Abstract: A method delivers fuel gas to a furnace combustion chamber from a premix burner having a reaction zone with an outlet to the furnace combustion chamber. This includes the steps of injecting a premix of primary fuel gas and combustion air into the reaction zone, and combusting the premix to provide combustion products including vitiated combustion air in the reaction zone. Further steps include injecting staged fuel gas into the reaction zone separately from the premix, discharging the staged fuel gas and vitiated combustion air from the reaction zone through the outlet to the furnace combustion chamber, and combusting the staged fuel gas and vitiated combustion air in the furnace combustion chamber. This enables low NOx combustion in the furnace combustion chamber to be achieved as a result of interacting the staged fuel gas with the vitiated combustion air in the reaction zone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a furnace (12) for melting heated glass using burners (13), wherein the combustion energy is at least partially produced by oxy-fuel combustion, and wherein at least a portion of the oxygen used in the burners (13) is produced by separation, on a ceramic separation membrane (18), from a gaseous mixture including oxygen, the oxygen from the separation being directly channeled into at least one burner (13).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a furnace (12) for melting heated glass using burners (13), wherein the combustion energy is at least partially produced by oxy-fuel combustion, and wherein at least a portion of the oxygen used is produced by separation, on a ceramic separation membrane (18), from a gaseous mixture including oxygen.

Abstract: The invention relates to heat exchanger tubes acting like resonant tubes of a Helmholtz resonator and used as swirl tubes. They are capable of drastically increasing heat transfer in the boundary layers determining the heat flow to be exchanged as a result of their geometrically deformed surfaces.

Abstract: A pulse combustion system having at least one combustion chamber, having an outlet end of a generally coaxial air conduit, a fuel nozzle, and an ignitor arranged generally in a first section of the chamber, and having a tangential exhaust pipe arranged generally in a second section of the chamber. At least one primary exhaust pipe extends from the combustion chamber and a plurality of secondary exhaust pipes extend from the primary pipe. An enclosure is disposed about the combustion chamber and exhaust pipes, with a blower in communication with the enclosure. Also, a pulse combustion method of transferring heat to a material, generally including the steps of setting up a helical swirl of thermal and acoustic pulse waves within a chamber, expanding the waves along a length of the chamber, and propagating the waves tangentially out of the chamber into a resonant exhaust manifold and onto a material.

Abstract: A premix burner assembly for heating the combustion chamber of a dryer for an HMA plant, soil remediation plant, or the like is designed to meet the very low emission limitations that are imposed in certain areas such as the southern portion of California. The burner assembly includes a burner, a primary nozzle, an air source connected to the burner, a fuel source, and a fuel injection system connected to the fuel source and to the burner. Premixing is achieved through the supply of a gaseous fuel from the fuel injection system into the burner upstream of the primary nozzle so as to lead to nearly complete premixing of the air and fuel prior to discharge into the combustion chamber, thereby permitting combustion of the fuel with only very small amounts of excess air. Burner efficiency is increased and emissions are further reduced by employing air distribution and control devices upstream of the fuel injection system and by carefully controlling the supply of both air and fuel to the burner.

Abstract: A heating device for heating a substantially planar screed plate for a paving machine comprising a plate being spaced from the screed plate, and a space being defined therebetween. A heated gas inlet feeds into a tunnel connecting to the space. At least some of the heated gas is directed from the tunnel substantially parallel to the screed plate. The tunnel is formed from a plurality of tunnel branches with a orifice attached to the end of each tunnel orifice determining the direction where the heated gas will be directed.

Abstract: An inorganic reinforcement component, such as fiberglass, is reclaimed from a scrap material including a vaporizable organic resin, such as epoxy, by heating the scrap material in an elongated, rotary furnace to a temperature above the vaporization point of the organic resin and below a point where the structural integrity of the reinforcement material is degraded. A purge gas flowing through the furnace countercurrently to the moving bed of scrap material sweeps away volatized gases, the organic reinforcement component is withdrawn from the outlet end of the furnace and a stream of combined gases including the purge gas and the volatized organic material is withdrawn from the inlet end of the furnace.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a method for controlling the preheating zone of a tunnel kiln which includes firing and cooling zones. The method comprises forcedly blowing air from the entire ceiling portion of the preheating zone in the downward direction to diffuse hot combustion gas present in the upper portion and to reducing a difference in temperature between the upper and lower portions of the preheating zone. Air may be blown into the preheating zone at a flow rate determined from the quantity of the combustion gas within the preheating zone.

