US3877440A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Curtain air system for vapor generators
Assignee: Foster Wheeler Inc
•
Filing: 1974-01-18
•
Granted: 1975-04-15
•
Expires: 1994-01-18
Abstract
Abstract A furnace assembly and method in which at least one burner is associated with one or more walls of a furnace enclosure with auxiliary supplies of air being introduced into the enclosure from the bottom thereof and through openings formed in each of the walls.
Inventors
- 👤 Justin P Winkin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:35
CPC Classifications
F; F22; F22B; F22B31/00; F23; F23C; F23C7/00; F23C7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A furnace assembly comprising at least four vertically extending walls interconnected to form an enclosure, each of two opposite facing walls having a lower sloped end portion to form a hopper section terminating in an inlet, at least one burner associated with at least one of said opposite facing walls and adapted to combust an air-fuel mixture in said enclosure, first means for introducing air through said inlet and into the lower end of said enclosure, a plurality of openings formed through at least one wall connected to said wall associated with said bUrner, said openings being aligned in a plane parallel to the sloped end portion of said latter wall, and second means to introduce air through said openings, whereby said air rises in said enclosure adjacent the interior surfaces of said walls.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A furnace assembly comprising at least four vertically extending walls interconnected to form an enclosure, each of two opposite facing walls having a lower sloped end portion to form a hopper section terminating in an inlet, at least one burner associated with at least one of said opposite facing walls and adapted to combust an air-fuel mixture in said enclosure, first means for introducing air through said inlet and into the lower end of said enclosure, a plurality of openings formed through at least one wall connected to said wall associated with said bUrner, said openings being aligned in a plane parallel to the sloped end portion of said latter wall, and second means to introduce air through said openings, whereby said air rises in said enclosure adjacent the interior surfaces of said walls.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The furnace assembly of claim 1 wherein a plurality of openings are formed through two walls connected to said wall associated with said burners.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The furnace assembly of claim 1 wherein a plurality of openings are formed through said wall associated with said burner and further comprising third means for introducing air through said latter openings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The furnace assembly of claim 3 wherein a plurality of burners are associated with each of said opposite facing walls, and a plurality of openings are formed through each of said opposite facing walls, said third means introducing air through all of said latter openings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The furnace assembly of claim 1 wherein said walls are formed by a plurality of interconnected finned tubes, and further comprising means for passing water through said tubes to convert it to steam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The furnace assembly of claim 1 wherein the air portion of said air-fuel mixture is less than that normally required to achieve complete combustion and wherein said means supplies an amount of additional air sufficient to achieve complete combustion.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of burning a fuel-air mixture in a furnace to produce a minimum amount of slag deposits on the interior wall surfaces of said furnace, a minimum amount of corrosion and a minimum amount of nitrogen oxides in the combustion gases leaving the furnace, comprising the steps of defining a hopper portion at the bottom end of said furnace by sloped portions of two opposite facing walls, introducing an air-fuel mixture into said furnace through at least one of said opposite facing walls for combusting in said furnace, forming openings through at least one wall of said furnace connected to said one opposite facing wall and introducing air through said hopper portion and through said openings to lower the temperature in said furnace and maintain an oxidizing atmosphere along the interior surfaces of said walls.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of burning a fuel-air mixture in a furnace to produce a minimum amount of slag deposits on the interior wall surfaces of said furnace, a minimum amount of corrosion and a minimum amount of nitrogen oxides in the combustion gases leaving the furnace, comprising the steps of defining a hopper portion at the bottom end of said furnace by sloped portions of two opposite facing walls, introducing an air-fuel mixture into said furnace through at least one of said opposite facing walls for combusting in said furnace, forming openings through at least one wall of said furnace connected to said one opposite facing wall and introducing air through said hopper portion and through said openings to lower the temperature in said furnace and maintain an oxidizing atmosphere along the interior surfaces of said walls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said openings are formed through two walls connected to said one opposite facing wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said air-fuel mixture is introduced into said furnace through both of said opposite facing walls.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of forming a plurality of openings through said opposite facing walls and introducing air through said latter openings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
110 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of regulating the amount of air supplied through said burner opening to an amount which is less than the normal operating condition of approximately 120% theoretical combustion air requirements for the corresponding fuel to delay the complete combustion of said fuel and thereby reduce the maximum flame temperature in the furnace and the formation of nitrogen oxides below the values which would occur if all of the air generally required for complete combustion were introduced with the fuel, said air introduced through said hopper portion and said openings serving as a source for the remaining air required to achieve complete combustion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of passing water through said walls to convert it to steam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |