Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
385 words
A vertical furnace for continuously burning particles, said furnace comprising: (a) a vertically elongated substantially tubular structure defining, in a vertically successive downward arrangement: (i) a precipitation chamber formed from imperforate vertical walls, said precipitation chamber having a first cross-sectional area; (ii) imperforate walls forming a first frusto-conical zone connecting said precipitation chamber to the next lower chamber; (iii) a rich fluidized bed chamber formed from imperforate vertical walls, said rich fluidized bed chamber having a second cross-sectional area; (iv) imperforate walls forming a second frusto-conical zone connecting said rich fluidized bed chamber to the next lower chamber; (v) a lean fluidized bed chamber formed from imperforate vertical walls, said lean fluidized bed chamber having a third cross-sectional area; and (vi) imperforate walls forming a third frusto-conical zone connecting said lean fluidized bed chamber to the bottom of said tubular structure; (b) a gas discharge opening at the top of said precipitation chamber; (c) a particle inlet port in said precipitation chamber or said first frusto-conical zone; (d) a vertically oriented inlet port for gas and/or a burnable fuel at the bottom of said third frusto-conical zone; (e) at least one inlet port for gas and/or a burnable fuel in said lean fluidized bed chamber, said second frusto-conical zone, or said third frusto-conical zone; and (f) a burned particle discharge port at the bottom of said third frusto-conical zone, wherein: (g) said first cross-sectional area is larger than said second cross-sectional area, and said second cross-sectional area is larger than said third cross-sectional area and (h) there are no inlet ports for gas and/or a burnable fuel in said rich fluidized bed chamber, said first frusto-conical zone, or said precipitation chamber, whereby: (i) said lean fluidized bed chamber is the zone of highest temperature and the temperature within the furnace decreases vertically from said lean fluidized bed chamber; (j) the velocity of the gas in said lean fluidized bed chamber is higher than the velocity of the gas in said rich fluidized bed chamber, and the velocity of the gas in said rich fluidized bed chamber is higher than the velocity of the gas in said precipitation chamber; and (k) the density of the particles in said lean fluidized bed chamber is lower than the density of the particles in said rich fluidized bed chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
385 words
A vertical furnace for continuously burning particles, said furnace comprising: (a) a vertically elongated substantially tubular structure defining, in a vertically successive downward arrangement: (i) a precipitation chamber formed from imperforate vertical walls, said precipitation chamber having a first cross-sectional area; (ii) imperforate walls forming a first frusto-conical zone connecting said precipitation chamber to the next lower chamber; (iii) a rich fluidized bed chamber formed from imperforate vertical walls, said rich fluidized bed chamber having a second cross-sectional area; (iv) imperforate walls forming a second frusto-conical zone connecting said rich fluidized bed chamber to the next lower chamber; (v) a lean fluidized bed chamber formed from imperforate vertical walls, said lean fluidized bed chamber having a third cross-sectional area; and (vi) imperforate walls forming a third frusto-conical zone connecting said lean fluidized bed chamber to the bottom of said tubular structure; (b) a gas discharge opening at the top of said precipitation chamber; (c) a particle inlet port in said precipitation chamber or said first frusto-conical zone; (d) a vertically oriented inlet port for gas and/or a burnable fuel at the bottom of said third frusto-conical zone; (e) at least one inlet port for gas and/or a burnable fuel in said lean fluidized bed chamber, said second frusto-conical zone, or said third frusto-conical zone; and (f) a burned particle discharge port at the bottom of said third frusto-conical zone, wherein: (g) said first cross-sectional area is larger than said second cross-sectional area, and said second cross-sectional area is larger than said third cross-sectional area and (h) there are no inlet ports for gas and/or a burnable fuel in said rich fluidized bed chamber, said first frusto-conical zone, or said precipitation chamber, whereby: (i) said lean fluidized bed chamber is the zone of highest temperature and the temperature within the furnace decreases vertically from said lean fluidized bed chamber; (j) the velocity of the gas in said lean fluidized bed chamber is higher than the velocity of the gas in said rich fluidized bed chamber, and the velocity of the gas in said rich fluidized bed chamber is higher than the velocity of the gas in said precipitation chamber; and (k) the density of the particles in said lean fluidized bed chamber is lower than the density of the particles in said rich fluidized bed chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vertical furnace as recited in claim 1 wherein said vertically elongated substantially tubular structure is circular in cross-section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vertical furnace as recited in claim 1 wherein said vertically elongated substantially tubular structure is polygonal in cross-section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A vertical furnace as recited in claim 1 wherein the angles of upward divergence of said first, second, and third frusto-conical zones are less than 90%, whereby particles are prevented from sticking to the inner surfaces of said zones.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A vertical furnace as recited in claim 4 wherein the angles of upward devergence of said first, second, and third frusto-conical zones are less than 60%, thereby ensuring the sliding down of the particles along the tapered inner surface of said zones.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
A vertical furnace as recited in claim 1 wherein the dimensions of the various parts of said vertically elongated substantially tubular structure are chosen such that the ratio between the mean velocity of the gas and the terminal velocity of the particles is between 0.2 and 0.6 in said rich fluidized bed and between 0.4 and 1.0 in said lean fluidized bed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
