Means Directing Main Flame Or Combustion Products For Afterburning Patents (Class 110/211)
  • Patent number: 5477790
    Abstract: An improved method is provided, using existing technology, for treating and disposing of both classified and unclassified waste materials, in a multistage process having a plurality of integrated and interconnected primary and secondary combustion and exhaust systems and having a selective range of pressures and temperatures and fuel/oxygen ratios in each of the systems. The primary or first stage combustion system treats generally classified, predominantly organic waste material that is amenable to a low temperature degradation which produces flammable exhaust materials that are then used to fuel an operably connected high temperature torch which is integral to the secondary or second stage, high temperature combustion system. The high temperature system treats generally unclassified waste material, which may contain both organic and inorganic waste in random ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Inventors: Joseph T. Foldyna, Stephen F. Schwilling
  • Patent number: 5471937
    Abstract: A method for the destruction of contaminated waste material comprising the steps of sufficiently heating the waste material in an oxygen deficient atmosphere to pyrolyze the material thereby producing a volatile fuel gas stream and a decontaminated solid residue, separately removing the fuel gas stream and the decontaminated solid residue, adjusting the stoichiometric ratio of the fuel gas stream reactant components for combustion downstream, oxidatively combusting the adjusted fuel gas stream to produce a low velocity, low oxygen gas stream, and a high velocity, low oxygen carrier gas stream, recycling at least a portion of the high velocity, low oxygen carrier gas stream for direct contact with the waste material to provide heat for pyrolysis of the same, contacting at least a portion of the low velocity, low oxygen carrier gas stream with water to produce an oxygen rich, substantially inert, heat exchange gas stream and indirectly heating the contaminated material with the heat exchange gas stream to provi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: MEI Corporation
    Inventors: John P. Kosky, John F. Jones
  • Patent number: 5460789
    Abstract: An apparatus for purifying a pollutant-containing outgoing air from the industrial installations has a heat exchanging bed, which has a predetermined thickness, consist of a suitable, preferably mineral, material, and is located in the interior of a shaft-like reactor housing. During the purifying operation, the pollutant-containing air flows through the heat exchanging bed into a combustion chamber, and heated purified air flows from the combustion chamber through the heat exchanging bed in opposite direction, giving up its heat to the heat exchanging bed and thereby being cooled down. The pollutants contained in the pollutant-containing air are burned in the heat exchanging bed and, if needed, in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Eisenmann Maschinenbau KG
    Inventor: Friedrich Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 5460511
    Abstract: A small energy efficient afterburner for oxidizing the byproducts of incomplete combustion is disclosed. Gases are forced into a firebox, where a heating element maintains a temperature above the flash point for the more common and undesirable pollutants. Typical temperatures are 500.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. for burning hydrocarbons coming from internal combustion engines or wood stoves. After gases pass through the firebox, they are forced into a chamber adjacent to the firebox intake, so that heat energy may be transferred to the incoming gases, thereby greatly increasing the thermal efficiency of the device. Greater efficiencies are achieved by putting a catalytic surface in the firebox, and by insulating the afterburner exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Inventor: Dennis Grahn
  • Patent number: 5441714
    Abstract: The amount of N.sub.2 O emission from a fluidized bed reactor is reduced by adding a hydrogen radical providing additive (e.g. a hydrogen containing fuel such as natural gas or alcohol) to the flue gases discharged from the fluidized bed. Sufficient oxygen is present in the flue gases--either by addition with the additive, or by addition of an excess to the combustion chamber--so that the additive reacts with the oxygen, typically raising the temperature of the flue gases (e.g. from about 700.degree.-900.degree. C. to about 950.degree.-1100.degree. C.) that is from about 1292.degree.-1652.degree. F. to about 1742.degree.-2012.degree. F. so that N.sub.2 O production is reduced about 10-90%. The additive may be injected in or just prior to a cyclone for separating particles from the flue gases, in a gas discharge immediately after the cyclone (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: A. Ahlstrom Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Oakes, Yam Y. Lee, Matti A. Hiltunen
  • Patent number: 5400724
    Abstract: The present invention provides a petroleum polymer product treatment apparatus capable of reducing the thermal energy, which is required to heat the material to be treated, to the smallest possible quantity, effectively utilizing the residue obtained, keeping the heating temperature distribution uniform and setting the heating temperature to a predetermined level, and facilitating this kind of treatment operation while maintaining the safety of a petroleum reduction reproducing operation.This apparatus is provided with a thermal decomposition unit 50 having a heating furnace 1, an indirect heating means 3 installed in the interior of the heating furnace 1, and a sealed container 4 removably set in the indirect heating means 3; and a residue combustion unit 60 having a combustion furnace 20 adapted to hold the residue 27 left over in the sealed container 4 and burn the same, a means 23 for supplying the air to the combustion furnace 20, and an ignition means 24 for igniting an ignition material 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Inventor: Shiyo Ueda
