US1198179A - Process for generating heat. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Sgpt. 12, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

P. BEER.

PROCESS FOR GENERATING HEAT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.10.19J4.

I or P. BEER. I PROCESS FOR GENERATING HEAT.

1 APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1914. Patentedsept. 12,

9 I 3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

NEH

EEEEE R. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 1'.

1,198,179. Arrucmon mm m. to. ma. pawntedsaptn 12, 1916' a llllllllllll a.

@723543 I Rad agar PAUL 'BEER,

0F DES MOINES, IOWA.

PROCESS FOR GENERATING HEAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Application filed January 10, 1914. SeriaI No. 811,284.

To all whom it m ag concern Be it known that I, PAUL BEER, of the United States, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improve: ments in Processes for Generating Heat, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in grateless gravity feed fire-boxes, for boiler furnaces, heating furnaces, kilns, etc., and in the method of generating heat therein.

In most localities bituminous coal is the cheapest fuel of those which can be used heating furnaces, tile brick and pottery kilns for burning clays and shales and many other arts, and practical experience shows that this coal is the only fuel which is commercially feasible for use in the majority of these arts. As burned under the methods and in the appliances heretofore known however, the use of bituminous coal in this class of work is open to serious objections. In the first place bituminous coal is a very smoky fuel. The production of smoke is extremely wasteful, for smoke consists of finely divided particles of unburned carbon and its appearance always indicates the presence of invisible combustible gases which have escaped from the process of combustion when ignited. Inasmuch as furnaces and kilns of the kind I have referred to, consume vast quantities of fuel, the degree of perin boiler furnaces,-

fection to which the elimination of smoke and the combustion of'its attendant combustible gases can be carried, assumes from a commercial standpoint vital importance. Again the large quantity of smoke issuing from bituminous coal, as it is now burned, makes it impossible to use this coal as a heat producing agent for fine pottery kilns be cause of the effect of the smoke upon the ware in the kiln. In the second place, comparativctv expensive fuels are frequently substituted for' bituminous coals inthese arts because some particular efl'ect upon the ware being treated, must be obtained, such as for instance a reducing action or an oxidizing action as the case may be, which cannot be obtained if bituminous coal (as now burned) is used.

My invention has for one of its objects, a method and an appliance to eliminate the smoke nuisance and increase the heating caa citizen pacity of the fuel by igniting and burning all the combustible elements thereof, which if left unburned would take the form of smoke, and all the invisible combustible gases always associated with smoke, and thereby to prevent the formation of smoke and to derive the total heat content from the fuel.

Another object of my invention is to employ the heated ash and a portion of the devolatilized coals, for thepurpose of preheating the air used to accomplish or promote combustion of the fuel.

Another object of my invention is to ren der practically automatic in operation that portion of the fire-box, known as the coking table upon which a devolatilization of the fuel is caused to take place.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a grateless fire-box an under-draft for combustion and a top draft, which according to my invention may be employed for temperature control, heat distribution, heat characterization and'if necessary, to assist in fuel combustion.

Another object is to provide an air supply for furnaces or kilns which will be ample and under perfect control whereby the intermingling of the air and fuel will be so complete that every particle of the fuel comes in direct contact with some particle of oxygen, where-by no excess air will be admitted to the absorbs a large percentage of the heat which. could be otherwise utilized in heating the products of the kiln.

My invention contemplates the combustion of the fuel in the fire-box by means of an under-draft which passes through heated ashes or devolatilized coal, whereby the air which accomplishes combustion is raised in temperature above the ignition point of the combustible gases in the fuel. The air so pre-heated, next comes in contact with a supply of fresh fuel being led to the fire and because of its high temperature combines with and ignites the volatile gases in the fuel immediately upon their liberation, thus promoting a thorough combustion and pre venting the escape bf any combustible matter, whether in the form of smoke or in the form of combustible gases, from the com bustion chamber.

My invention provision of a top draft whereby the temfurnace or kiln. Excessair' further contemplates the perature may be controlled, whereby the or near the fire-bed and whereby either an oxidizing or reducing heat. may be generated, this overdraft being under accurate and perfect control.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and in the method, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through a fire-box embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a hori- Zontal section through the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 14 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a form of construction in which I use a rear bafiie arch. Fig. 6 is a modification showing another form of rear battle arch. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on a horizontal frame showing the constricted combustion chamber as usedin connection with a rear baffle arch. Fig. 8 is an elevation illustrating a conventional form of door for outer opening of the fire-box.

