Particulate Deflagration Enhanced Firebox

Abstract

A particulate deflagration enhanced firebox for burning particulate fuel either alone or in combination with other fuels and the associated method. The firebox may be employed in association with a power plant where the heat from the firebox is used to generate electricity. Fine fuel particles are fed to a mixing drum or box by a pre-measured auger system where the fuel is mixed with dried, compressed combustion air in a desire fuel to air ratio. The fuel mixture enters the combustion firebox or boiler either alone or in association with other fuels where it is ignited. The hot combustion gases leave the firebox and are vented through the firebox's normal route which generally includes passing through a precipitator for remove particulates before exiting to atmosphere via a chimney stack.

1 . A particulate deflagration enhanced firebox for burning particulate fuel either alone or in combination with other fuels comprising:
 a particulate fuel delivery system attaching a main fuel cell with a mixing box for delivering a measured portion of particulate fuel from the main fuel cell to the mixing box,   a dried and compressed air delivery system attaching air drier and air compressor with the mixing box for delivering a portion of dried and compressed combustion air from the air drier and air compressor to the mixing box,   mixing means provided in the mixing box for mixing the measured portion of particulate fuel with the portion of dried and compressed air to form a fuel and air mixture,   a fuel and air mixture delivery system attaching the mixing box with a firebox for delivering a portion of the fuel and air mixture to the firebox, and   ignition sources provided in the walls of the firebox for igniting the fuel and air mixture under deflagration conditions to create hot combustion gases.   
     
     
         2 . A particulate deflagration enhanced firebox according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 an exhaust system attaching the firebox with atmosphere for venting the hot combustion gases from the firebox to atmosphere. 
 
     
     
         3 . A particulate deflagration enhanced firebox according to  claim 2  further comprising:
 said exhaust system attached to the air dryer to remove moisture from the air dryer and exhaust the moisture thus removed to atmosphere with the hot combustion gases. 
 
     
     
         4 . A particulate deflagration enhanced firebox according to  claim 3  further comprising:
 a control panel attached to said particulate fuel delivery system for controlling the delivery of measured portions of particulate fuel from the main fuel cell to the mixing box. 
 
     
     
         5 . A particulate deflagration enhanced firebox according to  claim 4  further comprising:
 said control panel attached to said dried and compressed air delivery system for controlling the delivery of portions of dried and compressed combustion air from the air drier and air compressor to the mixing box. 
 
     
     
         6 . A particulate deflagration enhanced firebox according to  claim 5  further comprising:
 said control panel attached to said fuel and air mixture delivery system for controlling the delivery of portions of fuel and air mixture to the firebox. 
 
     
     
         7 . A particulate deflagration enhanced firebox according to  claim 6  further comprising:
 an infrared sensor attached to the firebox and monitoring the burning of the fuel and air mixture in the firebox, and said infrared sensor attached to and providing input information to said control panel. 
 
     
     
         8 . A particulate deflagration enhanced firebox according to  claim 6  further comprising:
 a dew point monitor attached to the dried and compressed air delivery system and monitoring the moisture of the dried and compressed combustion air, and said dew point monitor attached to and providing input information to said control panel. 
 
     
     
         9 . A particulate deflagration enhanced firebox according to  claim 6  further comprising:
 an oxygen sensor attached to the mixing box and monitoring the oxygen content of the fuel and air mixture, and said oxygen sensor attached to and providing input information to said control panel. 
 
     
     
         10 . A particulate deflagration enhanced firebox comprising:
 a particulate fuel delivery system attached to and delivering a measured portion of particulate fuel to a mixing box,   a dried and compressed air delivery system attached to and delivering dried and compressed combustion air to the mixing box,   mixing means provided in the mixing box for mixing the particulate fuel with the dried and compressed air to form a fuel and air mixture, and   a fuel and air mixture delivery system attached between the mixing box and a firebox and delivering the fuel and air mixture to the firebox.   
     
     
         11 . A particulate deflagration enhanced firebox according to  claim 10  further comprising:
 an ignition source provided in the walls of the firebox for igniting the fuel and air mixture under deflagration conditions. 
 
     
     
         12 . A particulate deflagration enhanced firebox according to  claim 11  further comprising:
 an exhaust system attached between the firebox and atmosphere and venting hot combustion gases created by the ignition of the fuel and air mixture from the firebox to atmosphere. 
 
     
     
         13 . A particulate deflagration enhanced firebox according to  claim 11  further comprising:
 said exhaust system attached to at least one air dryer that supplies dry combustion air to the mixing box for the purpose of removing moisture from the air dryer and exhausting the moisture thus removed to atmosphere with the hot combustion gases. 
 
     
     
         14 . A particulate deflagration enhanced firebox according to  claim 13  further comprising:
 a control panel attached to said particulate fuel delivery system and controlling the delivery of particulate fuel to the mixing box. 
 
     
     
         15 . A particulate deflagration enhanced firebox according to  claim 14  further comprising:
 said control panel attached to said dried and compressed air delivery system and controlling the delivery of dried and compressed combustion air to the mixing box. 
 
     
     
         16 . A particulate deflagration enhanced firebox according to  claim 15  further comprising:
 said control panel attached to said fuel and air mixture delivery system and controlling the delivery of fuel and air mixture to the firebox. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method for operating a particulate deflagration enhanced firebox comprising:
 mixing particulate fuel with dried and compressed combustion air to form a fuel and air mixture,   feeding the fuel and air mixture into particle deflagration enhanced firebox, and   firing an ignition source located within the walls of the firebox to ignite the fuel and air mixture.   
     
     
         18 . A method for operating a particulate deflagration enhanced firebox according to  claim 17  further comprising:
 removing hot combustion gases from the firebox after ignition of the fuel and air mixture, and 
 using the hot combustion gases to remove moisture from an air dryer that provides dry combustion air for the firebox by creating a venturi that pulls a vacuum on the air dryer as the hot combustion gases vent to atmosphere. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method for operating a particulate deflagration enhanced firebox according to  claim 17  further comprising:
 monitoring the parameters of burn characteristics of the ignition occurring in the firebox, moisture content of the dried combustion air, and oxygen content of the fuel and air mixture, and 
 controlling the operation of the particulate deflagration enhanced firebox based on the monitored parameters.