Method and apparatus for the generation and transfer of heat

Claim 2

Heat generating and transfer apparatus including a combustor body, a gas permeable support plate located within the combustor body and adapted, in use, to support a first fluidised bed of particulate material, combustion-sustaining gas medium inlet means located below said plate, fuel inlet means located above the plate, a screen located within the combustor body and adapted in use to support a second fluidised bed of particulate material, said screen being situated above and spaced from the support plate and fuel inlet means, the screen being adapted to permit flow of the gas medium and heat conductive matter therethrough, fluid heat exchange means located above said screen and material transfer means adapted, in use, to transfer heat conductive matter.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the transfer means include a conduit and material flow induction means.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the material flow induction means includes a rotatable drive shaft, and an impellor carried by the said shaft.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the rotatable drive shaft is provided with internal material guide means, flow means formed in the impellor and communicating with said guide means, and discharge means provided in the flow means, the discharge means constituting the fuel inlet to the combustor.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the material flow induction means includes a rotatable drive shaft, a propellor mounted on the said shaft, material guide means within the shaft, fuel inlet means and fuel outlet means in the shaft, the outlet means in the shaft constituting the fuel inlet of the combustor.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the material flow induction means includes a gas ejector comprising an outer gas flow tube and an inner fuel flow tube.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 2 including damper means arranged within the conduit.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a further screen is located within the combustor body and adapted, in use, to support a further fluidised bed of particulate material, said further screen being situated above and spaced from the said at least one screen, and further fluid heat exchange means located above said further screen.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein each screen comprises a plurality of heat exchange tubes.

Claim 11

Heat generating and transfer apparatus including a combustor body, at least one gas permeable support plate located within the combustion body and adapted, in use, to support a first fluidised bed of particulate material, combustion sustaining gas medium inlet means located below each plate, fuel inlet means located above each plate, at least one screen located within the combustor body and adapted in use to support a second fluidised bed of particulate material, each screen being situated above and spaced from each Support plate and fuel inlet means, each screen being adapted to permit flow of the gas medium and heat conductive matter therethrough, fluid heat exchange means located above each screen and material transfer means adapted, in use to transfer heat conductive matter.

Claim 12

Heat generating and transfer apparatus including a combustor body, at least one gas permeable support plate located within the combustion body and adapted, in use, to support a first fluidised bed of particulate material, combustion sustaining gas medium inlet means located below each plate, fuel inlet means located above each plate, at least one screen located within the combustor body and adapted in use to support a second fluidised bed of particulate material, each screen being situated above and spaced from each Support plate and fuel inlet means, each screen being adapted to permit flow of the gas medium and heat conductive matter therethrough, fluid heat exchange means located above each screen and material transfer means adapted, in use to transfer heat conductive matter.

Claim 13

Heat generating and transfer apparatus including a combustor body provided with at least one vertical division defining at least two portions each having a lower part, a gas permeable support plate located at or towards the lower part of each portion, each support plate being adapted, in use, to support a first bed of particulate material, combustion sustaining gas medium inlet means located below each support plate, a fuel inlet located above each plate, a screen located within each portion of the combustor body and each adapted, in use, to support a second fluidised bed of particulate material, said screen being situated above and spaced from each support plate and fuel inlet, the screen being adapted to permit flow of the gas medium and heat conductive matter therethrough, fluid heat exchange means located above the screen in each portion, and material transfer means adapted, in use, to transfer heat conductive matter.

Claim 14

Heat generating and transfer apparatus including a combustor body provided with at least one vertical division defining at least two portions each having a lower part, a gas permeable support plate located at or towards the lower part of each portion, each support plate being adapted, in use, to support a first bed of particulate material, combustion sustaining gas medium inlet means located below each support plate, a fuel inlet located above each plate, a screen located within each portion of the combustor body and each adapted, in use, to support a second fluidised bed of particulate material, said screen being situated above and spaced from each support plate and fuel inlet, the screen being adapted to permit flow of the gas medium and heat conductive matter therethrough, fluid heat exchange means located above the screen in each portion, and material transfer means adapted, in use, to transfer heat conductive matter.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 11 including combustion gas outlet means in the combustor body and material separation means communicating with said outlet means.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the material separation means comprises at least one cyclonic separator.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein each gas permeable support plate is troughed and has a plurality of crests and bases, a crest of a trough of one plate corresponding with and interconnected to a base of a trough of the support plate in an adjacent portion, the crests of the troughs on the support plates lying in substantially the same horizontal plane.