Means For Liberating Gas From Solid Fuel Patents (Class 110/229)
  • Patent number: 6325000
    Abstract: A waste incineration machine capable of rendering a waste gas occurring during the combustion of waste smokeless and odorless. A heat insulating wall to which a first far infrared ray radiator is fixed is provided so as to surround a combustion furnace and a combustion chamber, and a heat exchanger so as to surround the heat insulating wall. An inner flue is formed between the heat insulating wall and combustion furnace, and an outer flue serving as a waste gas convection chamber between the heat insulating wall and heat exchanger. An upper part of a communication portion between the inner and outer flues is covered with a heat insulating member constituting a second far infrared ray radiator so as to subject the waste gas to secondary heating using far infrared rays, and thereby to render the waste gas smokeless and odorless.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Meito Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Furuta
  • Patent number: 6318088
    Abstract: In an improved system for recovering heat from a combustion gas produced by burning wastes, the combustion gas or combustible gas produced by partial burning of the wastes subjected to dust filtration in a temperature range of 450-650° C. at a filtration velocity of 1-5 cm/sec under a pressure of from −5 kPa (gage) to 5 MPa before heat recovery is effected. The dust filtration is preferably performed using a filter medium which may or may not support a denitration catalyst. Heat recovery is preferably effected using a steam superheater. The dust-free gas may partly or wholly be reburnt with or without an auxiliary fuel to a sufficiently high temperature to permit heat recovery. The combustion furnace may be a gasifying furnace which, in turn, may be combined with a melting furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Norihisa Miyoshi, Shosaku Fujinami, Tetsuhisa Hirose, Masaaki Irie, Kazuo Takano, Takahiro Oshita
  • Patent number: 6314895
    Abstract: A method for treating at least one liquid fluid comprising a high water content, and including a volatile fraction and a heavy fraction, in order to separate said two fractions. Said method consists in burning at least one gas fluid, recuperating the heat released by said combustion for subsequently heating the liquid fluid. The heated liquid fluid is pressurised and then expanded so as to separate the volatile fraction from the heavy fraction. The volatile fraction is then burnt with the gas fluid. The heavy fraction is extracted from the process to be subsequently treated. The invention also concerns an installation for implementing the treatment method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Sarp Industries
    Inventors: Jean-François Nogrette, Bernard Lefebvre, Jean-Guy Notelteers, Jean-Paul Leglise
  • Patent number: 6311629
    Abstract: Gasification of waste is performed in a gasifier having a gasification space (1) and a liquid rotating slag bath (2). The slag bath (2) is preferably caused to rotate by tangentially injecting gasification medium and/or at least a portion of the waste via a burner toward the surface of the slag bath. Waste with a diameter of to 5 mm is preferably introduced into gasifier (1) above the slag bath (2), while larger waste is preferably introduced directly into the slag bath. Slag is a removed, together with cracked gas accumulated during gasification through the floor of the gasifier via a slag drain having a lateral opening which protrudes above the slag bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Linde-KCA-Dresden-GmbH
    Inventors: Siegmar Marschner, Sven Halang
  • Patent number: 6305302
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing waste tire gasification in a negative ambient pressure environment includes a gasification unit, a combustion unit, and a connection pipe. The gasification unit includes a gasification chamber, at least one air vent, at least one gasification igniter, and a fan. The combustion unit includes a combustion chamber, and an exhaust pipe. The connection pipe connects the output of the gasification unit with the combustion unit. In operation, tires are placed inside the gasification chamber. The tires are ignited using the gasification igniter. The rapid oxidation of the tires is fed with the air entering the at least one air vent. Combustion gases generated from the oxidizing tires are pulled out of the gasification chamber through a vacuum pipe with the fan. The gases are pushed through the connection pipe in to the combustion chamber. The combustion gases are ignited in the combustion chamber with at least one combustion igniter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Waste Tire Gas Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard L. Kleiss
  • Patent number: 6301896
    Abstract: In an improved system for recovering heat from a combustion gas produced by burning wastes, the combustion gas or combustible gas produced by partial burning of the wastes subjected to dust filtration in a temperature range of 450-650° C. at a filtration velocity of 1-5 cm/sec under a pressure of from −5 kPa (gage) to 5 MPa before heat recovery is effected. The dust filtration is preferably performed using a filter medium which may or may not support a denitration catalyst. Heat recovery is preferably effected using a steam superheater. The dust-free gas may partly or wholly be reburnt with or without an auxiliary fuel to a sufficiently high temperature to permit heat recovery. The combustion furnace may be a gasifying furnace which, in turn, may be combined with a melting furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Norihisa Miyoshi, Shosaku Fujinami, Tetsuhisa Hirose, Masaaki Irie, Kazuo Takano, Takahiro Oshita
  • Publication number: 20010027737
    Abstract: An energy conversion system which comprises a solid fuel fed combustor system having a first chamber portion with an inlet feed for feeding a metered amount of a solid fuel thereto, a first burner stage having a first traveling conveyor firebelt, a metered amount of air introduced in progressively increasing proportions along the length of the first traveling conveyor. A second burner stage having a second traveling conveyor firebelt with air introduced in a progressively decreasing amount along the length of said second traveling conveyor firebelt and a controller for controlling air introduced to the system. The chamber has a sloped common roof section common to the burner stages and is made of radiative energy reflective fire brick and angled to reflect radiative energy generated from fuel traveling on the traveling conveyor firebelts and directing the radiative energy on fuel traveling on the first firebelt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: STAN E. ABRAMS
