Including Passing, Treating Or Conveying Gas Into Or Through Particulate Work Patents (Class 432/14)
  • Patent number: 5685709
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for the heat treatment of lime sludge (CaCO.sub.3) to form burnt lime (CaO). In the method of the present invention lime sludge is dried in a gas dryer means, to produce a dried lime sludge. The dried lime sludge is separated from the gases and thereafter is first fed to a compacting means wherein it is compacted into a plurality of substantially uniform bodies which are thereafter fed to a shaft kiln in which the compacted dried lime sludge is converted to active burnt lime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Fuller Company
    Inventor: Sidney M. Cohen
  • Patent number: 5656157
    Abstract: In apparatus for separating the components of a mixture, the mixture is admitted to a first inlet which communicates with a working region which may be defined by a cylindrical tube. A fluid under pressure is admitted to a chamber through a second inlet. The chamber also communicates with the working region. The fluid forms a spiralling flow which draws the mixture into the working region in the form of a vortex. In the apparatus, the chamber communicates with the working region by way of a throat, and the mixture is conveyed from the working region along an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Precision Stainless, Inc.
    Inventors: Brooks A. Robertson, C. Patrick McKee, Alex R. Carra
  • Patent number: 5618104
    Abstract: A method of cooling white cement clinker sintered in a rotary kiln includes the following steps: introducing the white cement clinker from the rotary kiln into a first cooling stage; comminuting the white cement clinker in the first cooling stage; quenching the white cement clinker with a coolant in the first cooling stage in a short dwell period in an oxygen-poor environment to a mean temperature of approximately between 650.degree. C. and 750.degree. C.; introducing the white cement clinker from the first cooling stage into a second cooling stage; mixing and simultaneously conveying the white cement clinker in the second cooling stage in an oxygen-poor environment for a period of at least 15 seconds for obtaining a homogeneous mixture of particles of the white cement clinker and for further cooling the white cement clinker to a temperature of approximately between 550.degree. C. and 650.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Krupp Fordertechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Gunther Koeberer, Egbert Steffen, Gerhard Bomba, Franz-Josef Grothaus, Gerhard Zakel
  • Patent number: 5616024
    Abstract: A ceramic heater composed of a ceramic substrate and a resistant heating element embedded within the ceramic substrate along a predetermined planar pattern is obtained by holding a convolution of a spiral-coiled high melting metallic filament in the above predetermined planar pattern and heat-treating the convolution at a temperature not higher than a primary recrystallization commencement temperature of the high melting metal under a non-oxidative atmosphere to provide the resistant heating element, embedding the resulting resistant heating element within a ceramic shaped body, and then, sintering the ceramic shaped body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nobori, Ryusuke Ushikoshi, Koichi Umemoto, Atsushi Sakon, Yusuke Niiori, Masahiro Murasato
  • Patent number: 5614016
    Abstract: A method and plant for burning sludge or filter cakes during the cement clinker manufacture where the cement is manufactured in known manner by the cement raw meal being preheated, calcined and burned into clinker with subsequent cooling of the clinker and where the sludge is dried and finely divided prior to burning. The drying heat is provided by feeding hot raw meal from either the preheater or a separating cyclone installed in connection with the calciner to the drier unit, which may be a drier crusher. Applicable types of sludge include sewage sludge, beaching earth, paper sludge, fibre rejects, combustible chemical residues, e.g. waste derived from the manufacture of nylons and pesticides, and drill sludge resulting from oil exploration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: F.L. Smidth & Co. A/S
    Inventor: S.o slashed.ren Hundeb.o slashed.l
  • Patent number: 5580241
    Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed thermal reactor such as a boiler or gasifier, having the riser divided into a sequence of stages by a plurality of restrictions which create multiple beds dynamically suspended. Circulation occurs below transport velocity, solids distribution is substantially uniform, average bed density can be varied from near-zero to very high values, solids mobility is unrestricted, temperature is uniform. Gases follow multistage CSTR flow regime, specially suited for fuels which break down into volatiles upon heating, such as biomass, hazardous wastes and most fuels other than coal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Biothermica International Inc.
