A constant density heat exchanger and system for energy conversion is provided. The constant density heat exchanger includes a housing extending between a first end and a second end and defining a chamber having an inlet and an outlet. A first flow control device is positioned at the inlet of the chamber and movable between an open position in which a working fluid is permitted into the chamber and a closed position in which the working fluid is prevented from entering the chamber. A second flow control device is positioned at the outlet of the chamber and movable between an open position in which the working fluid is permitted to exit the chamber and a closed position in which the working fluid is prevented from exiting the chamber. A heat exchange fluid imparts thermal energy to the volume of working fluid as the first flow control device and the second flow control device hold the volume of working fluid at constant density within the chamber.

A recirculating micro-combustor device and a method of formation includes an array of reactors contacting each other. Each reactor includes a front wall; an end wall oppositely positioned to the front wall; a pair of edge walls connecting the front wall to the end wall; an inlet port positioned in the front wall; a pair of outlet ports positioned in the front wall; and a combustion chamber connected to the inlet port and positioned between the front wall and the end wall. The combustion chamber includes a pair of inner walls defining a first area to accommodate a chemical combustion therein, and a pair of second areas to accommodate an exhaust of a reaction of the chemical combustion. The pair of second areas connect to the pair of outlet ports. Adjacent edge walls of adjacent reactors directly contact each other to form the array of reactors.

A burner and methods of using the burner. The burner produces a flame from combustion air and fuel gas. Flue gas, also produced, can be withdrawn and recycled to the burner. A cooling or condition gas, such as ambient air, may be mixed with the flue gas to reduce its temperature. The burner may also utilize a stage injection so that a portion of the produced flue gas is recycled internally.

This disclosure relates generally to a method and system for real time monitoring and forecasting of fouling of an air preheater (APH) in a thermal power plant. The system is deploying a digital replica or digital twin that works in tandem with the real APH of the thermal power plant. The system receives real-time data from one or more sources and provides real-time soft sensing of intrinsic parameters as well as that of health, fouling related parameters of APH. The system is also configured to diagnose the current class of fouling regime and the reasons behind a specific class of fouling regime of the APH. The system is also configured to be used as advisory system that alerts and recommends corrective actions in terms of either APH parameters or parameters controlled through other equipment such as selective catalytic reduction or boiler or changes in operation or design.

A radiant tube burner, wherein an opening cross section of the tube is virtually divided into four areas with two straight lines as boundaries, the two straight lines being obtained by tilting a minor axis of the oval, which is a shape of the opening cross section, by ±45° with a center of the oval as a center, and a flow rate of primary combustion air injected from primary combustion air nozzles located in the areas containing the minor axis of the oval of the virtually divided four areas is lower than a flow rate of the primary combustion air injected from the primary combustion air nozzles located in the areas not containing the minor axis of the oval the four areas.

Systems and processes provide for a thermal process to transform sludge (and a variety of other natural waste materials) into electricity. Dewatered sludge and other materials containing a high amount of latent energy are dried into a powdered biofuel using a drying gas produced in the system. The drying gas is recirculated and is heated by the biofuel produced in the system, waste heat (from turbines or internal combustion engines), gas (including natural gas or digester gas) and/or oil. The biofuel is combusted in a boiler system that utilizes a burner operable to burn biofuel and produce heat utilized in a series of heat exchangers that heat the recirculating drying air and steam that powers the turbines for electricity production.

Systems and processes provide for a thermal process to transform sludge (and a variety of other natural waste materials) into electricity. Dewatered sludge and other materials containing a high amount of latent energy are dried into a powdered biofuel using a drying gas produced in the system. The drying gas is recirculated and is heated by the biofuel produced in the system, waste heat (from turbines or internal combustion engines), gas (including natural gas or digester gas) and/or oil. The biofuel is combusted in a boiler system that utilizes a burner operable to burn biofuel and produce heat utilized in a series of heat exchangers that heat the recirculating drying air and steam that powers the turbines for electricity production.

A constant density heat exchanger is provided. The constant density heat exchanger includes a housing extending between a first end and a second end and defining a chamber having an inlet and an outlet. A first flow control device is positioned at the inlet of the chamber and movable between an open position in which a working fluid is permitted into the chamber and a closed position in which the working fluid is prevented from entering the chamber. A second flow control device is positioned at the outlet of the chamber and movable between an open position in which the working fluid is permitted to exit the chamber and a closed position in which the working fluid is prevented from exiting the chamber. A heat exchange fluid imparts thermal energy to the volume of working fluid held at constant density within the chamber by the first and second control devices.

A heat exchange apparatus for removing magnetic particulates from a gas stream, including a rotating element basket having a regenerative heat exchanger and at least one magnetic element. A method of removing magnetic particulates from a gas stream, including heating the regenerative heat exchanger during a first portion of a cycle as a segment of the rotating element basket passes through a first zone wherein contact is made with a flue gas thereby accumulating any magnetic particulates as they are attached to the magnetic element. Then cleaning a portion of the magnetic element during a second portion of the cycle. And cooling the regenerative heat exchanger and simultaneously heating an inlet air stream during a third portion of the cycle as the segment of the rotating element basket passes through a third zone wherein fluidic contact is made with the air inlet stream.

A heat exchange apparatus for removing magnetic particulates from a gas stream, including a rotating element basket having a regenerative heat exchanger and at least one magnetic element. A method of removing magnetic particulates from a gas stream, including heating the regenerative heat exchanger during a first portion of a cycle as a segment of the rotating element basket passes through a first zone wherein contact is made with a flue gas thereby accumulating any magnetic particulates as they are attached to the magnetic element. Then cleaning a portion of the magnetic element during a second portion of the cycle. And cooling the regenerative heat exchanger and simultaneously heating an inlet air stream during a third portion of the cycle as the segment of the rotating element basket passes through a third zone wherein fluidic contact is made with the air inlet stream.