  • Patent number: 6298666
    Abstract: In an improved system for recovering heat from a combustion gas produced by burning wastes, the combustion gas or combustible gas produced by partial burning of the wastes subjected to dust filtration in a temperature range of 450-650° C. at a filtration velocity of 1-5 cm/sec under a pressure of from −5 kPa (gage) to 5 MPa before heat recovery is effected. The dust filtration is preferably performed using a filter medium which may or may not support a denitration catalyst. Heat recovery is preferably effected using a steam superheater. The dust-free gas may partly or wholly be reburnt with or without an auxiliary fuel to a sufficiently high temperature to permit heat recovery. The combustion furnace may be a gasifying furnace which, in turn, may be combined with a melting furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Norihisa Miyoshi, Shosaku Fujinami, Tetsuhisa Hirose, Masaaki Irie, Kazuo Takano, Takahiro Oshita
  • Publication number: 20010006036
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing waste tire gasification in a negative ambient pressure environment includes a gasification unit, a combustion unit, and a connection pipe. The gasification unit includes a gasification chamber, at least one air vent, at least one gasification igniter, and a fan. The combustion unit includes a combustion chamber, and an exhaust pipe. The connection pipe connects the output of the gasification unit with the combustion unit. In operation, tires are placed inside the gasification chamber. The tires are ignited using the gasification igniter. The rapid oxidation of the tires is fed with the air entering the at least one air vent. Combustion gases generated from the oxidizing tires are pulled out of the gasification chamber through a vacuum pipe with the fan. The gases are pushed through the connection pipe in to the combustion chamber. The combustion gases are ignited in the combustion chamber with at least one combustion igniter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Richard L. Kleiss
  • Patent number: 6244198
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a method and an equipment for pyrolytic treatment of organic material comprising a supply storage receiving the organic material to be treated, a number of containers with meshlike walls, each to be charged with a batch of said organic material, a horizontal reactor with a charge gate in one end and a discharge gate in the opposite end, the interior of the reactor being divided by means of internal gates into at least a heating chamber, a pyrolysis chamber, and a cooling chamber, as well as a recovery storage for a solid pyrolytic residue of the organic material, i.e. the pyrolytic coke, the pyrolysis chamber being provided with an outlet pipe for generated pyrolytic gas terminating in a fractionating condenser, said condenser being provided with an outlet for each liquid fraction and an outlet pipe for uncondensed pure pyrolytic gas, which outlet pipe terminates in a gas tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: BCDE Group Waste Management Ltd., Oy
    Inventor: Hannu Lauri Suominen
  • Patent number: 6226889
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for use in removing at least one volatile contaminant from contaminated material by using a rotary vacuum retort during high temperature and vacuum processing. The loading and unloading are performed in a manner that minimizes the introduction of low boiling point gases. The apparatus employs, in one preferred embodiment, elastomeric pinch valve airlocks to isolate the entire system between the airlocks and a vacuum generator. The apparatus employs, in another preferred embodiment, at least one material transfer element. Furthermore, the contaminated material may be dried in a dryer prior to introduction into the retort. Moreover, the decontaminated material can be cooled through a heat exchanger prior to discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: SepraDyne Corporation
    Inventors: Randy A. Aulbaugh, Gregory G. Hawk
  • Patent number: 6213033
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating water material containing hydrocarbon, wherein the waste material is supplied in a reactor, gas containing oxygen is supplied in the reactor, said substances are combusted to form gaseous combustion products and solid residue and said solid residue is discharged from the reactor. The gas containing oxygen is supplied continuously in the reactor in amounts insufficient for complete oxidation of the waste material, said gas containing oxygen is supplied so as to pass it through a layer of said solid residue and the gaseous combustion products are passed through a layer of untreated waste material to form a product gas containing hydrocarbons and droplets of liquid hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Fioter Oy
    Inventors: Georgi Manelis, Victor Foursov, Galina Yakovleva, Sergei Glazov, Lev Stesik, Evgeni Poliantchik, Nikolai Alkov
  • Patent number: 6213029
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for recovering and treating hazardous and non-hazardous components from process streams generated from a continuous system for selectively separating organic and inorganic constituents from contaminated material. The contaminated material is heated to a first temperature sufficient to volatilize water and lower boiling point constituents contained in the material, thereby producing a dried solid material and a first gas containing water vapor and volatilized lower boiling point constituents. The contaminated material is heated in a dryer, which includes an indirect heated hot oil screw dryer having a screw for conveying the material. The first gas is separated from the dried solid material. The lower boiling point constituents are recovered from the first gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Environmental Corp.
