Patent US4598653A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4598653A
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US
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Combustion system for burning fuel having various particle sizes
Assignee: STEARNS CATALYTIC WORLD Corp A CORP OF
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Filing: 1985-07-17
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Granted: 1986-07-08
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Expires: 2005-07-17
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a process and associated apparatus for obtaining energy from a fuel source having particles varying in size from fines to coarse. The fuel source is introduced into a passageway formed between an upper combustor and a lower combustor. A gas stream is moved upwardly through the passageway such that the fine particles are entrained in the gaseous stream and carried into the upper combustor.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas E. Stringfellow
- 👤 Warnie L. Sage
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:42
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23C; F23C10/00; F23C10/002; F23B; F23B1/00; F23B1/30; F23B1/36; F23B10/00; F23B50/00; F23B50/02; F23B70/00; F23C1/00; F23C1/06; F23G; F23G2900/00; F23G2900/70; F23G2900/7013
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A process for obtaining energy from a fuel source having particles ranging in size from fines to coarse by combusting said fuel in a combustion apparatus having an upper combustor and a lower combustor connected via a passageway, wherein a venturi is formed in said passageway such that the velocity of gases entering the passageway from the lower combustor is increased, said process comprising: (a) introducing the fuel source, having fine and coarse particles into the combustion apparatus, at a point along or directly above the passageway; (b) introducing an oxygen-containing gas into the lower combustor in a quantity sufficient to support combustion in the lower combustor; (c) moving a gas stream upwardly through the passageway such that the fine particles are entrained in the gaseous stream and carried into the upper combustor, while the coarse particles fall into the lower combustor; (d) combusting the fine particles in the upper combustor to generate heat; (e) combusting the coarse particles in the lower combustor to generate heat; and (f) using the generated heat to provide useful energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A process for obtaining energy from a fuel source having particles ranging in size from fines to coarse by combusting said fuel in a combustion apparatus having an upper combustor and a lower combustor connected via a passageway, wherein a venturi is formed in said passageway such that the velocity of gases entering the passageway from the lower combustor is increased, said process comprising: (a) introducing the fuel source, having fine and coarse particles into the combustion apparatus, at a point along or directly above the passageway; (b) introducing an oxygen-containing gas into the lower combustor in a quantity sufficient to support combustion in the lower combustor; (c) moving a gas stream upwardly through the passageway such that the fine particles are entrained in the gaseous stream and carried into the upper combustor, while the coarse particles fall into the lower combustor; (d) combusting the fine particles in the upper combustor to generate heat; (e) combusting the coarse particles in the lower combustor to generate heat; and (f) using the generated heat to provide useful energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the oxygen-containing gas stream is introduced in a quantity sufficient to support combustion in both the lower and upper combustors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process in accordance with claim 2 wherein at least a portion of the upwardly moving gas stream passing through said passageway comprises the unused oxygen-containing gas which was introduced into the lower combustor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process in accordance with claim 3 wherein a portion of the upwardly moving gas stream passing through the passageway comprises the gaseous reaction products from the lower combustor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process in accordance with claim 4 wherein the lower combustor is a bubbling fluid bed combustor and the upper combustor is an entrained fluidized bed combustor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process in accordance with claim 5 wherein the fuel source having fine and coarse particles is selected from the group consisting of spent shale, biomass, refuse, and slurry particles and mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein uncombusted fuel and the gaseous products of combustion from the upper combustor are passed into a cyclonic-type separator wherein the smaller uncombusted fuel particles, along with the gaseous products of combustion, exit through an exhaust outlet, while the larger, uncombusted fuel particles are introduced, via a conduit, into the passageway between the upper and lower combustors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process in accordance with claim 7 wherein at least a portion of the larger, uncombusted particles in the cyclonic separator are passed through a conduit directly into the lower combustor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process in accordance with claim 8 wherein an oxygen-containing gas is introduced into the lower combustor at a point just below the venturi.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
166 words
A combustion apparatus for obtaining energy from a fuel source having particles ranging in size from fines to coarse, said apparatus comprising: (a) a lower combustor having inwardly slanting walls at its upper end forming an exit port having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the lower combustor; (b) a passageway connecting the exit port of the lower combustor with an inlet of an upper combustor located above said lower combustor, said passageway having a smaller diameter than both the lower and upper combustors; (c) a means for introducing said fuel source into the combustion apparatus at a point at or directly above said passageway; and (d) a means for providing a moving, gaseous stream upward through said passageway at a velocity sufficient to separate the fuel source into fines and coarse particles, whereby the coarse particles fall into the lower combustor to generate heat and the fines are entrained in the moving gas stream and carried up into the upper combustor to generate heat.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
166 words
A combustion apparatus for obtaining energy from a fuel source having particles ranging in size from fines to coarse, said apparatus comprising: (a) a lower combustor having inwardly slanting walls at its upper end forming an exit port having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the lower combustor; (b) a passageway connecting the exit port of the lower combustor with an inlet of an upper combustor located above said lower combustor, said passageway having a smaller diameter than both the lower and upper combustors; (c) a means for introducing said fuel source into the combustion apparatus at a point at or directly above said passageway; and (d) a means for providing a moving, gaseous stream upward through said passageway at a velocity sufficient to separate the fuel source into fines and coarse particles, whereby the coarse particles fall into the lower combustor to generate heat and the fines are entrained in the moving gas stream and carried up into the upper combustor to generate heat.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combustion apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein the lower combustor comprises a bubbling fluid bed combustor and the upper combustor comprises an entrained fluidized bed combustor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combustion apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said fuel source is selected from the group consisting of biomass, spent shale, refuse, and slurry particles and mixtures thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combustion apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein the upper combustor is in fluid communication with an adjacent cyclonic separator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combustion apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said cyclonic separator has an exhaust outlet for removing gas and very small particles and also a lower outlet connected via a conduit to the combustion apparatus for returning larger uncombusted fuel particles collected in said separator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combustion apparatus in accordance with claim 14 which further comprises a means for admitting an oxygen-containing gas into the lower combustor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combustion apparatus in accordance with claim 15 which further comprises a means for admitting an oxygen-containing gas into the passageway between the lower combustor and the upper combustor.
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) | 1989-07-07 | 1990-01-06 | 1990-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-07 | 1994-01-06 | 1994-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-07 | 1998-01-06 | 1998-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |