Abstract: Method of operating a blast furnace installation comprising a top gas recycle blast furnace and hot stones, whereby a hydrocarbon containing fuel is transformed into a transformed gas stream consisting mainly of CO and H2 and substantially devoid of hydrocarbon, whereby a low-heating-value gaseous fuel is generated comprising a mixture of the transformed gas with a portion of the CO2-rich tail gas obtained by decarbonatation of the blast furnace gas, and whereby the low-heating-value fuel is used to heat the hot furnace gas is heated before being injected into the blast-furnace.

Abstract: A method for heating a blast furnace stove includes combusting a fuel with a lower heating value (LHV) of 9 MJ/Nm3 or less in a combustion zone which is arranged in a combustion chamber in the stove, and causing the combustion gases to flow through and thereby heat refractory material in the stove. The fuel is combusted with an oxidant including at least 85% oxygen, and combustion gases are recirculated into the combustion zone for diluting the mixture of fuel and oxidant therein sufficiently for the combustion to be flameless.

Abstract: The present device is a fluid bed regenerative thermal oxidizer configured to minimize dead spaces within it and eliminate the need for complex valve systems, which are typically required to move treated and untreated air across fixed beds. The present device can be a fluid bed regenerative thermal oxidizer comprising a vertical stack having a combustion chamber near its interior center and desorber shelves located within the vertical stack above the combustion chamber and adsorber shelves located within the vertical stack below the combustion shelves. Ceramic spheres can be used as heat sinks that flow from the desorber shelves, around the combustion chamber and onto the adsorber shelves and then back to the desorber shelves. In this way heat from the combustion can be captured by the heat exchange material on the desorber shelves and released to preheat untreated air on the adsorber shelves.

Abstract: A side stream of hot blast air is used to preheat oxygen at a heat exchanger. The resultant hot oxygen is injected into a tuyere of a blast furnace with pulverized or granular coal. The cooled side stream may be recombined with the hot blast air for injection into the tuyere, fed to the stove as part of the cold blast air, or fed to stove for combustion with blast furnace gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing oxygen enriched air into a furnace includes injecting oxygen to a combustion chamber of the furnace; and entraining air into the oxygen during the injecting. If the furnace is a cross-fired regenerative furnace, the method and apparatus for introducing oxygen enriched air can be mounted to at least one regenerator for the furnace.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the controlled operation of an industrial oven which is heated in a regenerative manner and which comprises an oven chamber, in particular a melting tank, in particular for glass, having the following steps: injecting fuel into the oven chamber via at least one fuel injector, which is designed to inject fuel, practically without combustion air in particular, conducting combustion air to the oven chamber in a first period duration and conducting exhaust gas (AG) out of the oven chamber in a second period duration separately from the fuel in a periodically alternating manner by means of a left regenerator and right regenerator which are associated with the at least one fuel injector and which are designed to regeneratively store heat from the exhaust gas and transmit heat to the combustion air. A supply of the combustion air is automatically controlled by means of a control loop.

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.

Abstract: An energy-saving and heat preservation device is mainly a heat preservation device for heating device and receptacle. Upper and lower receiving slots opened to outside and opposite to upper and lower ends of a receptacle respectively are provided in the heating device, while a first and a second chambers opposite to each other are provided in the heat preservation device. Energy storage material, which is a reversible phase-change material, is received within the first chamber. A conduit is connected between the first and the second chambers to form an integral connection arrangement. Hence, waste heat generated in the heating process is collected and stored, and is used for heat preservation. Not only the exhausted waste heat, which later becomes heat load of air conditioning apparatus, can be reduced but also power consumption for heat preservation can be lowered.

Abstract: A flow of air is provided from a hot air main into a combustion chamber at a time when a burner is firing into the combustion chamber to heat a bed of regenerative media. The flow of air into the combustion chamber helps to keep products of combustion from flowing into the hot air main. In preferred embodiments, sensors sense pressure in the combustion chamber and the hot air main. A controller shifts a valve back and forth within a range of open conditions to regulate the flow of air in response to the sensed pressures.

Abstract: A method for melting meltable stock, such as glass includes a melting furnace (10) heated via a burner flame (25,29) generated by a burner port, through which fuel and oxidizer are supplied, a fuel-rich gas stream introduced into the furnace downstream from the burner port via at least one substoichiometrically operated burner (20,22) and/or a fuel or fuel mixture being introduced into the furnace downstream from the burner arrangement via at least one fuel nozzle, and a oxygen containing gas stream being introduced into the furnace downstream from the at least one substoichiometrically operated burner and/or the at least one fuel nozzle. A furnace device is also provided.