  • Patent number: 5374403
    Abstract: An apparatus for incinerating wastes, including an incinerator having a combustion chamber, a fluidtight shell enclosing the combustion chamber, an afterburner, an off-gas particulate removal system and an emergency off-gas cooling system. The region between the inner surface of the shell and the outer surface of the combustion chamber forms a cavity. Air is supplied to the cavity and heated as it passes over the outer surface of the combustion chamber. Heated air is drawn from the cavity and mixed with fuel for input into the combustion chamber. The pressure in the cavity is maintained at least approximately 2.5 cm WC (about 1" WC) higher than the pressure in the combustion chamber. Gases cannot leak from the combustion chamber since the pressure outside the chamber (inside the cavity) is higher than the pressure inside the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Robert C. W. Chang
  • Patent number: 5370066
    Abstract: Harmful constituents are removed from solid hazardous waste material by heating the waste in the presence of a continuous flow of oxygen until the waste material becomes an agitated molten aggregate and generates effluvia. The effluvia is conducted through a high temperature zone to destroy organic and other harmful constituents. The effluvia is further processed to achieve acceptable environmental quality. The effluvia processing includes a dual reburn/heat exchanger compartment. The generated molten aggregate is thoroughly mixed and hardens into a ceramic-like aggregate which is environmentally safe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Phoenix Environmental, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jason Workman, Peter DellaValle
  • Patent number: 5365863
    Abstract: A regenerative thermal oxidation system is useful for treating a waste gas stream that contains volatile organic compounds. The volatile organic compounds are oxidized in an oxidation chamber. The heat and oxygen necessary to support the oxidation reactions is provided by a hot oxidation gas stream produced by the combustion of wood waste with excess air in a combustion chamber. The heat generated by the oxidation and combustion reactions is recovered in a plurality of regenerators. Any particulates in the hot oxidation gas stream are removed by a particulate removal system such as a cyclone separator or a high temperature filter. Preferably at least two regenerators containing heat exchange material are used to recover the heat from the oxidation reactions. The first regenerator is in heating service for heating the waste gas stream before it enters the oxidation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Smith Engineering Company
    Inventor: Melanius D'Souza
  • Patent number: 5364259
    Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for the gas phase reaction of a feed gas mixture in a regenerative incinerator comprising a combustion zone in fluid communication with at least three separately-housed chambers. Each chamber contains a layer of solid heat exchange material, and is in selective fluid communication with an inlet manifold and an exhaust manifold such that each chamber is selectively operable in an intake mode and an exhaust mode. A layer of catalyst is disposed in each chamber such that catalytic reaction of the feed gas mixture occurs and the operating temperature of the combustion zone may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Monsanto Enviro-Chem Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Yurii S. Matros, David E. McCombs
  • Patent number: 5352115
    Abstract: A regenerative thermal oxidizer having regenerative heat exchangers includes a heat exchange column formed of a body which defines at least one entire flow passage through the heat exchanger. The heat exchange column assists in purging residual gas to be cleaned from the heat exchanger prior to that regenerative heat exchanger moving into a mode where it receives the cleaned gas. This reduces inadvertent emissions of gas to be cleaned to the environment. In one embodiment, a monolithic body includes all of the flow passages. In a second embodiment, a plurality of blocks are utilized to form the heat exchanger column. In a third embodiment, a number of cylindrical tubes are utilized. The heat exchanger columns preferably have 70 to 80 percent of their surface area used as the flow passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Durr Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph M. Klobucar
  • Patent number: 5346393
    Abstract: A damper system for three bed thermal regenerative oxidizers is disclosed, which employs two blades pivotally mounted in a body having two chambers separated by a septum. The first chamber receives an inlet gas through a first aperture and has a second aperture providing a flow path to a first regenerator bed. The second chamber incorporates a third aperture communicating with a second regenerator and a fourth aperture communicating with a third regenerator. The septum intermediate the first and second chambers incorporates a fifth aperture for communication between the chambers. Positioning of the first damper blade to seal the fifth aperture allows flow from the inlet to the first regenerator bed. Repositioning of the first blade to a second position covering the second aperture allows flow from the inlet through the aperture in the septum into the second chamber and through the third aperture to the second regenerative bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Smith Engineering Company
