Disperser Feeds Into Permeable Mass, E.g., Checkerwork, Etc. Patents (Class 431/170)
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Patent number: 6709264Abstract: A catalytic combuster having a mixing section upstream of a combustion section. The mixing section includes a multi-port injector for injecting a first reactant gas into the mixing section in a plurality of directions perpendicular the direction or flow of a second reactant gas.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2001Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Ingo Hermann, Axel Junge, Martin Stadie, Andreā² Mack-Gardner, Philip Klaus
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Publication number: 20040048211Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalytic combustion device comprising a main combustion zone (20, 200) including at least one catalytic section (5, 103) and at least one air/fuel mixing zone (11, 117), said mixing zone comprising at least one pressurized air inlet (1, 101) and injection means (12, 105) for injecting a liquid fuel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2003Publication date: March 11, 2004Inventors: Gerard Martin, Tidjani Niass, Jean-Francois Le Coz, Etienne Lebas
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Publication number: 20040033455Abstract: Integrated Combustion Reactors (ICRS) and methods of making ICRs are described in which combustion chambers (or channels) are in direct thermal contact to reaction chambers for an endothermic reaction. Particular reactor designs are also described. Processes of conducting reactions in integrated combustion reactors are described and results presented. Some of these processes are characterized by unexpected and superior results, and/or results that can not be achieved with any prior art devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2002Publication date: February 19, 2004Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Gary Roberts, Sean P. Fitzgerald, Paul W. Neagle, Dongming Qiu, Matthew B. Schmidt, Steven T. Perry, David J. Hesse, Robert J. Luzenski, G. Bradley Chadwell, Ying Peng, James A. Mathias, Nathan P. Gano, Richard Q. Long, Wm. Allen Roger, Ravi Arora, Wayne W. Simmons, Barry L. Yang, David J. Kuhlmann, Yong Wang, Thomas D. Yuschak, Thomas Forte, John Arthur Monahan, Robert Jetter
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Publication number: 20040018460Abstract: A process atmosphere incinerator for neutralizing chemical non-innocent gaseous mixtures uses thermally induced neutralization reactions, and does not rely on the use of auxiliary components. In these reactions, chemical non-innocent gaseous mixtures are neutralized to form benign and environmentally friendly products. A plurality of flame breakers is disposed inside of the reaction chamber of the process atmosphere incinerator. The flame breakers introduce variations in gas flow paths and flame patterns, and provide surfaces of elevated temperature inside the reaction chamber. The process atmosphere incinerator is constructed in a way as to support neutralization of a wide range of amounts of non-innocent gaseous mixtures of arbitrary composition.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2002Publication date: January 29, 2004Inventors: Michel J. Korwin, Janusz Szymborski
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Patent number: 6669463Abstract: The present invention provides a combustor for a fuel processor which integrates a burner and a catalyst. The burner is utilized to quickly heat the catalyst to a light-off temperature to prepare it for normal operation. The heated catalyst is then used to react anode exhaust with air or cathode exhaust under normal operation.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2002Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Matthew J. Beutel, William H. Pettit, Steven G. Goebel
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Patent number: 6663379Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyzer for burning at least part of a fuel/oxidant mixture flowing through the catalyzer, in particular for a burner of a power plant installation. The catalyzer comprises several catalytically active channels and several catalytically inactive channels. A longitudinal section of the catalyzer is spaced apart from an inflow side in the main flow direction. In this longitudinal section turbulators are arranged in at least several catalytically active channels. In addition or alternatively, connections that enable a flow between the channels are formed in this longitudinal section between several adjoining channels.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2002Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) LtdInventors: Richard Carroni, Timothy Griffin, Verena Schmidt
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Patent number: 6662564Abstract: A dampening device for suppressing vibrations of a tube assembly in a catalytic combustor which includes, a plurality of closely oriented, parallel tubes with each tube having at least one expanded region and at least one narrow region. The expanded regions being structured to contact at least one adjacent tube, thus providing support and minimizing degradation of the joint connecting the tubes to the tube sheet, and degradation of the tubes themselves. Such degradation can result from vibration due to flow of cooling air inside of the tubes, flow of the fuel/air mixture passing over the tubes transverse and longitudinal to the tube bundle, and/or other system/engine vibrations.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2001Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power CorporationInventors: Gerald J. Bruck, Thomas E. Lippert, Daniel R. Bartolomeo, William E. Kepes, Donald M. Newburry
