CA2240725A1 - Pneumatic bark distributor for continuous ash discharge stokers - Google Patents

Pneumatic bark distributor for continuous ash discharge stokers Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2240725A1
CA2240725A1 CA 2240725 CA2240725A CA2240725A1 CA 2240725 A1 CA2240725 A1 CA 2240725A1 CA 2240725 CA2240725 CA 2240725 CA 2240725 A CA2240725 A CA 2240725A CA 2240725 A1 CA2240725 A1 CA 2240725A1
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
housing
fuel
particulate fuel
nozzle
outlet plate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2240725
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Dennis Norman Barlow
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Alstom Power Inc
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US08/578,006 external-priority patent/US5794548A/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2240725A1 publication Critical patent/CA2240725A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

A furnace (10) having a continuous ash discharge stoker (12) which includes a fuel distributor apparatus (70) for delivering particulate fuel to the furnace (10) which includes a housing (72) having an inlet (42) for a particulate fuel and an inlet (76) for pressurized air. The housing includes a surface (86) for directing the flow of the particulate fuel and an outlet cooperating with the surface through which the associated particulate fuel and air exit the housing. The apparatus includes a nozzle (80) dimensioned and configured to direct pressurized air along a face of the surface to establish a boundary layer between the surface and the particulate fuel flowing over the surface. The nozzle comprises first (74) and second (82) flat plates disposed in mutually parallel spaced relationship, and aligned to at least a portion of the surface. Apparatus (70) includes an elongated outlet plate and the surface is on the elongated outlet plate. The outlet plate may pivot on an axis (88) proximate to the outlet of the nozzle, and may have an axially tapered ramp (90) at the end of the outlet plate remote from the nozzle. The inlet for pressurized air may include a plenum chamber (78).

Description

CA 02240725 l998-06-l6 PNEUMATiC BARK DISTRIBUTOR FOR
CONTINUOUS ASH DISCHARGE STOKERS
TECHNICAL FIELD
~he invention has particular application to stokers for steam generating apparatus and particularly to the fuel distribution apparatus for the stoker.
Modem stokers are mecha..~ devices which feed and burn solid fuels in a bed at the bottom of a furnace. In all cases, the fuel is burned on some form of grate, through which some or all of the air for combustion passes. The grate 10 surface in the stationary or moving. Stokers are classified according to the way fuel is fed to the ~rate. The three general dasses in use today are underfeed stokers, overfeed stokers, and spreader stokers.

The present invention has primary application to spreader stokers and 1~ particularly to the most popular type of spreader stokers. This type is a contiguous ash dlscharge (CAD) grate. The spreader stoker combines the principles of suspension burning and thin-bed combustion. Feederldistributor devices continuousiy pro~ect fuel into the furnace above an ignited fuel bed on the grate. Fines are bumed in suspension well larger particles fall and burn on 20 the grate.

The spreader stoker method of fuel firing provides quicl< response to changes in boiJer demand, and generally never has more than a few minutes of fuel inventory on the grate. The most popular type of spreader stoker is that 25 incorporating the continuous ash discharge grate. This grate is somewhat like a continuous chain of surfaces moves toward the fuel feeders, which are throwing new fuel towards the back of the unit. All the fuel is burned before reaching the front end, from which ash is continuously dumped. The return side CA 0224072~ 1998-06-16 WO 97/237~;3 PCT/US96/18358 of the grate carries siftings, which fall through the top side, to the rear and discharges them into a hopper. The grate speed is regulated to maintain and ash bed of 2 inches to 4 inches at the discharge. Typical operating speed ranges are from 2 to 20 feetlhour.
s The grate surface rnay be visualized as a continuous "chain" of interconnected laterally elongated bar and key assembiies. The contlnuous "chain" has the overall look of a wide continuous belt carried on two spaced rollers although the actual construction is cioser to that of the tread on a military tank. Additional 10 description of conventional stoker construction is provided in the handbook entitled ~:;ombustion Fossil Power, edited by Joseph G. Singer, P. E. and published by ABB Combustion Engineering, Inc. of Windsor, (~T.

Continuous ash discharge stokers are used for a wide variety of applications.
1~ They inherently are capable of firing even caking-type coals without concern about matting or clinkering. Practically all types of coal (except anthracite3 and a wide variety of cellulose fuels, including wood wastes, bagasse, furfural spaced residue sludge, rice hulls, and quality grounds have been successfully burned on spreader stokers. The wood wastes may include the bark of trees.
20 One application is in paper mills where the bark is a by-product of the papermaking process. In such applications the bark is burned to produce steam. The present invention has particular application to tree bark although it may also be used with other cellulose and even other fuels.