Abstract: A method for heating a blast furnace stove includes combusting a fuel with a lower heating value (LHV) of 9 MJ/Nm3 or less in a combustion zone which is arranged in a combustion chamber in the stove, and causing the combustion gases to flow through and thereby heat refractory material in the stove. The fuel is combusted with an oxidant including at least 85% oxygen, and combustion gases are recirculated into the combustion zone for diluting the mixture of fuel and oxidant therein sufficiently for the combustion to be flameless.

Abstract: A method for heating a blast furnace stove by combusting in a stable, visible flame a fuel with a lower heating value (LHV) of 9 MJ/Nm3 or less in a combustion region, arranged in a combustion chamber in the stove, and causing the combustion gases to flow through and thereby heat refractory material in the stove, wherein the fuel is combusted with an oxidant comprising at least 85% oxygen, and combustion gases are caused to be recirculated into the combustion zone and thereby dilute the mixture of fuel and oxidant therein sufficiently for the flame not to damage the refactory material.

Abstract: A method for heating a blast furnace stove includes combusting fuel in a combustion chamber in the stove, providing combustion gases from the combustion chamber to heat refractory material in the stove, recirculating exhausted combustion gases into the combustion chamber, enriching the combustion chamber with oxygen sufficient for maintaining combustion in the combustion chamber without damaging the refractory material in the stove.

Abstract: A combustor for oxidizing a combustion fuel and pre-heating one or more reactants for fuel reforming. The combustor includes an elongated housing having an inlet for receiving a combustion fuel and an outlet for exhausting combustion products. The elongated housing further includes a cylindrical side wall, a bottom wall, and a top wall. Inert particles are disposed within the housing adjacent the inlet. A combustion catalyst bed is disposed within the housing above the inert particles that is a mixture of inert particles and combustion catalyst. The inert particles and the combustion catalyst preferably have a volumetric ratio of inert particles to catalyst between about 2:1 and about 4:1. The combustor has at least one heat exchanger within the combustion catalyst bed for heating a reformer reactant and generating steam. Preferably, the combustor includes at least two heat exchangers within the combustion catalyst bed, the heat exchanging elements have different surface areas.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for operating a regenerative heater (10), in particular a hot blast stove of a blast furnace, the regenerative heater (10) comprising a first chamber (12) and a second chamber (22), the first chamber (12) having a burner (14) arranged therein, the second chamber (22) comprising heat storage means. Such a method comprises a heating cycle wherein fuel and oxidizing gas are fed to the burner (14) of the first chamber (12) and allowed to burn and wherein hot flue gasses are led through the second chamber (22) to heat the heat storage means; and a blowing cycle wherein a process gas is fed through the second chamber (22) to pick up heat from the heat storage means.

Abstract: Method of controlling a reheat furnace (1) for reheating iron and steel products, for example slabs, blooms, ingots or billets, making it possible for the product to be reheated to be brought to the desired temperature for rolling, the furnace being equipped with a heat recuperator (A). The furnace is equipped mostly with regenerative-type burners which include regenerators and operate in on/off mode; the burners operate in time modulation mode; a portion of the combustion gases passes through the regenerators of the regenerative burners so as to preheat one of the fluids (either the fuel or the oxidizer) participating in the combustion; and the remainder of the combustion gases passes through the heat recuperator (A) in order to preheat the fluid (either the oxidizer or the fuel) other than that preheated in the regenerators.

Abstract: The present invention provides self-heating apparatuses and methods of heating using an aqueous solution and a solid chemical reactant mixture. The solid chemical reactant mixture may include magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and/or calcium oxide.

Abstract: A combustor for oxidizing a combustion fuel and pre-heating one or more reactants for fuel reforming. The combustor includes an elongated housing having an inlet for receiving a combustion fuel and an outlet for exhausting combustion products. The elongated housing further includes a cylindrical side wall, a bottom wall, and a top wall. Inert particles are disposed within the housing adjacent the inlet. A combustion catalyst bed is disposed within the housing above the inert particles that is a mixture of inert particles and combustion catalyst. The inert particles and the combustion catalyst preferably have a volumetric ratio of inert particles to catalyst between about 2:1 and about 4:1. The combustor has at least one heat exchanger within the combustion catalyst bed for heating a reformer reactant and generating steam. Preferably, the combustor includes at least two heat exchangers within the combustion catalyst bed, the heat exchanging elements have different surface areas.