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Patent number: 6619043Abstract: A catalytic combustor includes a plurality of rectangular, tubular subassemblies having the catalyst coating on their outside surfaces. The subassemblies are held in spaced relationship within channels in support walls so that the catalyst coated surfaces of adjacent subassemblies define a catalyst-coated channel, and the interior of the tubular subassemblies defines uncoated channels. This structure permits precise location and support for the various subassemblies, provides wide flexibility in selecting the number and size of catalyst coated subassemblies, and provides for multiple possible flow paths for cooling air and fuel-air mixture through the catalytic combustor.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2001Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power CorporationInventors: Gerald Bruck, Maria E. Stampahar, Dennis M. Bachovchin, Mary Anne Alvin, Donald M. Newburry
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Patent number: 6599119Abstract: A combustion apparatus which has a post combustion hot gas fan and a recirculation duct positioned down stream from the fan to reduce NOx emissions by returning a portion of the exhaust from the combustion zone back to the combustion zone. For example, in one embodiment the increased velocity of the exhaust gas stream from the post combustion hot gas fan which is required to overcome the pressure drop in a post combustion treatment unit is used as the motive force for the recirculation of a portion of the exhaust to the combustion zone to reduce the NOx exiting the apparatus to a level below that of the post combustion treatment alone.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2002Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: Entropy Technology and Environmental Consultants, LPInventors: Stephen C. Wood, Ravindra K. Agrawal
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Publication number: 20030134239Abstract: The present invention provides a combustor for a fuel processor which integrates a burner and a catalyst. The burner is utilized to quickly heat the catalyst to a light-off temperature to prepare it for normal operation. The heated catalyst is then used to react anode exhaust with air or cathode exhaust under normal operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2002Publication date: July 17, 2003Inventors: Matthew J. Beutel, William H. Pettit, Steven G. Goebel
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Publication number: 20030096204Abstract: A catalytic combuster having a mixing section upstream of a combustion section. The mixing section includes a multi-port injector for injecting a first reactant gas into the mixing section in a plurality of directions perpendicular the direction or flow of a second reactant gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2001Publication date: May 22, 2003Inventors: Ingo Hermann, Axel Junge, Martin Stadie, Andre Mack-Gardner, Philip Klaus
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Patent number: 6520769Abstract: A warm-up apparatus 1 for a fuel evaporator 2 comprises: a catalyst combustor 20 for catalytically burning exhaust gas from a fuel cell 6 to produce combustion gas and supplying the fuel evaporator which evaporates raw fuel liquid with the produced combustion gas as an evaporation heat source; an exhaust gas passage 1a for transferring exhaust gas to the catalyst combustor; and a combustion gas transferring device 10 including a fuel injection portion 10a and a combustion catalyst 10c, and injecting fuel from the fuel injection portion onto the combustion catalyst, where the fuel is catalytically burned to produce combustion gas, and thereafter transferring the produced combustion gas to the catalyst combustor. The combustion gas transferring device is positioned on one side of said exhaust gas passage.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2001Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takahiro Tachihara, Kouji Miyano, Naoyuki Abe
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Patent number: 6508056Abstract: A recuperated microturbine system including a low temperature duct burner in the exhaust gas which accommodates significant variations in the exhaust gas flow from the recuperator, which burns the added hydrocarbon fuel, for example natural gas, reasonably efficiently, without generating a significant amount of additional NOx. A wire mesh burner is used to burn the added fuel in part of the exhaust gas from the recuperator. The duct burner is operated either in a more or less radiant combustion mode, or in a blue flame mode. The remainder of the recuperator exhaust gas, which bypasses the afterburner, is heated mainly by radiant heat transfer from the wire mesh burner. The use of the wire mesh burner minimises additional NOx formation. In the duct burner the dynamic pressure of the exhaust gas is used to overcome the inherent static pressure loss of the wire mesh burner.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2001Date of Patent: January 21, 2003Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Natural ResourcesInventor: Robert Brandon
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Publication number: 20020197578Abstract: The present invention is a method, and an apparatus for practicing the method, that creates a product stream and a heat of reaction from a fuel-rich fuel/air mixture and then contacts the product stream with a sufficient quantity of additional air to completely combust all of the fuel, to which air a portion of the heat of reaction has been transferred.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2002Publication date: December 26, 2002Inventors: Lance L. Smith, Shahrokh Etemad, Marco J. Castaldi, Hasan Ul. Karim, William C. Pfefferle