Referring now to the drawings wherein I have illustrated one embodiment of my improved grateless gravity feed fire-box shown in connection with a boiler of a power plant. The fire-box herein disclosed forming the subject-matter of the present invention comprises side-walls 10, a rear wall 11 and a front wall 12. A crown arch 13 rests upon the walls of the fire-box and a vertical partition 14 divides the same into two sections, each having a combustion chamber, 15. A water pit 16 is formed under each section of the fire-box and are each covered by a floor 17. An inlet 18 leads to the water pits whereby water may be supplied thereto in the usual manner and for a purpose which is common and well known to those skilled within the art. The rear wall 11 has openings 19 formed therein. It is to be noted that the openings 19 are of comparatively small area and further that these openings are located below the top of the combustion chamber 15. By so arranging the openings 19 the gases-in the upper part of the chamber 15 flow-down through the opening 19 on their way to the surface to be heated, which in this illustration of the invention is a boiler, the result being that there is a movement of these gases about in chamber 15 which promotes a thorough intermingling of these gases with the air comprising an over-draft which in turn results in a more perfect combustion and heat control, as will be evident from the eX- planation and operation below. The openings .19 connect the combustion chambers with a passageway 20 and the latter leads to the'heat expansion chamber below the boiler 21, as shown. Ash pitopenings 21' are formed within the front wall 12 of the structure and a crown arch 22 extends over each ash pit opening 21' to form a support for the front wall above the openings and each arch 22 is supplemented. by an arch ring 23., Fire-holes 24. are built within the A front wall of the structure above the ash pit openings and are each in communication with the combustion chambers. I have shown in Fig. 8 conventional doors which are applied to my fire box. These doors are mounted on hinges on the side of the open! ing and provided with dampers. A specific description is unnecessary as they are very familiar in the art. They serve to regulate the air forming inthe top draft. Positioned over each fire-hole is an arch 25 supplemented by an arch 26. Built within each section of the structure is a battle arch 27 each having one end thereof resting on a skew brick in the side walls of the structure and their inner ends resting upon the partition 14;. Each balile arch 27 is supplemented by an arch 28 and the key bricks of the last mentioned arches are removed, forming the over-draft openings 29. A coking table arch brick 30 is mounted on a metal arch plate 36 within each section of the structure behind the front wall 12 below the baffle arches 27. The front wall 12 is inclined when loading from each of the firehole openings 24 and has resting thereupon fire-brick 32 having their lower ends resting upon the split brick 31 of the coking table arch. The foregoing parts of the structure are all made of suitable fire-brick or other suitable fire resisting material which will resist the destructive action ofheat.

Resting upon the inclined wall 32 is a coking table 33 made preferably of high grade fire-brick or fire-clay slabs and its lower edge lies flush with the inner edge of the coking table arch 30 as shown. Resting upon the upper end of the coking table is afeeding table 34. preferably made of metal. This feeding table is preferably L-shape in cross section as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and its outer ends are flattened as at and are anchored within the walls of the structure whereby the same will be rigidly held in place. The forward edge of the feeding table 3-1 is beveled as shown to form substantially a continuation of the coking table plate 33.

In the operation, of the furnace, as will be 'ments or combinations extremitiesiof' this angle out as at i flg and are secured within the walls of the structure whereby the same will be.

