Combustion Components Associates, Inc.

Avco Corporation

Nartron Corporation

Electric Power Technologies, Inc.

John F Hurley

John N Dale

Edward O Hartel

Mark G Voss

Scott H Lindemann

James W Powell

Clifford R Banthin

Paul L Hoffman

Dan V Giovanni

Gary W Decko

Bruce E Hartel

Brian W Doyle

The present invention provides specific design dimensions for a sprayer plate flow restrictor orifices of a fuel oil atomizer, and the resulting arrangement of the atomized liquid spray pattern. Specific depth to diameter ratios of the sprayer plate restrictor orifices and specific dimensions of the chamfer of the inlets to the restrictor orifices of the atomizer of the present invention provide improved performance results as compared to prior art atomizers, including reduced emissions and increased durability of atomizer components.

Fuel oil atomizer and method for atomizing fuel oil

An atomizer spray plate is provided for discharging fuel oil. The spray plate has a cylindrical rear portion and a conical front portion. A frusto-conical whirl chamber extends from the rear portion to the front portion with a decreasing radius. The rear portion includes a number of whirl slots extending radially inward from an outboard region of the rear portion to the whirl chamber to provide the fuel oil with rotational energy. A discharge slot is provided in the front portion of the spray plate for receiving fuel oil from the whirl chamber with rotational energy. The discharge slot includes a cylindrical through-hole with a diameter d, and at least three lobes (slots) equally spaced about the through-hole and oriented in a radial direction, each lobe having a semi-circular cross-section with radius r and extending approximately perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the through-hole.

Low NOx liquid fuel oil atomizer spray plate and fabrication method thereof

A two phase fuel oil atomizer utilizing a secondary media such as high pressure steam or air to assist in the atomization of heavy fuel oil, while reducing NOx and other polluting emissions. The fuel oil atomizer comprises a mixing plate and a sprayer plate which are configured to discharge atomized fuel oil at varying spray angles in order to provide staging of the atomized fuel as it exits the sprayer plate with the surrounding combustion chamber air to provide a fuel/air ratio that is appropriately rich and lean in order to allow lower flame temperatures. NOx generation is accordingly reduced at the lower flame temperatures. With atomized fuel droplet size small enough to enable rapid fuel evaporation and complete combustion, low CO, opacity and particulate generation are achieved with minimum excess oxygen.

Fuel oil atomizer and method for discharging atomized fuel oil

A liquid atomizer for, e.g., fuel, comprises a tube having an opening for receiving pressurized liquid flow. The tube has a closed end, a wall, and a plurality of bores in the wall. The bores are disposed in consecutive circumferential rows, and are oriented at an acute angle .alpha. with respect to a radius of the tube and at an acute angle .beta. with respect to a longitudinal axis of the said tube. A shell having a discharge end with a discharge orifice encircles a portion of length of the tube, including the closed end of the tube. The shell forms an annular chamber around the tube end and an end chamber between the closed tube end and the shell discharge end. Liquid under pressure entering the tube opening is directed outwardly through the wall bores into the annular chamber, into the end chamber, and out through the discharge orifice for introduction, for example, into a combustor.

Liquid Atomizer

An atomizer spray plate is provided for discharging fuel oil. The spray plate has a cylindrical rear portion and a conical front portion. A frusto-conical whirl chamber extends from the rear portion to the front portion with a decreasing radius. The rear portion includes a number of whirl slots extending radially inward from an outboard region of the rear portion to the whirl chamber to provide the fuel oil with rotational energy. A discharge slot is provided in the front portion of the atomizer spray plate for receiving the fuel oil from the whirl chamber with the rotational energy. The discharge slot includes a cylindrical through-hole with a diameter d, and a transverse slot having a semi-circular cross-section with radius r. The discharge slot can be easily and economically fabricated with two shaping steps since there is no need to precisely set any particular non-right angle for walls of the discharge slot. Yet, the discharge slot provides a spray pattern with lateral fuel-rich zones separated by a central fuel-lean zone which inhibits the formation of NO.sub.x by reducing the peak combustion flame temperature generated by the spray pattern.

Low NO.sub.x liquid fuel oil atomizer spray plate and fabrication method

Apparatus is provided for collecting samples of fallout, such as power plant stack emissions, from the environment. A collector substrate is adapted to progressively present a fresh collection surface for the collection of fallout from the environment over time. An opening is disposed between the substrate and the environment to allow the fallout to reach the substrate. A cover is provided for the opening. The cover is automatically closed in the presence of rain to protect the substrate from rainwater, and automatically opened after rain terminates to allow the substrate to collect fallout. Mechanical and electrical embodiments are disclosed for the automatic cover.

Ambient sampler with rain protection

A liquid atomizer for, e.g., fuel, comprises a tube having an opening for receiving pressurized liquid flow. The tube has a closed end, a wall, and one or more bores through the wall. A shell having a discharge end with a discharge orifice encircles a portion of length of the tube, including the tube closed end. The shell forms an annular chamber around the tube end and an end chamber between the closed tube end and the shell discharge end. Liquid under pressure entering the tube opening is directed outwardly through the wall bores into the annular chamber, into the end chamber, and out through the discharge orifice for introduction, for example, into a combustor.