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Patent number: 6497571Abstract: There is provided a flameless catalytic burner system employing a catalytic bed assembly (20) for catalyzing the oxidation of a fuel stream. The catalytic bed assembly (20) includes first and second retaining members (122, 124) which define a compartment therebetween. The catalytic bed assembly (120) also includes a plurality of catalytic members (126) disposed within the compartment. The first retaining member (122) is formed with an upstream face portion (1220) transversely extending relative to the fuel stream to describe a convex peripheral contour about at least a portion of the compartment. The second retaining member (124) is formed with a downstream face portion (1240) transversely extending relative to the fuel stream to describe a concave peripheral contour about at least a portion of the compartment. The upstream face portion (1220) is greater in surface area than the downstream face portion (1240).Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2001Date of Patent: December 24, 2002Assignee: Teledyne Energy Systems, a division of TeledyneInventors: Malachy McAlonan, Russell N. Bennett
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Publication number: 20020155403Abstract: A catalytically operating burner with a catalyzer structure (4), useful in particular for a gas turbine system, has a heat-resistant carrier material (10) that forms the walls of several adjoining channels (13). The channels (13) pervade the catalyzer structure (4) in longitudinal direction and permit that a gaseous reaction mixture flows through the catalyzer structure (4). The walls are coated at least in part with a catalyst. In order to improve the catalytic conversion within the catalyzer structure (4), communicating openings (14) are constructed in the walls between an inlet end and an outlet end of the catalyzer structure (4). Adjoining channels (13) are able to communicate with each other through the communicating openings (14).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2001Publication date: October 24, 2002Inventors: Timothy Griffin, Peter Jansohn, Verena Schmidt, Dieter Winkler
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Patent number: 6428758Abstract: A reformation reactor, especially suitable for the reformation of methanol, includes a reaction zone in which a reformation catalyst is located and to which a gas mixture to be reformed can be supplied. The reactor includes an evaporator body that adjoins the reaction zone in a flush manner. The evaporator body has a porous, heat-conducting structure for providing the gas mixture to be reformed by mixing and evaporating the gas mixture components supplied to it and for two-dimensionally distributed supply of the gas mixture thus prepared and into the reaction zone. A starting phase can be provided for the operation of the reactor, in which the evaporator body is wetted by a fuel liquid film and, following the addition of oxygen, a flammable mixture results in the reaction zone that is catalytically oxidized. The evaporator body can be heated to operating temperature by the resultant combustion heat, after which a switch can be made to continuous operation of the reformation reactor.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1998Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Assignee: Xcellsis GmbHInventors: Martin Schuessler, Detlef Zur Megede
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Patent number: 6425754Abstract: A method of cleansing nitrogen oxide (NOx), hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) from waste gases, such as the waste gases or exhaust gases originating from burners and internal combustion engines. The waste gases, or exhaust gases, are passed through a catalyst for catalytic cleansing of the gases. The air-fuel ratio, or the lambda value (L), is reduced to a level below L=1. The gases are passed through a first catalyst and then through a second catalyst, to bring the CO-content of the gas in the first catalyst to a sufficiently high level and to reduce NOx to N2 to an extent such as to bring the NOx content down to a predetermined level. Sufficient oxygen (O2) is delivered to the gases at a point between the first and second catalysts to oxidize both CO and HC to CO2 and H2O to such an extent as to reduce the CO-content of the gas to a predetermined level. A gas burner to carry out the method is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2000Date of Patent: July 30, 2002Assignee: Kanthal ABInventor: Nils Lindskog
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Patent number: 6394791Abstract: The present invention is a method, and an apparatus for practicing the method, that creates a product stream and a heat of reaction from a fuel-rich fuel/air mixture and then contacts the product stream with a sufficient quantity of additional air to completely combust all of the fuel, to which air a portion of the heat of reaction has been transferred.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2001Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Lance L. Smith, Shahrokh Etemad, Marco J. Castaldi, Hasan Ul Karim, William C. PfƩfferle