firmly heldl-ixifplace. In the firing of this grateless' gravity fe'ed fire-box, the fire is started within'the ash-pit of the fire-box and coalis slowly fed thereupon, until the. mass of'hot-coals reaches the arch 30. The. placed within the firefresh coali -is then opening upon the coking table behind the baffle archJQ'Z'l and upon feeding plate 34:. At this stage the activity of combustion may uously, rather than intermittently, as uponcoking tables, such as have heretofore been in use. The position and arrangement of the fire arch, baffle arch, feeding plate and coking table, are so constructed that it -is impossible for a fireman to overload or slug the fire, except by the exercise of unnecessary labor. At this stage of the firing, the coking table becomes incandescent during the process of burning and as the coal automatically feeds down this incandescent table, the burning fuel is at all times in aheat zone, whose temperature is higher than the ignition point of the combustible elethereof in the fuel. The air supply which produces combustion, flows through the opening 21'. Inasmuch as this air must first pass through heated ashes and devolatilized coals before reaching the fuel bed, its temperature is raised above the ignition point of the gases in the coal and these are ignited as fast as they are liberated. 7 An important feature of my invention is that no green coal is ever directly fed upon the devolatilized or glowing fuel. In operation the coking table and associated parts soon become incandescent, a portion of the air passing up through the fuel bed also comes in contact with the fuel upon the coking table, particularly that upon the lower part thereof. Fuel feeding down the coking table, therefore is ignited and devolatilized and isin a state of combustion during the feeding process. vents the formation of smoke, besides the temporary chilling of the fire, which is sure to take place if green coal is thrown directly upon glowing coal.

If the fuel used be a high ash, highly volatile coal, which clinkers badly, the clinkers which will form under the coking table in fiont of the hot coals may after a time offer so much resistance to the passage of air that an insufficient quantity may come through the ash pit 21 to effect complete combustion. The additional quantity of air plate are flattened quired to accomplish This absolutely pre-;

required to effect such combustion, may be admitted under the bafile arch 27, this quantity being-under perfect control and accurately regulated. This air which passes under the baflie arch takes a downward course atthe inner face thereof and is highly heated-by the incandescent surface of the bafile arch and-by the hot gases with which it comes in contact, before it reaches the fuel bed. All air therefore whether derived from the under-draft or admitted under the battle reached the temperature above the ignition point of the combustible products evolved from the fuel before it reaches the fuel bed which causes a complete ignition of the fuel on the fuel bed. The absolute control of the amount of air admitted at the top makes it unnecessary to admit any more air than re complete combustion. In addition to this function the overdraft under baflie arch 27 as well as the overdraft through baftle arch opening 29, both of which are under perfect control, may be used to characterize the heat, that is to proarch 27 has, according to my invent1on duce an oxidizing heat. By entirely closing 1 the top opening and depending solely upon the under-draft through the ash pit, a reducing heat is produced, these effects being necessary in burning certain special products. The over-draft through opening 29 in the battle arch may also be used for heat distribution as for forcing the heated products of combustion out from the fire-box through a low. duct, as is-necessary in certain types of kilns. There are therefore, three points of air admission, through the ash pit 21, through the baffle arch opening 29 and under the baffle arch 27 and between it and the fuel on the coking. table 33.

In Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive,,'I have disclosed a rear bafile arch which is particularlyusenel form communicating from combustion chamber 15 directly to the heat expansion flue conduit 41. In the process of burning, the baffle arch 40 soon becomes incandescent and serves to highly heat the air admitted through opening 29 before the passage of this air into the kiln. The auxiliary bafiie arch 40\also serves to thoroughly mingle air admitted through opening 29 with the highly heated gaseous products of combustion generated in the burning process. This battle arch moreover, if air is not admitted through opening 29, still serves a' purpose, in that by setting up an agitation or an eddy in the gas flow, it serves to thoroughly mix and then equalize the temperature of the heated products of combustion flowing from the furnace proper to the kiln. Fig. 6 shows a modification particularly adaptable to under-draft pottery kilns. In this figure the flue l2 and the horizontal under flue 43 lead the heated products of combustion to the ware to be treated. I have provided in this modification, a funnel shaped roof L4: for the combustion chamber 15 and at the lower edge of the roof 44 I have provided the rear battle arch 45, the top of which is preferably more or less in a plane with the top of the flue l3, though this is not necessary. The battle arch L5 as used in connection with this type of kiln or burner operates as follows. Cold air when admitted through opening 29 being heavier than that within the heating chamber 15, rapidly flows down against the funnel-shaped structure 44 and flows through the baffle arch 45. The roof 44 and the baffle arch 45 are incandescent and since the air admitted through opening 29 flows along in contact with these surfaces, it is itself highly heated, partly by the surfaces 4% and 45 and partly by thorough admixture with the highly heated products of combustion in the combustion chamber 15. The downward impetus or momentum however, of the air flowing through the opening 29 and deflected by the surfaces 44 and 45 is suflicient to cause considerable gas motion along flue 43 whereby the heated products of combustion are disseminated equally through the kiln. This arrangement and construction prevents the products of combustion from flowing up flue to the disadvantage as regards heat conduction of flue 43.

