Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
A burner for pulverized coal and other fuels comprising: tubular nozzle means having an inlet for receiving a primary flowing stream of coal/air mixture and an outlet end for discharging said stream into a the combustion zone of a furnace for burning; annular, venturi-like flow constrictor means in said nozzle means coaxially disposed adjacent said outlet end, said flow constrictor means having a divergent flow section with a maximum diameter outlet adjacent said outlet end of said nozzle means and a convergent flow section upstream thereof for more evenly distributing said pulverized coal in the central portion of said stream; flow spreader means mounted in coaxial alignment in said divergent flow section for adjustable axial movement in said nozzle means, said spreader means having an imperforate conical wall surface with a maximum diameter, open end adjacent said outlet, said imperforate wall surface cooperating with wall surfaces of said divergent flow section to form a diverging annular-shaped flow passage; and swirl vane means positioned in said passage between said spreader means and surfaces of said divergent flow section for imparting a swirling action to stabilize the flow pattern of said coal/air stream discharged into said combustion zone, said stabilized discharge flow providing a high temperature reducing zone adjacent said open end of said flow spreader means drawing at least some combustion products back toward said spreader means whereby volatiles in said coal are driven off and burned in a reducing atmosphere thereby reducing the formation of oxides of nitrogen by said burner.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
A burner for pulverized coal and other fuels comprising: tubular nozzle means having an inlet for receiving a primary flowing stream of coal/air mixture and an outlet end for discharging said stream into a the combustion zone of a furnace for burning; annular, venturi-like flow constrictor means in said nozzle means coaxially disposed adjacent said outlet end, said flow constrictor means having a divergent flow section with a maximum diameter outlet adjacent said outlet end of said nozzle means and a convergent flow section upstream thereof for more evenly distributing said pulverized coal in the central portion of said stream; flow spreader means mounted in coaxial alignment in said divergent flow section for adjustable axial movement in said nozzle means, said spreader means having an imperforate conical wall surface with a maximum diameter, open end adjacent said outlet, said imperforate wall surface cooperating with wall surfaces of said divergent flow section to form a diverging annular-shaped flow passage; and swirl vane means positioned in said passage between said spreader means and surfaces of said divergent flow section for imparting a swirling action to stabilize the flow pattern of said coal/air stream discharged into said combustion zone, said stabilized discharge flow providing a high temperature reducing zone adjacent said open end of said flow spreader means drawing at least some combustion products back toward said spreader means whereby volatiles in said coal are driven off and burned in a reducing atmosphere thereby reducing the formation of oxides of nitrogen by said burner.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The burner of claim 1 wherein said flow constrictor means includes a generally cylindrical, intermediate throat section of minimum diameter joined at opposite ends to minimum diameter ends of said divergent flow section and said convergent flow section, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The burner of claim 1 wherein said convergent and divergent flow sections of said flow constrictor means are substantially frusto-conical in shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The burner of claim 1 wherein said convergent flow section is shorter in axial length than said divergent flow section and is adapted for distributing and concentrating the pulverized coal in said stream toward a central portion thereof, said divergent flow section substantially maintaining said distribution as said stream diverges in said divergent section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The burner of claim 1 wherein said flow constrictor means includes a cylindrical outer shell mounted for axial displacement in coaxial alignment in said tubular nozzle means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The burner of claim 1 wherein said spreader means is generally frusto-conical in shape with a minimum diameter end upstream of said open end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The burner of claim 6 including support means secured to an upstream end of said spreader means and mounted for axial displacement in coaxial alignment along a central axis of said tubular nozzle means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The burner of claim 1 including means for introducing secondary air around said outlet end of said nozzle means for discharge into said combustion zone along said discharging primary coal/air stream.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The burner of claim 8 wherein said means for introducing secondary air includes means for imparting a swirling action to said secondary air around said primary coal/air stream discharged into said combustion zone.