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Patent number: 6394789Abstract: A catalytic combustion apparatus comprises a combustor 11, a fuel tank 12, a valve 13, and an ignition device 14. The combustor 11 further comprises a gas nozzle 16, an air intake/ejector 17, a mixing chamber 18, a firing chamber 19, an ignition plug 20, a combustion chamber 21, a catalyst for combustion 22 housed inside the combustion chamber 21, and an exhaust port 23. The mixing chamber 18 is made into a straight cylindrical passage, a cylindrical firing chamber 19 is provided in parallel to the mixing chamber 18 so that an opening 24 on the side of the firing chamber 19 communicates with the combustion chamber 21, a burner port 25 is disposed on the boundary between the mixing chamber 18 and the firing chamber 19, and the burner 25 is configured with a catalytic net 25a.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2000Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidetaka Yabuuchi, Toshinari Matsumoto, Shinichi Nakajima, Tomoaki Kitano
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Patent number: 6386862Abstract: A mixed gas supply portion 1 for mixing fuel with air, a mixed gas ejection portion 2 for ejecting the mixed gas mixed by the mixed gas supply portion 1, a breathable first catalyst body 5 provided downstream of the mixed gas supply portion 2, a breathable second catalyst body 7 provided downstream of the first catalyst body 5, a separation board a 6 for increasing gas flow resistance provided between the first catalyst body 5 and the second catalyst body 7, a heat exchange portion 13 having a heated fluid passage 14 positioned on the peripheral part, a radiant heat reception portion 3 provided upstream of the first catalyst body 5 and integrated with the heat exchange portion 13, and a separation board b 8 and a separation board c 10 provided downstream of the second catalyst body 7 for increasing flow resistance of the mixed gas and/or the combustion gas thereof are provided, and the separation board a 6, the separation board b 8, the separation board c 10 and the heat exchange portion 13 are integrated.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2000Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tatsuo Fujita, Yoshitaka Kawasaki, Akira Maenishi
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Patent number: 6358040Abstract: The present invention is a method, and an apparatus for practicing the method, that creates a product stream and a heat of reaction from a fuel-rich fuel/air mixture and then contacts the product stream with a sufficient quantity of additional air to completely combust all of the fuel, to which air a portion of the heat of reaction has been transferred.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2000Date of Patent: March 19, 2002Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: William C. Pfefferle, Lance L Smith, Manco J. Castaldi
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Patent number: 6334769Abstract: A catalytic combustor burns a fuel-air mixture which is not preheated. The combustor includes a strip or strips of metal which define a plurality of alternating wide and narrow channels. The channels contain corrugated strips which maintain the spacing of the channels. A catalyst coating is deposited only in the wider channels, the narrower channels remaining un-catalyzed. The strip or strips can be heated resistively to start the combustion. Once the combustion is started, the electric current is stopped, and the combustion continues. The combustor is useful in a home heating appliance such as a gas furnace. In another embodiment, in which the combustor is used in a high-temperature environment such as in a gas turbine, the catalyst can be deposited in the small channels only, so as to limit the amount of catalytic combustion.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 1999Date of Patent: January 1, 2002Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: William B. Retallick, Brian A. Knight, Joseph J. Sangiovanni, Robert J. Hall
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Publication number: 20010046650Abstract: The present invention is a method, and an apparatus for practicing the method, that creates a product stream and a heat of reaction from a fuel-rich fuel/air mixture and then contacts the product stream with a sufficient quantity of additional air to completely combust all of the fuel, to which air a portion of the heat of reaction has been transferred.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2001Publication date: November 29, 2001Inventors: Lance L. Smith, Shahrokh Etemad, Marco J. Castaldi, Hasan Ul Karim, William C. Pfefferle
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Patent number: 6308738Abstract: A drafting apparatus in a furnace. A buffer board having a plurality of gas intakes is disposed in a front end of the drafting apparatus. A laminar flow board having a plurality of gas outtakes is disposed in a rear end of the drafting apparatus. A drafting region is enclosed by the drafting apparatus. The drafting region comprises at least one drafting board to draft and redirect the gas flow. A laminar flow is then obtained to flow through the outtakes on the laminar board.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1999Date of Patent: October 30, 2001Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.Inventors: Tien-Jui Liu, Eric Chu, Tony Chen
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Patent number: 6302683Abstract: Methods for operating catalytic combustion chambers including first and second catalytic reactors disposed in series with an intermediate chamber therebetween are disclosed, the method including heating the first catalytic reactor to a temperature at least equal to the ignition temperature of the first catalytic reactor, introducing air and fuel mixture to the first catalytic reactor whereby catalytic combustion is initiated in the first catalytic reactor, and increasing the mass flow through the first catalytic reactor whereby combustion of the air and fuel mixture takes place in the gas phase in the intermediate chamber and the end surface of the second catalytic reactor is heated to a temperature at least equal to the ignition temperature of the second catalytic reactor and ignition takes place in the second catalytic reactor.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1998Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignee: AB VolvoInventors: Anders Vestin, Staffan Lundgren, Edward Jobson
