# US 2016/0258685 A1 · A dispersion apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0258685 A1 - Document ID: US20160258685A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/029,056 - Filed: 2014-10-17 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-10-17 - Assignees: Hatch Pty Ltd - Applicants: Hatch Pty Ltd. - Inventors: Adam Taylor WESLEY; Matthew George WHITE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160258685A1 ## CPC - F27D 3/10: Charging directly from hoppers or shoots - B05B 1/341: {before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet} - B05B 7/1486: {for spraying particulate material in dry state} - F23D 1/00: Burners for combustion of pulverulent fuel - F27D 3/18: Charging particulate material using a fluid carrier - F27D 99/0033: {using burners} - B05B 1/3402: {to avoid or reduce turbulence, e.g. with fluid flow straightening means} - B05B 1/3415: {with swirl imparting inserts upstream of the swirl chamber} - C22B 5/14: fluidised material - F27D: DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - F23D: BURNERS - C22B: PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS (electrolytic C25); PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS ## Abstract There is provided a dispersion apparatus for use with a solid fuel burner. The dispersion apparatus comprises a passage through which particulate material may flow toward an outlet region for dispersal therefrom, the flow being at least in part rotational about the longitudinal axis of the passage. The dispersion apparatus also comprises a downstream guide means arranged within the passage at or near the outlet region, the downstream guide means configured to at least reduce the rotational motion so that the flow progresses toward the outlet region in a substantially uniform manner in a direction aligned with a longitudinal axis of the passage. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -11. (canceled) ### Claim 12 A dispersion apparatus for use in conditioning the flow of a particulate material flowing therethrough, the apparatus comprising: a passage through which particulate material may flow toward an outlet region for dispersal therefrom, the flow being at least in part, rotational about a longitudinal axis of the passage, and a downstream guide means arranged within the passage at or near the outlet region, the downstream guide means configured to at least reduce the rotational motion so that the flow progresses toward the outlet region in a substantially uniform manner in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the passage. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A dispersion apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising an upstream guide means provided upstream of the downstream guide means and configured for introducing into the flow a component of angular or rotational motion for moving the particulate material about the longitudinal axis of the passage. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A dispersion apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the upstream guide means comprises an inlet configured so as to introduce the particulate material into the passage in a direction tangential thereto. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A dispersion apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the upstream guide means comprises a spiral arranged within the passage and configured so as to extend along at least a portion of the passage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A dispersion apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the spiral comprises a sidewall portion provided at or near a peripheral edge region of the spiral and arranged for preventing the particulate material travelling beyond the periphery of the passage at or near the peripheral edge region, the sidewall portion arranged so as to extend along at least a portion of the peripheral edge region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) A dispersion apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the downstream guide means comprises one or more protrusions arranged about the longitudinal axis of the passage, the or each protrusion configured so as to engage with the passing flow of particulate material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) A dispersion apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the downstream guide means comprises one or more annular rings arranged concentric with the passage and configured so as to engage with the passing flow of particulate material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) A dispersion apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the downstream guide means comprises a plurality of elongate elements spaced about the passage at or near its periphery and configured so as to engage with the passing flow of particulate material, each elongate element having an elongate direction which is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the passage. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) A dispersion apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a shroud member which is configured to define at least a portion of the passage. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A dispersion apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the shroud member surrounds a portion of the downstream or upstream guide means. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) A dispersion apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the passage is defined, at least in part, by an interior surface of an annular channel in which the dispersion apparatus is installed. ### Claim at position 13 -35. (canceled) ### Claim 36 A method for modifying the path of travel of particulate material flowing through a passage of a dispersion apparatus or dispersion lance from which the particulate material is to be dispersed from, the method comprising: modifying the path of flow of the particulate material at or near an outlet region of the dispersion apparatus or dispersion lance to at least reduce any rotational motion of the flow about a longitudinal axis of the passage so that the flow progresses toward the outlet region in a substantially uniform manner in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the passage. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) A method according to claim 36, further comprising: introducing into the flow of particulate material at a region of the passage upstream and distal of the outlet region, a component of angular or rotational motion for moving the particulate material about the longitudinal axis of the passage. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) A method according to claim 37, wherein introducing the component of angular or rotational motion into the flow comprises introducing the particulate material into the passage in a direction tangential thereto. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) A method according to claim 37, wherein introducing the component of angular or rotational motion into the flow comprises providing a spiral within the passage and which is configured so as to extend along at least a portion of the passage. ### Claim 40 (depends on 36) A method according to claim 36, wherein modifying the path of flow of the particulate material at or near the outlet region comprises providing one or more protrusions arranged about the longitudinal axis of the passage, the or each protrusion configured so as to engage with the passing flow of particulate material. ### Claim 41 (depends on 36) A method according to claim 36, wherein modifying the path of flow of the particulate material at or near the outlet region comprises providing a plurality of elongate elements spaced about the passage at or near its periphery and configured so as to engage with the passing flow of particulate material, each elongate element having an elongate direction which is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the passage. ### Claim 42 (canceled)