    Inventor: Paulo G. Koeberle
  • Patent number: 5577908
    Abstract: An apparatus and method suitable for the continuous curing of pasted battery plates. The apparatus includes a hydroset oven having an atmospherically controlled hydroset chamber in which a continuous transport conveyor is mounted. Pasted plates are automatically loaded onto the transport conveyor and moved continuously through the hydroset chamber. Plenums are positioned in the hydroset oven chamber adjacent to the transport conveyor to direct temperature and humidity controlled air over the battery plates to affect hydrosetting. Additional hydroset ovens may be provided depending on the quantity of battery plates being processed. The apparatus also includes a drying oven containing a continuous transport conveyor. The drying oven is arranged in series with the hydroset oven to receive the hydroset battery plates and dry them in a continuous process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: General Thermal, Inc.
    Inventor: Battle Glascock
  • Patent number: 5567150
    Abstract: A method for making sintered abrasive grain. The sintered abrasive grain can be incorporated into abrasive articles such as bonded abrasives (e.g., grinding wheels), coated abrasives, and nonwoven abrasives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Stanley L. Conwell, William P. Wood
  • Patent number: 5561088
    Abstract: In a heating method for semiconductor devices, gas is filled in a heat chamber in which a heat target (semiconductor device) is mounted, and then the gas is compressed to produce heat. The heat target is heated to a desired temperature by the produced heat. Before the gas compression is performed, the heat target is preferably pre-heated by a heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Sameshima
  • Patent number: 5549473
    Abstract: The loader device comprises a cartridge-carrying carousel provided with a set of cartridge-holders in which sealed closed cartridges are mounted in removable manner, each cartridge being designed to contain a sample for processing in a space furnace, the device further comprising a control mechanism for imparting indexed rotary drive to the cartridge-holders. The carousel is mounted to one side of the furnace in such a manner that its axis of rotation is parallel to longitudinal axis of the furnace. Each cartridge-holder of the carousel co-operates with a transfer mechanism that includes a translation arm extending perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the carousel to enable each cartridge to be brought successively into a working position in which the axis of the cartridge is in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the furnace. The control mechanism for imparting rotary drive to the cartridge-holders and the transfer mechanism are activated alternately by a single electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Societe Europeenne de Propulsion
    Inventor: Dominique Valentian
  • Patent number: 5546875
    Abstract: A process of improving overall quality of coals or other solid fuels comprising heat treating those coals in a controlled, spontaneous, fluidized bed reactor system. The bed system is of such a geometry that in combination with the control system a higher velocity region exists where the fluidizing gas and fuel are fed than where the treated solids exit. The offgas exiting the top of the reactor has a velocity of the average of the inlet gas velocities. Treated coal is withdrawn intermediate to top and bottom. Residence time is controlled by the amount of the solid fuel feed, the location of the treated solid fuel overflow, and the temperature is maintained by oxygen to flue gas ratio, feedstock size and fluidizing velocity. The unit can be operated in a drying mode or a devolatilization mode, to control volatiles, moisture and fines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation
    Inventors: Stanley J. Selle, Douglas R. Hajicek, Michael D. Mann, Nanak S. Grewal
  • Patent number: 5536167
    Abstract: An apparatus for sintering cement clinker with a spouted fluidized bed granulating furnace and a fluidized bed sintering furnace is provided which includes a perforated distributor having a multiplicity of nozzle holes through which gas for granulating injected raw material for cement while spouting and fluidizing the same is introduced; a dropping port through which granulated raw material for cement is discharged and which is disposed to face a spouted fluidized bed, wherein classifying gas is introduced through the dropping port at a classifying flow velocity which is selected to be different from a flow velocity of gas to be introduced through the multiplicity of nozzle holes into the spouted fluidized bed granulating furnace, and means is provided therein to discharge the granulated raw material for cement while classifying the same by using the effect of the classifying gas which is introduced through the dropping port; and an injection chute for injecting the granulated raw material for cement from the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignees: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Sumitomo Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Yokota, Nichitaka Sato, Katsuji Mukai, Toshiyuki Ishinohachi, Isao Hashimoto, Mikio Murao, Shozo Kanamori, Chikanori Kumagai
  • Patent number: 5482458
    Abstract: A rotary kiln (10) is employed which is inclined downwardly from its charge end (12) to its discharge end (14) and has a maximum length to breadth ratio of 5:1. The interior space of the kiln (10) is heated by means of at least one burner (B1, B2) directed into the kiln from one end thereof to a substantially constant elevated process temperature. Material is fed into the kiln (10) so that it occupies a maximum of 10% of the cross-sectional area of the internal space of the kiln (10) at the charge end (12). Upon entering the kiln the material is subjected almost immediately to the required process temperature. As it moves along the bottom of the kiln (10) from the charge to the discharge end (14), heat transfer to the material is primarily by radiation from the combustion space and from the lining of the kiln (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Inventor: Robin A. Kyffin