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Patent number: 6293781Abstract: A method of and apparatus for decreasing attack of detrimental components of solid particle suspensions on heat transfer surfaces in a heat transfer chamber in a fluidized bed reactor. The method includes introducing solid particles into a first chamber, which is a dilution chamber, on top of a bed of solid particles therein through a dilution chamber inlet disposed in an upper part of the dilution chamber, and discharging solid particles from the dilution chamber through an outlet disposed in a lower part of the dilution chamber, into a heat transfer chamber, and introducing a flushing gas into at least a portion of the dilution chamber for performing at least one of inactivating in and separating from the bed of solid particles in the dilution chamber, impurities detrimental to heat transfer surfaces in the heat transfer chamber.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 1999Date of Patent: September 25, 2001Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energia OYInventor: Timo HyppƤnen
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Patent number: 6290488Abstract: An incinerator with a heat-storage capability is disclosed. The incinerator has a housing with multiple communicating chambers defined therein, heat-storing medium received in each chamber, a heater mounted in the housing, an inlet tube and an outlet tube connecting to all of the chambers respectively, a control valve mounted between the inlet tube or outlet tube and each corresponding chamber and an air pump mounted on the outlet tube. The incinerator can deal with the industrial waste steam by the medium in alternate chambers one after the other, and the medium can absorb the heat generated by burning the volatile organic material in the industrial waste steam. This can increase the thermal efficiency of the incinerator and decrease cost of operating the incinerator.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2000Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Inventor: Chia-Ching Shu
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Patent number: 6270337Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for increasing the reactivity of a fuel/air mixture prior to homogenous combustion of the mixture. More specifically, this invention is a pilot for a gas turbine combustor which utilizes the heat of combustion within the pilot to increase the reactivity of a portion of the fuel/air mixture utilized by the pilot.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1998Date of Patent: August 7, 2001Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Shahrokh Etemad, Hasan Ul Karim, William C. Pfefferle
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Patent number: 6264464Abstract: The present invention relates to one or more heat exchangers in communication with a combustion zone, each heat exchanger containing a matrix of heat exchange media, the matrix having a plurality of defined parallel or substantially parallel flow passages, the matrix being angled slightly above horizontal in the direction towards the combustion zone. The present invention is also directed to a regenerative thermal oxidizer including the one or more heat exchangers containing the angled matrix.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2000Date of Patent: July 24, 2001Assignee: Megtec Systems, Inc.Inventor: Michael P. Bria
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Patent number: 6257869Abstract: A matrix bed is disclosed in which a non-planar reaction wave front is formed during operation. This is accomplished by heating the matrix bed, containing heat-resistant material, until at least a reaction portion of the matrix bed is above the temperature required for a plurality of reactant gas streams to react. Next, the reactant gas streams are directed through the matrix bed in a manner so as to form at least a Bunsen, Burke-Schumann, inverted-V, or some other type of non-planar reaction wave front at the portion of the matrix bed that is heated above the reactant gas streams reaction temperature. At the non-planar reaction wave front, the reactant gas streams react to produce a reaction product gas stream that is then exhausted from the matrix bed.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1999Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Thermatrix, Inc.Inventors: Richard J. Martin, John D. Stilger, Mark R. Holst, John D. Young, Bradley L. Edgar
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Patent number: 6257868Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the combustion of liquid fuel (F), especially oil. Wherein the liquid fuel (F) is distributed by means of a distribution device (1) and directed to a downstream reactor with porous means (6) having a communicating pore volume, whose Pecler number allows for flame expansion and full combustion of the liquid fuel (F) inside the porous means (6).Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1999Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Inventors: Franz Durst, Michael Keppler, Miroslaw Weclas
