US1861535A

US1861535A - Apparatus for distributing pulverized fuel to burners

Info

Publication number: US1861535A
Application number: US334468A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fred D Kirtland; Joseph J Broshek; Ralph C Brierly; Joseph S Evans
Original assignee: Peabody Engineering Corp
Current assignee: Peabody Engineering Corp
Priority date: 1929-01-23
Filing date: 1929-01-23
Publication date: 1932-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 1949-06-07

Description

June 1932. F. D. KIRTLAND ET AL 5 APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING PULVERIZED FUEL TO BURNERS Filed Jan 23, 1929 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 June '7, 1932.

F. D. KIRTLAND ET AL 1,361,535

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING PULVERIZED FUEL TO BURNERS Filed Jan. 23. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 h i :l 1 .9 6'-- I? 1 ll ii i: II EI M )A Ik 1 u [lg =1: n: 1O 1Z7 1 l ii WM Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE FRED D. KIRTLAND, OF GEBMANT'OWN, JOSEPH J. BROSHEK, OF PHILADELPHIA, AND RALPH C. BRIERLY, 0F NABB'ERTH, PENNSYLVANIA, AND JOSEPH S. EVANS, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO PEABOD'Y ENGINEERING CORPORATION,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING PULVERIZED FUEL TO BUBNERS Application filed January 23, 1929. Serial No. 334,468.

This invention is an improvement in apparatus for distributing pulverized fuel to burners.

Pulverized fuel, such as crushed coal, is carried to the burners by an air blast, and however uniformly distributed throughout the column of air, and however well balanced and homogeneous the mixture at the beginning, it does not remain so during its travel. Any alteration of direction in the travel of the column tends to cause the fuel particles to group themselves unequally in the stream.

In the utilization of such fuel, by means of carrier air, it is essential that the fuel be uniformly distributed throughout the column of air, so that the burner or burners may supply a substantially uniform and substantially constant heat.

When the delivery is to a plurality of burners, it is of the utmost importance that an equal supply be furnished to each burner, and it is essential that the column of carrier air leaving the grinder or pulverizer, and carrying the total supply of fuel, be divided into streams, each supplying a uniform mixture to the individual burner.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is the provision of apparatus for distributing pulverized fuel to burners providing for a uniform homogeneous and well balanced condition of the mixture of fuel and air at the point where the mixture is delivered, either to a burner, or to a plurality of individual burners.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part hereof Fig. 1 is a view of one embodiment of the invention showing the casing in longitudinal section and the distributor in elevation.

F ig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the distributer element.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the blades of the topmost assembly.

Figs. 4:, 5, 6 and 7 are views similar to Fig. 1, showing alternate forms of the apparatus.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, a section 1 of the supply conduit for the mixture is shown, and a mushroom shaped chamber 2 is connected with the outlet end of the conduit, by means of lapping flanges 1a on the conduit section, and 2a on the chamber. The conduit 1 has a. flange la at each end, the flanges being rings, in the present instance, threaded on the ends of the conduit section.

The chamber 2 flares outwardly from the end of the conduit section, and is provided with a plurality of ports, with each of which is connected a branch line 3. Each of these branch lines is designed to connect with separate furnaces, burners, or other apparatus, and it will be noticed that the branch connections 3 are arranged at acute angles to the axis of the conduit section, and as nearly in line with the flow through the conduit section as possible. That is, the arrangement is such that the change of direction of the air column flowing through the conduit is as slight as possible.

A shaft 5 is journaled at the axis of the casing, in bearings 6, one of which is at the outer end of the chamber 2, and the other in a spider 8 extending radially into the conduit at the inlet end of the section 1. A stufling box 7 is provided at each bearing, and any suitable operating means may be connected with the shaft to rotate the same. lhe stufling boxes prevent the entrance of the particles of fuel to the bearings, and prevent the escape of such particles from the chamber 2.

Three sets of blades are carried by the shaft 5, the said sets being indicated at 9, 10 and 11. In the present instance, the blades of the sets 10 and 11 are shown as plane, with the wide dimension parallel with the axis of the shaft, and the blades of the set 10 are 7 tangential to the shaft, while those of the set in Fig. 2. It will be apparent, however, that the blades 10 and 11 may have any other desired contour.

Whether the blades 10 and 11 have the contour shown, or another contour, it is preferable that the blades of the set 9 be curved as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. The blades 9 also are of greater width than the blades of either of the other sets, and the outer edge of each blade 9, that is, the edge adjacent to the branch lines 3 is beveled somewhat, so that with the curvature of the blade, the figure described by the upper edges of the blades corresponds substantially with the outer wall of the chamber 2.