25 Various pneumatic feeder/distributors for continuous ash discharge stokers are Icnown. They have not been wholly satisfactory because, in some cases the distribution of fuel on the grate of the stoker has not been uniform. More specifically, the fuel distribution may result in piling where the fuel deposited in a number of piles or laning where the fuel is deposited in pronounced lanes.
30 The laning is the result of uneven fuel distribution from side to side of the fuel distributor. The piling is the result of uneven distribution of the fuel between the front and rear of the grate. The uneven distribùtion results in unsatisfactory bed depth control, maldistribution of air under and through the grate, and uneven combustion of the fuel. Air supplied to the bottom of the grate surface will follow 35 the path of least resistance. Thus, the air will flow to the section of the grate CA 0224072~ 1998-06-16 where there is iittle or no fuel coverage. High rates of burning will result in areas of reduced bed depth which will expose those areas of the grate surface resulting in overheating of the grate sur~ace.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus which provide a more even distribution of the fuel on the grate of a stoker.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus that wili work well with10 cellulose fuels including tree bark.

It is an obJect of the invention to provide apparatus that will insure better bed depth control and more uniform burning of the fuel.

15 Yet another object of the present invention is to proved apparatus that will conveniently function as part of new devices as well as to facilitate retrofit instailation on existing equipment.

It has now been found that these and other objects of the invention may be~0 attained in a furnace, a continuous ash discharge stoker or a fuel distributor Lus for delivering associated particulate fuel to an associated continuous ash discharge furnace which includes a housing having an inlet for a particulatefuel and an inlet for pressurized air. The housing includes a surface for directing the flow of the associated particulate fuel and an outlet cooperating with the 2s surface through which the associated particulate fuel and air exit the housing.
The apparatus includes a nozle dimensioned and configured to direct pressurized air along a face of the surface to establish a boundary layer between the surface and the associated particulate fuel flowing over the surface.

30 In some forms of the invention the nozle comprises first and second flat plates disposed in mutually parallel spaced relationship. The first and second flat plates may each be disposed in generally aligned relationship to at least a portion of the surface. In some forms of the invention the apparatus includes anelongated outlet piate and the surface is on the elongated outlet plate.

CA 0224072~ 1998-06-16 The outlet plate may be pivotally on an axis that may be proximate to the outletof the nozle and may be disposed in spaced parallel relationship to the first and second plates. The outlet plate may have an axially tapered ramp at the end of the outiet plate remote from the nozle and the axially tapered ramp may have at least portions thereof that are laterally tapered.

Some forms of the invention have an inlet for pressurized air that includes a plenum chamber through which incoming air flows before passing through the nozle.
BRIEF DESC~IPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

15 Figure 1 is a sectional view taken along a vertical plane of a furnace inco"3oralil ,g a continuous ash discharge stoker in accordance with the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of a prior art fuel distributor used in the prior art 20 continuous ash discharge stokers.

Figure 3 is an elevational view illustrating the structure of a fuel distributor in accordance with one form of the present invention 25 Figure 4 is a side view of the fuel distributor illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 -- 5 of Figure 1 illustratin~
schematically the distribution of fuel on the grate of the prior art continuous ash discharge stoker.
Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 -- 5 of Figure 1 illustrating schematically the distribution of fuel on the grate of the continuous ash discharge stoker in accordance with the present invention.

WO 97/237~;3 PCT/US96/18358 _~_ DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a steam generating furnace end incorporating a spreader stoker with a continuous ash discharge rate 12. The grate 12 is disposed at the bottom of the furnace 10. A fuel distributor 14 directs 5 the fuel onto the upper surface of the grate 12. In a typical apparatus the fuel is distributed pneumatically onto the grate 12 near the right side (as viewed) of the upper surface of the grate 12. The grate moves counter-clockwise about the surface 16, 18. The grate 12 is supported by return rails 20. The apparatus also includes a siftings hopper 22 and a take-up 24. The sprocket 16 is 0 mounted on a drive shaft and the sprocket 18 is mounted on an idler shaft It will be understood that the Figure 1 is a very simplified schematic.

The grate 12 is a continuous "chain" of interconnected laterally elongated bar and key assemblies 30. Only one end of these assemblies 30 is visible in the 15 view of Figure 1. It will be understood that the grate 12 includes dozens of these assemblies 30.

Referring now to Figure 2 there is shown a prior art pneumatic distributor 40.
An inclined inlet rectangular cross section duct or chute 42 receives fuel which20 moves along the duct 42 under the influence of gravity. An observation window44 is provided in the duct 42 to allow visual inspection of the fuel flow. The duct 42 has fluid communication with the top of a housing 46. The housing 46 has an outlet 48 that is generally aligned with the inlet duct 42. Air at a pressure of appro,cimdlely 30 inches of water is directed through a pivoting nozzle SO so that 25 the air stream disperses the fuel passing through the housing 46. The pivoting of the nozle 50 is manipulated by a handle 52 which is locked in place by a slide 54 and thumb screw 56. A pivoting plate 58 that is manipulated by a handle 60 and locked in place by a thumb screw 62 cooperating with a slot 64 in a flange 66 carried on the housing 46. A mounting flange 47 is provided for 30 attachment to the furnace 10.
.