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Patent number: 6193501Abstract: A microcombustor which is submillimetric in critical dimensions. The invention relies upon solving quenching at submillimetric dimensions. Chemical and thermal quenching are inhibited by selection of materials having a low well depth below approximately 40 kCal/mole. This allows formation of a microcombustor having submillimetric combustion chamber. A preferred microcombustor is formed in a substrate structure. The preferred microcombustor includes a wafer stack of at least three wafers, a central wafer housing a combustion chamber. At least one inlet and outlet are included for the insertion of reactants and exhaust of a flame.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1999Date of Patent: February 27, 2001Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of IllinoisInventors: Richard I. Masel, Mark A. Shannon
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Patent number: 6183241Abstract: Computer simulation was used in the development of an inward-burning, radial matrix gas burner and heat pipe heat exchanger. The burner and exchanger can be used to heat a Stirling engine on cloudy days when a solar dish, the normal source of heat, cannot be used. Geometrical requirements of the application forced the use of the inward burning approach, which presents difficulty in achieving a good flow distribution and air/fuel mixing. The present invention solved the problem by providing a plenum with just the right properties, which include good flow distribution and good air/fuel mixing with minimum residence time. CFD simulations were also used to help design the primary heat exchanger needed for this application which includes a plurality of pins emanating from the heat pipe. The system uses multiple inlet ports, an extended distance from the fuel inlet to the burner matrix, flow divider vanes, and a ring-shaped, porous grid to obtain a high-temperature uniform-heat radial burner.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1999Date of Patent: February 6, 2001Assignee: Midwest Research InstituteInventors: Mark S. Bohn, Mark Anselmo
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Patent number: 6174159Abstract: A catalytic firebox reactor employing an exothermic catalytic reaction channel and multiple cooling conduits for creating a partially reacted fuel/oxidant mixture. An oxidation catalyst is deposited on the walls forming the boundary between the multiple cooling conduits and the exothermic catalytic reaction channel, on the side of the walls facing the exothermic catalytic reaction channel. This configuration allows the oxidation catalyst to be backside cooled by any fluid passing through the cooling conduits. The heat of reaction is added to both the fluid in the exothermic catalytic reaction channel and the fluid passing through the cooling conduits. After discharge of the fluids from the exothermic catalytic reaction channel, the fluids mix to create a single combined flow. A further innovation in the reactor incorporates geometric changes in the exothermic catalytic reaction channel to provide streamwise variation of the velocity of the fluids in the reactor.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1999Date of Patent: January 16, 2001Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Lance L. Smith, Shahrokh Etemad, Hasan Ulkarim, Marco J. Castaldi, William C. Pfefferle
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Patent number: 6146007Abstract: An asphalt plant including a plurality of asphalt processing components, with a selected first set of the components producing volatile emissions and a selected second set requiring process heat energy. A central burner assembly is connected to the selected second set of components by an insulated duct system for providing heat energy to the second component set. A first duct system is adapted to capture a portion of the volatile emissions produced by the first component set and convey the captured emissions into the central burner for mitigation. The central burner is preferably a media burner incorporating flameless combustion technology as well as an adjustable internal fuel injection system, which results in safer and more controllable combustion. Even with captured fugitive emissions in the inlet air, the fuel injection system keeps the concentration of combustible materials well below the lower flammability limit.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1998Date of Patent: November 14, 2000Assignee: Cedarapids Inc.Inventors: Martin L. Stimson, Joseph E. Musil
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Patent number: 6145501Abstract: A burner system for a furnace (10) includes an in-shot burner (20) having an axially elongated tubular nozzle (40) having an inlet end (42), an outlet end (44) and a venturi transition section (46) therebetween. At least a portion of a catalyst body (50) is disposed within the outlet end (44) of the burner (40). The catalyst body (50) supports a partial oxidization catalyst operative to catalyze the fuel in the primary air/fuel mixture to intermediate combustion species, including hydrogen and carbon monoxide, thereby reducing emissions such as nitrogen oxides.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1999Date of Patent: November 14, 2000Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventors: Shailesh Sharad Manohar, Brian D. Videto, Chi Ming Ho
