Gas: heating and illuminating – Retorts
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-15
2001-08-07
Knode, Marian C. (Department: 1764)
Gas: heating and illuminating
Retorts
C202S158000, C202S254000, C202S258000, C126S101000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270542
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a heating furnace for home and industrial use that is capable of using a variety of liquid fuels and converting them catalytically to gaseous fuels that can be fed to other heating devices or to combustion engines. The heat produced can be circulated through heated air or heated water systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Furnace technology making use of fuel oil is well-known and widely used. However, fuel oil is generally used in large-scale heating situations. Storage and supply constraints and the higher ignition temperature of fuel oil as compared to natural gas have limited its use in home heating in the United States to areas in the Northeast.
Because fuel oil is not as flexible in its applications as fuel gases, technologies have been developed to convert fuel oil to fuel gases. These technologies make use of catalysts to accomplish the necessary chemical reactions and distillation process to separate the resulting fuel gases from the fuel oils and, in some cases, to separate the fuel gases into components. However, catalytic conversion and distillation are normally carried out on an industrial scale. Heat is given off as a result of catalytic conversion and distillation processes; in industrial processes some of this heat can be recaptured to sustain the process, but much of it is wasted. A need exists for a device that will put this heat to use directly in small building and household applications.
For the production of quantities of fuel gases that can be used in a home or small building, a need exists to scale down and to integrate the catalytic conversion and distillation technologies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to meet this need, the present invention is a heating furnace with integrated fuel catalysis capabilities. The furnace contains a boiler vessel, which is separated into a holding portion and a distillation portion. A burner for igniting the boiler vessel is located under the boiler vessel. The holding portion is supplied with a liquid fuel. Igniting the boiler vessel accomplishes two purposes. It begins a catalysis process, in which the liquid fuel is catalytically converted into compounds with lower boiling points, known as fuel gases. These gases are removed from the boiler vessel for use elsewhere in other heating devices or combustion engines. Secondly, the catalytic process produces heat which can be captured in a heat exchanger and transported through a heated air or heated water system.
The catalytic process produces coke deposits on the interior of the holding portion. These deposits can be removed periodically through combustion. The boiler vessel contains air vent holes, which are plugged during the catalytic process. For coke combustion, the burner is ignited, and the air vent holes are opened. Products of this combustion process escape through the boiler vent line, which is valved so that these combustion products do not mix with gaseous fuels produced in the catalytic process.
REFERENCES:
patent: 17309 (1857-05-01), Bruce
patent: 204016 (1878-05-01), Fitch
patent: 5235102 (1993-08-01), Palmer et al.
patent: 5404865 (1995-04-01), Huls
patent: 5730843 (1998-03-01), Groten et al.
patent: 6023943 (2000-02-01), Wang et al.
Knode Marian C.
Varcoe Frederick
Webb Ziesenheim & Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
LandOfFree
Home and industrial heating furnace that produces fuel gas does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Home and industrial heating furnace that produces fuel gas, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Home and industrial heating furnace that produces fuel gas will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2436528