Abstract: Various improvements in pulsating combustors for use in dehydration are disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, gas is introduced into the combustion chamber through a fuel distributor providing a bluff body within the combustion chamber so that a striated charge having streaks of gas and air is produced. The tail pipe of the combustor has an enlarged outer portion provided with an inlet for material to be dehydrated so that an injector action occurs at the point of material entry. A valve may be associated with the material inlet so that the material is introduced in timed relation to the pulse combustion cycle. Other aspects of the invention concern a rotary mechanically driven air admitting valve for the combustion chamber and a gas supply arrangement designed to provide for low- and high-fire operating modes.

Abstract: Apparatus for cooking-dehydration and sterilization-drying of organic wastes, comprises a chamber (1) heated by a double walled enclosure (2) that communicates with fire tubes (3), the enclosure (2) receiving hot gases from a firebox (4). The hot gases pass through conduits (5) to diffusion nozzles (6) immersed in the products (7) to be dried. Some of the combustion gases are recycled by a ventilator (8) via a conduit (9) and a cyclone (10) to the firebox (4). The ventilator (8) draws in fresh air through a preheating heat exchanger (11) that is heated by the combustion gases which are then vented.

Abstract: A gas fired kiln wherein symmetrically disposed and vertically oriented high velocity natural draft burners burn fuel within and immediately adjacent the side walls of the kiln's chamber, the flames extending vertically adjacent the side walls and the hot gases produced thereby traveling up along the walls to an arched crown chamber ceiling, the hot gases then traveling generally downwardly under the influence of a partial vacuum created by hot gases escaping the chamber through a flue opening centered at the base of the kiln's rear wall, the flue opening communicating with a vertical flue extending only to approximately exterior height of the arched crown of the kiln.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the reclamation of inorganic fibers from waste continuous strips of inorganic fibers. A binding agent, such as an organic binder, must be removed before the fibers can be reused or further processed. One or more layers of continuous strips are conveyed to a heating zone where the strips 42 are supported along a predetermined path as a heating fluid is drawn rapidly through the strips. The heating fluid is controlled as to temperature, pressure and mass flow rate to insure that the binder is properly decomposed and that the products of decomposition are rapidly carried away from the strips to prevent heat buildup which could cause a temperature increase to the fusion point of the fibers. Process temperatures are thus suitably controlled to below the fusion temperature of the fiber material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for drying organic and other waste materials such as industrial by products, agricultural and animal wastes, blood and manure. A round, flat bottom substantially closed pan with a double-wall bottom and side forming a jacket and having a paddle-type agitator receives the material to be dried. Heat is provided by a gas-fired incinerator which preheats air that is admitted to the pan and then drawn into and combusted in the incinerator together with gases and moisture evolved from the material being dried. The incinerator's combustion products are passed through the pan jacket to heat the material being dried and are then vented through a chimney.

Abstract: A batch type pipe burnout oven is provided with improved pollution control and heat recovery features. The oven is elongated with an end opening for introduction of a movable support or cart with pipe supported thereon. The oven is brought to burnout temperature faster than prior art ovens and an improved system is provided for pollution control by incineration of hydrocarbon fumes together with recovery of heat which results in superior fuel economy. The oven is provided with a pair of oppositely positioned plenums along the sides thereof which supply heated air in large volume and high velocity through a plurality of nozzle slots to the pipe-containing chamber and are themselves supplied from a recirculation burner chamber on the top of the oven. A relatively small volume of air, laden with volatile, combustible fumes, is withdrawn from the oven at a relatively low velocity by an exhaust fan.

Abstract: The present invention entails a bulk tobacco barn having a generally enclosed drying area and a forced air heating system associated directly with the barn for generating a system of air and circulating the air through tobacco supported within the drying area of the barn. As a part of the forced air heating system, there is provided heating means that is thermostatically controlled to heat the system of air to maintain an appropriate temperature level within the drying area of the structure during the curing and drying process. Provided in conjunction with the bulk tobacco barn is an auxiliary heating system that comprises a stove or heater having a fire box for receiving and burning material such as wood or coal.

Abstract: A method of calcining solid materials on a downdraught travelling grate prior to treatment at a higher temperature on a continuously operating kiln, wherein heat for said calcining is obtained by drawings hot gaseous effluent from the kiln into the travelling grate through the solids discharge outlet thereof, characterized in that additional heat from an auxiliary source is induced into a downstream portion of the travelling grate.