Controlling Or Proportioning Feed Patents (Class 431/12)
  • Publication number: 20140051029
    Abstract: A burner installation includes a stack, a burner, a fuel valve, an air valve and a control device including a store storing burner pairs of values of air and fuel valve settings at firing rates and for controlling air and fuel valve settings. A stack flow regulator adjusts flow of combustion products through the stack and a pressure sensing arrangement monitors pressure of combustion products downstream of the burner. Respective pairs of stack flow regulator setting values and a measured value from the pressure sensing arrangement are stored for pairs of air and fuel valve settings values. The control device receives a feedback signal from the pressure sensing arrangement for comparing an actual pressure value with a stored pressure value and to trim the stack flow regulator setting to cause the actual pressure value from the pressure sensing arrangement to move closer to the stored pressure value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Autoflame Engineering Limited
    Inventor: Brendan Kemp
  • Patent number: 8640731
    Abstract: A flow rate control device includes: a fuel gas supply channel having a flow rate adjusting valve; a thermal type mass flow rate sensor arranged in the supply channel; a calculation unit which calculates a thermal quantity flow rate of the fuel gas defined by a product of a volume flow rate of the fuel gas and a heat generation quantity per unit volume of the fuel gas according to an output from the thermal type sensor; and a flow rate control unit which controls the open degree of the flow rate adjusting valve according to a difference between a control target value for controlling the thermal quantity flow rate and the thermal quantity flow rate calculated by the calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Isetani
  • Publication number: 20140030662
    Abstract: A control module for preventing acoustic resonance noise generation from a heat exchanger of a heating furnace, comprising a control signal generated by the control module. The control signal is configured to operate an induction fan of the heating furnace at more than one speed for a given heat demand mode of the heating furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Shiblee S. M. Noman
  • Patent number: 8636024
    Abstract: A fuel supply device for generating mixed gas in which air and/or oxygen are mixed into fuel gas and supplying the mixed gas to a burning appliance comprises a flow rate control module disposed in a supply path of the fuel gas and flow rate control modules disposed in supply paths of the air and/or the oxygen. The flow rate control module includes a thermal mass flow rate sensor, a first calculator for calculating the thermal flow rate of the fuel gas from the output of the thermal mass flow rate sensor, a control computing unit for controlling the flow rate of the fuel gas via a flow rate regulating valve according to the calculated thermal flow rate, a second calculator for calculating the calculated calorific value per unit volume of the fuel gas, and a computing unit for computing the ratio of the calculated calorific value to the reference calorific value per unit volume of the fuel gas in a reference state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Isetani
  • Patent number: 8636501
    Abstract: A method is proposed for regulating a firing device taking into account the temperature and/or the burner load, in particular with a gas burner, comprising the regulation of the temperature (Tactual) produced by the firing device using a characteristic which shows a value range corresponding to a desired temperature (Tdesired) dependent upon a first parameter (mL,VL) corresponding to the burner load (Q), wherein when representing the characteristic, a second parameter, preferably the air ration (?), defined as the ratio of the actually supplied quantity of air to the quantity of air theoretically required for optimal stoichiometric combustion, is constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Landshut GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Geiger, Ulrich Geiger, Rudolf Tungl
  • Publication number: 20140023976
    Abstract: A furnace includes a combustion blower and one or more pressure switches. In some cases, the one or more pressure switches may be used to calculate one or more operating points for the combustion blower. Additional operating points may be calculated by interpolation and/or extrapolation, as appropriate. The furnace may temporarily alter these operating points as necessary to keep the furnace safely operating in response to minor and/or transient changes in the operating conditions of the furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Brent Chian, Timothy J. Nordberg
  • Publication number: 20140023975