    Inventor: Melanius D'Souza
  • Patent number: 5325797
    Abstract: A staged fluidized-bed combustion and filter system for substantially reducing the quantity of waste through the complete combustion into ash-type solids and gaseous products. The device has two fluidized-bed portions, the first primarily as a combustor/pyrolyzer bed, and the second as a combustor/filter bed. The two portions each have internal baffles to define stages so that material moving therein as fluidized beds travel in an extended route through those stages. Fluidization and movement is achieved by the introduction of gases into each stage through a directional nozzle. Gases produced in the combustor/pyrolyzer bed are permitted to travel into corresponding stages of the combustor/filter bed through screen filters that permit gas flow but inhibit solids flow. Any catalyst used in the combustor/filter bed is recycled. The two beds share a common wall to minimize total volume of the system. A slightly modified embodiment can be used for hot gas desulfurization and sorbent regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Joseph S. Mei, John S. Halow
  • Patent number: 5317980
    Abstract: A method and a unit for the thermal destruction of industrial fluid wastes in which first and second heating phases are performed by mixing the combustion gases with the fluid wastes into combustion chambers, maintaining the mixture under high turbulence conditions to bring it to a thermodestruction temperature at which the mixed fluid waste is destroyed by heat; the gaseous mixture is maintained in adiabatic conditions at the thermodestroying temperature for a predetermined period of time along a path extending along most of a primary combustion chamber of the destroyer unit. The thermodestroyer unit has a monolithic structure which develops vertically, comprising a primary combustion chamber and an annular stay chamber, which surrounds the primary combustion chamber in which the burning mixture is maintained in a substantially adiabatic condition; the apparatus may be provided with a heat exchanger arranged at the outlet of the stay chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Bono Energia S.p.A.
    Inventor: Corrado Bono Coraggioso
  • Patent number: 5317978
    Abstract: An incinerating furnace, such as a cremation furnace or other batchwise chargeable furnace, is arranged with a main combustion chamber (1), from which the fumes are adapted to be led away through a following chamber arrangement (6-17) connected with a flue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Inventor: Sven Alexandersson
  • Patent number: 5313894
    Abstract: An incinerator plant is provided having a primary and secondary incinerator and a combustion furnace connected thereof, the incinerators having a cooling chamber filled with cooling water which is formed between the bottom plate and a partition wall plate, with the combustion chamber formed above the bottom plate. A fan chamber is formed under the partition wall plate and connected to the combustion chamber by a draft tube installed through the bottom plate and partition wall plate so that outside air fed in to the fan chamber flows in to the combustion through the draft tubes, and the bottom plate which has become hot will be cooled by cooling water in the cooling chamber. Gases produced from the incinerator are passed into the combustion chamber which is adapted to burn combustion gases generated in the primary and secondary incinerators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Kankyouhozen Kotobuki-Seisakusyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 5305697
    Abstract: A waste disposal system (10) which provides for the destruction of solid and liquid waste materials, through a controlled and monitored flow, from the loading of the material to be processed to the expulsion of clean nontoxic and sterile air and inert solid residue. The system includes; a waste loading module (30), a shredding module (33), an injection module (34), a first combustion chamber (40), a second combustion chamber (50), a first cooling module (60), an electrostatic module (701), a reducing catalyst module (70), an oxidizing catalyst module (80), a liquid filtering module (90), a neutralization module (100) and a second cooling module (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: New Clear Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph F. Greene, Patrick C. Malone
  • Patent number: 5297954
    Abstract: A volatile organic compound (VOC) abatement system is provided which incorporates a carbon or zeolite type concentrating adsorption device, with VOCs collected upon the adsorption surfaces. A heat source is required heat gases flowing to the adsorption device in order to remove the concentrated VOCs. Also, heat is required to oxidize the VOCs into a safe form prior to their release into the atmosphere. The present invention employs a regenerative thermal oxidizer for efficiently combusting the VOCs prior their release into the atmosphere. The present system also employs a bypass valve for introducing a portion of the VOCs directly into a combustion chamber without regenerative preheating. The resulting lowering of thermal efficiency of the regenerative thermal oxidizer allows the exhaust from the regenerative thermal oxidizer to carry more thermal energy. The thermal energy from the exhaust is then transferred to a heat exchanger to heat gasses flowing into the adsorption device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Haden Schweitzer Corporation