    Inventors: Raleigh Wayne Potter, Michael Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 6202577
    Abstract: A municipal or like refuse, from which large articles of metals have been removed, is mixed with an alkaline substance like limestone preferably in a triple screw mixer, and then advanced along the pyrolysis path in which the refuse mixture is subjected to heat from combustion gases from an incineration chamber therebelow. A portion of the pyrolyzed product is recycled to the upstream side of that path and the remainder of the pyrolyzed product is scrubbed with an aqueous medium, e.g. water and/or aqueous acetic acid and the washed pyrolyzed product is then incinerated to produce the combustion gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventors: Anatoly Boguslavsky, Yuriy Rabiner
  • Patent number: 6199493
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the storage of heterogeneous wastes in holding or supply dumps, such as rubbish bunkers or suitable rubbish containers, prior to its removal and subsequent thermal utilization or some other processing technique. By introducing a variable flow of inert gas consisting essentially of nitrogen and carbon dioxide into the rubbish bunker, fires and gas explosions are practically excluded, aerobic decomposition processes are suppressed, and anaerobic decomposition is retarded. Using a variable flow of inert gas also prevents the further formation of dioxins and furans in a subsequent thermal utilization, as well as reliably preventing vermin from attacking the rubbish. By avoiding or at least significantly reducing these disturbances in the bunker zone, disposal safety is significantly increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Thermoselect AG
    Inventor: Gunter H. Kiss
  • Patent number: 6186081
    Abstract: Waste (such as domestic garbage, industrial waste, and bulky refuse) or sewage sludge is pretreated by pyrolysis under an oxygen-poor atmosphere to provide solid pyrolysis residues and a pyrolysis gas. The solid pyrolysis residues are mechanically treated to provide a coarse fraction and a fine fraction. The coarse fraction is mechanically separated and fed to a metal bath reactor containing a metal bath and a liquid slag floating on the metal bath. The fine fraction entrained in a carrier gas is fed via a nozzle in order to carburize the metal bath. The carburized metal bath functions to reduce metal oxides from the liquid slag floated thereon, thereby purifying the liquid slag. At least a portion of the pyrolysis gas is used to smelt and heat the liquid slag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: “Holderbank”Financiere Glarus AG
    Inventor: Alfred Edlinger
  • Patent number: 6182584
    Abstract: A system and process to provide integrated control for the pyrolytic composition of organic (biomass) waste products especially for municipal solid waste systems. The system includes integrated control that monitors biomass waste stream throughout the entire system and the products produced therefrom and includes presorting, controlling the amount of material processed in a continuous manner, shredding, removing moisture in a continuous process that is controlled and providing the waste stream to the distillation unit for pyrolytic action where it is converted into gaseous fuel and a char residue. The gaseous fuel is scrubbed clean and monitored and stored and reused to provide heat to the system. The entire system may be self-sustaining and continuous with very little or no human intervention. An integrated real time computer control system includes sensors and measuring devices with all the major components to ensure integrated efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Environmental Solutions & Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig T. Gaudio
  • Patent number: 6155182
    Abstract: A waste disposal system for gasification and melting of various waste materials such as solid waste, waste in a solid container, granular waste, and liquid waste, and mixtures thereof. The system includes a reactor vessel which is closed to the atmosphere, and also includes a bottom portion capable of serving as a slag pool. An active feed mechanism eliminates the entry of air from the atmosphere into the vessel and also blocks the expulsion of by product gases into the atmosphere. The feed mechanism includes mechanisms to feed solid waste, waste in a solid container, granular waste and liquid waste into the reactor vessel. A plasma arc torch is located for plasma arc activity within said reactor vessel to produce a high temperature processing zone to gasify or melt solid waste, waste in a solid container, granular waste, and liquid waste and mixtures thereof as such waste is actively fed into the reactor vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventors: Andreas Tsangaris, George W. Carter
  • Patent number: 6120567
    Abstract: A heating system for producing heat by the gasification of solid, organic biomass materials. A mass of such materials is maintained on a grate in a primary oxidation chamber of the catalytic type, and materials in such mass are gradually heated in a deficiency of oxidation for full oxidation of such materials to produce a gaseous, combustible effluent. The gaseous combustible effluent is transferred through an insulated exit duct to a secondary oxidation chamber where it is further oxidized to a fully oxidized state by burning. In one embodiment, the insulated exit duct has a restricted inlet portion within the primary oxidation chamber to serve as a flame deflector. The gaseous effluent from the secondary oxidation chamber is used as a heat source for a water tube boiler. A storage hopper is provided to store the biomass feed materials for delivery to the primary oxidation chamber. The bottom of the storage hopper is inverted and reciprocating plates are provided along the bottom of the storage hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Enviro-Combustion Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Henry L. Cordell, David G. Galer