    Abstract: A process of producing a feed form a solid electrolyte oxygen separator and combusting the feed in a steam methane reforming furnace to produce a flue gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Uchenna Prince Paul, David Brooke Ingram
  • Patent number: 8632621
    Abstract: A simple, compact burner achieves a more optimal melting of a solid charge followed by performance of combustion under distributed combustion conditions. The burner achieves this by fluidically bending the flame towards the solid charge during a melting phase with an actuating jet of oxidant, redirecting the flame in a direction away from the charge, and staging injection of oxidant among primary and secondary portions during a distributed combustion phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Vivek Gautam, Kenneth Kaiser, Luc Jarry, Remi Pierre Tsiava
  • Publication number: 20140011140
    Abstract: This invention relates to a heating device consisting of at least one burner for the combustion especially of a gaseous fuel, at least one radiant tube connecting to the burner, at least one fan generating a negative pressure or an excess pressure in the radiant tube, and at least one exhaust gas recirculation system with at least one exhaust gas recirculation passage through which an exhaust gas produced during the combustion of the primary fuel can be recirculated from the radiant tube to a transition zone from the burner into the radiant tube. In order to further develop a heating device of this type as well as a method for its operation the burner is adapted for being operated in at least two power stages and the exhaust gas recirculation system is controlled in dependence of the power stages of the burner in such a way that the volume flow of the recirculated exhaust gas is reduced with an increasing power stage of the burner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Bernd H. Schwank, Konrad Weber
  • Publication number: 20140007822
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mixture supply system which is adapted for mounting in a hot water appliance and which is adapted to supply a combustible mixture to a burner of the hot water appliance, comprising a fuel feed for a fluid fuel, an oxidizer feed for a fluid oxidizer, a mixing chamber for mixing the fuel and the oxidizer in order to form the combustible mixture, a discharge for discharging the combustible mixture from the mixing chamber and a fan for urging the fuel and oxidizer from the respective feed to the mixing chamber, and urging the mixture therefrom to the discharge, wherein the fan is adapted to act directly on both the fuel and the oxidizer. The fan does not so much make use of an airflow with gas drawn in by a venturi, but gas is supplied separately to the fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: INTERGAS HEATING ASSETS B.V.
    Inventor: Peter Jan Cool
  • Publication number: 20140011141
    Abstract: Provided is a combustion burner including: a fuel nozzle (51) that is able to blow a fuel gas obtained by mixing pulverized coal with primary air; a secondary air nozzle (52) that is able to blow secondary air from the outside of the fuel nozzle (51); a flame stabilizer (54) that is provided at a front end portion of the fuel nozzle (51) so as to be near the axis center; and a rectification member (55) that is provided between the inner wall surface of the fuel nozzle (51) and the flame stabilizer (54), wherein an appropriate flow of a fuel gas obtained by mixing solid fuel with air may be realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keigo Matsumoto, Kazuhiro Domoto, Naofumi Abe, Jun Kasai
  • Patent number: 8621869
    Abstract: An air/fuel mixture is received in an oxidation reaction chamber. The air/fuel mixture has a low concentration of fuel, for example, below a lower explosive limit (LEL). The mixture is received while a temperature of a region in the oxidation reaction chamber is below a temperature sufficient to oxidize the fuel. The temperature of the region is raised to at least the oxidation temperature (the temperature sufficient to oxidize the fuel) primarily using heat energy released from oxidizing the air/fuel mixture in a different region in the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ener-Core Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Edan Prabhu
  • Publication number: 20140004470
    Abstract: A stream of sub ambient oxygen from an ion transport membrane is injected into an ambient pressure or super ambient pressure oxygen-consuming process through an annular space in between concentrically disposed inner and outer tubes where a high velocity gas is injected into the process from the inner tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicants: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, American Air Liquide, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei HUANG, Justin Jian Wang, Remi Pierre Tsiava
  • Publication number: 20140004471