Abstract: A method and a device for the hot-repairing of the heating flues of a coke-oven battery according to which the completed sections of a heating flue still under construction are heated by means of a heated gas. The heated gas comprises the air usually provided for combustion in the heating flues during coking operations. The air is guided through the flow paths provided for in the coke-oven battery for combustion air and waste gases as well as through the regenerator, heated as it passes through the flow paths and then guided through the heating flues to be repaired. The completed section of the heating flue is separated from the non-completed portion by an air-reversion device that also directs the heated air.

Abstract: An exhaust-heat utilization system is constructed which can achieve energy saving of semiconductor manufacturing facilities by reusing a warmed cooling-water, as a heating source, exhausted from semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses. Supply a low-temperature cooling-water having a temperature substantially equal to a room temperature to the semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses (2, 4, 6, 8, 10) through a low-temperature cooling-water line (12). Supply a medium-temperature cooling-water to the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus (8) through a medium-temperature cooling-water supply line (30), the medium-temperature cooling-water being exhausted from the semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses and having a temperature higher than the room temperature.

Abstract: A method of using nuclear waste material and exploiting heat generated by radioactive decay of said radioactive waste, comprising the steps of incorporating solid nuclear waste into glass, ceramic, or cementitious blocks, covering the blocks in heat absorbing sealed containers, placing the sealed containers in a columnar arrangement in a gas tight containment room, circulating a heat exchange gas around said containers, passing the heated gas through a sealed heat exchanger, and using the heated water for useful work.

Abstract: In order to create a regenerative, energy-saving fuel firing for an industrial furnace, particularly for a metal smelting furnace, that can flexibly take all possible time and space operating conditions and demands of the furnace to be heated as well as the thermic conditions of the respectively employed, heat-storing regenerators exactly into consideration, it is inventively proposed that at least two regenerator/burner modules (3) are switchable from burner mode (7) into regenerator mode (7r) (exhaust gas extraction mode) or, respectively, vice versa independently of one another proceeding from the process controller of the industrial furnace (1), namely with employment of reverse valves (11) or reversible ventilators or, respectively, two-stream ventilators.

Abstract: In a method of this invention, a first oxidant flow including oxygen and/or air, is injected into an exhaust gas flow from a primary burn zone in a furnace combustion chamber. The first oxidant flow is injected into the exhaust gas flow in a secondary burn zone downstream from the primary burn zone, but inside of the furnace chamber so that heat released from combustion of the first oxidant flow can be used for the purpose to which the furnace is applied. Also, the injection of the first oxidant flow into the secondary burn zone combusts fuel pollutants that might otherwise be released from the furnace into the atmosphere. The method can also include mixing a gaseous hydrocarbon fuel flow with the exhaust gas flow from the secondary burn zone to reduce the NO.sub.x, level in the exhaust gas. Also, the method can include mixing a second oxidant flow including air and/or oxygen, with the exhaust gas, preferably after reducing the NO.sub.x.

Abstract: The method of manufacture of a PMOS integrated circuit having a feature size in the order of one micron or less is done by providing, on a silicon substrate, a pattern of silicon gate electrodes over a gate dielectric. Implanting of BF.sub.2 + ions and B11+ ions sequentially by using the pattern as a mask. The structure is annealed at more than about 850.degree. C. to complete the PMOS integrated circuit. This method results in lower contact resistance to the P+ regions and lower sheet resistance for higher speed CMOS integrated circuits at minimal increase of manufacturing cost.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for oxygen-enriched combustion of a fuel in an industrial furnace in which a preheated primary oxidant from a heat exchanger and a fuel to be combusted are introduced into a combustion chamber and ignited, a secondary oxidant having an oxygen concentration in excess of the concentration of oxygen in air is introduced into the combustion chamber downstream of the flame, and the resulting combustion products are exhausted. In accordance with one embodiment, the secondary oxidant comprises preheated oxidant aspirated from the heat exchanger using industrial-grade oxygen, resulting in an oxygen-enriched mixture being injected into the combustion chamber downstream of the flame. As a result, NO.sub.x emissions are reduced without adverse effects on the overall furnace operation.