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Patent number: 6126913Abstract: The present invention provides thermal oxidizers containing improved preheating designs and processes for improving the preheating of thermal oxidizers. The processes are practiced by preheating the matrix-bed of matrix materials in a flow path that is opposite in direction to the flow path for the processing fluids through the matrix bed. In such a process, there is a substantial reduction in the time and energy required for the preheating of the matrix bed in comparison to the prior processes using same flow direction preheating.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1996Date of Patent: October 3, 2000Assignee: Thermatrix, Inc.Inventors: Richard J. Martin, John D. Stilger, Mark R. Holst
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Patent number: 6102691Abstract: A combustion apparatus provided with a burner includes a fuel injection nozzle disposed rearward of a gas passable solid and a pre-mixture region between a downstream end of the solid and the fuel injection nozzle. The gas passable solid may be of a straightener type. Air for combustion includes main air and pilot air separated from each other. The apparatus may be coupled to each end of a radiant tube. The apparatus may be provided to a direct and indirect combustion type thermal facilities.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 1999Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhisa Mitani, Yukio Fukuta
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Patent number: 6095798Abstract: A combustion apparatus provided with a burner includes a fuel injection nozzle disposed rearward of a gas passable solid and a pre-mixture region between a downstream end of the solid and the fuel injection nozzle. The gas passable solid may be of a straightener type. Air for combustion includes main air and pilot air separated from each other. The apparatus may be coupled to each end of a radiant tube. The apparatus may be provided to a direct and indirect combustion type thermal facilities.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 1999Date of Patent: August 1, 2000Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhisa Mitani, Yukio Fukuta
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Patent number: 6095793Abstract: A unique and useful dynamic control system has been invented for the control of a catalytic combustion system for use on a dynamic plant, preferably, a gas turbine engine. The dynamic control system facilitates the replacement of conventional flame combustion systems with catalytic combustion systems, which produce far less pollutants, by producing acceptable transient performance of the combustion system. A method of controlling the catalytic combustion process comprises the steps of calculating a mass flow of air introduced into the combustor, monitoring a flow of fuel to be combusted within the combustor, monitoring a temperature of the air introduced into the combustor, calculating an inlet temperature set point based on the mass flow and fuel flow, and controlling a pre-burner to heat the air based on the inlet temperature set point, the mass flow, and the temperature of the air. Further, the mass flow may be estimated based on ambient air temperature and pressure, and compressor speed.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1998Date of Patent: August 1, 2000Assignee: Woodward Governor CompanyInventor: Kevin Greeb
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Patent number: 6071113Abstract: An efficient, high output, compact catalytic combustor that is low in combustion cost includes a combustion member having a front surface portion and a rear surface portion. The air-fuel mixture passing from the rear surface portion toward the front surface portion is combusted on the front surface portion. The combustion member is made of a material higher in thermal conductivity than alumina and includes a flame-holding unit for geometrically holding the flames formed on the surface of the combustion member. A catalyst oxide is carried on at least the front surface portion of the combustion member.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1997Date of Patent: June 6, 2000Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Osamu Tsubouchi, Masayasu Andou, Susumu Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 6036476Abstract: A combustion apparatus provided with a burner includes a fuel injection nozzle disposed rearward of a gas passable solid and a pre-mixture region between a downstream end of the solid and the fuel injection nozzle. The gas passable solid may be of a straightener type. Air for combustion includes main air and pilot air separated from each other. The apparatus may be coupled to each end of a radiant tube. The apparatus may be provided to a direct and indirect combustion type thermal facilities.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1997Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhisa Mitani, Yukio Fukuta
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Patent number: 6000929Abstract: A continuous operation and efficient device used for heat decomposition and purification of a malodorous objective gas is disclosed. The device has large-sized and heavy heat reserving materials in a stationary condition. The objective gas is supplied to a chamber of a rotary distribution valve. From there, the gas is conducted from a guide space through first moving valve ports of a moving valve member and a stationary valve port of a stationary valve member to a plurality of passages. The passages separated by partition plates in a housing and contain therein the heat reserving material (heat exchanger column), a pretreatment material and a catalyst. The gas undergoes endothermic reaction for heat decomposition of the malodorous substances by means of the catalyst and a burner. The objective gas then has its heat exchanged or temperature reduced through the heat reserve material, so that a purified gas is expelled from the stationary valve port and second moving valve ports through a chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1996Date of Patent: December 14, 1999Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Masanori Izumo, Morimasa Watanabe, Hiroshi Mori
