Abstract A frusto-conical grid adapted for use between a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber for enabling fluid to flow from the high pressure chamber into a low pressure chamber to fluidize a bed of material contained therein adjacent the upper surface of the grid characterized by the grid being provided with a plurality of conically shaped passageway having the smaller opening disposed in the high pressure chamber with the enlarged opening disposed in the low pressure chamber. The passageways in one embodiment are formed by frusto-conical tubular members which have their walls joined to adjacent members by a welded intersecting line to minimize any flat surfaces on which the material of the fluidized bed can be built up or accumulated on. By controlling the angle of divergence of a conical tubular member the flow of the gaseous medium through the small end can be either along the inner surface or the center of the tubular member causing different types of mixing and interaction between the particles disposed in the tube and fluid medium passing therethrough. In one embodiment liquid such as water or other material can be mixed with the bed of fluidized materials by being applied to the grid adjacent the small opening and it is carried by the flow of the medium through the small openings of the passageways and is mixed with the materials of the fluidized bed. Such arrangement can be used for adding a fluid to a bed of material and can be used as a means of scrubbing a gaseous medium to remove solid particles therefrom. Another similar arrangement can be used to cause complete combustion of a vaporized fuel such as heavy oils added to the medium adjacent the area grid to produce, in effect, many ''''burners'''' by providing a large interface for combustion of fuel with air while passing through the grid.
A material fluidizing apparatus having a grid means disposed between a high pressure chamber of fluid medium and a low pressure chamber of fluid medium for maintaining a pressure differential therebetween, said grid means allowing the passage of the fluid medium from the high pressure chamber into the low pressure chamber thereby to create a fluidized bed of material contained in the latter adjacent an upper surface of the grid means, the improvement comprising, said grid means being defined by a plurality of upstanding frusto-conical formations each diverging in an upward direction and being open at its upper and lower ends, the upper portions of each of said formations intersecting the adjacent ones of said formations to form a pattern of edge surfaces, the internal walls of said frustoconical formations and said edge surfaces solely constituting said upper surface of the grid means thereby to prevent piling and accumulation of material of the fluidized bed on said upper surface of said grid means, at least one fuel nozzle mounted in said low pressure chamber above said grid means, said nozzle having its outlet communicating with an opening in said grid means which is defined by a continuous series of said edge surfaces thereby to discharge fuel through said opening and to the area immediately below said grid means whereupon the fuel comes into contact with the fluid medium entering the lower ends of said frusto-conical formations to form an ignition interface immediately below said grid means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
A material fluidizing apparatus having a grid means disposed between a high pressure chamber of fluid medium and a low pressure chamber of fluid medium for maintaining a pressure differential therebetween, said grid means allowing the passage of the fluid medium from the high pressure chamber into the low pressure chamber thereby to create a fluidized bed of material contained in the latter adjacent an upper surface of the grid means, the improvement comprising, said grid means being defined by a plurality of upstanding frusto-conical formations each diverging in an upward direction and being open at its upper and lower ends, the upper portions of each of said formations intersecting the adjacent ones of said formations to form a pattern of edge surfaces, the internal walls of said frustoconical formations and said edge surfaces solely constituting said upper surface of the grid means thereby to prevent piling and accumulation of material of the fluidized bed on said upper surface of said grid means, at least one fuel nozzle mounted in said low pressure chamber above said grid means, said nozzle having its outlet communicating with an opening in said grid means which is defined by a continuous series of said edge surfaces thereby to discharge fuel through said opening and to the area immediately below said grid means whereupon the fuel comes into contact with the fluid medium entering the lower ends of said frusto-conical formations to form an ignition interface immediately below said grid means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
199 words
A material fluidizing apparatus comprising a high pressure chamber of fluid medium and a low pressure chamber of fluid medium disposed above said high pressure chamber and a grid means disposed between said chambers maintaining a pressure differential therebetween and passing the fluid medium from said high pressure chamber into saiD low pressure chamber to create a fluidized bed of material contained therein adjacent an upper surface of said grid means, the improvement comprising, said grid means having a plurality of passageways extending therethrough for allowing passage of the fluid medium from the high pressure chamber to the low pressure chamber, each of said passageways having a restricted orifice adjacent the high pressure chamber and diverging to an enlarged area passageway at the upper surface of the grid means to prevent material in the fluidized bed from accumulating on the upper surface of the grid means, means for supplying a liquid at said grid means adjacent said restricted orifices so that the liquid mixes with the fluid medium as it enters said orifices to mix with material in said passageways whereby material carried by said fluid medium is removed from said medium as it passes through said fluidized bed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
199 words
A material fluidizing apparatus comprising a high pressure chamber of fluid medium and a low pressure chamber of fluid medium disposed above said high pressure chamber and a grid means disposed between said chambers maintaining a pressure differential therebetween and passing the fluid medium from said high pressure chamber into saiD low pressure chamber to create a fluidized bed of material contained therein adjacent an upper surface of said grid means, the improvement comprising, said grid means having a plurality of passageways extending therethrough for allowing passage of the fluid medium from the high pressure chamber to the low pressure chamber, each of said passageways having a restricted orifice adjacent the high pressure chamber and diverging to an enlarged area passageway at the upper surface of the grid means to prevent material in the fluidized bed from accumulating on the upper surface of the grid means, means for supplying a liquid at said grid means adjacent said restricted orifices so that the liquid mixes with the fluid medium as it enters said orifices to mix with material in said passageways whereby material carried by said fluid medium is removed from said medium as it passes through said fluidized bed.