    Abstract: A method and system for fueling of a burner in a direct-fired device using syngas. A gasifier produces syngas from a carbonaceous feedstock such as biomass. The syngas is fed to a syngas burner. A booster burner disposed between the gasifier and the syngas burner increases the temperature of the syngas. The booster burner may be provided with an approximately stoichiometric or sub-stoichiometric amount of oxidant. Operation of the booster burner may be regulated based on the temperature of the syngas. The syngas burner may be used to direct-fire a device requiring a relatively high flame temperature, such as, for example, a lime kiln.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: NEXTERRA SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Hendrick Vandergriendt, Duncan Meade, Yan Li, Nebojsa Plavsic
  • Publication number: 20140000534
    Abstract: High intensity combustion and low intensity combustion are carried out together, to stabilize flames and to hold down the emission of carbon monoxide. An air-fuel mixture outlet member (back plate) that includes a single or a plurality of outlet(s) (air-fuel mixture outlet(s)) out of which an air-fuel mixture (GA) flows is include, and a metal fiber knitting body (metal knit) that covers the air-fuel mixture outlet member is included. Therefor, the air-fuel mixture, which is made to flow out of the outlet(s), passes through the metal fiber knitting body (metal knit) and is combusted, a flame of low intensity (flame) is generated together with a flame of high intensity (flame) by combustion of the air-fuel mixture, and the flame of low intensity holds the flame of high intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Katsumi Naitoh, Yasunori Katoh, Jun Aiso, Kentaro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8616194
    Abstract: A gas-fired air conditioning furnace comprises a monolithic intake manifold including an inlet at a first end and a plurality of outlets at a second end opposite the first end. In addition, the furnace comprises a burner assembly including a plurality of burners, each burner is configured to combust an air-fuel mixture at least partially within an interior space of the burner. Further, each burner extends into one of the outlets of the intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Lester D. Sherrow, Scott A. Lackie
  • Publication number: 20130344446
    Abstract: A cooking appliance a gas burner configured to generate a quantity of heat is disclosed. The cooking appliance also includes a pressure sensor operable to measure the pressure of gas supplied to the gas burner from a gas control valve. The gas control valve is operable to adjust the supply of gas to the gas burner based on the measured pressure of the gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Whirlpool Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130340650
    Abstract: Plant and process for cement clinker production includes preheating a raw meal, a calcination step where the raw meal is brought to a temperature of about 800-850° C. to substantially decompose its mineral constituents into their oxides, and a sintering step where the load is brought to a temperature of 1300 to 1450° C. to form Ca2SiO4 (or (CaO)2.SiO2), to further decompose calcium carbonate and partially melt the load to form Ca3.SiO5 (or (CaO)3.SiO2) in a rotarykiln, followed by cooling the resulting clinker, and optionally milling it, wherein untreated oil sludge is supplied into an injection zone of the calcination zone operated at a material temperature of approx. 800-850° C., the injection zone including the bottom discharge of the lowest cyclone stages and/or of the precalciner, if appropriate, the feed-in slope of the rotary kiln and the gas phase over the mineral bed at the material inlet end of the rotary kiln.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Christian Meyers, Hans Ericsson
  • Publication number: 20130341925
    Abstract: The present invention provides an inexpensive and environmentally friendly system and method for producing energy utilizing a gravitation drip technique. A clean burning liquid fuel is dripped from an upper container into a lower container that houses a heat-absorbing substrate. A combustion reaction is initiated between the fuel and the heat absorbing substrate to produce a continuous flame. Thermal energy from the flame and the combustion process is retained by the heat-absorbing substrate. The thermal energy from the flame and/or heat-absorbing substrate can be harvested to convert water into steam. This steam energy can be harnessed to generate mechanical energy and produce electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventor: Joao Soares
  • Publication number: 20130337388