  • Patent number: 6116168
    Abstract: A gasifier is disclosed. The gasifier comprises a primary chamber for receiving therein biomass waste material and other related volatile solids to be gasified. A fume transfer vent permits the escape of fumes from the primary chamber. A mixing chamber accepts the fumes from the fume transfer vent. The fumes then flow to an afterburner chamber where a burner member produces a heating flame so as to cause the additional full oxidization of the constituents of the fumes so as to oxidize the constituents. A partitioning wall is disposed between the flame chamber and the primary chamber so as to preclude the heating flame from entering the primary chamber and to also preclude the radiation from the heating flame from directly entering the primary chamber, thereby precluding direct contact and physical disturbance of the waste material. A heat transfer chamber in fluid communication with the afterburner chamber accepts the fully oxidized fumes therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventor: David Brookes
  • Patent number: 6116169
    Abstract: In an improved system for recovering heat from a combustion gas produced by burning wastes, the combustion gas or combustible gas produced by partial burning of the wastes subjected to dust filtration in a temperature range of 450-650.degree. C. at a filtration velocity of 1-5 cm/sec under a pressure of from -5 kPa (gage) to 5 MPa before heat recovery is effected. The dust filtration is preferably performed using a filter medium which may or may not support a denitration catalyst. Heat recovery is preferably effected using a steam superheater. The dust-free gas may partly or wholly be reburnt with or without an auxiliary fuel to a sufficiently high temperature to permit heat recovery. The combustion furnace may be a gasifying furnace which, in turn, may be combined with a melting furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Norihisa Miyoshi, Shosaku Fujinami, Tetsuhisa Hirose, Masaaki Irie, Kazuo Takano, Takahiro Oshita
  • Patent number: 6112675
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for recovering and treating hazardous and non-hazardous components from process streams generated from a continuous system for selectively separating organic and inorganic constituents from contaminated material. The contaminated material is heated in a dryer to a first temperature sufficient to volatilize water and lower boiling point constituents contained in the material, thereby producing a dried solid material and a first gas containing water vapor and volatilized lower boiling point constituents. The first gas is separated from the dried solid material. The lower boiling point constituents are recovered from the first gas. The dried solid material is heated in a desorber to a second temperature sufficient to volatilize higher boiling point constituents contained in the dried material, thereby producing a substantially decontaminated solid material and a second gas containing volatilized higher boiling point constituents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation
    Inventors: Raleigh Wayne Potter, Michael Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 6105275
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for use in continuously loading material to be treated into a rotary vacuum retort and continuously unloading one or more vapors or similar volatile substances and treated material out of the rotary vacuum retort during high temperature and high vacuum processing. The loading and unloading are performed in a manner that minimizes the introduction of low boiling point gases. The apparatus employs, in one preferred embodiment, elastomeric pinch valve airlocks to isolate the entire system between the airlocks and a vacuum generator. Furthermore, the material being treated may be dried in a dryer prior to introduction into the retort. Moreover, the processed material can be cooled through a heat exchanger to permit the use of a low temperature pinch valve airlock on the discharge end of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: SepreDyne Corporation
    Inventors: Randy A. Aulbaugh, Gregory G. Hawk
  • Patent number: 6067915
    Abstract: A method of charging a pyrolytic gas-producing reactor with waste fuel wherein the waste fuel is forced into the reactor by a ram and wherein air is prevented from entering the reactor and pyrolysis gases are prevented from escaping from the reactor by means of an ablative seal which is positioned between the fuel and the ram and which is forced by the action of the ram on the fuel charge into the reactor whilst in sealing engagement with the internal walls of the reactor, the seal being made of a material which will resist the high temperature and chemical conditions in the reactor for at least as long a period as is required for the seal to perform its sealing function and which is thereafter thermally decomposed into products which are not detrimental to the pyrolytic process or to the pyrolytic gases produced by the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Compact Power Limited