    Inventor: Frank M. Colagiovanni
  • Patent number: 5291840
    Abstract: An incinerator system is built up of an air-permeable base (2), an outer wall (3) extending uprightly therefrom and a front or first furnace (4) and a rear or second furnace (5) set up thereon. The first and second furnaces are each in a vertically extending, cylindrical form and are connected with each other through first, second, third and fourth fume guide pipes (6) to (9), arranged from below, thereby assuring that refuse or trash can be incinerated and maintaining the outer wall at a temperature safe enough to allow access to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Nakao Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeharu Nakao
  • Patent number: 5286459
    Abstract: An energy efficient fume incinerator and method for eliminating fumes from a process gas stream while avoiding or minimizing the problem of build-up of organic or other constituents of the fume-laden process gas stream on the surfaces of the heat exchanger in which the fume-laden process gas stream is preheated. The fume incinerator and method are characterized by a first stage reaction chamber for preheating the process gas to a first temperature for preoxidizing organic constituents in the process gas, a second stage reaction chamber for heating the preheated process gas to a second temperature higher than said first temperature for incinerating the fumes; and a first stage heat exchanger for exchanging heat from the process gas exiting from the second stage reaction chamber to the preheated process gas passing from the first stage reaction chamber to the second stage reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: FECO Engineered Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Krismanth
  • Patent number: 5284102
    Abstract: A single unit, shell and tube fume incinerator utilizes a baffle (34) structure proximate a combustion zone (24) to control the flow of combustion exhaust gas. The baffle (34) is located proximate the hot ends of a plurality of heat exchange tubes (20) to deflect the hot exhaust gases from the combustion zone (24) away from the ends of the tubes (20), and back to the outside of the tubes (20), thereby controlling the "time at temperature" for contaminants in the impure gas feed. Baffle (34) provides a slip fit around tubes (20) to permit thermal expansion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Salem Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael C. Thomason
  • Patent number: 5275115
    Abstract: A single unit, shell and tube fume incinerator utilizes a vacuum baffle (34) structure proximate a combustion zone (24) to control the flow of combustion exhaust gas. The vacuum baffle (34) is located slightly above the hot ends of a plurality of heat exchange tubes (20) to deflect the hot exhaust gases from the combustion zone (24) away from the ends of the tubes (20), and back to the outside of the tubes (20), thereby controlling the "time at temperature" for contaminants in the impure gas feed. A vacuum effect is created just below the baffle (34) to draw cleansed exhaust below the baffle (34) back up into the combustion zone (24) to prevent the escape of impure gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Inventor: Reagan Houston
  • Patent number: 5259757
    Abstract: Smokeless burnout of regenerative thermal oxidizer systems is accomplished by isolating the incineration system from the process flow and drawing fresh air into the heating regenerator at approximately one-fourth of the normal process flow. A purge/burnout fan is employed to induce flow through an idle regenerator drawing high temperature gas from the retention chamber through the idle regenerator. Gas is directed from the purge/burnout fan back into the retention chamber to oxidize contaminants which has been volatilized from the media in the third regenerator. The reduced flow rate of the system and maintaining flow through the regenerator being burned out while continuing to cycle the remaining regenerators as heating and cooling regenerators builds the temperature in the burnout regenerator until volatilization of all contaminants is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Smith Engineering Company
    Inventors: Marlin D. Plejdrup, Melanius D'Souza
  • Patent number: 5253596
    Abstract: A method and a unit for the thermal destruction of industrial fluid wastes in which first and second heating phases are performed by mixing the combustion gases with the fluid wastes into combustion chambers, maintaining the mixture under high turbulence conditions to bring it to a thermodestruction temperature at which the mixed fluid waste is destroyed by heat; the gaseous mixture is maintained in adiabatic conditions at the thermodestroying temperature for a predetermined period of time along a path extending along most of a primary combustion chamber of the destroyer unit. The thermodestroyer unit has a monolithic structure which develops vertically, comprising a primary combustion chamber and an annular stay chamber, which surrounds the primary combustion chamber in which the burning mixture is maintained in a substantially adiabatic condition; the apparatus may be provided with a heat exchanger arranged at the outlet of the stay chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Bono Energia S.p.A.