There have been operational problems, in some cases, because the fuel, which is often mixed with sand, tends to erode the plate 58. The erosion of the plate 58 leads to unsatisfactory fuel distribution on the grate 12. More particularly, the 35 fuel may be deposited in pronounced lanes that extend in generally parallel CA 0224072~ 1998-06-16 relation to the arrows used to identify the line 5 -- 5. At least sometimes the fuel may be deposited on the grate 12 in piles occurring on successive axial portionsof the grate 12. It will be understood that the distributor 14 throws the fuel from the left side (as viewed) of the furnace 10 to almost the right side (as viewed) of s the furnace ~0. Accoldingly, the fuel will burn completely as it moves along the top of the grate 12 from the right side ~as viewed) to the left side (as viewed~.

The distribution of the fuel in piles or lanes results in a non-uniform fuel distribution which leads to non-uniform distribution of air being fed to the bottom 0 of the upper surface of the grate flow. The under grate air will follow the path of least resistance and thus will flow to the section of the grate 12 where there is little or no fuel coverage. High rates of burning will then reduce the bed duct and expose the grate 12 surface which will lead to overheating of that section of grate 12 surface.
Referring now to Figure 3 Figure is shown a distributor 70 in accordance with a f~rl ed form of the invention. It will be understood that the invention has beenintentionaily designed to permit interchangeably with the distributor 40. This design criteria is desirable for retrofit applications. The distributor 70 includes 20 a mounting flange 47 for attachment of the housing 46 to the wall of a furnace 10. The distributor 70 includes a rectangular cross section inlet duct 42 havingan observation window 44 as an the prior art structure illustrated in Figure 2.
The duct 42 has the lower (as viewed) axial extremity thereof fixed to a housing48 that is generally similar to the housing 46..
:)isposPd within the housing 72 is a flat plate 74 that is disposed in generallycoplanar end abutting relationship to the bottom side of the duct 42. As best seen in Figure 4 the plate 74 extends substantially the entire width of the housing 72.
An air inlet 76 is fixed to the housing 72. An associated air supply cooperates with the inlet 76 to direct air into a plenum chamber 78. The only outlet from the plenum chamber 78 is an opening 80 intermediate the plate 74 and a second plate 82. As will be apparent from Figures 3 and 4 the opening 80 is a slot that35 extends the entire width of the housing 72 as do the plates 80 and 82. Spacers WO 97/237~3 PCT/US96/18358 84 are disposed at intervals between the plates 74, 82 to maintain the desired spacing necessary for fluid control.

A discharge plate 86 is carried on a hinge 88 fixed to the plate 82. The end of s the discharge plate 86 fixed to the hinge 88 will be seen to be generally aligned with the plates 82 and 74. The discharge plate 86 has a ramp 90 disposed on the upper side thereof at the free end. The "free end" is the end of the ramp 90remote from the end thereof that is fixed to the hinge 88. The ramp 90 is characterized by a central portion 92 that tapers along the axial extent of the 10 discharge plate 86. The central portion 92 has a maximum elevation at the free end of the discharge plate 86. The ramp 90 has the end thereof nearest the free end of the discharge plate 86 laterally tapered. As best seen in Figure 4, the sides 94, 94 of l:he ramp 90 are tapered from the raised central portion 92 to the surFace of the discharge plate 86 at the edges of the discharye plate 86. This 15 tapering is referred to herein as lateral tapering.

~angs or plates 96 extend downwardly from the bottom of the discharge plate 86. A pivoted arm 98 cooperates with a pin honored carried by the plate 96 to permit manual manipulation of the location of the discharge plate 86.
In operation fuel is flowing into the duct 42 and air is flowing into the inlet 76.
The pass~ge of air out of the plenum chamber 78 through the slot 80 creates a boundary layer along the extent of the discharge plate 86 including the ramp 90.The boundary layer is of great significance because it disperses the fuel to as 25 it passes over the ramp 90 disposed at the tip of the discharge plate 86. In addition, the boundary layer is also of great significance because it maintains more separation between the fuel and the discharge plate 86. Thus, erosion caused by the flow of fuel is greatly reduced.