Abstract: A linear combustion emitter regenerator process capable of operating at high temperatures for sustained periods of time, that includes flowing reactants including fuel and air to a combustion zone; adding regenerated heat to at least one of the reactants flowing to the zone; combusting the reactants at the zone to produce combustion products at high temperature, to heat radiant emitter; operating the emitter to radiate energy from the zone passing selective wavelengths of said radiated energy spectrum through an optical filter and converting the radiation from the emitter into photovoltaic-produced electricity; mounting optical filter on water-cooled window to act as a heat shield to protect photovoltaic cells from overheating; reflecting back to the emitter portions of the spectral emission not able to activate the photovoltaic cells; extracting heat absorbed by liquid-cooled window by means of a heat exchanger to transfer heat to incoming combustion air; extracting heat from the combustion products for retu

Abstract: An air heating apparatus for air that is to be supplied to a blast furnace. The apparatus includes a number of separate air heater devices connected together in series flow relation so that the total temperature increase is the sum of the heating actions produced in the individual devices. Each device includes a tube-shell heat exchanger and a plurality of burner units oriented around the shell to direct flames against outer surfaces of the tubes.

Abstract: A hot blast stove installation for heating cold blast to form hot blast includes a plurality of hot blast stoves each alternately operable during a heating phase and a blowing phase, a cold blast main for supplying cold blast to respective of the stoves during the blowing phases thereof, and combustion air and fuel gas mains for supplying combustion air and fuel gas to respective of the stoves during the heating phases thereof. The cold blast in the cold blast main has a relatively high temperature compared to ambient temperature, for example a temperature of from 100.degree. C. to 300.degree. C. A heat exchanger is connected to the cold blast main to remove heat from the cold blast therein prior to the supply of the cold blast to the stoves, thereby reducing the men and/or maximum waste gas temperature in the stoves during the heating phase of operation thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the performance of a regenerative burner has a combustion chamber which receives and combusts controllable amounts of auxiliary fuel, an oxidizing gas, and possibly air to form hot combustion products. A controllable amount of a main fuel is then delivered to the combustion chamber and is pyrolyzed by the hot combustion products to produce a hot flame. By controlling the flame, one can maintain optimal temperature of the combustion air passing through the flame. Sensing means and computing means allow for automatic adjustments of fuel, oxygen and air flow to further maintain optimal combustion air temperatures.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for recovery of waste heat of the type having a first heat exchanger which transfers heat to a working fluid and a second heat exchanger which transfers heat from the working fluid is disclosed. The improvement comprises the provision of at least one storage tank for the working fluid having a volume calculated by the flow rate of the working fluid multiplied by a time difference between the time in which the combusiton chamber has its peak fuel requirement and a next subsequent time at which a maximum amount of waste heat is available to the combustion chamber. This minimum capacity can be obtained by the provision of one tank or several tanks having a combined storage capacity which meets or exceeds the calculated volume. Preferably the storage tank, or combination of storage tanks, is positioned between the heat exchangers so as to receive heated working fluid from the first heat exchanger and provide heated working fluid to the second heat exchanger.

Abstract: A non-ferrous metal smelting furnace including a preheating tower includes a smelting chamber, provided below the preheating tower, a combustion chamber, provided adjacent to the preheating tower, a lower portion of which communicates with the smelting chamber, the combustion chamber being provided with a burner for generating a combustion gas on its upper furnace body, and a gas diffusion mechanism, provided in the smelting chamber, and including retaining members for constituting a plurality of openings distributed between the smelting chamber and the preheating chamber in the preheating tower and for retaining a material in the preheating tower.

Abstract: A system for preheating air being fed to a continuous fired furnace by means of high temperature waste gases exhausted from the furnace. The system includes two pairs of interconnected regenerators. The regenerators of one pair are alternately connected by means of a reversing valve to an ambient air inlet and a waste gas exhaust stack, and the regenerators of the other pair are alternately connected by means of a second reversing valve to the furnace's waste gas outlet duct and combustion air inlet duct.

Abstract: A cowper having no combustion shaft is presented wherein a combustion chamber is topped by a cupola and is positioned above the chequerwork. One or more burners are arranged symmetrically on the cupola wall, each burner being installed at a specific angle relative to the horizontal plane through the cupola. A burner duct is installed in the cupola masonry in front of each burner, the outlet of the duct widening conically at the entry into the cupola and being aligned at a particular angle towards the cupola arch.