    Abstract: A method of controlling a mobile heating device which is adapted for generating heat by combustion of fuel with combustion air is provided, the method comprising the steps: operating the mobile heating device with a predetermined fuel supply rate and a predetermined combustion air supply rate, monitoring the signal of at least one temperature sensor over time, temporarily changing at least one of the fuel supply rate and the combustion air supply rate, analyzing the response in the signal of the at least one temperature sensor, and based on the response, operating the mobile heating device with at least one of an adapted fuel supply rate and an adapted combustion air supply rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Michael SCHWANECKE, Martin Zoske, Steffen Weber, Christian Beacker
  • Publication number: 20130330677
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of coal to form a paste that can be used as a fuel or incorporated with other fillers to form pellets or briquettes. The paste is formed from crushed or powdered coal mixed in a liquid fuel and may be used as is or may be mixed with a carrier fuel prior to combustion or it could be mixed with other biomass fillers to produce a solid fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Joel Sterling Douglas, Michael Curtis
  • Patent number: 8602772
    Abstract: A method is provided for commissioning a combustion control system for controlling operation of a boiler combustion system. The method includes the step of mapping a plurality of sets of coordinated servo positions for the fuel flow control device and the air flow control device at a plurality of selected firing rate points between a minimum firing rate and a maximum firing rate by using an algorithm and an iterative process to identify the coordinated air and fuel actuator positions instead of a trial and error method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Corporation
    Inventors: Junqiang Fan, Muhidin A. Lelic, Guido Poncia, David S. Liscinsky, Meredith B. Colket, III, Tom Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20130319304
    Abstract: A method of burning a fuel with high efficiency comprises providing a combustion chamber having a combustion region, providing a natural fuel within the combustion chamber on one side of the combustion region, providing a filtered fuel, and providing a substantially cylindrical injector on an opposing side of the combustion region, the injector comprising: an exhaust port in an axial center of the injector; a notch surrounding a circumference of the injector; and a plurality of intake ports in a periphery of the injector and configured to port fluid from the notch to the combustion region. The flow of the fluid toward the center of the combustion region, while the natural fuel is burning within the combustion chamber, causes at least one vortex in which the combustible substances further burn with the air and the filtered fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: Douglas Thompson
  • Publication number: 20130323657
    Abstract: A technique for controlling the combustion of fuel in a combustion boiler, comprising at least the following steps: a) a desired combustion air quantity for the combustion of the fuel in the combustion boiler is determined, b) a combustion air quantity which is available for the combustion of the fuel in the combustion boiler is determined, c) at least one combustion air inflow is controlled by at least one material output opening or at least one appliance opening in the combustion boiler, in order to at least partially match the combustion air quantity available in the combustion boiler to the desired combustion air quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Ralph Ludwig, Christian Mueller
  • Patent number: 8591221
    Abstract: A forced air furnace may include a pneumatically modulated gas valve that is configured to provide gas to a burner. A pneumatic sampling device may be disposed proximate a combustion blower and may be configured to provide the pneumatically modulated gas valve with a first pneumatic signal and a second pneumatic signal that are representative of fluid flow through the pneumatic sampling device. The pneumatically modulated gas valve may regulate gas flow in accordance with the first and second pneumatic signals. In some cases, the pneumatic sampling device may include a restriction, a first pressure port disposed upstream of the restriction and a second pressure port disposed downstream of the restriction. The first and second pressure ports may provide the first and second pneumatic signals to the pneumatically modulated gas valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Inventor: Michael W. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20130309617
