Abstract: For the production of a product which can be dumped or utilized, the mineral substances are subjected in a rotary kiln to a thermal treatment at a temperature at which the charge of the rotary kiln is transformed to a pasty to liquid slag phase. The composition of the charge is so selected that a slag phase is produced in which the main components, which constitute a matrix, are in the range from 60 to 72% SiO.sub.2, 10 to 30% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and 5 to 25% CaO+MgO, of said matrix, wherein the total percentage of SiO.sub.2 +Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 +CaO+MgO equals 100, the total of the main components SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, CaO and MgO amounts to more than 60% on a dry and ignition loss-free basis, of the mineral matter which is charged to the rotary kiln. The slag phase discharged from the rotary kiln is cooled and the exhaust gas from the rotary kiln is purified.

Abstract: A pyrolysis system for trash and refuse utilization having a heated low temperature carbonization drum with a device for feeding material to be carbonized located at one end face of the drum, a residue discharge device at the other end face of the drum, a low temperature carbonization gas exhaust, and a gas converter connected to the low temperature carbonization gas exhaust for converting the low temperature carbonization gas into cracked gas, includes means for supplying to the low temperature carbonization drum part of a quantity of cracked gas flowing out of the gas converter as a heat carrier.

Abstract: A system for receiving and removing contaminants from soil, sand, etc. which has been contaminated by liquid contaminants. The contaminated material is heated in a rotating chamber sufficiently to volatilize the contaminants. The volatilized contaminents flow from one end of the chamber while the separated material is discharged from the other end as an uncontaminated material. Dust is removed from the volatilized contaminants and they are fed into a combustion chamber for conversion to harmless products of combustion.

Abstract: Apparatus, and a method for using the apparatus, for detoxifying material contaminated with at least one volatile organic compound (VOC). The apparatus is provided with a dryer having a heat source to heat the VOC-contaminated material to a first temperature, hot enough to volatilize the VOC, but below the cracking temperature of the VOC. The VOC in the dryer is volatilized to form VOC gases. A kiln heats the VOC gases with excess air to a second temperature, hot enough to destroy the organics in the VOC gases. Simultaneously the kiln is used to treat a kiln processable material to form a desired product. The kiln includes means for feeding the kiln processable material to the heating chamber, means for cooling and recovering the desired product, and means for providing heat for the VOC dryer. The apparatus also includes a conduit for conducting the gases containing VOC from the dryer to the kiln.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for utilizing the heat energy of domestic and commercial refuse in a rotary kiln installation. The prepared crude refuse is degassed in a pyrolysis reactor and the pyrolysis gas produced is delivered to the main burner of the rotary kiln, optionally using primary fuel. For optimum and economic production of the pyrolysis gas crushed refuse is dried pneumatically with the aid of exhaust air from the cooler and is delivered to the pyrolysis reactor. The pyrolysis reactor is heated indirectly to a low temperature with hot secondary air from the kiln outlet head and the pyrolysis gas produced is delivered together with used secondary air to the main burner of the kiln.

Abstract: A system for treating liquid containing waste material which includes a reaction vessel for treating other material to achieve a reaction which includes the formation of hot gases. The system includes a dryer adapted to receive the hot gases from the reaction vessel, and these hot gases are introduced to the dryer for heating the waste material to a temperature in excess of the boiling point of the liquid in the waste material. The waste material is circulated within the dryer to maximize the exposure of the waste material to the heat in the hot gases. Waste gas generated by the boiling of the liquid is withdrawn from the dryer, and a solid portion of the waste material is discharged from the dryer and delivered to the reaction vessel. This solid portion provides at least some of the fuel value required for operating the heating means of the reaction vessel.

Abstract: A water cooled kiln comprises a cylindrical combustor structure made up of a plurality of generally parallel water pipes spaced circumferentially about the periphery of the structure, and a plurality of webs circumferentially interconnecting the pipes so as to present the cylindrical combustor structure. The webs are provided with openings so that combustion air may flow therethrough and into the combustion chamber defined by the cylindrical combustor structure. The webs are protected from corrosion and erosion by the provision of a protective sheet constructed of a corrosion resistant material which is placed in covering relationship to the web inside the chamber. The protective sheet is spaced slightly from the web by dimples or corrugated strips and is attached to the web by spot welding for example.