  • Patent number: 5478234
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing cement clinker is disclosed in which raw material powder of cement pre-heated by a pre-heating unit such as a suspension pre-heater and pre-calcined by a calciner is charged into a granulating furnace as to be granulated, thus-obtained granulated material is charged into a sintering furnace as to be sintered, and the sintered material is cooled and recovered by a cooling unit, the apparatus having a granulating furnace so that the granulating performance of the granulating furnace is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignees: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Sumitomo Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Yokota, Nichitaka Sato, Katsuji Mukai, Toshiyuki Ishinohachi, Hideho Hayashi, Isao Hashimoto, Mikio Murao, Shozo Kanamori, Chikanori Kumagai, Tatsuya Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5454714
    Abstract: An equipment for precalcining any mineral materials whatsoever comprising a precalciner consisting of a combustion chamber communicating through a passage-way with a reaction chamber itself communicating via a duct with a separation cyclone, the reaction chamber being fed with smokes issuing from a firing furnace and three ducts feeding with hot air issuing from a cooler the combustion chamber, a voluted casing at the level of a burner and said duct, respectively, the equipment in particular permitting the manufacture of cement clinker while greatly minimizing the emission of nitrogen oxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: CLE
    Inventor: Maurice Paliard
  • Patent number: 5452669
    Abstract: Incineration apparatus for incinerating a particulate material comprises a furnace housing (2), feeding means (7) for feeding material to be incinerated into said housing (2), and gas supply means (6a-c) for introducing a gas into the material in a lower part of said housing (2) so as to form a fluidised bed (8). Said gas supply means (6a-c) is spaced from the walls of said furnace housing (2) such that said walls are insulated from the fluidised bed (8) by an insulating layer of particulate material not in a fluidised state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Richards Engineering Limited
    Inventor: Ian A. Bailey
  • Patent number: 5431560
    Abstract: A device for supplying gas to a rotary cylinder by means of a slip ring channel is described, a relative movement between rotating part and stationary part of the slip ring being permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heinrich Helker, Matthias Weis
  • Patent number: 5378060
    Abstract: A combustion chamber having improved heating efficiency and reduced NO.sub.x emissions includes a reduced diameter throat and a stepped configuration within the chamber. The chamber configuration encourages efficient combustion to reduce NO.sub.x production by promoting the formation of eddy currents within the chamber. A method for increasing heating efficiency and reducing NO.sub.x production is provided and involves passing combustion gases through such a combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Astec Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Don Brock, Erbie G. Mize, Malcom L. Swanson
  • Patent number: 5378083
    Abstract: A soil remediation system uses heat from remediated soil to vaporize volatiles from contaminated dust without pollution. Preferably, this remediation takes place in a dust remediator which is located proximate a primary treatment unit for contaminated soil, which vaporizes volatiles from the dust using heat from remediated soil, and which directs the volatiles into the primary treatment unit for oxidation. The primary treatment unit may comprise a rotary drum, and the dust remediator may comprise a shroud covering the remediated soil outlet end of the drum and receiving the remediated soil and the dust. The remediated soil and the dust are combined in the shroud so as to maximize vaporization of contaminants while minimizing agitation of the dust, and the combined soil and dust are then discharged together from a remediated products outlet of the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Astec Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Malcolm L. Swanson
  • Patent number: 5376000
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for extracting simultaneously metal values from foundry sands, said apparatus comprising a thermostated column which is in flow communication with a controlled air supply source and with a heating system arranged to keep said column at a predetermined temperature; said column is adapted to receive the necessary components to form an aqueous pulp from which the metal values are to be extracted, and has a device for finely dividing the airflow coming from the supply source in order to obtain a suitable suspension and homogenization of said pulp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Instituto Nacional De Investigaciones Nucleares
    Inventor: Jaime V. Torres
  • Patent number: 5372460
    Abstract: Process for disposing of clay, shale or sand containing earth contaminated with petroleum products from a variety of remediation sites is disclosed. The surrounding contaminated earth to be remediated is first excavated. Then, any clay or shale which is present is separated from the other materials and transported to a site of a cement plant. The non-clay or non-shale material is disposed of in a non-hazardous landfill. At the cement plant, the clay or shale is mixed with other cement precursor raw materials and the mixture is ground to form a cement feed mix. The feed mix is introduced into a rotary cement kiln causing any remaining petroleum product contained therein to be volatilized and burned within the kiln as the cement clinker is formed. The clinker is then ground for the purpose of forming cement free of petroleum product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Inventor: Paul A. Ruehl
