Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
A method of burning pulverized coal and othe fuels comprising the steps of: containing a primary flowing stream of coal/air mixture received adjacent an inlet end of tubular nozzle means for discharge at an outlet end into a combustion zone of a furnace for burning; accelerating said stream of coal/air mixture in a convergent venturi section upstream of said outlet end of said nozzle means to concentrate the coal particles toward a central portion of the stream in a minimum throat area of said venturi; decelerating said flowing stream downstream of said throat in a divergent flow section of said venturi while forming an annular, shallow sloping conically shaped flow pattern around an imperforate wall surface of a spreader cone in said divergent section and having a hollow outer end adjacent said outlet end of said nozzle means; causing said annular flow pattern to swirl around the axis of said cone outwardly thereof within said convergent flow section of said venturi forming a stable, annularly-shaped, flow pattern discharging into said combustion zone; burning said discharging coal with an elongated flame pattern in said combustion zone extending along said stabilized conical flow pattern; forming a shielded stagnation area of high temperature and reducing atmosphere adjacent said hollow outer end of said cone for driving off the volatiles in said coal early in the combustion process; and burning off said volatiles in a reducing zone in a continuing burning process reducing the formation of oxides of nitrogen.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
245 words
A method of burning pulverized coal and othe fuels comprising the steps of: containing a primary flowing stream of coal/air mixture received adjacent an inlet end of tubular nozzle means for discharge at an outlet end into a combustion zone of a furnace for burning; accelerating said stream of coal/air mixture in a convergent venturi section upstream of said outlet end of said nozzle means to concentrate the coal particles toward a central portion of the stream in a minimum throat area of said venturi; decelerating said flowing stream downstream of said throat in a divergent flow section of said venturi while forming an annular, shallow sloping conically shaped flow pattern around an imperforate wall surface of a spreader cone in said divergent section and having a hollow outer end adjacent said outlet end of said nozzle means; causing said annular flow pattern to swirl around the axis of said cone outwardly thereof within said convergent flow section of said venturi forming a stable, annularly-shaped, flow pattern discharging into said combustion zone; burning said discharging coal with an elongated flame pattern in said combustion zone extending along said stabilized conical flow pattern; forming a shielded stagnation area of high temperature and reducing atmosphere adjacent said hollow outer end of said cone for driving off the volatiles in said coal early in the combustion process; and burning off said volatiles in a reducing zone in a continuing burning process reducing the formation of oxides of nitrogen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of forming a zone of low pressure adjacent the center axis of said discharging flow pattern for drawing back a portion of the combustion products toward said hollow outer end of said cone to establish a recirculation area of high temperature to rapidly volatilize and burn off said volatiles in a reducing atmosphere.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2 including the step of forming a wall of swirling coal and air around said recirculation area to provide a reducing atmosphere at high temperature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 3 including the step of creating a torroidal recirculation zone around said stabilized annular flow pattern by introducing a swirling flow of secondary air around said nozzle means for discharge into said combustion zone around the outlet end of said nozzle means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4 including the step of adjusting the velocity of said secondary air flow to establish said outer torroidal recirculation zone around said stabilized, annular flow pattern.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
216 words
A method of burning pulverized coal and other fuels comprising the steps of: containing a primary flowing stream of coal/air mixture received adjacent an inlet end of tubular nozzle means for discharge at an outlet end into a combustion zone of a furnace for burning; accelerating said flowing stream of coal/air mixture in a shallow convergent venturi section upstream of an outlet end of said nozzle means to more uniformly distribute and concentrate the coal particles toward a central portion of the flowing stream as it passes through a cylindrical and minimum diameter throat section of said venturi; decelerating said flowing stream while spreading the flow in a shallow, annular, conically shaped diverging flow pattern around an imperforate wall surface of a hollow spreader cone in a divergent portion of said venturi section adjacent said outlet end; causing said annular, conically shaped diverging flow pattern to swirl around the axis of said cone forming a stable, annular, flow pattern of shallow, frusto-conically divergent shape around said cone discharging from said nozzle means into said combustion zone; burning said discharging coal in an elongated flame pattern extending along said stabilized conical flow pattern; and maintaining a high temperature reducing zone immediately downstream of said hollow cone within said stable swirling flow pattern discharging from said nozzle means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
216 words
A method of burning pulverized coal and other fuels comprising the steps of: containing a primary flowing stream of coal/air mixture received adjacent an inlet end of tubular nozzle means for discharge at an outlet end into a combustion zone of a furnace for burning; accelerating said flowing stream of coal/air mixture in a shallow convergent venturi section upstream of an outlet end of said nozzle means to more uniformly distribute and concentrate the coal particles toward a central portion of the flowing stream as it passes through a cylindrical and minimum diameter throat section of said venturi; decelerating said flowing stream while spreading the flow in a shallow, annular, conically shaped diverging flow pattern around an imperforate wall surface of a hollow spreader cone in a divergent portion of said venturi section adjacent said outlet end; causing said annular, conically shaped diverging flow pattern to swirl around the axis of said cone forming a stable, annular, flow pattern of shallow, frusto-conically divergent shape around said cone discharging from said nozzle means into said combustion zone; burning said discharging coal in an elongated flame pattern extending along said stabilized conical flow pattern; and maintaining a high temperature reducing zone immediately downstream of said hollow cone within said stable swirling flow pattern discharging from said nozzle means.