Abstract: A pyrolysis reactor is coupled with an incinerator plant in the pyrolysis apparatus of our invention. In one variant the pyrolysis gas arrives directly in the furnace of the incinerator plant. In another variant the pyrolysis gas is burned in an additional separate combustion chamber and the flue gas arising from its combustion is fed into the flue gas duct of the incinerator. Because of that the units required in an economically self sufficient pyrolysis plant for purifying and using the pyrolysis gas and for the exhaust gas cleaning are made more economical. A process for consuming waste according to our invention is also described.

Abstract: A system for and method of producing a beneficiated fuel from a moisture ladened fuel. A combustion turbine is operated to provide a flow of exhaust gas out of an exhaust outlet at a temperature above ambient. The flow of exhaust gas is then directed across the moisture ladened fuel such that a portion of the moisture carried by the moisture ladened fuel is removed to produce the beneficiated fuel.

Abstract: A system for pyrolysing/drying biological sludge by indirectly heating the same by means of hot fumes, characterized by the fact that it incorporates a rotary furnace secured angularly to a cover skirt and defining, with the same, a cavity in which to circulate the aforementioned heating fumes; the aforementioned skirt being supported in rotary manner on powered rollers and connection to the utility pipes and to the sludge loading/unloading means fixed to the floor being made by means of devices consisting of a first frame turning together with the furnace and the respective skirt and supporting, in idle manner by means of rolling bodies, and a second frame connected to the aforementioned pipes.

Abstract: A system for and method of producing a beneficiated fuel from a raw low ranked moisture ladened fuel. A combustion turbine is operated to provide a flow of exhaust gas out of an exhaust outlet at a temperature above ambient. The flow of exhaust gas is then directed across the raw low ranked moisture ladened fuel such that a portion of the moisture carried by the raw fuel is removed to produce the beneficiated fuel.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing volatile and semi-volatile organic contaminants from natural soil containing moisture by sealing the soil in a stripping conveyor against contact with air and vapor stripping the contaminants at a temperature below the boiling temperatures of the contaminants.

Abstract: In a burner gun of the type including a conduit having a gas inlet supplied with a gas and an outlet, a burner nozzle assembly includes an outlet plate secured to the outlet of the gas conduit and having a plurality of circumferentially arranged cylindrical orifices extending therethrough, the outer surface of outlet plate including a circular central portion surrounded by the orifices and operative as a bluff body, whereby positive flame retention in the range of 5 PSI to 50 PSI is obtained; a hollow cylinder having a plurality of plugs secured to an end face thereof and axially movable with respect to the orifices to vary the openings thereof so as to provide a constant velocity gas exiting through the orifices; and a piston rod connected to the cylinder and externally controlled to slideably move cylinder and thereby control movement of the orifice plugs with respect to the orifices so as to vary the openings of the latter.

Abstract: In an improved refuse incineration system, wet refuse is heated in a dryer by inlet superheated steam in direct contact to remove most moisture therefrom while converting such moisture into outlet steam also in superheated state. The dried refuse is then fed into a boiler, through which the outlet superheated steam is circulated to raise temperature to much higher superheated level and recycled to the dryer as inlet superheated steam. This system will greatly increase the drying efficiency and productivity and thus reduce the necessary volume of the dryer.

Abstract: It is provided as shown in the drawing with a waste gas guiding duct, a rotating duct, an inserting duct, a connecting duct, a stationary duct, and a branch tube including a feed chute and a gas exhaust duct, and is adapted to preheat a main raw material consisting of direct reduced iron or small lumps of pig iron, or of auxiliary raw materials consisting of ferro-alloy and quick lime by utilizing the waste heat of a waste gas generated in a steel making furnace, weighing the total raw materials, and charging these raw materials into the electric furnace. This enables the energy to be utilized efficiently, and the quality and productivity to be improved.

Abstract: A rotary kiln is formed by a helical tube secured inside a cylindrical shell, and fitted with flow spoiler baffles between each turn of the helical tube. Inside the helical tube, one solid particle stream flows uphill in the manner of the classical Archimedes screw. Another stream of particles is tumbled by the flow spoiler baffles and flows under gravity downhill through the center of the helical tube, tumbling over the successive convolutions of the helical tube. This downhill flow occurs because the particles collide with the interflute spoiler baffles, tumble and fall off the helical flutes, thus causing the countercurrent flow. A wide range of surface-to-volume ratios of, and heat transfer through, the helical tube may be achieved by a proper design of the relative width of the tube. This helical tube in a drum device provides heat transfer for a varied number of process applications, such as oil shale or tar sands retorting.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for combusting solid fuel in the form of particles, preferably fuel pellets, whereby the fuel is combusted in a rotating combustion chamber (1) whereby the speed of the rotating the chamber is varied so that the fuel periodically releases from the chamber wall and skids along said wall.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for incinerating toxic and non-toxic waste using a modified preheater-type lime kiln is disclosed wherein the kiln is modified to incinerate waste and the preheater section is modified to provide an incineration processing aid such as limestone and also to more efficiently utilize and conserve heat values.

