General Signal Corporation

Shahriar Nowshiravani

John C Homer

Gilbert F Lutz

Steven L Ross

A calorimetry system for measurement of the heating value of coal, having a combustor 24 and a mixing unit 30 wherein heat from combustion gases is transferred to air. The system has a gravimetric feeder 64 for providing coal at a measured mass feed rate; the coal including any moisture present therein. The coal is pulverized in an air-driven mill or pulverizer 14 which is fed coal from the feeder and is separated by a cyclone separator 16 into two streams; one carrying coal and air mixed together in a controlled ratio to the combustor. The air which drives the separator, together with fines of the coal and moisture is fed to an afterburner 26 of the combustor so that the thermal dynamics of the entire coal stream is involved in the heating value measurement. The gravimetric feeder is especially adapted for use in the calorimetry system since the length of the body 260 of coal on the belt is precisely controlled by limiting the angle of repose of the coal where it leaves the belt through the use of a head end pulley 204 of minimum diameter and a shaper 262 disposed above the head pulley which engages the leading edge of the body of coal.

Gravimetric feeder, especially adapted for use in a calorimetry system

A calorimetry system for measurement of the heating value of coal having a combustor 24 and a mixing unit 30 wherein heat from combustion gases is transferred to air. The system has a gravimetric feeder 64 for providing coal at a measured mass feed rate; the coal including any moisture present therein. The coal is pulverized in an air-driven mill or pulverizer 14 which is fed coal from the feeder and is separated by a cyclone separator 16 into two streams; one carrying coal and air mixed together in a controlled ratio to the combustor. The air which drives the separator, together with fines of the coal and moisture is fed to an afterburner 26 of the combustor so that the thermal dynamics of the entire coal stream is involved in the heating value measurement. Instrumentatoin measures the flow rates of cooling air, primary air which carries the coal streams into the combustor and secondary combustion air as well as the mass flow rates of the coal into the combustor as measured with the gravimetric feeder. A computer, thermocouples and pressure gauges controls the feeding of the coal and fuel gases (propane) during initiation of combustion, and for computing the heating value of the coal.

Calorimetry system

A calorimetry system for measurement of the heating value of coal having a combustor 24 and a mixing unit 30 wherein heat from combustion gases is transferred to air. The system has a gravimetric feeder 64 for providing coal at a measured mass feed rate; the coal including any moisture present therein. The coal is pulverized in an air-driven mill or pulverizer 14 which is fed coal from the feeder and is separated by a cyclone separator 16 into two streams; one carrying coal and air mixed together in a controlled ratio to the combustor. The air which drives the separator, together with fines of the coal and moisture is fed to an afterburner 26 of the combustor so that the thermal dynamics of the entire coal stream is involved in the heating value measurement. Instrumentation measures the flow rates of cooling air, primary air which carries the coal streams into the combustor and secondary combustion air as well as the mass flow rates of the coal into the combustor as measured with the gravimetric feeder. A computer, thermocouples and pressure gauges controls the feeding of the coal and fuel gases (propane) during initiation of combustion, and for computing the heating value of the coal.

A calorimetry systems for the continuous measurement of the heating value of coal, which provides heating value data used to control coal-fired furnaces. The system has apparatus for pulverizing the coal, a gravimetric feeder for providing pulverized coal at a measured mass feed rate, an initiating self-sustained combustion of the coal therein without the need for further supporting fuel gases. Instrumentation measures the flow rates of the cooling air, primary and secondary combustion air as well as the mass flow rates of the coal into the combustor. A computer is provided which is responsive to the measuring instruments (thermocouples and pressure gauges) for controlling the feeding of the coal and fuel gases during initiation of combustion and for computing the heating value of the coal. The computer has a memory with storage for specific heat values of the constituents of the products of combustion of various ranks of coal (bituminous, subbituminous, lignite, etc.) and the average mass fraction of each constituent in the coal by rank so that the heating value thereof can be determined with accuracy.

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Mayfield Heights, OH, United States of America

Shahriar Nowshiravani