Abstract: The burner means for a blast furnace stove having a vertical shell, a combustion chamber adjacent the inside wall of the shell and checkers in the shell includes a generally horizontal first tube extending from the outside of the shell into communication with the combustion chamber, a ceramic tube within the first tube spaced therefrom, and a ceramic nozzle at the inner end of the ceramic tube extending upwardly at an angle between 45.degree. and 90.degree.. Air of fuel gas passes within the first tube around the ceramic tube and the other of the air or fuel passes within the ceramic tube with the gas and air mixing and burning upwardly in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: Pneumatic control of flow patterns in regenerators is improved by the use of flow amplifier nozzles.

Abstract: A system for recovering clean hot air from a regenerative, glass melting furnace. The furnace, which may be either a side-port or end-port furnace, is constructed in the conventional manner, but a passageway is provided which connects accross the top chambers of the furnace. This passage, at its center, is connected to a heat exchanger, and hot air will pass through the heat exchanger while the furnace is being operated with either side being the firing side while the opposite side is the exhaust side. No valving is necessary to isolate the passage from the exhaust side because of the natural pressure drop existing thereacross.

Abstract: A novel fractional distillation process and applications thereof to the production of thermal or mechanical energy from two low level heat sources wherein a mixture of two highly non-ideal reactive solutions such, for example, as of the water/ammonia type, is separated into its water and ammonia components in an apparatus comprising a cascade of condensers and evaporators operating respectively at the temperature of the cold source and at the temperature of the hot source and at staggered pressures. The residue and distillate formed are remixed in a mixing apparatus when it is desired to recover the thermal energy of dilution of the solutions.The invention is applicable, in particular, to the heating of buildings from low level thermal energy and from the thermal energy of "cold wind".

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for selective control of combustion gas flow in a furnace firing port in a furnace of the type having a plurality of firing ports, each port having a passageway for receiving combustion gas, e.g. preheated air, from a common plenum chamber, wherein the chamber includes a back or target wall in opposed spaced relationship to each of the passageways. A flow control pipe is inserted through a plenum wall directed toward the passageway between the plenum and port. A small quantity of pressurized gas, e.g. air, is injected generally along the flow path of combustion air in the plenum toward passageway to alter the amount of combustion air flowing into the port. In a preferred embodiment, combustion air is increased by injecting air through a target wall flow control pipe cocurrent with the flow to induce additional flow into the port and combustion air is decreased by injecting air countercurrent to the flow adjacent to the passageway to impede flow into the port.

Abstract: In a multiport combustion furnace having a plurality of firing ports in undivided communication with a common source of combustion gas or air, the invention provides a method and apparatus for selective control of combustion air flow into one or more of the ports. A small quantity of pressurized gas, e.g. air, is injected, e.g. by way of a flow control pipe in an individual port, generally along the flow path of combustion air through the port to alter the amount of combustion air flowing into the port for mixing with fuel. Combustion air is increased by injecting air cocurrent with the combustion air flow to induce additional flow into the port. Combustion air is decreased by injecting air countercurrent to the flow to impede flow through the port.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preheating scrap metal within pure gases discharged from a metallurgical vessel. The method comprises the steps of burning the gases in a combustion chamber to remove impurities therefrom, conducting a first portion of the combustion products to a container of scrap metal, contacting the scrap metal with the combustion products for preheating the scrap metal whereby additional impurities are generated, washing in a wet scrubber the mixture of combustion products and additional impurities, mixing the scrubbed combustion products and additional impurities with a second portion of the combustion products from the combustion chamber, and removing particulates from the mixture.

Abstract: Combustion air and fuel gas used for firing blast furnace stoves is preheated by utilizing the heat of waste gases resulting from such firing. The combustion air and fuel gas are passed through respective heat exchangers in heat exchange relationship with the waste gases, thereby preheating the combustion air and fuel gas. The combustion air, after passage thereof through the respective heat exchanger, is further preheated by an externally fired recuperator. The flue gases from the externally fired recuperator are fed to the waste gases before preheating of the combustion air by such waste gases. The external firing of the recuperator is controlled as a function of the final preheated temperature of the thus twice preheated combustion air.

Abstract: A method of recovering heat from furnace flue gas which comprises passing the hot gases into contact with high specific heat media and the media into contact successively, with combustion gases and glass batch.