    Inventor: Corrado Bono Coraggioso
  • Patent number: 5230292
    Abstract: Harmful constituents are removed from solid hazardous waste material by heating the waste in the presence of a continuous flow of oxygen until the waste material becomes an agitated molten aggregate and generates effluvia. The effluvia is conducted through a high temperature zone to destroy organic and other harmful constituents. The effluvia is further processed to achieve acceptable environmental quality. The effluvia processing includes a dual reburn/heat exchanger compartment. The generated molten aggregate is thoroughly mixed and hardens into a ceramic-like aggregate which is environmentally safe. An apparatus for accomplishing the process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Phoenix Environmental, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jason Workman, Peter DellaValle
  • Patent number: 5224431
    Abstract: A burner device utilizing combustible wastes as fuel comprising a body having a main combustion chamber, a preheating burner mounted to the upper portion of the body and a subsidiary combustion chamber mounted to the upper portion of the body and at the front of the preheating burner. The subsidiary combustion chamber includes an inwardly tapered frustconical tube and an outwardly tapered air chamber surrounding the frustconical tube and communicating with the tapered air chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Inventors: Dae S. Lee, Ho K. Shin
  • Patent number: 5222446
    Abstract: An incinerator having a first combustion chamber capable of receiving material to be incinerated, a second combustion chamber capable of receiving the flue gas, and a particulate extraction and containment system connecting the two is provided. Also provided is a method for incineration which involves combusting a material using a substoichiometric amount of oxygen so as to produce a flue gas, collecting the flue gas, cooling the flue gas, and combusting the flue gas using at least a stoichiometric amount of oxygen. The incinerator and method allow for the removal of toxins and toxin precursors prior to exposure to stoichiometric or greater levels of oxygen and to temperatures greater than 1000.degree. F. Moreover, the incinerator and method provide for the recycling of materials and a reduction of waste volume to a level below that which is currently obtainable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Inventors: A. Glen Edwards, Jeffery T. Edwards, Richard B. Dicks
  • Patent number: 5199362
    Abstract: A pollution control system for removing harmful elements from industrial smoke streams comprises a reciprocating pump assembly that draws smoke from a furnace or the like and delivers it through a passageway where the smoke is treated sequentially to remove harmful elements therefrom. Disposed along the passageway is an atomizer station, a first fibrous filter, an ignition chamber, and a second fibrous filter. Having traversed the passageway, the smoke is ejected into a large tank of water and bubbles to the surface thereof, thus being further cleansed. From the water tank, the cleansed smoke stream moves up a stack, through a final fibrous filter, and into the atmosphere where it poses a substantially reduced environmental hazard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Inventor: Lee R. Carter
  • Patent number: 5200155
    Abstract: Oxidizable components in an exhaust air or gas flow are burnt by a burner in a combustion chamber enclosed in a housing. For this purpose the exhaust air is distributed into inlet ends of heat exchanger pipes which have outlet ends near the burner. The arrangement is such that the exhaust air carrying oxidizable components flows through the heat exchanger pipes while the exhaust air freed of oxidizable components flows around the heat exchanger pipes. In order to permit effective heat expansions and contractions of the heat exchanger pipes, these pipes have an L-configuration with radially inwardly extending legs having inlet ends connected into perforations in a jacket forming an exhaust air distribution chamber, and with substantially axially extending legs having outlet ends leading close to the burner. An air inlet leads centrally into the distribution chamber and a cleaned air outlet leads out of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: H. Krantz GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Herbert Obermueller
  • Patent number: 5170724
    Abstract: There is disclosed a burning apparatus having a general burning chamber provided with an air-guide inlet for feeding air from above into the burning chamber and air-discharge outlet to which a funnel is connected. In said burning chamber, a burn-promoting plate formed with a suitable number of piercing holes is disposed from the ceiling of said burning chamber to halfway thereof toward the floor surface of the burning chamber.Fuel or refuse thrown into said burning chamber is burnt from up to down and the burning operation is completed while giving rise to almost no smoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Moki Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunitoyo Mogi
  • Patent number: 5163829
    Abstract: A compact regenerative incinerator for incinerating an effluent includes a single vessel with two compartments separated by a partition. Each compartment includes an opening and a combustion chamber, and these are separated by a thermal storage medium. The incinerator also has a bypass system, which includes a bypass opening in the vessel and a bypass thermal storage medium separating the opening from the combustion chambers. Valving, which includes one or more flushed control valves, directs the effluent to flow into one of the compartment openings and directs the products of incineration to flow out of the other. The valving is also adapted to direct the effluent into the bypass opening while reversing the flow direction in the incinerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Thermo Electron Wisconsin, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry N. Wildenberg