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Patent number: 5997277Abstract: This invention relates to a method and device for recovery of energy from a medium containing combustible substances even at low concentrations. The method is characterized by raising the temperature of the medium in a regenerative combustor such as a reversal flow direction combustion device wherein the combustion takes place in a warm zone, to the combustion temperature at which essentially all chemical energy of the combustible substances is transformed into thermal energy. The heated medium is then utilized for the production of a wanted form of energy.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1998Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: Megtec Systems ABInventors: Bjorn Heed, .ANG.ke Kallstrand
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Patent number: 5989010Abstract: A matrix bed is disclosed in which a non-planar reaction wave front is formed during operation. This is accomplished by heating the matrix bed, containing heat-resistant material, until at least a reaction portion of the matrix bed is above the temperature required for a plurality of reactant gas streams to react. Next, the reactant gas streams are directed through the matrix bed in a manner so as to form at least a Bunsen, Burke-Schumann, inverted-V, or some other type of non-planar reaction wave front at the portion of the matrix bed that is heated above the reactant gas streams reaction temperature. At the non-planar reaction wave front, the reactant gas streams react to produce a reaction product gas stream that is then exhausted from the matrix bed.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 1997Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: Thermatrix, Inc.Inventors: Richard J. Martin, John D. Stilger, Mark R. Holst, John D. Young, Bradley L. Edgar
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Patent number: 5989013Abstract: The present invention relates to porous mat gas fired radiant burner panels utilizing improved reverberatory screens. The purpose of these screens is to boost the overall radiant output of the burner relative to a burner using no screen and the same fuel-air flow rates. In one embodiment, the reverberatory screen is fabricated from ceramic composite material, which can withstand higher operating temperatures than its metallic equivalent. In another embodiment the reverberatory screen is corrugated. The corrugations add stiffness which helps to resist creep and thermally induced distortions due to temperature or thermal expansion coefficient differences. As an added benefit, it has been unexpectedly discovered that the corrugations further increase the radiant efficiency of the burner. In a preferred embodiment, the reverberatory screen is both corrugated and made from ceramic composite material.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1997Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignees: AlliedSignal Composites Inc., Lanxide Technology Company, LPInventor: Paul E. Gray
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Patent number: 5954001Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor includes an axial recirculating fluidized bed and at least first and second lateral dense fluidized beds, respectively disposed along a first and a second wall of the jacket of the reactor. Waste is fed via at least one point on the first wall of the jacket of the reactor, above the first lateral dense fluidized bed. The reactor includes at least one duct for extracting non-fluidizable heavy elements at the base of the first lateral dense fluidized bed.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1997Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Assignee: GEC Alsthom Stein IndustrieInventor: Jean-Xavier Morin
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Patent number: 5951277Abstract: A shield in the form of a "cast refrac" (S.U.B.S.) for a diffuser port in a circulating fluidized bed to deflect eroding particulates away from the port. The S.U.B.S. includes an upper portion with a tear-drop shape, a lower portion, and side intermediate portions to surround the port, and an attached insert to be received by or around the port.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 1996Date of Patent: September 14, 1999Assignee: The Robert L. Parham TrustInventor: Robert L. Parham
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Patent number: 5938427Abstract: According to a combustion apparatus comprising a mixing unit 3 for preparing a fuel-air mixture by mixing a fuel with combustion air, a first catalytic combustion chamber 4 incorporating a first catalyzer 7 for catalytically burning the mixture and a fin 5 for collecting a thermal energy generated by the catalytic combustion and a second catalytic combustion chamber 12 incorporating a second catalyzer 14 for catalytically burning the mixture that is not catalytically burnt by the first catalyzer 7, an operation of catalytic combustion at a high load can be achieved. An operation for improving characteristics of an exhaust discharged at the time of ignition can be also obtained, as a result, a combustion apparatus reduced in emission of NOx is provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 1995Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial, Co. Ltd.Inventors: Jiro Suzuki, Masato Hosaka, Akira Maenishi, Yutaka Yoshida