Techniques for utilizing excess heat generated by an oven to generate electricity are provided. In one example, an oven can comprise a coolant pathway positioned adjacent to a hollow space within the oven, wherein the hollow space can contain heat. The oven can also comprise a chamber in fluid communication with the coolant pathway. The oven can further comprise a turbine in fluid communication with the chamber and an outlet. Moreover, the oven can comprise a generator connected to the turbine, wherein rotation of the turbine can power the generator.

In a thermochemical regenerator wherein gaseous combustion products that are formed by combustion in a furnace are passed from the furnace into and through a first regenerator, the combustion products are combined with gaseous fuel, and the resulting mixture is passed into and through a second regenerator wherein the mixture undergoes an endothermic reaction to form syngas, the thermochemical regeneration is enhanced by injecting fuel gas into a recycle stream comprising the combustion products from the first regenerator to entrain recycled flue gas that passes out of the first regenerator and to impel the mixture into the other regenerator.

Techniques for utilizing excess heat generated by an oven to generate electricity are provided. In one example, an oven can comprise a coolant pathway positioned adjacent to a hollow space within the oven, wherein the hollow space can contain heat. The oven can also comprise a chamber in fluid communication with the coolant pathway. The oven can further comprise a turbine in fluid communication with the chamber and an outlet. Moreover, the oven can comprise a generator connected to the turbine, wherein rotation of the turbine can power the generator.

The invention concerns a process for operating a fired furnace which is heated using a fuel gas stream and forming a combustion product stream, wherein heat of at least part of the combustion product stream is used in forming a steam stream. It is provided that at least a part of the steam stream is subjected to a high-temperature electrolysis to form a hydrogen-containing and an oxygen-containing material stream, and that at least a part of the hydrogen-containing material stream is used as the fuel gas stream. A corresponding arrangement is also the subject of the invention.

Employing furnace combustion gases for both thermochemical regeneration and heating of regenerators to preheat oxidant for the furnace provides synergistic efficiencies and other advantages.

A machine for cleaning regeneration chambers of furnaces, the regeneration chambers having stacks of hollow refractory elements delimiting vertical passages, which define chimneys includes a self-propelled support structure to be introduced into a compartment, below the regeneration chamber to be cleaned, which communicates with the regeneration chamber. The machine further includes at least one lance, applied to the self-propelled support structure and configured to send within the vertical passages a stream of cleaning material powder and compressed air generated by a compressor positioned outside of the regeneration chamber to be cleaned, and at least one suction mouth, applied to said support structure and configured to suck cleaning material dust and aspirable materials from the ground, which were removed during the cleaning operation. At least one video camera is mounted on the support structure and at least one monitor controls from outside, through the video camera, operation of the machine.

A pressurized cavity is provided around at least a portion or all of a regenerator, within which gas such as flue gas is maintained at a pressure in excess of the pressure within the regenerator, to protect against leakage of gas through the walls of the regenerator.

A machine for cleaning regeneration chambers of furnaces, the regeneration chambers having stacks of hollow refractory elements delimiting vertical passages, which define chimneys includes a self-propelled support structure to be introduced into a compartment, below the regeneration chamber to be cleaned, which communicates with the regeneration chamber. The machine further includes at least one lance, applied to the self-propelled support structure and configured to send within the vertical passages a stream of cleaning material powder and compressed air generated by a compressor positioned outside of the regeneration chamber to be cleaned, and at least one suction mouth, applied to said support structure and configured to suck cleaning material dust and aspirable materials from the ground, which were removed during the cleaning operation. At least one video camera is mounted on the support structure and at least one monitor controls from outside, through the video camera, operation of the machine.

A combustion method in which heated flue gas heats a regenerator through which a mixture of fuel and flue gas is then passed to undergo endothermic reactions that produce syngas which is fed into a furnace together with a motive gas stream, wherein fuel is combusted with the motive gas stream to provide heat in alternate cycles.

A pressurized cavity is provided around at least a portion or all of a regenerator, within which gas such as flue gas is maintained at a pressure in excess of the pressure within the regenerator, to protect against leakage of gas through the walls of the regenerator.