Abstract: A blast heating apparatus includes an inner metal shell and an outer metal shell defining therebetween a gap filled with at least one pourable dry material, for example a mixture of SiC and graphite. To prevent excess pressure in the gap and to prevent condensate from entering the gap and attacking the outer shell, a piping system connects the gap to an area below the grate chamber of the blast heating apparatus.

Abstract: This invention is relevant to a method for saving fuel in heating plants which utilize thermal energy obtained through combustion of fuel in a boiler and in which the heat transfer medium is circulating water, said method consisting of mixing the circulating water with aqueous solution or homogeneous dispersion of a salified polymeric substance selected from amongst polymers and copolymers of acrylic or methacrylic acid, carboxymethylcellulose, alginates.

Abstract: A method of and a device for blast heating is described, employing separate indirect heat exchangers for combustion air and fuel gas fed to a regenerator and flue gases discharged from the regenerator. The indirect heat exchangers share heat-transfer liquid recirculating in a circuit in which an auxiliary heat exchanger is connected. In the latter exchanger, the temperature of transfer liquid is increased by combustion of partial streams of combustion air and fuel gas branched off downstream of the indirect heat exchangers. The temperature is increased to such a value which preheats the fuel gas to a temperature at which a substitution of fuel gas of a low calorific value, such as waste gas from a blast furnace, for fuel gas of high calorific value, is made possible.

Abstract: Stress corrosion cracking which occurs in metallic portions of a high-temperature regenerative air heater can be alleviated by the disclosed methods. The methods include the step of storing a gas charge within a heated regenerative air heater, which gas charge is substantially devoid of free oxygen. The substantial absence of free oxygen from the gas charge prevents or reduces formation of nitrogen-containing oxides which typically form within an air-containing gas charge stored in a regenerative air heater held at high temperature. Conditions conducive to stress corrosion cracking are thereby alleviated by reduction of these nitrogen-containing oxides which are precursors to corrosive acids. The methods are particularly suitable for reducing stress corrosion cracking in blast furnace stoves.

Abstract: A heat exchanger and especially a blast preheater (or cowper) for blast furnaces with refractory lining, insulating layer and steel jacket is described, the insulating layer of which is designed so that a steel jacket temperature of from 20.degree. to 60.degree. C. can be set and that said steel jacket is made of chromeless structural steel having a molybdenum content in the range from 0.01 to 2% by weight. The blast preheater (or cowper) has a prolonged service life and a low tendency to nitrate tension crack corrosion of the jacket sheet, for which reason it is very suitable for use in a process for the temperature control of gas and blast for the blast furnace. The process is suitable for blast preheaters (or cowpers) with external or internal combustion chamber or checker chamber and downstream collector ducts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the recovery and recycling of heat from hot exhaust gases, specifically from exhaust gases in metallurgical processes and from warm gases having an exiting temperature of below about 800.degree. C. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, warm or hot exhaust fuel gases transfer their retained heat to the lower portions of vertically positioned, capillary-type action heat transfer pipes. Cold air is then directed past the upper portion of the heat pipes, thereby transferring the heat of the heat transfer pipes to the cold air. The now heated air gains further heat, prior to introduction into the blast furnace, by passing over, previously heated refractory gratings.

Abstract: A continuous regenerative tank-type glass melting furnace having a plurality of burner ports along each side in communication with a longitudinally extending plenum. Beneath and extending throughout the length of each plenum is a checkerbrick structure supported upon longitudinally extending arches carried by transverse walls. The walls divide the area beneath the checkerbricks into a plurality of chambers, each chamber being below a corresponding one of the ports. A tunnel joins each chamber to a common manifold connected to a reversing combustion air and exhaust gas system. Each tunnel is provided with a damper for varying its effective cross-sectional area, thereby permitting improved regulation of the flow distribution of exhaust gases and combustion air through the regenerators.

Abstract: A method of heat treatment of foodstuff in which a stream of oxygen-containing gas and fuel is passed over one or more catalysts to raise the temperature of the gas stream and the resulting hot, gas stream is contacted with foodstuff in which a proportion of the total fuel may be injected initially and a further proportion or proportions of fuel is subsequently injected preceding passage of the gas and fuel stream over a catalyst and the gas and fuel stream may be passed over catalysts in parallel or in series or so that a portion is continually divided off from the main stream flowing to a main catalyst and passed over a subsidiary catalyst and returned to a point in the mainstream upstream of where it was divided off.