    Inventor: John Ernest Elsom Sharpe
  • Patent number: 6067916
    Abstract: In a process for gasifying and burning waste materials, the waste materials are introduced into an incinerator (1) and end up on a burning grate (6) to which combustion air is conducted through various undergrate forced draft chambers (8a to 8e). In the first area combustion air is introduced at a superstoichiometric level in order to ignite the waste materials. Then, via the undergrate forced draft chambers (8c to 8e), oxygen is mixed into the air which is used for the gasification, thereby establishing a substoichiometric level which results in gasification of the waste materials. The combustible gases which result from this process pass via a waste gas flue (12) into a second furnace (2), in which the gases are burned at a superstoichiometric level through the introduction of combustion air. The resulting waste gases pass to a heat exchanger (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Martin GmbH fur Umwelt- und Energietechnik
    Inventors: Johannes Martin, Michael Busch
  • Patent number: 6067979
    Abstract: A combustion system includes a primary combustion chamber divided into left and right sides by fuel-retaining standards defining a canyon or void extending into a secondary combustion chamber is provided. The floor of the primary combustion chamber and the fuel-retaining standards direct the burning solid fuel toward the lower part of the canyon, while at the same time retaining the non-burning solid fuel on either side of the fuel-retaining standards. The combustion system further includes an air delivery system having a lower air tube supplying high and low velocity air and an upper air tube. The lower air tube is positioned proximate to a firebox floor, while the upper air tube is positioned within the secondary chamber. Automatic air setting mechanisms are provided so that proper air settings can be maintained during various phases of a fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Dennis Jaasma
    Inventors: Dennis R. Jaasma, Mark R. Champion
  • Patent number: 6055916
    Abstract: A material processing apparatus includes a casing having a top and bottom and a plurality of sides defining a pyrolysis chamber for receiving and pyrolyzing feed materials therein into fluid materials and a mass of refractory material disposed upon the bottom of the casing and spaced below the top thereof and extending between its sides. The refractory mass includes an upper surface defining a bottom of the pyrolysis chamber and having an end spaced from a first one of the casing sides to define an ash residue collection cavity therebetween. The apparatus also includes a system of tunnels defined within the refractory mass being spaced below the upper surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Inventors: Paul H. Stevers, Roger D. Eshleman, Earl H. Sigman, John Kevin Pollard
  • Patent number: 6050204
    Abstract: A material processing apparatus includes a casing having a top and bottom and a plurality of sides defining a pyrolysis chamber for receiving and pyrolyzing feed materials therein into fluid materials and a mass of refractory material disposed upon the bottom of the casing and spaced below the top thereof and extending between its sides. The refractory mass includes an upper surface defining a bottom of the pyrolysis chamber and having an end spaced from a first one of the casing sides to define an ash residue collection cavity therebetween. The apparatus also includes a system of tunnels defined within the refractory mass being spaced below the upper surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Inventors: Paul H. Stevers, Roger D. Eshleman, Earl H. Sigman, John Kevin Pollard
  • Patent number: 6021723
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heat treating of hazardous waste by heating the waste in a pyrolyzing chamber and forming an off-gas, heating the off-gas for a sufficient time to destroy dioxins and furans, then reducing and cooling the off-gas in a secondary treating chamber having a graphite stack and recovering metallics by distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: John A. Vallomy
    Inventor: John A. Vallomy
  • Patent number: 5997288
    Abstract: A flighted, horizontally inclined rotary retort, heated externally by flame, hot gases, steam or other sources of heat. The retort shall have sufficient flight area to transport the coal through the retort in the predetermined time. The coal being processed in this retort is prevented from becoming exothermic by provision for a countercurrent flow of blanket gas, heated to a predetermined temperature below exotherm, to prevent coal surface temperatures from rising above the ignition temperature. The retort accommodates oversize pieces of raw coal by having alternating long and short flights, thus allowing greater space between long flights and allowing the larger pieces to be carried over the center pipe by the wiping action of the long flights. The retort will also be provided with an internal pipe, mounted on the center line of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Robert J. Adams
    Inventor: Robert J. Adams
  • Patent number: 5996512