    Abstract: The present invention provides a burner combustion method for supplying and combusting an oxidant stream and a fuel stream, wherein the oxidant stream is composed of a primary oxidant stream jetted from around the periphery of the fuel stream or from a position near the fuel stream, and a plurality of secondary oxidant streams, and by periodically changing the flow rate of at least one of the primary oxidant stream and the plurality of secondary oxidant streams, and also causing a periodic change in the oxygen concentration within the oxidant stream, causing a periodic change in the oxygen ratio which is calculated by dividing the supplied amount of oxygen, supplied by the oxidant stream, by the theoretically required amount of oxygen, and providing a difference between the periodic changes in the oxygen concentration and the oxygen ratio, the combustion state adopts a periodic oscillating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: TAIYO NIPPON SANSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Haneji, Kimio Iino, Yasuyuki Yamamoto, Yoshiyuki Hagihara
  • Patent number: 8585397
    Abstract: A hot air generator comprising a handle (12), an elongated nozzle (14), flame generating means (6), a venturi (4), a gas conduit (162) intended to bring a combustible gas into the elongated nozzle (14) and at the flame generating means (6), an air conduit (164) intended for bringing compressed air into the elongated nozzle (14) and downstream from the venturi; characterized in that the generator further comprises a servocontrolled pressure regulator (2) controlling a gas pressure (Pd.g) in the gas conduit (162) depending on an air pressure (Pd.a) in the air conduit (164).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Guilbert Express
    Inventors: Yves Guillou, Christophe Le Drappier
  • Publication number: 20130302738
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to control combustion process systems are disclosed. An example method includes monitoring an actual flow of fuel into a combustion process, calculating a relative heat release value corresponding to the fuel in the combustion process, and determining a fuel demand for the combustion process based on the relative heat release value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: John Duncan Rennie, Scott Rusheon Pettigrew, Barbara Kerr Hamilton, Andrea Nicole Bishop
  • Publication number: 20130302739
    Abstract: Stable operation of oxyfuel combustion boiler is ensured and amplification in likelihood of or downsizing of forced draft fan is attained. Upon change of commanded boiler load from start value to target value by target time, a feed amount of oxygen from oxygen producing device is regulated for attainment of oxygen concentration on entry side of the boiler body from reference value to attainment point or target entry-side oxygen concentration within entry-side oxygen concentration regulation range by target time. After attainment to attainment point, control is made to return entry-side oxygen concentration to reference value at return point. Airflow rate of forced draft fan is controlled with change rate smaller than change rate with which air flow rate of forced draft fan reaches target value by target time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya HORI, Toshihiko Yamada, Yohei Akutsu
  • Patent number: 8579627
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the feed of a combustible gas by a valve device placed in a feed pipe which has a gas inlet section and a gas outlet section. The device includes a valve seat in the pipe associated with a membrane-operated plug and a device for returning the plug to a position in which the valve seat is shut off. The method includes the steps of creating a pressure difference in a section of the pipe downstream of the plug with respect to the direction of flow, by a constriction in the pipe having a predetermined cross section, the pressure difference being defined by a first pressure upstream of the constriction and a second pressure downstream of the constriction; collecting the signal formed by the second pressure downstream of the constriction and making the second pressure act on the side of the membrane opposite that on which the first pressure acts; and generating a regulatable load on the membrane of the membrane operating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Sit la Precisa S.p.A. con Socio Unico
    Inventor: Stefano Zanella
  • Publication number: 20130291771
    Abstract: A method and a system for providing thermal energy to a heat demanding equipment, the system comprising a gasification chamber provided with a fire-tube; a temperature sensor monitoring the temperature within the gasification chamber; a controlled-speed dosing unit conveying biomass powder or pellets to the gasification chamber; an air blower injecting a sub-stoichiometric quantity of air within the gasification chamber with the biomass powder or pellets; a syngas burner receiving hot syngas generated by gasification of the biomass powder or pellets within the gasification chamber, from the fire-tube of the gasification chamber, for combustion; and a control unit monitoring the temperature and oxygen conditions in the gasification chamber, and adjusting the dosing unit according to at least one of: i) the temperature within the gasification chamber and ii) thermal heat demand of the heat demanding equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: 7977093 Canada Inc.