A vertical furnace as recited in claim 1 wherein a plurality of axially spaced inlet ports for gas and/or a burnable fuel are provided in said lean fluidized bed chamber, said second frusto-conical zone, and/or said third frusto-conical zone, whereby the maximum temperature in said lean fluidized bed and the axial gradient of the temmperature can be adjusted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vertical furnace as recited in claim 7 and further comprising a burner inserted in each of said plurality of axially spaced inlet ports for gas and/or a burnable fuel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vertical furnace in claim 1 and further comprising a burner inserted in said inlet port for gas and/or a burnable fuel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A vertical furnace as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one inlet port for gas and/or a burnable fuel in said lean fluidized bed, said second frusto-conical zone, or said third frusto-conical zone is radially oriented.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vertical furnace as recited in claim 1 wherein said vertically oriented inlet port for gas and/or a burnable fuel is centrally disposed at the bottom of said third frusto-conical zone.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
435 words
A method for continuous burning particles in a furnace comprising: (a) a vertically elongated substantially tubular structure defining, in a vertically successive downward arrangement: (i) a precipitation chamber formed from imperforate vertical walls, said precipitation chamber having a first cross-sectional area; (ii) imperforate walls forming a first frusto-conical zone connecting said precipitation chamber to the next lower chamber; (iii) a rich fluidized bed chamber formed from imperforate vertical walls, said rich fluidized bed chamber having a second cross-sectional area; (iv) imperforate walls forming a second frusto-conical zone connecting said rich fluidized bed chamber to the next lower chamber; (v) a lean fluidized bed chamber formed from imperforate vertical walls, said lean fluidized bed chamber having a third cross-sectional area; and (vi) imperforate walls forming a third frusto-conical zone connecting said lean fluidized bed chamber to the bottom of said tubular structure; (b) a gas discharge opening at the top of said precipitation chamber; (c) a particle inlet port in said precipitation chamber or said first frusto-conical zone; (d) a vertically oriented inlet port for gas and/or a burnable fuel at the bottom of said third frusto-conical zone; (e) at least one inlet port for gas and/or a burnable fuel in said lean fluidized bed chamber, said second frusto-conical zone, or said third frusto-conical zone; and (f) a burned particle discharge port at the bottom of said third frusto-conical zone, wherein: (g) said first cross-sectional area is larger than said second cross-sectional area, and said second cross-sectional area is larger than said third cross-sectional area; and (h) there are no inlet ports for gas and/or a burnable fuel in said rich fluidized bed chamber, said first frusto-conical zone, or said precipitation chamber, said method comprising the step of controlling the input of gas through said vertically oriented inlet port and said at least one inlet port in said lean fluidizied bed chamber, said second frusto-conical zone, or said third frusto-conical zone and the input of particles through said particles inlet port such that: (i) said lean fluidized bed chamber is the zone of highest temperature and the temperature within the furnace decreases vertically from said lean fluidized bed chamber; (j) the velocity of the gas in said lean fluidized bed chamber is higher than the velocity of the gas in said rich fluidized bed chamber, and the velocity of the gas in said rich fluidized bed chamber is higher than the velocity of the gas in said precipitation chamber; and (k) the density of the particles in said lean fluidized bed chamber is lower than the density of the particles in said rich fluidized bed chamber.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
435 words
A method for continuous burning particles in a furnace comprising: (a) a vertically elongated substantially tubular structure defining, in a vertically successive downward arrangement: (i) a precipitation chamber formed from imperforate vertical walls, said precipitation chamber having a first cross-sectional area; (ii) imperforate walls forming a first frusto-conical zone connecting said precipitation chamber to the next lower chamber; (iii) a rich fluidized bed chamber formed from imperforate vertical walls, said rich fluidized bed chamber having a second cross-sectional area; (iv) imperforate walls forming a second frusto-conical zone connecting said rich fluidized bed chamber to the next lower chamber; (v) a lean fluidized bed chamber formed from imperforate vertical walls, said lean fluidized bed chamber having a third cross-sectional area; and (vi) imperforate walls forming a third frusto-conical zone connecting said lean fluidized bed chamber to the bottom of said tubular structure; (b) a gas discharge opening at the top of said precipitation chamber; (c) a particle inlet port in said precipitation chamber or said first frusto-conical zone; (d) a vertically oriented inlet port for gas and/or a burnable fuel at the bottom of said third frusto-conical zone; (e) at least one inlet port for gas and/or a burnable fuel in said lean fluidized bed chamber, said second frusto-conical zone, or said third frusto-conical zone; and (f) a burned particle discharge port at the bottom of said third frusto-conical zone, wherein: (g) said first cross-sectional area is larger than said second cross-sectional area, and said second cross-sectional area is larger than said third cross-sectional area; and (h) there are no inlet ports for gas and/or a burnable fuel in said rich fluidized bed chamber, said first frusto-conical zone, or said precipitation chamber, said method comprising the step of controlling the input of gas through said vertically oriented inlet port and said at least one inlet port in said lean fluidizied bed chamber, said second frusto-conical zone, or said third frusto-conical zone and the input of particles through said particles inlet port such that: (i) said lean fluidized bed chamber is the zone of highest temperature and the temperature within the furnace decreases vertically from said lean fluidized bed chamber; (j) the velocity of the gas in said lean fluidized bed chamber is higher than the velocity of the gas in said rich fluidized bed chamber, and the velocity of the gas in said rich fluidized bed chamber is higher than the velocity of the gas in said precipitation chamber; and (k) the density of the particles in said lean fluidized bed chamber is lower than the density of the particles in said rich fluidized bed chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
94 words
A method as recited in claim 12 and further comprising the step of controlling the input of gas through said vertically oriented inlet port and said at least one inlet port in said lean fluidized bed chamber, said second frusto-conical zone, or said third frusto-conical zone and the input of particles through said particle inlet port such that the ratio between the mean velocity of the gas and the terminal velocity of the particles is between 0.2 and 0.6 in said rich fluidized bed and between 0.4 and 1.0 in said lean fluidized bed.