Abstract: Separation of the apparatus for drying and degassing organic waste from the shaft furnace containing a gasification chamber and a combustion chamber increases the through-put capability of the shaft furnace gasification. The gasification is promoted by the addition, in the same direction of flow as the partly carbonized waste material, of a gas such as air, steam, carbon dioxide or oxygen adjusted in accordance with the changes in composition of the material that is gasified. The drying and degassing chamber is a rotary drum feeding the dried and degassed material into the top of the shaft furnace. An intermediate chamber may be imposed between the rotary drum and the shaft furnace at the top of the shaft furnace so that a sieve can separate incombustible material such as metal parts for withdrawal through a gas-tight sluice.

Abstract: An incineration unit is provided with an open ended rotary incineration chamber having a main portion and a neck portion supported between two opposite stationary end chambers. Feed means are mounted adjacent first stationary end chamber and a burner for directing flame into the incineration chamber is mounted on the second stationary end chamber. A secondary combustion chamber extends axially above the incineration chamber and includes an afterburner for completely incinerating the combustion gases and by-products. A conduit is formed in first stationary end chamber for transferring hot incineration gases to the secondary combustion chamber. The burner directs the flow of hot incineration gases towards the raw waste material thereby to initiate drying thereof. A grate cleaning member is also provided at the discharge end of the chamber to assist in the separation of waste material.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovering energy from pyrolyzable, carbonaceous waste materials, for example household refuse, comprising a rotary tube reactor (4) adapted to be charged with the waste materials and producing, as products, a (low temperature) carbonization gas and a pyrolytic coke at a reaction temperature of above 200.degree. C.; a fluidized bed or swirling layer gasifier adapted to be supplied with an oxygen-containing gasifying agent, the pyrolytic coke and, optionally, waste materials and from which exit a hot gas having a temperature of between 400.degree. and 1000.degree. C. and an inert ash. Further, the system includes cleaning stages (8, 20) for the carbonization gas, connected subsequent to the rotary tube reactor and the gasifier (14), and further a combustion device (24) for the cleaned gases, as a part of a boiler system.

Abstract: A rotary cylinder calcining system for treating tacky materials with a propensity to adhere to the surfaces of handling apparatus. The system comprises a reciprocating means for freeing the cylinder calciner outlet from any blockages caused by adhering material.

Abstract: In an improved refuse incineration system, wet refuse is heated in a dryer (4) to remove most moisture therefrom while converting such moisture into steam for use in order to save energy consumption in a steam generating plant. The dried refuse is then fed into a boiler (23) for combustion where, because it has been dried, the combustion gas temperature within the boiler is greatly increased and thus the thermal efficiency improved.The preferred form of the system includes additional devices (27, 38) for preheating air used to support combustion of refuse enhancing the extent of combustion of combustible matter in the refuse. The preferred system also including devices (34, 29) for increasing the recovery of residual heat content from the waste stack gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for drying and handling sludge. Sludge is conveyed or transferred into a rotary drying chamber that may be housed within a structure such as a solar drying structure. The rotary drying chamber is provided with a perforated side wall structure. As the rotary drying chamber is rotated, the action of the sludge within the drying chamber results in the sludge being transferred from the drying chamber through the side wall structure thereof. In particular, as the sludge is dried, the movement of the sludge within the drying chamber and particularly the impact of the sludge against the internal side wall structure of the drying chamber causes the sludge to be forced outwardly through the perforated side wall structure of the drying chamber in a spaghetti-like fashion. That is, the dried sludge is emitted through the side wall portion of the drying chamber in the form of relatively small spaghetti-like portions.

Abstract: In a method of thermal solid waste exploitation the pure pyrolysis gases are used for auxiliary heating in combustion and the flue gases from combustion are used for heating in pyrolysis. In a solid waste processing installation the pure gas outlet of the pyrolysis unit is connected to the auxiliary burner of the combustion unit and the pyrolysis reactor is arranged between the flue gas outlet of the combustion unit and a waste heat retrieval unit.

