Fluid bed reactor pre-heating method and apparatus

Claim 2

In a fluid bed combustion apparatus having a container enclosing a combustion chamber, a porous grate within said combustion chamber, a quantity of finely divided inert fluid bed particles normally resting by gravity on said grate, and means including an opening into the combustion chamber under said grate for the passage of a stream of gas therethrough to fluidize said finely divided particles, an improvement for pre-heating said fluid bed particles, comprising, means for forcing a stream of heated gas into said combustion chamber above the fluid bed particles, and, means beneath said porous grate for opening the combustion chamber to the atmosphere, wherebY the stream of pre-heated gas passes through the fluid bed from top to bottom to heat the particles and subsequetly be discharged as cool air at the bottom of the combustion chamber.

Claim 3

The improved fluid bed combustion apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for forcing a stream of heated gas into said combustion chamber includes a blower for delivering air under pressure to a pre-heat combustor, said comsutor communicating with said combustion chamber for discharge of the pre-heated air under pressure thereinto.

Claim 4

In a fluid bed combustion apparatus having, a combustion chamber, a porous grate within said combustion chamber and extending thereacross, a quantity of finely divided inert particles within said combustion chamber contained above said grate, a first opening into said combustion chamber at its bottom under said grate, a second opening at an upper portion of said combustion chamber above said particles, and means communicating with said first opening for fluidizing said quantity of finely divided particles by passing a stream of unheated air under pressure through said first opening, whereby said stream of air passes up through the quantity of particles and out through said second opening, an improvement for pre-heating said quantity of particles, comprising, means outside of said combustion chamber for generating a stream of air at an elevated temperature and pressure, means for communicating said stream of air from said generating means into said combustion chamber above said quantity of particles, valve means for communicating said first opening at the bottom of said combustion chamber to the outside atmosphere, and valve means for closing the second opening near the top of said combustion chamber, whereby a stream of air of elevated temperature and pressure may be caused to pass into the top of the combustion chamber and downward through the quantity of particles and out of said chamber through said first opening.

Claim 5

In a fluid bed combustion apparatus having, a combustion chamber, a porous grate within said combustion chamber and extending thereacross, a quantity of finely divided inert particles within said combustion chamber contained above said grate, a first opening into said combustion chamber at its bottom under said grate, a second opening at an upper portion of said combustion chamber above said particles, and means communicating with said first opening for fluidizing said quantity of finely divided particles by passing a stream of unheated air under pressure through said first opening, whereby said stream of air passes up through the quantity of particles and out through said second opening, an improvement for pre-heating said quantity of particles, comprising, means outside of said combustion chamber for generating a stream of air at an elevated temperature and pressure, means for communicating said stream of air from said generating means into said combustion chamber above said quantity of particles, valve means for communicating said first opening at the bottom of said combustion chamber to the outside atmosphere, and valve means for closing the second opening near the top of said combustion chamber, whereby a stream of air of elevated temperature and pressure may be caused to pass into the top of the combustion chamber and downward through the quantity of particles and out of said chamber through said first opening.

Claim 6

In a fluid bed reactor having inert fluid bed solid particles contained above a porous grate within a combustion chamber, a method of pre-heating the fluid bed particles, comprising the steps of: forming a stream of pre-heated gas, passing for a period of time said stream of pre-heated gas downward through the inert fluid bed solid particles while the weight of said particles is supported by said grate, thereby to preheat said fluid bed particles, and, passing after said period of time a second stream of gas upward through the preheated particles in a manner to fluidize said bed.

Claim 7

In a fluid bed reactor having inert fluid bed solid particles contained above a porous grate within a combustion chamber, a method of pre-heating the fluid bed particles, comprising the steps of: forming a stream of pre-heated gas, passing for a period of time said stream of pre-heated gas downward through the inert fluid bed solid particles while the weight of said particles is supported by said grate, thereby to preheat said fluid bed particles, and, passing after said period of time a second stream of gas upward through the preheated particles in a manner to fluidize said bed.