Pulse combusted acoustic agglomeration apparatus and process

Improved process for removal of particulates from a gaseous stream comprising the steps of:

• pulse combusting a fuel to produce a hot combustion product stream and an acoustic pressure wave at a frequency in a range of from about 20 to about 1500 Hz;
• merging said product stream and pressure wave with an independent gas stream having particulates entrained therein so that acoustically enhanced particulate agglomeration occurs removing said particulate agglomerates from said merged streams;
• and
• thereafter providing said merged gas streams for operation of downstream equipment.

Improved apparatus for removal of particulates entrained in a gas stream comprising:

• a) means for receiving a gas stream having particulates therein and for allowing passage of said gas stream therethrough;
• b) pulse combustor means comprising a combustion chamber, fuel valve means in communication with said combustion chamber, and a resonance tube in communication with said combustion chamber and having an exit within said gas stream receiving means and wherein said pulse combustor means is in communication with said gas stream receiving means for producing a pulsating stream of hot combustion products and an acoustic wave that acts on said gas stream so that acoustically-enhanced agglomeration of particulate materials entrained in said gas stream occurs, thus permitting enhanced removal of said agglomerated particulate materials;
• c) means for injecting sulfur capturing sorbents into said stream of hot combustion products;
• and
• d) means for introducing humidity to said apparatus to act on said hot combustion products to enhance sulfur capture and removal of said particulates.

Improved process for removal of particulates from a gaseous stream comprising the steps of:

• a) pulse combusting a fuel to produce a hot combustion product stream and an acoustic pressure wave;
• b) allowing said hot combustion product stream to act on said particulate gaseous stream;
• and
• c) introducing moisture into said hot combustion product stream to enhance said removal of particulates.