Liquid heaters and vaporizers – Water tube
Patent
1996-03-11
1998-07-28
Bennett, Henry A.
Liquid heaters and vaporizers
Water tube
122 6A, 431 1, 431 2, F22B 1500, F22B 2500, F22B 3710
Patent
active
057850127
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to an improvement in the boiler combustion process and, more particularly, provides a horn for generating acoustic energy in the combustion chamber of a boiler for enhancing the combustion process.
In general, a boiler is a pressurized system for generating energy in which a liquid is vaporized to its gaseous state. Usually, water is used as the liquid and the boiler is used to change the water to steam. Boiling of the water to create steam is accomplished by transferring heat from a source of high temperature to the water.
The source of high temperature in the boiler for heating the water is usually the product of combustion from burning fuels. Combustion, generally defined as the burning of any substance, creates heat and often light. The heat from combustion is transferred to the water which boils and emits steam.
The steam generated by the boiler may then be utilized as a source of energy to be used for various purposes. Common uses of the steam include heating and driving machinery to perform mechanical work, which may in turn be converted into electrical energy.
The efficiency of boiler operation is greatly dependent upon the efficiency of combustion occurring in the combustion chamber of the boiler. Combustion efficiency depends on a variety of factors such as the air pressure in the combustion chamber and the precise mixture of air and fuel utilized in the combustion process. In general, fuel is introduced into the combustion chamber and put in contact with a flame. Simultaneously, oxygen (or perhaps another oxidizing agent) is introduced into the combustion chamber. Combustion will not occur without oxygen or another type of oxidizing agent, such as oxygen, coming into contact with the fuel.
The primary goals of boiler operation and combustion are to minimize fuel consumption while maximizing combustion efficiency and boiler heat output. An additional goal is to minimize the amount of pollution resulting from the combustion process. Certainly, leaving any portion of fuel unburned is inefficient and undesirable. To maximize combustion efficiency, it is desirable to completely combust each molecule of fuel while using the minimum amount of oxygen possible to accomplish complete combustion. Additionally, any oxygen in the system in excess of that required for combustion can combine with Nitrogen to form Nitrous Oxide (NO.sub.x), a pollutant.
Moreover, combustion produces ash, commonly known as fly ash. Fly ash, a by-product of the fuel, may contain carbon that was not totally burned. It is desirable to maintain the lowest possible percentage of carbon in the fly ash, which indicates the highest combustion efficiency. The acoustics of the present invention aid in stripping previously reacted sites on fly ash to make them ready for additional reaction (i.e., combustion). This process is repeated while the particulate being reacted upon remains within the combustion chamber. Since it has been found through experimentation that acoustics generated in the top of a combustion chamber in accordance with the present invention carry all the way to the bottom of the combustion chamber without losing substantial sound pressure level, the present invention advantageously repeatedly strips fly ash from its reacted state to a reactive state throughout the entire residence time of the particle upon which reaction is occurring.
The present invention utilizes acoustic energy to enhance the combustion process. By directing acoustic waves into the combustion chamber during combustion, gases and particulate in the chamber are excited and reaction between fuel and oxygen is accomplished more completely, more frequently, and more quickly. Moreover, test results indicate that the residence time of particulate is increased by operation of the present invention. As a result, more time is available for reaction during combustion to occur.
Attempts have been made in the past to utilize acoustic waves for enhancing the combustion process. For instance, U.S. Pat. No.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3233597 (1966-02-01), Svendsen
patent: 3586468 (1971-06-01), Sims et al.
patent: 3603145 (1971-09-01), Morris
patent: 3796536 (1974-03-01), Hori et al.
patent: 3885902 (1975-05-01), Fujieda et al.
patent: 3941552 (1976-03-01), Cottell
patent: 4153201 (1979-05-01), Berger et al.
patent: 4165961 (1979-08-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 4394849 (1983-07-01), Pratt
patent: 4608013 (1986-08-01), Gaysert et al.
patent: 4635571 (1987-01-01), Olsson et al.
patent: 4650413 (1987-03-01), Olsson et al.
patent: 5020479 (1991-06-01), Suesada et al.
patent: 5370771 (1994-12-01), Nilsson
Anderson Marlin H.
Parsons Jim
Schwab James Joseph
Bennett Henry A.
BHA Group Holdings, Inc.
Lu Jiping
LandOfFree
Acoustically enhanced combustion method and apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Acoustically enhanced combustion method and apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Acoustically enhanced combustion method and apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-14873