Back to results
US 2006/0068346 A1Published application
Heating method and apparatus
AssigneeFives North American Combustion, Inc.
InventorsJohn Nowakowski, J.J. Lukacs, Todd Miller, Thomas Robertson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Hot products of combustion are provided beside an outer surface of a load to be heated, and are given a non-uniform temperature profile in a control direction extending across the outer surface of the load. The non-uniform temperature profile of the hot products of combustion is varied within a range that is predetermined relative to the distance that the outer surface of the load extends in the control direction, whereby the load can be given a predetermined temperature profile in the control direction.
Claims88
A method comprising the steps of:
- injecting fuel and oxidant separately into a combustion zone such that mixing and auto-ignition of the fuel and oxidant within the combustion zone produce hot products of combustion beside an outer surface of a load to be heated;
- giving the hot products of combustion a non-uniform temperature profile in a control direction extending across the outer surface of the load;
- and
- varying the non-uniform temperature profile of the hot products of combustion throughout a range that is predetermined relative to the distance that the outer surface of the load extends in the control direction, whereby the load can be given a predetermined temperature profile in the control direction.
1 more element
A method comprising the steps of:
- injecting fuel and oxidant separately into a combustion zone in a kiln such that mixing and auto-ignition of the fuel and oxidant within the combustion zone produce hot products of combustion beside a vertical outer surface of a stationary ceramic load in the kiln;
- giving the hot products of combustion a non-uniform vertical temperature profile;
- and
- varying the non-uniform vertical temperature profile of the hot products of combustion throughout a range that is predetermined relative to the height of the vertical outer surface from top to bottom, whereby the stationary ceramic load can be given a predetermined vertical temperature profile.
1 more element
A method comprising the steps of:
- moving a ceramic load through a tunnel kiln along a path extending beneath a roof-mounted injector in the tunnel kiln;
- projecting a flame downward beneath the roof-mounted injector beside a vertical outer surface of the ceramic load;
- giving the flame a non-uniform vertical temperature profile;
- and
- maintaining a substantially constant heat input of the flame, and simultaneously varying the non-uniform vertical temperature profile of the flame throughout a range that is predetermined relative to the height of the vertical outer surface from top to bottom, whereby the ceramic load can be given a predetermined vertical temperature profile.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- retrofitting a furnace having a combustion zone by providing the furnace with an injector and injector control apparatus that are a) operative to inject fuel and oxidant separately into the combustion zone such that mixing and auto-ignition of the fuel and oxidant within the combustion zone produce hot products of combustion beside an outer surface of a load to be heated, b) operative to give the hot products of combustion a non-uniform temperature profile in a control direction extending across the outer surface of the load, and c) operative to vary the non-uniform temperature profile of the hot products of combustion throughout a range that is predetermined relative to the distance that the outer surface of the load extends in the control direction, whereby the load can be given a predetermined temperature profile in the control direction.
A method comprising:
- retrofitting a kiln by providing the kiln with an injector and injector control apparatus that are a) operative to inject fuel and oxidant separately into a combustion zone in the kiln such that mixing and auto-ignition of the fuel and oxidant within the combustion zone produce hot products of combustion beside a vertical outer surface of a stationary ceramic load in the kiln, b) operative to give the hot products of combustion a non-uniform vertical temperature profile, and c) operative to vary the non-uniform vertical temperature profile of the hot products of combustion throughout a range that is predetermined relative to the height of the vertical outer surface of the stationary ceramic load from top to bottom, whereby the stationary ceramic load can be given a predetermined vertical temperature profile.
A method comprising:
- retrofitting a tunnel kiln by providing the tunnel kiln with a roof-mounted injector and injector control apparatus that are a) operative to project a flame downward beside a vertical outer surface of a ceramic load in the tunnel kiln, b) operative to give the flame a non-uniform vertical temperature profile, and c) operative to maintain a substantially constant heat input of the flame, and simultaneously to vary the non-uniform vertical temperature profile of the flame throughout a range that is predetermined relative to the height of the vertical outer surface from top to bottom, whereby the ceramic load can be given a predetermined vertical temperature profile.
An apparatus comprising:
- a furnace having an injector and injector control apparatus that are a) operative to inject fuel and oxidant separately into a combustion zone in the furnace such that mixing and auto-ignition of the fuel and oxidant within the combustion zone produce hot products of combustion beside an outer surface of a load to be heated in the furnace, b) operative to give the hot products of combustion a non-uniform temperature profile in a control direction extending across the outer surface of the load, and c) operative to vary the non-uniform temperature profile of the hot products of combustion throughout a range that is predetermined relative to the distance that the outer surface of the load extends in the control direction, whereby the load can be given a predetermined temperature profile in the control direction.
An apparatus comprising:
- a kiln with an injector and injector control apparatus that are a) operative to inject fuel and oxidant separately into a combustion zone in the kiln such that mixing and auto-ignition of the fuel and oxidant within the combustion zone produce hot products of combustion beside a vertical outer surface of a stationary ceramic load in the kiln, b) operative to give the hot products of combustion a non-uniform vertical temperature profile, and c) operative to vary the non-uniform vertical temperature profile of the hot products of combustion throughout a range that is predetermined relative to the height of the vertical outer surface from top to bottom, whereby the stationary ceramic load can be given a predetermined vertical temperature profile.
An apparatus comprising:
- a tunnel kiln having a roof-mounted injector and injector control apparatus that are a) operative to project a flame downward beside a vertical outer surface of a ceramic load in the tunnel kiln, b) operative to give the flame a non-uniform vertical temperature profile, and c) operative to maintain a substantially constant heat input of the flame, and simultaneously to vary the non-uniform vertical temperature profile of the flame throughout a range that is predetermined relative to the height of the vertical outer surface from top to bottom, whereby a predetermined vertical temperature profile can be imparted to the ceramic load.
An apparatus comprising:
- an injector and injector control apparatus that are a) configured to inject fuel and oxidant separately into a combustion zone in a furnace such that mixing and auto-ignition of the fuel and oxidant within the combustion zone produce hot products of combustion beside an outer surface of a load to be heated in the furnace, b) configured to give the hot products of combustion a non-uniform temperature profile in a control direction extending across the outer surface of the load, and c) configured to vary the non-uniform temperature profile of the hot products of combustion throughout a range that is predetermined relative to the distance that the outer surface extends in the control direction, whereby the load can be given a predetermined temperature profile in the control direction.
An apparatus comprising:
- an injector and injector control apparatus that are a) configured to inject fuel and oxidant separately into a combustion zone in a kiln such that mixing and auto-ignition of the fuel and oxidant within the combustion zone produce hot products of combustion beside a vertical outer surface of a stationary ceramic load in the kiln, b) configured to give the hot products of combustion a non-uniform vertical temperature profile, and c) to vary the non-uniform vertical temperature profile of the hot products of combustion throughout a range that is predetermined relative to the height of the vertical outer surface from top to bottom, whereby the stationary ceramic load can be given a predetermined vertical temperature profile.
An apparatus comprising:
- an injector and injector control apparatus that are a) configured to project a flame downward beside a vertical outer surface of a ceramic load in a tunnel kiln, b) configured to give the flame a non-uniform vertical temperature profile, and c) configured to maintain a substantially constant heat input of the flame, and simultaneously to vary the non-uniform vertical temperature profile of the flame throughout a range that is predetermined relative to the height of the vertical outer surface from top to bottom, whereby a predetermined vertical temperature profile can be imparted to the ceramic load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.