  • Patent number: 5161966
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for cleaning a gas flow that carries oxidizable pollutants in varying concentrations, the temperature within the combustion apparatus is maintained substantially constant by admixing controllable proportions of the gas to be cleaned and/or fresh air to the combustion flow. However, admixing prior to introducing the gas to be cleaned into the combustion flow is avoided by performing the admixing at a location near the exit end of a flue gas mixing pipe. This mixing location permits maintaining the combustion chamber temperature constant or at its rated level while simultaneously keeping the temperature of the flow control device at acceptable levels. The flue gas mixing pipe is arranged downstream and coaxially with a burner so that the admixing takes place after the combustion or carrier flow has already passed the burner at the entrance to the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: H. Krantz GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Herbert Obermueller
  • Patent number: 5145362
    Abstract: An apparatus for burning pollutants in a carrier gas flow such as exhaust gases, is constructed as a compact unit. For this purpose a radial blower for the supply of the carrier gas which carries the pollutants is arranged directly in an inlet chamber of the gas cleaning apparatus. The inlet port of the inlet chamber is connected through a duct to the suction inlet of the radial blower. The compression outlet of the radial blower leads into a ring gap which in turn opens radially into the inlet chamber. For this purpose, the radial blower is enclosed by a blower housing which is arranged concentrically at one end of the housing opposite the burner arranged at the other end of the housing. The drive motor for the radial blower is mounted directly on the outside to an end wall of the housing of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: H. Krantz GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Herbert Obermueller
  • Patent number: 5144941
    Abstract: A toxic gas exhaust suppression-type combustion system burns a hydrocarbon-based fuel and comprises, an incomplete combustion section for causing incomplete combustion by supplying the fuel and a small amount of air, a solid component removing section, connected to said incomplete combustion section, for collecting and removing a solid component, such as soot, within an unburned gas generated by said incomplete combustion section, and a complete combustion section for perfectly burning a remaining unburned gas by supplying a sufficient amount of air, the remaining unburned gas being obtained by removing the solid component from the unburned gas generated by said incomplete combustion section by flowing the unburned gas through said solid component removing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Toshihiko Saito, Kazuo Saito
  • Patent number: 5133267
    Abstract: Hazardous waste is formed into non-hazardous non-leaching aggregate by introducing particulate noncombustible material into at least one oxidizer beneath the surface of an accumulation of molten noncombustible material. It is preferred that the walls of a portion of the apparatus be comprised of a layer of refractory material containing metal pins over a metal-walled, water-cooled vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Marine Shale Processors, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Kent, Henry L. Robards, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5127827
    Abstract: An improved industrial furnace employing a new and unique heat transfer arrangement is disclosed. The furnace is a closed end cylindrical chamber with a circular, concentrically positioned plate dividing one side of the furnace into a fan chamber containing a fan and the other side of the furnace into a heat treat chamber containing the work. The plate has a central under-pressure opening and its outer circular edge is spaced from the cylindrical wall to define an annular space which is non-orificing. Fan rotation in the fan chamber produces an annulus of wind mass swirling at high circumferential speed which axially travels through the non-orificing space towards the closed end of the heat treat chamber at slow speed. Heating elements extend through the non-orificing space into the heat transfer chamber and are constantly impinged by the swirling annulus wind mass to effect good heat transfer therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Surface Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Max Hoetzl, Thomas M. Lingle
  • Patent number: 5098286
    Abstract: The present invention is a regenerative gas incineration apparatus having three heat regenerators containing refractory heat exchange material. Gas is cycled through the regenerators first in one direction, then in another. The regenerators are each connected to combustion chamber having an air-fuel system and at least one burner. A system of valved ductwork is utilized to direct gas to be processed into and upwardly through a heating first regenerator into the combustion chamber, downwardly through a cooling second regenerator and exhausting the processed gas to the atmosphere. The temporarily idle third regenerator is purged of partially treated gas remaining from a previous cycle and this gas is directed to the combustion chamber. The flow of the gas through the system is periodically changed enabling the heat recovered by cooling regenerator in the previous cycle to be used to heat incoming gas in the next.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Smith Engineering Company