    Inventor: MOHAMMED LAKHMIRI
  • Patent number: 8573965
    Abstract: A method of operating a pyrolysis heater for reduced emissions of NOx and carbon monoxide. One or more wall burners, typically premix burners, are operated with more excess oxidant gas than one or more of the floor or hearth burners, which are typically non-premix burners. The invention takes advantage of different NOx emissions characteristics from different types of burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Reed Jacob Hendershot, Xianming Jimmy Li, Aleksandar Georgi Slavejkov
  • Publication number: 20130280662
    Abstract: A combustion method of a mixture composed of air and fuel uses a precious metal fiber membrane (1), wherein additional openings (3) for generation of a flame field with higher flames (8) are provided, the roots (7) of which are kept cool for NOx reduction, among other things.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Ulrich Dreizler, Daniel Dreizler
  • Publication number: 20130273481
    Abstract: A boiler operating method operates a boiler by switching between air combustion mode and oxygen combustion mode when burning fossil fuel with first combustion gas and second combustion gas. The second combustion gas compensates for oxygen deficiency in the first combustion gas. The air combustion mode uses air as the first combustion gas and the second combustion gas while the oxygen combustion mode uses mixed gas of combustion flue gas and oxygen-rich gas as the first combustion gas and the second combustion gas, the combustion flue gas being produced when the fossil fuel is burned. By mixing the oxygen-rich gas in the air in the process of switching between air combustion mode and oxygen combustion mode, the air being the first combustion gas used in the air combustion mode, the boiler operating method can switch between the air combustion mode and oxygen combustion mode while maintaining stable combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicants: FORTUM CORPORATION, BABCOCK-HITACHI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirofumi Okazaki, Koji Kuramashi, Hideo Okimoto, Kenichi Ochi, Naoya Imooka, Pauli Dernjatin
  • Patent number: 8557458
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for generating a gas that may be used for startup and shutdown of a fuel cell. In a non-limiting embodiment, the method may include generating a nitrogen-rich stream; merging the nitrogen-rich stream with a hydrocarbon fuel stream into a feed mixture stream; and catalytically converting the feed mixture into a reducing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: LG Fuel Cell Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Vincent Scotto, Daniel P. Birmingham, Crispin L. DeBellis, Mark Anthony Perna, Gregory C. Rush
  • Patent number: 8550809
    Abstract: A combustor includes an end cap that extends radially across a portion of the combustor and includes an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface. A combustion chamber is downstream of the end cap. Premixer tubes extend from a premixer tube inlet proximate to the upstream surface through the downstream surface to provide fluid communication through the end cap and include means for conditioning flow through the plurality of premixer tubes. A method for conditioning flow through a combustor includes flowing a working fluid through a first and second set of premixer tubes that extend axially through an end cap, wherein the second set of premixer tubes includes means for conditioning flow through the second set of premixer tubes, and flowing a fuel through the first or second set of premixer tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Chunyang Wu, Jonathan Dwight Berry, Jason Thurman Stewart
  • Patent number: 8550811
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for feeding hot gas to a shaft furnace (12), wherein the method comprises feeding a first portion (32) of a first gas flow (24) to a mixing chamber (36) and feeding a second portion (34) of the first gas flow (24) into said shaft furnace. The method further comprises feeding a second gas flow (28) to the mixing chamber (36), allowing the first portion (32) of the first gas flow (24) to mix with the second gas flow (28) in the mixing chamber (36), thereby forming a third gas flow (38), and feeding the third gas flow (38) to the shaft furnace (12). The first gas flow (24) has a first volumetric fluid flow rate (V1), a first temperature (T1) and a first pressure (p1); the second gas flow (28) has a second volumetric fluid flow rate (V2), a second temperature (T2) and a second pressure (p2); and the third gas flow (38) has a third volumetric fluid flow rate (V3), a third temperature (T3) and a third pressure (p3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Simoes, Jean-Luc Roth
  • Patent number: 8550810
    Abstract: A method of controlling a boiler plant during a switchover period from an air-combustion mode to an oxygen-combustion mode. The method includes steps of feeding fuel into a furnace of the boiler plant at a rate determined by a fuel feeding scheme, feeding air into the furnace at a rate determined by a descending air feeding scheme, feeding substantially pure oxygen into the furnace at a rate determined by an ascending oxygen feeding scheme, and recirculating flue gas into the furnace at a rate determined by an ascending flue gas recirculating scheme. The fuel feeding scheme, the air feeding scheme and the oxygen feeding scheme are such that the fuel is combusted and the flue gas containing residual oxygen is produced. Also, the fuel feeding scheme, the air feeding scheme and the oxygen feeding scheme are such that the content of residual oxygen in the flue gas is, during at least a portion of the switchover period, greater than during any of the air-combustion mode and the oxygen-combustion mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler North America Corp.