    Abstract: An apparatus for recycling municipal waste as energy includes a shredder for shredding the waste, and removing rejects, the rejects from the shredder being sorted into a first stream of inert matter that is substantially unpolluted with organic matter and into a second stream of inert matter that is substantially polluted with either organic matter or with combustible heavy elements; a first outlet for removing the second stream of inert matter; a circulating fluidized bed reactor for receiving the shredded waste and producing gases with solid particles therein; a cyclone for separating out the solid particles and receiving the gases output by the reactor; a recuperator boiler into which the gases output by the cyclone are discharged and which is provided with a first set of heat exchangers, the boiler including a dust-filtering hopper; a second outlet for removing the solid particles from the dust-filtering hopper; a second set of heat exchangers disposed in a chamber into which the gases are fed after trans
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom Stein Industrie
    Inventors: Jean-Xavier Morin, Jean-Pierre Peyrelongue
  • Patent number: 5988080
    Abstract: In an improved system for recovering heat from a combustion gas produced by burning wastes, the combustion gas or combustible gas produced by partial burning of the wastes subjected to dust filtration in a temperature range of 450-650.degree. C. at a filtration velocity of 1-5 cm/sec under a pressure of from -5 kPa (gage) to 5 MPa before heat recovery is effected. The dust filtration is preferably performed using a filter medium which may or may not support a denitration catalyst. Heat recovery is preferably effected using a steam superheater. The dust-free gas may partly or wholly be reburnt with or without an auxiliary fuel to a sufficiently high temperature to permit heat recovery. The combustion furnace may be a gasifying furnace which, in turn, may be combined with a melting furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Norihisa Miyoshi, Shosaku Fujinami, Tetsuhisa Hirose, Masaaki Irie, Kazuo Takano, Takahiro Oshita
  • Patent number: 5983810
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method for supplying solid material such as hot carbonaceous material from a pyrolyzer or reactor to a furnace, is provided comprising providing a screw conveyor for receiving the solid carbonaceous material from the pyrolyzer or reactor preferably from above the conveyor and transporting it along its length to a vaned rotor preferably positioned on the axle of the screw conveyor preferably substantially near the end of the screw conveyor for supplying the carbonaceous material to the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Boris Siniakevith, Mark Khaskin, Daniel Goldman, Benjamin Doron, Lucien Y. Bronicki, Eli Yaffe
  • Patent number: 5960722
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating a high-temperature reactor for treating heterogeneous waste materials, in which the waste materials are introduced via an intake point into the reactor and form beneath the intake point a loose-piled gasification bed, in which the inorganic or organic components are subjected to fusion or gasification and homogenisation by oxygen and above the intake point the gaseous gasification products are subjected to high-temperature treatment with added oxygen in order to form and stabilise synthesis gas, water-cooled oxygen lances being used for high-temperature treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Thermoselect AG
    Inventor: Gunter H. Kiss
  • Patent number: 5957063
    Abstract: A combustion system is divided into a thermal decomposition section and a combustion section. The thermal decomposition section thermally decomposes or partially bums solid combustibles, thereby generating combustible gases. The quantity or quality of the generated combustible gases is measured, and combustion air corresponding to the measured value is supplied to the combustion section. The quality and temperature of the combustible gases in the thermal decomposition section are detected, and the quantity of solid combustibles and air (or the quantity of heat) supplied to the thermal decomposition section are controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidenori Koseki, Hiroaki Shigeoka
  • Patent number: 5927216
    Abstract: A burner apparatus uses fuel derived from waste resin. The burner includes a cylindrical body in combination with an oxygen supplier, which form an oxygen deficient atmosphere. While rotating the cylindrical body, a small portion of waste resin is partially combusted to generate heat energy and changes its form to finely divided particles. The heat energy is used for heating and gasifying a remaining larger portion of the waste resin. The produced gas particles are conveyed toward an outlet nozzle of the cylindrical body and are injected outwardly for complete combustion in air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaichi Metal Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeru Oga
  • Patent number: 5915311
    Abstract: The waste material is degasified under the action of heat in a pyrolysis chamber (2). The volatile degasifying products are subjected to afterburning with supply of oxygen in an afterburning chamber (4a or 4b or 4c) designed as a fluidized-bed reactor. The solids discharged from the afterburning chamber (4a or 4b or 4c) are separated off from the flue gas stream in a dust separator (8) and, preferably cooled in an external fluid-bed cooler, are recycled to the afterburning chamber (4a or 4b or 4c). The temperatures of above 2500.degree. C., which are produced in the afterburning of the carbonization gases having a high heating value (minimum 8000 kJ/m.sup.3 (S.T.P.), can be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Von Roll Umwelttechnik AG
