Methods and devices for even distribution of solid fuel materials

• US 10,443,841 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
• Original Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
• Inventors: Fitzsimmons, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Herzfeld, Nathaniel
• Application Number:
  US15/617,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20170356644A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F23C 10/002 for pulverulent solid fuel F23C10/005 - F23C10/32 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F23C 10/12 the particles being circulated exclusively within the combustion zone
• CPC Class Codes: F23C 10/22 Fuel feeders specially adapted for fluidised bed combustion apparatus F23C10/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F23C 2900/10004 Adding inert bed material to maintain proper fluidized bed inventory
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 2203/202 using screws
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 3/02 Pneumatic feeding arrangements, i.e. by air blast
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 1/007 using mechanical means F23N1/04 - F23N1/10 take precedence

Abstract

Methods, devices and systems for processing of solid materials, particularly fuel material solids such as carbonaceous fuel solids such as of granular form, to provide or result in an even distribution of the solid material. Hoppers are provided with plurality of outlet orifices, each of the outlet orifices adapted to flow therethrough a combination of gas and the solid material to pneumatically convey the solid material to a distribution manifold. The distribution manifold includes a plurality of tubes with each tube having a plurality of exit orifices wherein each exit orifice passes an equal portion of the combination of the gas and the solid material.

Claims

1. A processing system comprising:

a staged fluidized bed reactor wherein a carbonaceous fuel and an oxygen-containing gas are eluted through a fluidized bed comprising an inert material, dolomite or a combination thereof, wherein the staged fluidized bed reactor includes at least three reaction zones, each reaction zone operating at a different selected pressure; and

a distribution system for even distribution of the carbonaceous fuel to the staged fluidized bed reactor, the distribution system including;

at least three hoppers, each of said hoppers in material transfer communication with an associated selected one of said reaction zones, each of said hoppers provided with a plurality of outlet orifices, each of said outlet orifices adapted to flow therethrough a combination of gas and the carbonaceous fuel to pneumatically convey the carbonaceous fuel to a distribution manifold, wherein each of said hoppers provides the combination of gas and carbonaceous fuel to the distribution manifold at a different selected pressure; and

the distribution manifold to distribute an even flow of the carbonaceous fuel over an extended distribution area within the associated selected one of said reaction zones, the distribution manifold comprising a plurality of tubes with each tube having a plurality of exit orifices wherein each tube carries a portion of the combination of the gas and the carbonaceous fuel in an equal amount and wherein each exit orifice passes an equal portion of the combination of the gas and the carbonaceous fuel.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the carbonaceous fuel is selected from the group consisting of coal, petroleum coke and biomass.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the carbonaceous fuel is in a granular form.

4. The system of claim 1 additionally comprising an auger to mechanically meter the carbonaceous fuel to form a plurality of feed streams.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the carbonaceous fuel is coal.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the carbonaceous fuel is petroleum coke.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the carbonaceous fuel is biomass.

8. A method for evenly distributing a granular carbonaceous fuel material within a staged fluidized bed reactor with the processing system of claim 1, said method comprising:

pneumatically conveying an equal amount of gas and the granular carbonaceous fuel material through the distribution manifold.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the granular carbonaceous fuel is selected from the group consisting of coal, petroleum coke and biomass.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the granular carbonaceous fuel material is distributed to the staged fluidized bed reactor via the distribution system wherein each of said hoppers provides the combination of gas and granular carbonaceous fuel to the distribution manifold at a different selected pressure.

11. The method of claim 8 additionally comprising;

mechanically metering the granular carbonaceous fuel via an auger to form a plurality of feed streams.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the granular carbonaceous fuel is coal.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the granular carbonaceous fuel is petroleum coke.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the granular carbonaceous fuel is biomass.