    Inventors: Andrew Seltzer, Zhen Fan, Horst Hack
  • Publication number: 20130260325
    Abstract: A gas boiler and a method of adjusting output of the gas boiler by adjusting mixture ratio of air and gas for combustion in proportion to an output value of the boiler, and continuously changing the mixture regardless of the boiler output. The gas boiler includes a ventilator, a gas valve, a burner, a combustion chamber, a heat exchanger, and an exhaust gas hood. The inlet of the ventilator includes an output adjusting device having an air inlet; an air adjustment valve; a gas outlet; a gas adjustment valve that adjusts the gas passing through the gas outlet; and a valve driving unit that drives the air adjustment valve and the gas adjustment valve. Output of the burner is continuously adjusted by adjusting distance between the air adjustment valve and the gas adjustment valve, and distance between the air inlet and the gas outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Kyungdong Navien Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-Sik Min
  • Patent number: 8545216
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a valve assembly includes a housing. The housing can define a first fuel intake, a first fuel output, and a second fuel output. The assembly can include a valve member configured to direct fuel from the first fuel intake to either the first fuel output or the second fuel output. The assembly can further include a nozzle having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the nozzle can be in communication with the first fuel output, and the second portion of the nozzle can be in communication with the second fuel output. The assembly can include a compartment in communication with the nozzle, and can include one or more air intakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Appliances, Inc.
    Inventor: David Deng
  • Patent number: 8545213
    Abstract: A method of combustion and a reformer. The method includes combusting a fuel in a combustion region of an up-fired or down-fired reformer and forming non-uniform injection properties with a wall-bound burner. The combusting is performed in a combustion region by burners, wherein at least one of the burners is the wall-bound burner forming the non-uniform injection properties. The non-uniform injection properties generate a heat profile providing a first heat density proximal to a wall and a second heat density distal from the wall, the second heat density being greater than the first heat density. The non-uniform injection properties are formed by injection properties selected from an angle of one or more injectors, a flow rate of one or more injectors, an amount and/or location of oxidant injectors, an amount and/or location of fuel injectors, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Reed Jacob Hendershot, Xianming Jimmy Li, Aleksandar Georgi Slavejkov
  • Patent number: 8545214
    Abstract: A furnace includes a combustion blower and one or more pressure switches. In some cases, the one or more pressure switches may be used to calculate one or more operating points for the combustion blower. Additional operating points may be calculated by interpolation and/or extrapolation, as appropriate. The furnace may temporarily alter these operating points as necessary to keep the furnace safely operating in response to minor and/or transient changes in the operating conditions of the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Chian, Timothy J. Nordberg
  • Patent number: 8545580
    Abstract: A chemically-modified mixed fuel includes methane gas from at least two methane-production sources and can be utilized in any process that incorporates a Kellogg Primary Reformer. A method for producing the chemically-modified mixed fuel described herein includes providing a first methane-containing gas from a first methane-production source, providing a second methane-containing gas from a second methane-production source and blending the first methane-containing gas with the second methane-containing gas at a suitable pressure to form a chemically-modified mixed fuel. In some cases, at least one additional methane-containing gas can be provided from at least one additional methane-production source and blended with the chemically-modified fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Togna, Craig T. Euen, Steven W. Weeks, Mohammed I. Loya, Matthew C. Warren, Richard H. Kendrick
  • Publication number: 20130252183
    Abstract: A gas burner has a burner base formed with inner and outer upwardly open annular base chambers each connected to a respective gas supply. An inner burner on the burner base has gas outlet orifices that create an inner flame ring. An annular outer burner on the burner base has inner gas outlet orifices on its inner annular periphery creating an intermediate flame ring and outer gas outlet orifices on its outer annular periphery creating an outer flame ring. This outer burner also has two coaxial and separate inner and outer annular gas chambers that are downwardly open toward the burner base. The outlet orifices of the intermediate flame ring open into the inner annular gas chamber while the gas outlet orifices of the outer flame ring open into the outer annular gas chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventor: Matthias MUELLER