Abstract: Inerts, particularly flotation addles and/or middlings are burned as a fire material in a grate firing and form a solid slag which is mechanically comminuted during the firing process. Comminution is accomplished with grate elements which are movable with respect to the slag and which are cooled by feeding combustion air therethrough, the combustion air being directly injected from the grate elements into the firing material.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for treating waste products. The apparatus comprises a furnace 1 and a recuperator 2, the furnace comprising at least one rotary section 4 for combustion and/or pyrolysis of the waste products and a stationary section 3 for guiding the smokes generated in the furnace between said rotary section 4 and the recuperator 2. This latter comprises an arrangement 11 -12 for causing the smokes to flow in a state of heat exchange with a fluid 14 for exploitation of the heat thus recovered. A heat-carrier fluid circuit is also incorporated between the walls delimiting the said stationary section 3 and/or the said rotary section 4 of the furnace and the recuperator 2, in such manner that the heat-carrier fluid may transfer the heat it had absorbed during its passage within the furnace walls to the exploitation fluid in the recuperator.

Abstract: Pollution control apparatus and method are disclosed in which hot exhaust gas containing pollutants including solid particles and hydrocarbon vapors is treated by transmitting such exhaust gas through a container containing wood members, such as wood chips, which serve as a filter media for filtering out such pollutants by causing such solids to deposit and such hydrocarbon vapors to condense upon the surface of the wood members. The contaminated wood chips are discharged from the filter and further processed into chip board or other commercial wood products thereby disposing of the pollutants. Lumber may be used as the wood members of the filter in a lumber kiln by deposition of solid particles on the rough surface of such lumber. The contaminated surfaces of the lumber are removed by a planer which produces smooth finished lumber and contaminated wood chips that may be processed into chip board or other commercial wood products.

Abstract: An outer cylindrical drum has an inner drum concentrically mounted therein in spaced relationship, to form coextensive outer and inner drying chambers that are connected to a common source of hot exhaust gases from a sugar factory boiler. Raw bagasse is first passed through the outer annular chamber to effect primary drying thereof, and then a portion of the primary dried bagasse is divided from the remainder and is passed through the inner chamber to produce secondary dried bagasse. The conveyance path between the point where the primary bagasse is divided and the inlet of the inner chamber is short in both time and distance to preserve heat in the divided portion, and an entrainment unit is utilized to preheat the divided portion before it enters the inner chamber.

Abstract: In a procedure and an installation for the incinerating of sludge, predried sludge is dried to residual moisture by the addition of heat in a first processing step and then pyrolized by the continued addition of heat and the exclusion of air in a second processing step, with the pyrolysis gas obtained being used at least partially to generate the hot fumes required for heat input. To incinerate sludge in a way which is compatible with the environment, saves energy and is inexpensive, the predried sludge is carried co-current with the hot fumes in the first processing step and the so-dried sludge is then, in the second step, carried in countercurrent flow to those same fumes.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for pyrolyzing waste materials and recovering useful chemical and energy rich materials therefrom. The apparatus of the invention comprises a specially designed, rotatable pyrolysis chamber and a cooperating rotatable moisture reduction chamber which pretreats the refuse prior to its introduction into the pyrolysis chamber. The pyrolysis chamber and the moisture reduction chamber are uniquely interconnected so that a portion of the heat of combustion of the refuse is taken from the pyrolysis chamber and controllably introduced into the moisture reduction chamber to reduce the moisture content of the refuse which is continuously received therein. The outlet of the moisture reduction chamber is interconnected with the inlet of the pyrolysis chamber so that, in operation, the refuse received into the pyrolysis chamber is controllably pre-dried prior to pyrolysis.

Abstract: An improved method for pyrolyzing waste materials and recovering useful chemical and energy rich materials therefrom. The apparatus of the invention includes a specially designed, rotatable combustion chamber and embodies a highly novel means for withdrawing a portion of the combustion gases generated by the pyrolysis of the waste materials, mixing these gases with preheated air in carefully controlled proportions and then using the highly combustible gaseous mixture thus formed to sustain pyrolysis within the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for pyrolyzing waste materials and recovering useful chemical and energy rich materials therefrom. The apparatus of the invention includes a specially designed, rotatable combustion chamber and embodies a highly novel means for withdrawing a portion of the combustion gases generated by the pyrolysis of the waste materials, mixing these gases with preheated air in carefully controlled proportions and then using the highly combustible gaseous mixture thus formed to sustain pyrolysis within the combustion chamber.