30 It has been found that the described shaped of the ramp 90 with the boundary layer produced by the air flowing through the slot 80 and along the surface of the discharge plate 86 produces a much more uniform fuel distribution on the grate 12. This has been illustrated schematically in Figure 5A and Figure 5B where the former shows the presence of pronounced lanes in which the fuel is 35 deposited on the grate 12. Figure 5B illustrates the more uniform distribution possible with the apparatus in accordance with the present invention. The Figures 5A and 5B make clear that the appar~tus will typically include a plurality of laterally adjacent distributors 40 or 70.

5 The invention has been described with reference to its illustrated preferred embodiment. Persons skilled in the art of such devices rnay upon disclosure to the teachings herein, conceive other variations. Such variations are deemed to be encompassed by the disclosure, the invention being delimited only by the following claims.

Claims (19)

Having thus described my invention, I claim:
1. A fuel distributor apparatus for delivering associated particulate fuel to anassociated continuous ash discharge furnace which comprises:

a housing, said housing having an inlet for a particulate fuel and an inlet for pressurized air, said housing including a surface for directing the flow of the associated particulate fuel and an outlet cooperating with said surface through which the associated particulate fuel and air exit said housing; and a nozzle dimensioned and configured to direct pressurized air along a face of said surface to establish a boundary layer between said surface and the associated particulate fuel flowing over said surface.
2. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein:

said nozzle comprises first and second flat plates disposed in substantially mutually parallel spaced relationship.
3. The apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein:

said first and second flat plates are each disposed in substantially aligned relationship to at least a portion of said surface.
4. The apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein:

said apparatus includes an elongated outlet plate and said surface is on said elongated outlet plate.
5. The apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein:

said outlet plate is pivotally mounted.
6. The apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein:

said outlet plate is pivotally mounted on an axis that is proximate to the outlet of said nozzle.
7. The apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein:

said axis is disposed in spaced parallel relationship to said first and second plates.
8. The apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein:

said outlet plate has an axially tapered ramp at the end of said outlet plate remote from said nozzle.
9. The apparatus as described in claim 8 wherein:

said axially tapered ramp has at least portions thereof that are laterally tapered.
10. The apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein:

said inlet for pressurized air includes a plenum chamber through which incoming air flows before passing through said nozzle.
11. A fuel distributor apparatus for delivering associated particulate fuel to an associated continuous ash discharge furnace which comprises:

a housing, said housing having an inlet for a particulate fuel and an inlet for pressurized air, said housing including a surface for directing the flow of the associated particulate fuel and an outlet cooperating with said surface through which the associated particulate fuel and air exit said housing; and a nozzle dimensioned and configured to direct pressurized air along a face of said surface to establish a boundary layer between said surface and the associated particulate fuel flowing over said surface, said apparatus including an elongated outlet plate and said surface is on said elongated outlet plate.
12. The apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein:
said outlet plate is pivotally mounted.
13. The apparatus as described in claim 12 wherein:

said outlet plate is pivotally mounted on an axis that is proximate to the outlet of said nozzle.
14: The apparatus as described in claim 13 wherein:

said axis is disposed in spaced parallel relationship to said first and second plates.
15. The apparatus as described in claim 14 wherein:

said outlet plate has an axially tapered ramp at the end of said outlet plate remote from said nozzle.
16. The apparatus as described in claim 15 wherein:

said axially tapered ramp has at least portions thereof that are laterally tapered.
17. A steam generating apparatus which comprises:

a furnace;

a continuous ash discharge stoker; and a fuel distributor apparatus for delivering associated particulate fuel to said continuous ash discharge stoker which includes a housing, said housing having an inlet for a particulate fuel and an inlet for pressurized air, said housing including a surface for directing the flow of the associated particulate fuel and an outlet cooperating with said surface through which the associated particulatefuel and air exit said housing; and a nozzle dimensioned and configured to direct pressurized air along a face of said surface to establish a boundary layer between said surface and the associated particulate fuel flowing over said surface.
18. The apparatus as described in claim 17 wherein:

said nozzle comprises first and second flat plates disposed in mutually parallelspaced relationship.
19. The apparatus as described in claim 18 wherein:

said first and second flat plates are each disposed in substantially aligned relationship to at least a portion of said surface.
CA 2240725 1995-12-22 1996-11-13 Pneumatic bark distributor for continuous ash discharge stokers Abandoned CA2240725A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/578,006 1995-12-22
US08/578,006 US5794548A (en) 1995-12-22 1995-12-22 Pneumatic bark distributor for continuous ash discharge stokers
PCT/US1996/018358 WO1997023753A1 (en) 1995-12-22 1996-11-13 Pneumatic bark distributor for continuous ash discharge stokers

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2240725A1 true CA2240725A1 (en) 1997-07-03

Family

ID=29406084

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2240725 Abandoned CA2240725A1 (en) 1995-12-22 1996-11-13 Pneumatic bark distributor for continuous ash discharge stokers

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2240725A1 (en)

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