  • Patent number: 5364265
    Abstract: An equipment for precalcining any mineral materials whatsoever comprising a precalciner consisting of a combustion chamber communicating through a passage-way with a reaction chamber itself communicating via a duct with a separation cyclone, the reaction chamber being fed with smokes issuing from a firing furnace and three ducts feeding with hot air issuing from a cooler the combustion chamber, a voluted casing at the level of a burner and said duct, respectively, the equipment in particular permitting the manufacture of cement clinker while greatly minimizing the emission of nitrogen oxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: CLE
    Inventor: Maurice Paliard
  • Patent number: 5349910
    Abstract: In a generally known cement kiln plant which incorporates a preheater (1), a calciner (2) having a separation cyclone (3), a rotary kiln (4) and a clinker cooler (5), a decomposition chamber (10) is additionally installed for incineration of waste. Waste is introduced into the chamber at a location (12) and decomposed in the chamber by the heat from calcined raw meal which is conveyed to the chamber from the separation cyclone (3) of the calciner via a splitting gate (13) and a pipeline (14). Gaseous products are conveyed to the calciner (2) and burned there, whereas noncombustible by-products are discharged via an outlet (15) of the chamber (10). By utilizing the heat from preheated or calcined raw meal instead of, for example, hot exhaust gases to incinerate waste, any disturbance of the draught conditions of the cement kiln plant can be avoided, and the overall control of the calcining process is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: F. L. Smidth & Co. A/S
    Inventor: Soren Hundebol
  • Patent number: 5322367
    Abstract: A process for the production of hot mix asphalt (HMA) by the treatment of virgin material alone or adding reclaimed or recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) (up to 100% of the HMA). The HMA is first heated in either a parallel or a counter flow rotating drum which is supplied with hot combustion gases generated by a remote low NO.sub.x burner. The process is controlled by a micro-processor which controls RAP temperature, mixture gradation, emissions and production rate as a function of measured drum conditions such as temperature at the drum inlet, drum speed, drum slope, drum RPM, output hydrocarbons, drum gas outlet temperature, and amount of aggregate added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Cyclean, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Nath, John Wiley, Robert Erickson, Carl R. Hutchinson, Mike Miles
  • Patent number: 5305696
    Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for treating particulate soil composition to remove volatilizable organic materials therefrom comprises separating fine particles of the soil from a gaseous mixture in a drum containing the fine particles and volatilized organic material, directing the separated fine particle heat exchange apparatus, indirectly heating the fine particles therein with hot exhaust gas to volatilize organic materials, and recovering the fine particles. The hot exhaust gas for heating the fine particles in the heat exchange apparatus is obtained from a furnace used to combust volatilized organic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Inventor: Robert L. Mendenhall
  • Patent number: 5302118
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for decontaminating petroleum contaminated soil and the like, and which comprises a rotary drum dryer which is adapted to convey the soil therethrough, and which includes a burner at one end for generating a heated gas stream which passes through the dryer to heat the soil to a temperature sufficient to volatilize the contaminates. A fixed enclosure is mounted to surround the discharge end of the dryer and the enclosure receives the heated soil as it is discharged from the dryer. Any entrained dust particles which are withdrawn with the exhaust gas stream from the dryer, and which may remain contaminated, are separated from the gas stream and returned to the enclosure. In the enclosure, the returned dust is mixed with the heated soil so as to cause the dust to be heated and to release its volatile contaminates, without risk of the returned dust being again entrained in the gas stream flowing through the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Astec Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James G. Renegar, Malcolm L. Swanson
  • Patent number: 5297957
    Abstract: Heated surrogate medium is placed in heat transfer relation with high moisture content waste material where water is evaporated to steam. By agitating the mixture of waste material and heated surrogate medium, particulate matter from the waste material is entrained in the steam. A separator separates the steam and dried waste material and supplies the dried waste material to a burner for heating the surrogate medium. The separated steam flows to a stack or to the surrogate medium and oversized waste material discharged through an outlet of the drying zone for flowing additional particulate material from the waste material flowing through the discharge outlet back into the drying zone. The discharged surrogate medium and the oversized waste material are separated and the separated surrogate medium is recycled into the heating zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Thermotech Systems Corp.
