High moisture content fuel dispersion apparatus

[57] ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for distributing high moisture content material fuel within the furnace of a steam generator organization, said fuel being transported to the furnace pneumatically. An angularly adjustable manifold having series of nozzles is located adjacent the discharge end of the fuel transport line at the point where it enters the furnace. Jets of a dispersion medium supplied to the manifold are directed through the nozzles to apply horizontal and vertical force components to the solid fuel particles issuing from the transport line. The dispersion pattern may be regulated by adjusting the manifold angle and/or the pressure of the dispersion medium.

Claims, 3 Drawing Figures

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4G&gt;

3,640,232

SHEET 1 OF 2

PATENTED FEB 81872

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INVENTOR.

JOSEPH F. FfULLEfJ

BY

SHEET 2 OF 2 patented^ ^8,972

3,640,232

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2Q&gt;

INVENTOR.

JOSEPH F MULLEN

3,640,232

HIGH MOISTURE CONTENT FUEL DISPERSION APPARATUS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Due to recent advancements, pneumatic transport of high ³moisture content material and the use thereof as fuels has become more practical. This comes at a time when the materials which make up the high moisture content fuels such as bagasse from cane sugar production, wastewood products, |θ and industrial and municipal refuse are presenting an ever greater disposal problem. According to the disclosure of my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 3,387,574, such high moisture content fuels may be pneumatically transported directly to the furnace of a steam-generating organization without predrying. Due to the selected specific relationships between the high moisture content fuel and primary combustion-supporting air used to transport the fuel and between the secondary combustion-supporting air and primary air, the high moisture content fuel may be injected directly into the furnace where it is completely 20 dried and burned in suspension on a self-sustaining basis.

Pneumatic transport of the high moisture content fuels is most economical when the fuel-transport air ratio is a maximum. When a maximum fuel-transport air ratio is used, it is possible that a “plug” flow condition might arise if certain 25 nozzle configurations are used at the entrance of the transport line to the furnace. That is to say, the high moisture content fuel might form large masses or lumps, an undesirable condition in that proper mixing with combustion-supporting air within the furnace would not readily be accomplished. While 30 it is possible to use breakers in the transport line, such breakers tend to interfere with the necessary free flow of the high moisture content material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 35

In order to insure a suitable high moisture content fuel flow pattern into the furnace for proper mixing with combustionsupporting air, a dispersion apparatus is provided adjacent the discharge end of the fuel transport line where it enters the furnace to break up any large, solid fuel masses which might be injected thereinto. A dispersion medium, which may be either steam or air, in the form of a plurality of jets is directed to intersect the flow axis of the fuel entering the furnace at angles such that the jets will apply horizontal and vertical force com- 45 ponents to the solid high moisture content material fuel particles issuing from the transport line. By controlling the pressure of the jets and the relative angles thereof with respect to the solid fuel particles, the magnitude of the force components may be varied to regulate the dispersion pattern of the fuel in 50 accordance with furnace configuration and fuel characteristics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the high moisture content fuel ³³dispersion apparatus with portions broken away to facilitate the showing thereof.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the dispersion apparatus of FIG.

1. ₆₀

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the dispersion apparatus taken along line 3—3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a rear view of a 65 high moisture content fuel dispersion apparatus 10 to be used with a furnace arrangement utilizing high moisture content fuels such as bagasse, bark or refuse. A flow transport nozzle 12 is provided for conveying high moisture content fuel to the interior of a furnace such as for example the arrangement 70 shown in aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,387,574. The high moisture content fuel is transported and propelled through the nozzle 12 by means of primary combustion-supporting air. The nozzle 12 passes through a standard wind box 14 to discharge into the furnace through an opening 18 in the fur- 75 nace wall 16. The furnace wall 16 has a lining of flow tubes 20 for the passage of fluid therethrough. These tubes 20 pass around the opening 18 by being bent out of their plane in a conventional manner (not particularly shown or described herein).

When a maximum fuel-transport air ratio is used, it is possible that a flow condition might arise where the high moisture content fuel would form large masses instead of remaining in discrete, suspended particles. This “plug” flow is undesirable in that proper mixing with the combustion-supporting air within the furnace for efficient burning is not readily accomplished:. In order to provide for breakup of possible “plug flow, a manifold arrangement 22 is provided.

The manifold arrangement 22 is comprised of an elongated tube 24 formed in a semicircular configuration about the discharge end of the nozzle 12 with the ends 28 of the elongated tube being closed. The tube 24 has dispersion means including a plurality of nozzles 26 communicating with the interior of said tube and positioned at spaced intervals thereabout. The nozzles are directed so as to intersect the flow axis of the transport nozzle 12.

In flow communication with one end of the elongated tube 24 is a flow connection 30 supported in a bearing 32 in the sidewall of wind box 14. The flow connection 30, through a ball joint connection 34, is in flow communication with a dispersion medium flow line 36. The ball joint connection 34 permits relative rotational movement between flow connection 30 and flow line 36. The dispersion medium may be, for example, either steam or air. Pressure of the dispersion medium is controlled by valve 38 in the line 36.

The opposite end of the elongated tube 24 is mounted on a pivot 40 supported by a bearing 42 positioned in the opposite sidewall of the wind box 14. Fixed to the pivot 40 is a drive wheel 44 which is intermeshed with a worm 46 for the purpose to be discussed hereinbelow. The worm 46 is connected to a shaft 48 which is supported by a bearing 50 mounted on the sidewall of the wind box 14. A control wheel 52 is fixed to the end of shaft 48 and controls the rotation of the worm 46.

The operation of the high moisture content fuel dispersion arrangement 10 is as follows. Dispersion medium is admitted to the elongated tube 24 of the manifold arrangement 22 through the flow connector 30. Pressure of the dispersion medium is controlled as noted above by the valve 38. The dispersion medium issues from the manifold 22 as jets from the nozzles 26 located at spaced intervals along elongated tube 24. The dispersion jets intersect the axis of fuel flow from the nozzle 12 and serve to apply horizontal and vertical force components to the solid high moisture content fuel particles issuing therefrom. The jets, therefore, serve to break up any conglomerate solid particles and enhance mixing thereof with combustion-supporting air. The manifold arrangement 22 is angularly adjustable so as to vary the magnitude of the force components of the dispersion medium jets to regulate the fuel particle dispersion pattern. The angular adjustment is accomplished by rotating the control wheel 52 which in tum rotates the worm 46 and intermeshed wheel 44 to tum the pivot 40 and elongated tube 24. As noted above, the provision of the ball joint Connection 34 permits the flow connection 30 (fixed to tube 24) to rotate upon angular adjustment of the manifold arrangement 22.

Thus it can be seen that there has been accomplished a novel arrangement for facilitating dispersion of high moisture content fuels. Dispersion medium jets are directed from an angularly adjustable semicircular manifold mounted adjacent the dispersion end of the fuel nozzle to apply horizontal and vertical force components to the solid particles of fuel issuing therefrom. By varying the angular adjustment of the manifold and regulating the pressure of the dispersion medium, the magnitude of the force components may be varied to regulate the dispersion pattern of the fuel in accordance with furnace configuration and fuel characteristics.