  • Publication number: 20130252121
    Abstract: A system includes a photoelectrolysis system having a solar collector configured to collect and concentrate solar radiation to heat water, generate electricity, or both. The system also includes an electrolysis unit configured to electrolyze the heated water using at least the generated electricity to produce a first gas mixture and a second gas mixture. The first gas mixture includes oxygen and steam and the second gas mixture includes hydrogen and steam. The system further includes a first device configured to receive and use the first gas mixture as well as a hydrogen membrane configured to receive and separate the hydrogen and steam mixture into a hydrogen component and a steam component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Judith Pauline Oppenheim
  • Publication number: 20130252184
    Abstract: To inhibit corrosion of water wall tubes of a boiler and stabilize combustion on a burner during oxygen combustion operation, a boiler combustion system includes a boiler equipped with a burner and a two-staged combustion gas input port; a flue gas supply fan extracting flue gas from a flue gas treatment system via a flue gas circulation line; a combustion gas supply line, fuel carrier gas supply line, and two-staged combustion gas supply line branched off from the flue gas circulation line downstream of the flue gas supply fan; an oxygen supply line supplying oxygen-rich gas to the combustion gas supply line and fuel carrier gas supply line; combustion air supply fans; a switching unit switching operation between the flue gas supply fan and the combustion air supply fans; and dampers regulating gas flow rates on the combustion gas supply line and the two-staged combustion gas supply line, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicants: FORTUM CORPORATION, BABCOCK-HITACHI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hitoshi Wakamatsu, Takahiro Marumoto, Toshihiko Mine, Pauli Dernjatin
  • Publication number: 20130232983
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods for oxidizing gases. In some embodiments, a reaction chamber is configured to receive a fuel gas and maintain the gas at a temperature within the reaction chamber that is above an autoignition temperature of the gas. The reaction chamber may also be configured to maintain a reaction temperature within the reaction chamber below a flameout temperature. In some embodiments, heat and product gases from the oxidation process can be used, for example, to drive a turbine, reciprocating engine, and injected back into the reaction chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: FLEXENERGY, INC.
    Inventor: Boris A. Maslov
  • Publication number: 20130236840
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods for oxidizing gases. In some embodiments, a reaction chamber is configured to receive a fuel gas and maintain the gas at a temperature within the reaction chamber that is above an autoignition temperature of the gas. The reaction chamber may also be configured to maintain a reaction temperature within the reaction chamber below a flameout temperature. In some embodiments, heat and product gases from the oxidation process can be used, for example, to drive a turbine, reciprocating engine, and injected back into the reaction chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: FlexEnergy, Inc.
    Inventors: Boris A. MASLOV, Jeffrey ARMSTRONG
  • Publication number: 20130236842
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for combustion of fuel includes, in some embodiments, a fuel nozzle which injects fuel into a combustion channel of a wave rotor combustor or a pulse detonation combustor. In some embodiments the combustion process includes a backward-propagating detonation wave within a substantially closed channel which compresses discrete quantities of combustible and noncombustible mixture. Yet other embodiments include a precombustion chamber integrated into the wave rotor, the outlet stator or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130236841
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods for oxidizing gases. In some embodiments, a reaction chamber is configured to receive a fuel gas and maintain the gas at a temperature within the reaction chamber that is above an autoignition temperature of the gas. The reaction chamber may also be configured to maintain a reaction temperature within the reaction chamber below a flameout temperature. In some embodiments, heat and product gases from the oxidation process can be used, for example, to drive a turbine, reciprocating engine, and injected back into the reaction chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: FLEXENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey ARMSTRONG, Richard MARTIN, Douglas HAMRIN, Joe PERRY