    Inventor: David F. Brashears
  • Patent number: 5292247
    Abstract: In cement clinker production lines having calcinator connected upstream of the rotary kiln and equipped with a second firing, in order that the most complete possible burnup or residual burnup, favorable from the standpoint of thermal economy, of uncombusted fuel constituents such as, for example, CO and/or uncombusted residual carbon be enabled in the calcinator, and indeed in the case of calcinators without, but in particular with, a device for the reduction of the NO.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Claus Bauer
  • Patent number: 5290334
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for glass manufacture is described having batch preheating and reduced pollution emission. The apparatus includes two modules containing pelletized glass and/or cullet. One module functions as a pelletized glass preheater, and the other as a filter for removing pollution emissions from furnace exhaust gases. The modules are switchable, such that the preheating module can be converted to a filter module, and the filter module converted to a preheating module, thus allowing periodic cleaning and routine maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Edmeston AB
    Inventor: Jeffery C. Alexander
  • Patent number: 5265977
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating soil contaminated with hydrocarbons by breaking up the soil into discretes and passing the particles through an open flame to cause the volatile substances in them to vaporize and burn. The apparatus is preferably portable and provides for continuous processing of the contaminated soil on-site so that it can be immediately returned to the ground free from contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Inventors: Frank H. Weirich, Claudia A. Wright, Jon K. Hake
  • Patent number: 5260041
    Abstract: A process for the continuous production of a calcined product containing a high level of reactive oxide valves, from a preheated raw material containing calcium carbonate values, said process comprising,(a) introducing the preheated raw material to the bottom of a generally vertically oriented gas suspension calcining furnace, whereby said preheated raw material is thereafter suspended in an ascending stream of heated gas to thereby pass vertically upwardly through the gas suspension calcining furnace;(b) passing the ascending gas stream through a plurality of burners, into which fuel and air are injected, that are vertically spaced from each other, in the gas suspension furnace, at a number of levels in the flow direction of the heated gas, and(c) collecting the calcined product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Fuller Company
    Inventors: Sidney M. Cohen, Michael E. Prokesch, William E. Lindquist
  • Patent number: 5244383
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for reducing the circulation of salts in a cement kiln in which a raw meal heat exchanger feeds material to the kiln. A partial gas stream charged with harmful substances is removed from the kiln through a bypass conduit. The partial gas stream is subjected to a multi-stage process of removing dust. This process includes passing the partial gas stream through a first dust separating stage, followed by returning an uncooled dust component of the partial gas stream to the kiln and cooling the remaining portion of the partial gas stream. The cooled remaining portion of the partial gas stream is subjected to a further dust separating process, and thereafter passed through a further bypass conduit to a location of the raw meal exchanger, which location has a temperature at approximately the same level as the temperature of the remaining portion of the partial gas stream entering the further bypass conduit following the further dust separating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: O&K Orenstein & Koppel AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Kreft, Ludger Gunnewig
  • Patent number: 5236282
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleansing or restoring polluted substances such as soil or sludge has a horizontally mounted main conveyor which moves a polluted substance which is continually dispensed thereon from a main hopper. A pulverizer mounted proximate the main hopper breaks up the polluted substance into relatively small uniform particles before it is dispensed into the auger of moving means. Immediately downstream of the main hopper, in embodiments which require it, is a dry powder hopper for dispensing fly ash, lime, or other absorbent substance, depending on the process being used onto the polluted substance, or after, as it moves from a first to a second location. At the second location the substance is received by an auger apparatus operating in an elongated, angularly disposed, tubular mixing channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: NFS Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Teasel, William C. Teasel
  • Patent number: 5217368
    Abstract: A process and apparatus to treat powdered minerals placed in gaseous suspension by thermal exchange. The process includes the steps of preheating the minerals to be treated by the exhaust gas from a furnace. The minerals are then treated in the furnace. The minerals are then cooled with a stream of air prior to introducing the stream of air into the furnace. The furnace exhaust gases are filtered before being released into the atmosphere. A majority of the filtrate is mixed with the minerals leaving the furnace. The remainder of the filtrate is placed in suspension in a current of air diverted from the current of warm air which cools the minerals leaving the furnace. The remainder of the filtrate is separated from the air. The remainder of the filtrate is then mixed with the treated minerals and at least partially cooled. The diverted air is mixed with the furnace exhaust gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: FCB