Liquid atomizer

For reducing pollutant generation in a tangentially fired furnace, a method and apparatus for modification of a main air-fuel compartment. An extender dish for mounting on the discharge face of the compartment has a wide projection to extend across the discharge face half portion closer to the axis of the fireball in the furnace firing chamber and a narrow projection to extend across the discharge face half portion further from the fireball axis. Preferably a flow restricting plate is also provided to extend across a part of the discharge face portion closer to the axis of the fireball. These air restricting means cause a portion of the combustion air from the main air-fuel compartment discharge face to be directed outside the fireball therein reducing oxygen concentration and flame temperature thereby lowering pollutant generation. Working in concert with auxiliary air compartments, this method and apparatus are most efficient in pollutant reduction at low furnace loads where most pollution reduction is required.

Pollutant reducing modification of a tangentially fired furnace

Pulverized coal and air flowing-in a coal nozzle are distributed for combustion with low NOX generation by a concentric central duct with long exterior spiraling vanes which extend upstream and attach to a support pipe extending further upstream in the nozzle. The space from the downstream end of the support pipe to the upstream end of the central duct, and the cross section of the pipe relative to the cross section of the central duct regulate the entry of coal and air into the central duct from which the flow emerges with reduced velocity as a central stream stabilizing the flame. The central duct also has an exterior short vane attached to each long vane to separate the pulverized fuel and air outerflow into fuel-enriched swirling streams and fuel-depleted recirculation zones.

Pulverized coal and air flow spreader

An environmental control system disclosed includes a refrigeration loop including a two stage centrifugal compressor having an inlet and an outlet, a condenser having an inlet connected with the compressor outlet and an outlet, and an evaporator having an inlet connected with said condenser outlet and an outlet connected with the compressor inlet, a motor for rotating the compressor, control means responsive to evaporator load for establishing the rate of rotating said compressor, a controllable expansion valve in communication with the refrigeration loop, an expansion valve control to control the setting of the expansion valve, a bypass valve in communication with the refrigeration loop and also in communication with one stage of the compressor, wherein the bypass valve is selectively openable to allow circulated refrigerant to be variably communicated to the stage in communication therewith, and wherein the setting of the expansion valve is also a function of bypass valve operation.

Environmental control system

An environmental control system disclosed includes a refrigeration loop including a variable speed compressor having an inlet and an outlet, a condenser, an evaporator and variable speed evaporator fan, temperature setpoint apparatus, recirculated air temperature sensor, evaporator, air inlet temperature sensor and an evaporator fan speed control for establishing the speed of the evaporator fan as a function of the desired air temperature and the recirculated air temperature and a compressor speed control for establishing the speed of the compressor as a function of at least the evaporator air inlet temperature and speed of the evaporator fan.

An environmental control system disclosed includes a refrigeration loop including a variable speed compressor having an inlet and an outlet, a condenser having an inlet connected with the compressor outlet and an outlet, and an evaporator having an inlet connected with the condenser outlet and an outlet connected with the compressor inlet. The system also includes a variable speed evaporator fan and evaporator fan control for controlling the speed of the evaporator fan and a monitor for monitoring the superheat condition of the refrigerant at the compressor inlet wherein the evaporator fan control controls the speed of the evaporator fan as a function on the value of the superheat condition. A variable speed condenser fan is controlled by a condenser fan speed control that functions in part on the value of the superheat condition.

An environmental control system disclosed includes a refrigeration loop including a variable speed compressor having an inlet and an outlet, a condenser, an evaporator and variable speed evaporator fan for moving air across the evaporator, a compressor speed control, a superheat monitor for monitoring the condition at the inlet of the compressor and a primary superheat control responsive to the superheat monitor for establishing the speed of the evaporator fan to maintain a predetermined superheat condition.

In order to measure the temperature of the mid-span first stage rotor blade of a gas turbine engine, an optical pyrometer is mounted in the inner casing of the gas turbine engine and includes an elongated sight tube extending from the optical lens of the pyrometer and through the wall of the engine separating the inner casing from the rotor. The sight tube includes an array of spaced apertures extending therethrough in the vicinity of the optical lens, with each aperture extending at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the sight tube away from the optical lens. Pressurized air within the inner casing passes through the array of apertures and effectively forms a conically-shaped fluid screen for preventing smoke, dust, fumes, or other contaminants from contaminating the optical lens. A second fluid screen may be provided by mounting the free end of the sight tube in an enlarged opening in the wall of the engine casing, whereby a secondary, generally cylindrical flow of air is developed for shielding the open end of the sight tube. The upstream edge of the sight tube may project into the flow path of the combustion gases flowing to the rotor stage whereby such combustion gases will be deflected and directed around the circumference of the sight tube to further inhibit contaminants from entering the sight tube and contaminating the optical lens.

Air purging unit for an optical pyrometer of a gas turbine engine

Apparatus is disclosed for minimizing the infrared radiation emitted at the aft end of a bypass fan type turbine engine. Minimization is accomplished by ducting cool air from the secondary bypass airstream through an annulus to form a sheath of cooler air around the gas stream as it is discharged from the engine tailpipe. The sheath of air educted along the inside surface of the engine tailpipe minimizes infrared radiation in two ways. First it reduces the operating temperature of the tailpipe thus keeping radiation therefrom to a low level. Second, the cool outside air becomes entrained in the hot gas stream discharged from the turbine. This results in a reduction of the effective temperature of the gas plume and suppresses infrared radiation therefrom.

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Easton, CT, United States of America

John F Hurley