    Inventors: Patrick Muller, Hans Ruegg
  • Patent number: 5915308
    Abstract: A discharge apparatus includes a housing into which a discharge pipe of a carbonization drum opens. A residue discharge chute which starts from the housing opens into a conveying device ending at an outlet. A filling-level meter is disposed at the residue discharge chute. The conveying device has a profiled separating shelf with an end remote from the mouth of the residue discharge chute, at which a bar screen is formed. The bar screen covers a delivery opening for fine residue and ends at the outlet for coarse residue. A vibrator is associated with the conveying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karl May, Werner Axt, Eugen Schlag, Heinz Sattler, Klaus Busch
  • Patent number: 5901653
    Abstract: A low-pollutant system for waste materials treatment includes a process chamber for converting organic components of the waste materials into a flammable gas and a two-stage vortex burning chamber for complete combustion of the flammable gas. The vortex burning chamber includes a first substantially-horizontal combustion chamber and a second substantially-vertical combustion chamber disposed at a right angle to each other and communicating therebetween. The first combustion chamber has an inlet portion for receiving the flammable combustion gas from the gas generator means for injecting primary air into the first combustion chamber, thereby forming a mixture of air and the flammable gas and thereby igniting the mixture for partial oxidation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignees: Leslie Technologies, Inc., Grun Tec, Ltd.
    Inventors: Markus Jennebach, Joao Augusto Birkhan
  • Patent number: 5868085
    Abstract: A system for pyrolysis of hydrocarbon constituents of waste material including a treatment unit featuring a retort with a ellipsoidal cross-section forming a first retort half and a second retort half, the material to be treated being selectively deposited in only one half of the retort at a time during any given period of system operation, to avoid abrasion and wear of the half not in use, thus effectively doubling the life of the retort component. Another feature of a treatment unit according to the invention is a heat reclamation arrangement that introduces gases that have first been combusted to supply heat energy to the retort through a conduit directly into the interior of the retort, to improve the efficiency with which pyrolysis takes place. Further, the treatment unit has an exhaust and cleaning arrangement to render gases produced during pyrolysis substantially free of pollutants such that the gases can be vented to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Balboa Pacific Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew H. Hansen, William C Walker
  • Patent number: 5857421
    Abstract: Combustible gases from a solid fuel are produced by pyrolyzing the fuel in a pyrolyzer which also produces carbonaceous material. The carbonaceous material from the pyrolyzer is combusted in a furnace to produce combustion products that include hot flue gases and ash particulate. The combustion products are separated into a plurality of streams, one of which contains flue gases, and another of which contains hot ash which is directed into the pyrolyzer. Finally, the stream of flue gases from the furnace is used to dry the fuel that is supplied to said pyrolyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Ormat, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Doron, Daniel Goldman, Eli Yaffe
  • Patent number: 5851497
    Abstract: A gasifier (10) for partially combusting a carbonaceous fuel mixture in the combustion chamber (13) of the gasifier (10). The latter includes a water bath (26) into which the hot effluent or the products of combustion are immersed, including a synthetic gas. The products of combustion are directed into the bath (26) by way of a constricted throat section (31). To avoid excessive erosion action and/or thermal shock to the throat section (31) as a result of exposure to the effluent's high temperatures, the throat section (31) is structured with an internal framework of pipes (32). The flamework (32) is communicated with a pressurized source of a cooling fluid (42), preferably water, whereby to cool the throat section (31) sufficiently to counteract the ill effects of exposure to contact with the high temperature effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Duane Brooker, James Samuel Falsetti, James Kenneth Wolfenbarger, Dinh-Cuong Vuong
  • Patent number: 5846072
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an indirect-fired, stationary tube, gas/solids or solids/solids, full ceramic pyroprocessing furnace-reactor that uses heat-resistant conveyors to propel solids through the stationary tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Merichem Company
    Inventor: H. Earl Willis
  • Patent number: 5826521