It is to be understood that the rear bafile arches illustratedin Figs. 5 and 6 may be used interchangeably, although I prefer the modification disclosed in Fig. 6 for the particular type of kiln there illustrated: that each of these rear battle arches serves a use.- ful purpose, whether or not air is admitted through openings 29 or under arch 30, because it serves to thoroughly stir up and mix the products of combustion in the fire chamber; that While it is preferable to constrict the fire chamber at its rear, as shown in Fig. 7, this is not necessary; and finally that the rear bafile arch as disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6 and the constriction of the combustion chamber 15 as disclosed in Fig. 7 constitutes features, any of which might be applied with advantageous results to the specific form of the furnace disclosed in Fig. 1. lVhen the combustible gases have been completely ignited and consumed, the highly heated products of combustion, from the volatile gases and the live coals, pass through openings 19 into the kiln or against whatever surface, such as 21, is to be heated.

It is of course to be understood that a fire-box according to my invention, may be used and installed in types of kilns or furnaces having up or.down drafts with the, same successful results.

A furnace designed and constructed, in accordance with this invention, will supply approximately the correct quantity of air at the highest possible temperature required for complete combustion, will permit the use of cheap fuel for all varieties of burning, and will permit the perfect regulation of the heat produced whether as to its character, temperature or distribution.

I claim 1. The method of generating heat which consists in arranging a supply of burning fuel in a grateless fire-box, igniting said fuel on the fuel bed by an underdraft passing through the heated ashes and devolatilized coals, gradually feeding a supply of fuel to the fuel bed meanwhile supporting said fuel partially by said fuel bed and partially independently of the fuel bed to relieve the fuel bed of the weight thereof, introducing another air supply to the supply of fuel, preheating said second air supply above the ignition point of the combustible gases evolved from the fuel supply, whereby ignition of said gases will be completed previous to the entry of said fuel to the fuel bed, and combustion will be completely consummated in the fire.

2. The method of generating heat which consists in partially supporting fuel prior to .its entry to a fuel bed by means independent of the fuel bed and partially by the fuel bed, devolatilizing said fuel, and instantly igniting the gases evolved therefrom while the fuel is being fed to the fuel bed, permitting the fuel to feed gradually to the fuelbed and completely igniting the devolatilized fuel upon the fuel bed by permitting access thereto of air preheated above the ignition point of the combustible elements of the fuel and in thereafter tempering the highly heated gaseous products of combustion by mingling therewith a controlled air supply.

3. The process of generating heat from fuel comprising the arranging of a fuel supply in a bank or bed and continuously and gradually feeding a fresh supply thereto, supporting said fuel supply prior to its entry to the fuel bed partially by means independent of the fuel bed and partially by said fuel bed, preheating atmospheric air above the ignition point of the combustible elements evolved from the fuel and admitting the preheated air to completely ignite the combustible elements evolved from the fuel while the latter is being fed to the fuel bed and also admitting preheated air to completely consume or decarbonize the nonvolatile combustible elements of the fuel in the fuel bed, and controlling the quantity of air so admitted to prevent the admission of air in excess of the quantity required to perform either of these functions.

4. The method of generating heat which consists in arranging a supply of burning fuel in a bank or bed in a grateless fire box,

consuming said fuel in the fuel bed by a heated underdraft passing through heated ashes and devolatilized coals, gradually feeding a fresh supply of fuel down an inclined support, which bears most of the weight thereof, to theffuel bed while maintaining a continuous bed of fuel between the fuel bed and the green fuel on the inclined support, devolatilizing said fresh supply and instantly igniting the combustible gaseous products evolved therefrom by a second draft preheated by radiation from and contact with heated surfaces prior to and during its contact with said fresh fuel supply.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification in the presence of two Witnesses.

PAUL BEER.

Witnesses:

SEBASTIAN HrnTON, FRED H. POTTER.

Images