A cone shaped element 14 is secured to the shaft between blades 9 and the outer end of the casing 2, the small end of the member being adjacent the said blades. This member is designed to prevent eddying at the point where there might be a region of zero pressure, due to the centrifuging action of the distributer, and to assist in perfecting the uniformity of dissemination at this point. The surface of the member may be smooth as shown, fluted, or spirally threaded, if de sired.

It will be noticed referring to Fig. 1, that the arrangement of the member 14, and the arrangemment of the blades 9, provide for an annular passage within the chamber 2 of a width substantially equal to the diameter of any branch 3, and with a capacity greaterthan the aggregate of the capacities of the said branches. This provides for an unimpeded flow from the conduit section to the branches, enabling some expansion of the mixture stream as it leaves the conduit section for distribution to the branches.

The embodiments of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5, are similar inall respects to that shown in Fig. l, with the exception of the cone shaped member, which in both embodiments is of hollow or chambered metal, being indicated at 15 in Fig. 4, and at 16 in Fig. 5. In Fig. 4, it is composed of two frustums of cones placed base to base. In Fig. 5, the member 16 has the contour of the frustum of a cone and the segment of a sphere seated base to base. I

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the cone shaped member is omitted. In Fig. 6, the element 17 corresponding to the chamber 2 of Fig. 1 is dome shaped and does not flare as in Fig. 1. The blades 19 of the outermost set, which correspond to the blades 9 of Fig. 1, are arranged partly within the dome, and the outer edges thereof are curved to correspond to the curvature of the dome. In Fig. 7, the element 18, corresponding to the element 2 of Fi 1, is a conical cap, and not flaring as is the element 2. The blades 20 of the uppermost set are arranged within the cap 18, and the outer edges of the blades are 11 in a clockwise direction, while the blades.

10 precede the blades 9. Thus the blades of each set supplement the operation of the blades of the other sets. Each set of blades displaces the air current angularly, imparting to the current a swirling or-spi-ral motion, and the blades 9 of the last set accelerate this swirling or spiral motion due to their curvature.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 14, the shaft and blades are rotated in a clockwise direction, but in the other embodiments the shaft may be rotated in either direction.

What is claimed as new is p 1. In combination with a conduit for air laden with pulverized fuel, a distributor including a shaft provided with a plurality of sets of blades, the sets being spaced apart from each other longitudinally of the shaft, whereby the blades of each set complement the blades of the other sets, the blades of the last set bent to impart an accelerated spiral motion to the air, means to rotate said shaft, a chamber connected with the outer end of the conduit, and a plurality of branch lines leading from said chamber.

2. In combination with a conduit for air laden with pulverized fuel and provided at the end with a plurality of outlets with axes inclined slightly outward from the axis of the conduit, a distributor including a shaft journaled to rotate at the axis of the conduit, and provided with a plurality of sets of blades, the sets being spaced apart from each other longitudinally of the shaft, and the blades of the last set bent to impart an ac celerated spiral motion to the air.

3. In combination with a conduit for air laden with pulverized fuel and provided with a flaring outlet having connections for a plurality of branch conduits, a distributor including a shaft journaled to rotate at the axis of the conduit and provided with a plurality of sets of blades, the sets being spaced apart from each other longitudinally of the shaft, and the last set being spaced from the end of the outlet by a substantially conical member on the shaft, the base of said member being at the end between the connections for the branches.

4. In combination with a conduit for air laden with pulverized fuel and provided at the end with a plurality of outlets with axes inclining slightly outward from the axis Bf the conduit, a distributer including a shaft journaled to rotate at the axis of the conduit, and provided with a plurality of sets of blades, the sets being spaced apart from each other longitudinally of the shaft, and the blades of the last set bent to impart an accelerated spiral motion to the air, the blades of the lastset being spaced apart from the end of the conduit by a frusto-conical element arranged on the shaft with its base at the end of the conduit and between the outlets.

5. Apparatus for distributing pulverized fuel to burners comprising a conduit having a dome at one end with a plurality of outlets with axes inclined to the axis of the conduit, a shaft journaled to rotate in the conduit at the axis thereof, a plurality of sets of blades carried by said shaft, the sets being spaced apart from each other longitudinally of the shaft, and the blades of the uppermost set extending partly into the conduit and into the dome and having their top edges conforming to the shape of the top of the dome.

Signed at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, this 22nd day of October, A. D. 1928.

FRED D. KIRTLAND. JOSEPH J. BROSHEK. 25 RALPH C. BRIERLY.

Signed at San Pedro, California, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, this 10th day of January, A. D. 1929.

JOSEPH S. EVANS.