    Abstract: A method and installation for reducing emissions during the incinerating of waste results from a combustion chamber, a return situated downstream of the combustion chamber for returning a portion of a flue gas to the combustion chamber in a continuous cycle and a flue gas purification installation; and from situating the flue gas purification installation between the combustion chamber and the return, removing chlorine, heavy metal and sulfur dioxide from the flue gas produced in the flue gas purification installation, and admixing the oxygen required for combustion as pure oxygen with the flue gas to generate synthetic air in the ratio of 4:1 to 1:1, and preferably 2:1 to 1.5:1 while excluding ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: SBW Sonderabfallentsorgung Badenwurttemberg GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Schumann, Matthias Teller, Herbert Marz
  • Patent number: 5823122
    Abstract: A system for the production of fuel gas from solid biomass fuels and for the combustion of said fuel gas is disclosed which comprises a gasification zone for producing a fuel gas from a solid biomass fuel, said gasification zone being adapted for connection to a solid biomass fuel supply and to a gasification air supply, a predetermined ignition point, a pathway for conveying fuel gas from the gasification zone to the ignition point, and a combustion air injection device for mixing fuel gas and combustion air at the ignition point to initiate combustion of the fuel gas and the combustion air, and for shaping and directing the flame produced, said device being adapted for connection to a combustion air supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Alternative Energy Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Chronowski, William L. Woerner
  • Patent number: 5824122
    Abstract: In a process and an apparatus for purifying flammable gas, in particular low-temperature carbonization gas, the gas is scrubbed and discharged as pure gas and condensate. The condensate is distilled in a distillation unit. Volatile constituents are admixed to the pure gas, so that the calorific value of the latter is increased. The non-volatile constituents are discharged. The non-volatile constituents can be fed to a low-temperature carbonization drum and carbonized therein at low temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Siemans Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerd Baumgartel, Herbert Tratz
  • Patent number: 5803936
    Abstract: A gasification reactor comprising of a slow turning rotation chamber (1) with tapered end pieces (7) and sealed by stationary closures (8, 9). The chamber is divided by rings (3, 3') into three sections (4, 5, 6). The first section (4) is used to dry and pre-heat the combustible material (12). Section (5) is the gasification zone and section (6) is used to collect and transport the ash to the outside of the chamber. In order to obtain a better insulation against loss of heat an inner cylinder (24) is fitted into the chamber. The feed stock material (12) is brought into the chamber with a hollow piston (13) through the stationary closure (8) and inside the chamber the material is moved along by the rotation of the chamber. Fresh air supply is introduced into the chamber through special form parts (25), and the combustible gas is collected and returned to the outside with the pipe (31). Ash and slag are lifted and deposited in a collector (21) from where they are brought to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventor: Jakob Huber
  • Patent number: 5802993
    Abstract: Pyrolysis system and method wherein used batteries other than lead-acid batteries for reclamation and recovery of the constituents therein or environmentally safe disposal are placed in rail carts and moved on rails through an entry zone into a central heating zone of a pyrolysis chamber maintained under a negative pressure and then into an exit zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventor: W. R. Meador
  • Patent number: 5787822
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for gasification of feedstock materials are disclosed. The apparatus includes an oblate spheroid (egg-shaped) gasification chamber having inlets for feedstock material and gaseous oxidizer. A combustion gas outlet permits removal of combustion gases, and an ash collection region allows collection and removal of ash produced in the gasification chamber. A plurality of recirculating venturi tubes located within the gasification chamber recirculate combustion gases and particulates into and out of a gasification zone. Each venturi tube includes a plenum having a gaseous oxidizer inlet and a plurality of orifices capable of producing high velocity air flow towards the feedstock material bed in the gasification zone. Filtration action of the bed entrains combustion particulates. A plurality of air cannons coupled to one or more pulse valves provide pulsed air flow into the gasification zone to agitate the feedstock material bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Emery Recycling Corporation
    Inventor: Wesley P. Hilliard
  • Patent number: 5782188
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for incinerating waste material and in particular, for incinerating particulate material resulting from the shredding of vehicles. The particulate material is fed to one end of a rotary drum, and is subjected in the drum to pyrolitic incineration in the absence of air, to generate combustible gases and a solid residue. The combustion gases and the residue are discharged from the drum to a discharge hood, where the solid residue is separated from the gases. The gases are then passed through a condenser to cool the gases to a temperature below 212.degree. F. to thereby condense water vapor and higher boiling point hydrocarbon gases to produce hydrocarbon liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Inventors: Marvin Evans, David H. Miller