    Inventor: James A. York, deceased
  • Patent number: 5095829
    Abstract: A method is provided for combusting multifarious waste material. The waste to be combusted is subjected to a self maintaining pyrolysis in a long, horizontal chamber oven under oxygen depleted conditions, and is subsequently completely combusted under a supply of adequate air. A chamber oven is provided with an upper row of closable air inlet apertures at the upper side, divided over the wall length, and a lower row of closable air inlet apertures at the lower side, divided over the wall length. A larger air inlet aperture is provided in each one of the side walls in the vicinity of the oven throat, and air inlet apertures are also provided in the off-gas conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Inventor: Leonardus M. M. Nevels
  • Patent number: 5078595
    Abstract: A flue wall, and method for making same, adapted to be readily assembly with like walls and other components to form a battery of heated comparments in a pit in which carbon anodes, such as used in the manufacture of alumina are baked. The wall includes upper and lower sections each having two interlocked parallel panels, of pre-cast monolithic construction. The upper and lower sections interfit to form a hollow flue confining the flow of hot gases generated by fuel burners. Baffles across the flue channel the gases in a serpentine-like path. Inclined apertures at spaced locations permit gases envolved by the anodes as they bake to flow into the flue and combust with the hot gases from the burners. Lifting lugs are provided to enable the wall to be fabricated at a site remote from the bake pit and transporated to the pit in form. In one embodiments the panels in each section have symmetrical interfacing reliefs of baffles, vacuum supports and edgewall portions to facilitate casting and assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Inventors: Howard L. Roenigk, Peter R. Frazier
  • Patent number: 5050508
    Abstract: An improved system is provided for the incineration of refuse, especially scrapped automobile and truck tires and the treatment of incineration exhaust gasses as produced thereby. The refuse is incinerated in a closed fire box at controlled temperatures with the incineration exhaust gasses being serially treated by filtration, after-burning, washing with water by use of both a water bath and a water spray, washing with a petroleum based solvent, and cooling to a temperature below the freezing point of water. Filtration is carried out by a self-cleaning apparatus. A combined apparatus is used to carry out both the water bath and water spray with the resultant gasses being acceptable for release into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: HCR
    Inventor: Paul Wilson
  • Patent number: 5050579
    Abstract: A pollutant-controlling combustor assembly for use with a fuel-burning room heater includes at least two combustors through which gaseous combustion products are routed before being discharged into the atmosphere. Each combustor has a downstream side through which combustion products exit the combustor, and the combustors are arranged so that the downstream side of each combustor is fully exposed to the downstream side of every other combustor in the assembly. In addition, the downstream sides of the combustors are positioned about a common space so that combustion products which exit the downstream sides of the combustors enter the common space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Vestal Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James E. Melton, William E. Edmondson
  • Patent number: 5048432
    Abstract: A process and apparatus is presented for the reduction of nitrous oxide in the effluent from the combustion of a carbonaceous fuel. The process comprises raising the temperature of the effluent to a temperature of at least about 1700.degree. F. The apparatus utilized is a heating means which is disposed in a boiler at a location where the effluent is at a temperature of less than about 1700.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Nalco Fuel Tech
    Inventors: John E. Hofmann, William H. Sun
  • Patent number: 5029534
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the extraction of heat and smoke from a fuel burn in a firebox. The design is for the firebox exhaust area to be wrapped with its own hot exhaust gases, for smoke extraction, and then, for heat extraction, have all of the outer surface of a stove, fireplace or furnace exposed to said hot exhaust gases. Such a wrap-around design burns smoke form said exhaust gases, holds a high temperature in the firebox area, for good combustion, and increases the efficiency of heat extraction by using all of the outer surface of the stove, fireplace or furnace as a high temperature heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Temperature Adjusters, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry T. Childs
  • Patent number: 5016547
    Abstract: A regenerative incinerator comprises a combustion chamber, a regenerator having a plurality of discrete segments each of which has a heat exchange material therein and a valve for sequentially directing contaminated gas, purge air and cleansed gas to and from discrete segments of said regenerator, selectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Salem Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael C. Thomason
  • Patent number: 5007353
