Michael A O'Hagan

US Patent:

46288333, Dec 16, 1986

Filed:

Mar 3, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/835822

Inventors:

Michael A. O'Hagan - Cupertino CA
Richard D. Smith - Palo Alto CA

Assignee:

The Garrett Corporation - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

F23D 100

US Classification:

110263

Abstract:

A fluidized bed process and apparatus for uniformly drying particulized wet wood material or waste, commonly called hog fuel, from in excess of 50% moisture content to a 30% level suitable for burning as boiler fuel without generating "blue haze" air pollution typical of conventional rotary dryers. The fluidized bed of this invention is divided into treatment zones by a baffle arrangement. The hog fuel flows substantially horizontally along a circuitous path through the treatment zones. Hot flue gases fluidize the bed of hog fuel and provide necessary drying heat. Fines portions from each zone are entrained by the drying gases and blown out of the vessel just as they achieve the desired level of dryness and before significant blue haze is generated. A cyclone recovers these fines as product. Gas pressure to each treatment zone is adjusted so that only the desired amount of hog fuel is blown from the bed with the balance proceeding to subsequent zones.

US Patent:

44210388, Dec 20, 1983

Filed:

Sep 20, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/419873

Inventors:

Gary O. Goldbach - San Jose CA
Michael A. O'Hagan - Cupertino CA

Assignee:

Combustion Power Company, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

F23G 700

US Classification:

110245

Abstract:

A foreign object removal system is disclosed including a removal chamber projecting laterally from the combustion chamber of a fluid bed reactor and connected via a downwardly directed pipe to a material flow control plenum chamber which includes means for fluidizing the mixture of inert fluid bed particles and foreign objects at the bottom of the pipe for lateral movement into an air classifier wherein the foreign objects are dropped to a collection tank and the fluid bed particles are carried upwardly by a stream of classifying air to a deentrainment chamber where their velocity is reduced and they are returned to the combustion chamber.

US Patent:

41966767, Apr 8, 1980

Filed:

Jul 21, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/926914

Inventors:

William R. Brown - Dublin CA
Gary O. Goldbach - San Jose CA
Dale R. Moody - Half Moon Bay CA
Michael A. O'Hagan - Cupertino CA
Fernando M. Placer - Palo Alto CA

Assignee:

Combustion Power Company, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

F23D 1900

US Classification:

110245

Abstract:

A fluid bed combustion method and apparatus are disclosed utilizing an induced draft fan downstream of the exhaust port of the combustion chamber. Fluidizing air is given a velocity vector toward one side of the chamber for moving foreign objects to that side where the objects are removed and separated by air classification from bed particles which are returned to the fluid bed. Air classification is accomplished using a blower which is valved off during preheat operation to draw hot air from above the fluid bed down through the particle bed.

US Patent:

46271732, Dec 9, 1986

Filed:

Apr 11, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/483973

Inventors:

Michael A. O'Hagan - Cupertino CA
Richard D. Smith - Palo Alto CA

Assignee:

The Garrett Corporation - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

F26B 308

US Classification:

34 10

Abstract:

A fluidized bed process and apparatus for uniformly drying particulized wet wood material or waste, commonly called hog fuel, from in excess of 50% moisture content to a 30% level suitable for burning as boiler fuel without generating "blue haze" air pollution typical of conventional rotary dryers. The fluidized bed of this invention is divided into treatment zones by a baffle arrangement. The hog fuel flows substantially horizontally along a circuitous path through the treatment zones. Hot flue gases fluidize the bed of hog fuel and provide necessary drying heat. Fines portions from each zone are entrained by the drying gases and blown out of the vessel just as they achieve the desired level of dryness and before significant blue haze is generated. A cyclone recovers these fines as product. Gas pressure to each treatment zone is adjusted so that only the desired amount of hog fuel is blown from the bed with the balance proceeding to subsequent zones.

US Patent:

49081241, Mar 13, 1990

Filed:

Mar 15, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/324990

Inventors:

Gary O. Goldbach - San Jose CA
Michael A. O'Hagan - Cupertino CA

Assignee:

Combustion Power Company - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

B07B 400

US Classification:

2091391

Abstract:

A foreign object removal system is disclosed including a removal chamber projecting laterally from the combustion chamber of a fluid bed reactor and connected via a downwardly directed pipe to a material flow control plenum chamber, which includes means for fluidizing the mixture of inert bed particles and foreign objects at the bottom of the pipe for lateral movement into an air classifier, wherein the foreign objects are dropped to a collection tank and the fluid bed particles are carried upwardly by a stream of classifying air to a deentrainment chamber where their velocity is reduced and they are returned to the combustion chamber.