Apparatus and methods for conditioning combustion air

Abstract

Devices and methods for adjusting the physical properties of air used in the combustion of carbon based fuels are described. Parameters such as air temperature, pressure and moisture content are adjusted before the air is delivered to a combustion chamber of devices such as furnaces, boiler and the like. The physical properties of the air may be are adjusted such that a predetermined amount of oxygen and/or water are delivered to the combustion chamber. In one embodiment the amount of oxygen and/or moisture delivered by the intake air is optimized to increase the efficiency of the carbon fuel burned in combustion and/or to minimize the production of compounds such as NO X SO 2 , CO, CO 2 and the like.

1 . A device for conditioning air in carbon based fuel burning system, comprising: 
 an intake air chamber for conditioning ambient air;    a combustion chamber; and    at least one sensor for measuring physical parameters of air in said air intake chamber, wherein the intake air chamber can be adjusted so as to control the temperature and moisture content of ambient air drawn into said chamber, and wherein said chamber is positioned so as to feed air into the combustion chamber.    
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said intake air chamber includes a heat transfer coil.  
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said intake air chamber includes a device for removing water vapor to air in said intake air chamber.  
   
   
       4 . A method for increasing the efficient of combustion, comprising the steps of: 
 providing an intake air condition chamber, and    supplying at least one sensor that measures the physical characteristic of ambient air; and    a computer which calculates and adjust conditions within said intake air conditioning chamber so as to optimize combustion, wherein said intake air conditioner is located between a source of ambient air and a combustion chamber and wherein said optimal combustion condition includes a substantially optimum stoichiometric ratio of carbon based fuel, oxygen and water in the combustion chamber.    
   
   
       5 . A method for increasing the efficacy of hydrocarbon combustion comprising the steps of: 
 conditioning intake air and soot blowing air; and    delivering conditioned intake air to a combustion chamber, wherein said combustion chamber includes at least one hydrocarbon based fuel, and said intake air delivered to said combustion chamber comprising about 2.67 pounds of oxygen per about 1 pound of carbon.    
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said conditioning includes adjusting at least one of the following parameters of said intake air, temperature, pressure, and Rh.