaller/less dense fluidized particles are removed from top location/s of the bed.

Abstract: The invention comprising a drying and sorting apparatus for preparation of solid fuel prior to firing in a combustion furnace. Unsaturated air/gas is passed through a bed containing a mixture of solid fuel and inert material particles, fluidizing them. The unsaturated air/gas is the drying vehicle. When in a fluidized state, the lighter organically derived solid fuel particles separate from the heavier inert material particles. The air/gas is admitted to the bed directionally in a manner which drives the mixture in a retraceable path to outlet points downstream of the point of feedstock entry, the heavier inert material settling at the bottom and the lighter solid fuel particles rising in the bed. Means are provided in the sorter floor for selectively concentrating and directing the solid inert material to the collection point transversely to the direction of particle flotation.

Abstract: The specification describes arrangements in which the attemperation or control of the temperature of a fluidized bed in a fluidized bed combustion unit effected by means of the mixture of a variable proportion of inert gas with fluidizing air fed to the bed may be supplemented with steam. Supplementation with steam being effected to a relatively minor extent during normal operation of the unit but being effected to a major extent when the temperature of the bed passes outside the range at which attemperation may be effected by use of recycled flue gas. The combustion unit is described in use within an arrangement including process plant in the form of a rotary drum dryer.

Abstract: A heat exchanger including a serpentine heat transfer tube embedded in a fluidized bed contained in a vertical casing. The heat transfer pipe has a construction such that fluid undergoing heat exchange and particles of the fluidized bed do not move straightforwardly from an inlet port at the bottom of the casing toward an exit port at the top of the casing. The heat transfer tube includes a horizontal portion extending through a vacant space in the vertical casing above the fluidized bed, and this horizontal portion is provided with a plurality of spaced inclined fins which overlap with each other when viewed from above.

Abstract: Controlling a fluidized bed coal combustor by sensing certain variables and thereby controlling other variables.