combustion apparatus

Abstract

Provided is a combustion apparatus ( 10 ) for combusting one or more combustible media such as mine methane and waste coal. The apparatus has a combustion unit ( 24 ) with a fuel inlet ( 26,27 ) through which the combustible media enters the combustion unit for combustion therein, and a gas outlet ( 28 ) for gases formed during combustion to flow out of the combustion unit to provide heat energy to a downstream apparatus such as a turbine engine( 14 ). The combustion unit is arranged to provide a volatile release reaction, a char combustion reaction and a gas phase reaction

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A combustion apparatus for one or more combustible media, comprising a combustion unit having a fuel inlet adapted to receive said one or more combustible media for combustion therein, a gas outlet adapted for combustion gas or gases formed during combustion to flow out of said combustion unit to provide heat energy to a downstream apparatus, and a preheating arrangement adapted to preheat the combustible media and arranged to receive the combustion gas or gases before or subsequent to said gas or gases reaching said down stream apparatus; the combustion unit being arranged to provide a volatile release reaction, a char combustion reaction and a gas phase reaction. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein said one or more combustible media include gaseous fuel media and solid waste fuel media, and the apparatus further comprising a mixing unit arranged upstream of said combustion unit, the mixing unit being adapted to mix the gaseous fuel media and the solid waste fuel media to be conveyed to said combustion unit. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according  claim 15  wherein said downstream apparatus is a thermodynamic apparatus comprising a compressor, an expander and heat exchange means connecting the compressor and the expander in an open or closed cycle, and a compressible working medium arranged to flow in the open or closed cycle. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according  claim 16  wherein said downstream apparatus is a thermodynamic apparatus comprising a compressor, an expander and heat exchange means connecting the compressor and the expander in an open or closed cycle, and a compressible working medium arranged to flow in the open or closed cycle. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 17  wherein said combustion gas or gases are arranged to heat said working medium at the heat exchange means. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 17  wherein the expander is arranged to release exhaust gas and the exhaust gas is conveyed to the combustion unit or the mixing unit for heating media therein. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the expander is arranged to release exhaust gas and the exhaust gas is conveyed to the combustion unit or the mixing unit for heating media therein. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 17  wherein the heat exchange means includes a first heat exchanger arranged for receiving said combustion gas from said combustion unit. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the fuel inlet is configured to receive gaseous and solid combustible media. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein said one or more combustible media include a relatively low grade fuel in the form of relatively low grade coal, and/or biomass and/or municipal waste. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein said combustion unit is a kiln or a rotary kiln. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 25  wherein said solid fuel medial is a relatively low grade coal and the kiln or rotary kiln is adapted to convert said coal into flue gas and ash for forming a by-product. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 25  wherein said gaseous fuel media are methane gas. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 26  wherein said gaseous fuel media are methane gas. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 27  wherein the methane gas is mine methane and the low grade coal is waste coal could be combusted with mine methane. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 25  wherein the rotary kiln is configured with an “open structure” for mass burning applications involving bulky and “gooey” fuels and wastes.