    Abstract: Improvements for an incinerator system including double reburn tunnels, an excitor within a reburn tunnel, a choker for closing off part of a reburn tunnel, a grate near the incinerator's inlet to permit the drying and initial combustion of refuse, an ash scoop which remains out of the water during most of its operation. The use of dual reburn tunnels, along with a damper that permits the closure of at least one of them, permits the efficient and environmentally acceptable utilization of the main incinerator chamber even with minimal refuse contained there. With less refuse, only one reburn unit operates; it will still have sufficient heat and throughput to maintain, with minimal auxiliary fuel, the temperatures needed for complete combustion. An excitor, or solid stationary object placed within the reburn tunnel, permits the retention and reflection of the heat generated by the burning to assure complete combustion of all hydrocarbons within the reburn unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Inventor: John N. Basic, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4986196
    Abstract: A solid waste incinerator apparatus has an elongated hearth having a plurality of walls and a floor and an elongated open side having a track mounted to each side of the open hearth. The hearth has a grate mounted above the floor thereof. A burner car has a plurality of motorized wheels riding in the elongated track for moving the burner car over the open side of the hearth. The burner car has a plurality of burners mounted thereon having a flame directed into the hearth to incinerate solid refuse in the hearth. The burner car also has a solid refuse agitation system thereon having at least one drum with cutting discs mounted therein to agitate the trash prior to incineration with the burners. A plurality of plenums are connected to one side of the hearth beneath the grate for drawing heated gases and burned ash therethrough. Each plenum forms a zone in the hearth for the removal of heated gases and ash from the zone within the elongated hearth as the burner car incinerates the refuse in that zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Inventor: Adam F. Butch
  • Patent number: 4961908
    Abstract: A combustion apparatus is provided, preferably of the thermal heat regeneration type, in which noxious or other gases are passed to an incineration chamber, to be burned at a sufficiently high temperature that they are disposed of. The apparatus is constructed as a compact unit, as essentially a single oven separated into a plurality of heat exchange sections, and with plenums therebeneath, fed by an inlet duct, and able to deliver the products of combustion to an outlet duct, both preferably disposed beneath the plenums, and preferably mounted on a common supporting frame for facilitating sufficient mounting of the apparatus, as well as ready transport of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: Regenerative Environmental Equip. Co.
    Inventors: Rodney L. Pennington, James H. Mueller
  • Patent number: 4945838
    Abstract: A post-combustion chamber for treating the gases coming from a combustion chamber, the post-combustion chamber comprising a conical bottom (9) extended by a tube (10), and being separated into two compartments by a vertical wall (14), with both of said compartments containing a filter bed, said bed rising to a lower level in the compartment via which the gases enter than in the other compartment, said chamber also including an opening for removing gases which have passed through said filter bed and an opening in the top of the compartment via which the gases leave for inserting filter bed material, wherein the bottom of the vertical wall (14, 27) is terminated by an arch (28) of refractory bricks bearing against opposite surfaces of the conical bottom of the post-combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Societe Generale pour les Techniques Nouvelles
    Inventor: Serge Carpentier
  • Patent number: 4941415
    Abstract: An air-starved, batch burn, modular, municipal waste incinerator. It is designed to oxidize unsorted loads of heterogeneous materials in quantities ranging from 5 to 500 tons per 12 to 15 hours. The unique aspect of this system design is that through research in air mixing, air turbulence, and temperature control, it is possible to burn this material with a highly favorable stack emission product, without the need for bag houses, dry scrubbing, or other elaborate down stream air processing equipment. The incinerator includes a primary combustion chamber connected to a secondary combustion unit by a gas transfer tube. Solid material in the primary is oxidized--or gasified--without live flame. This flammable gas stream is vented into the secondary for ignition. Combustion gases from the primary chamber are completely burned in the secondary combustion unit as the gases pass upwardly through the air mixing ring and tangentially disposed re-ignition burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Entech Corporation
    Inventors: G. Michael Pope, Donald F. Kerr
  • Patent number: RE34298
    Abstract: The invention relates to an afterburner apparatus and an incineration system and methods of waste destruction in primary incineration combustion means and afterburner means which both preferably utilize at least two different oxidizing gases. By varying the ratio of said oxidizing gases, the amount of total oxygen and nitrogen delivered in either means can be dynamically adjusted in accordance with the process requirements. Varying the flows of at least two oxydizing gases and auxiliary fuel in both the primary incinerator and afterburner makes it possible to operate the system under fluctuating waste loading conditions, by controlling temperature, partial pressure of oxygen and heat available for the process as a function of said ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: American Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Gitman, Boris M. Khudenko