    Inventor: Pierre Rodet
  • Patent number: 5213496
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heat treatment of lime mud comprises drying of the lime mud to be introduced into the lime reburning kiln in a pneumatic dryer by means of flue gases discharged from the lime reburning kiln in order to regenerate the lime content of the lime mud. From a drying filter, the lime mud thickened to a dry solids content of over 75%, preferably to 80%, is introduced into a feed chamber through which an adjustment portion of the flue gas is conducted. Depending on the gas amount, 100% or less of the lime mud is entrained with the gas into the dryer, the remaining portion falling into the lower section of the feed chamber, wherefrom it is further transferred into the lime reburning kiln.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: A. Ahlstrom Corporation
    Inventor: Arto J. Ahvenainen
  • Patent number: 5201652
    Abstract: After a clinker sintered in a kiln is fluidized and mixed in a fluidized mixing and cooling zone provided before a grate cooling zone, the clinker is supplied to the following grate cooling zone and is cooled therein. The cooling air for fluidizing, mixing and cooling the clinker is supplied by successively switching and controlling the injection of the high pressure cooling air from the rows of the high pressure nozzles at the side walls towards the central rows in the fluidized mixing and cooling zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Onoda Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youji Kawamura, Chiaki Sasaki, Hiuma Kaneko, Takeshi Omi
  • Patent number: 5195887
    Abstract: A high throughput apparatus and process for thermal remediation of soil contaminated with volatile organic compounds has a dryer with a high capacity heat source to volatilize and combust the compounds contained in a first lot of soil. The remediated soil is discharged and cooled. Hot gases and fines formed are drawn into a second dryer with an ignition source where a second lot of soil is used to cool the hot gases/fines mixture. A particulate control chamber is used to remove at least 75% of the fines from the gas/fines mixture. Gases containing uncombusted volatile organic compounds are directed back to the primary dryer for additional exposure to heat in order to complete combustion. Additional separation of the fines from gases is achieved in a baghouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Inventors: Charles R. Peterson, Gregory M. Peterson, Daniel C. Hopper, Trudy J. Weichlein
  • Patent number: 5176087
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing organic contaminants from contaminated materials including a sealed hopper, a heated vapor stripping conveyor sealed from atmospheric air to vapor strip the contaminants from the material, a sealed conveyor to convey the material in sealed condition from the hopper to the vapor stripping conveyor, a supply of non-oxidative gases at a controlled temperature for introduction into the vapor stripping conveyor, an introduction portal for the non-oxidative gases into the vapor stripping conveyor, an exit for removing the non-oxidative gases from the conveyor and located to cause the non-oxidative gases to cross currently sweep over the material to convey contaminants and moisture stripped from the material out of the vapor stripping conveyor, and a controller for controlling the flow rate and temperature of the non-oxidative gases as they flow through the vapor stripping conveyor and to prevent undue surface drying of the material as the material passes through the vapor stripping
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Roy F. Weston, Inc.
    Inventors: John Noland, Luis A. Velazquez, Michael Cosmos
  • Patent number: 5174749
    Abstract: By a method for heat treatment of pulverous material, e.g. burning of lime, the lime is first preheated by means of exit gas in a preheater (1, 2, 3) and subsequently burnt in a calciner (4, 14), after which the burnt lime is cooled in a cooler (6, 7).In order to be able to alter the reactivity of the finish-burnt lime, the calciner is divided into two chambers, namely a first chamber (4) in which the lime is burnt at, e.g. 1050.degree. C. and a second chamber (14) in which a larger or smaller portion of the lime is further burnt at a higher temperature, e.g. 1300.degree. C.By means of a splitting gate (16) in the outlet from a separation cyclone (5) for the calciner (4, 14), it is possible to determine the size of the portion of lime which should be exposed to the higher burning temperature in the second calciner chamber (14) and consequently to predetermine the reactivity of the finish-burnt lime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: F. L. Smidth & Co. A/S
    Inventors: Bjarne M. Jorgensen, Erik Neubert
  • Patent number: 5173044
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for the manufacture of clinker of mineral raw materials, such as cement clinker, according to the wet process and ensuring an almost complete absorption of the SO.sub.2 -emission in the kiln gases from a kiln, such as a rotary kiln working according to this process, the wet process is converted into a semi-dry process in feeding the wet ground raw materials (6, 7) together with a raw mix component such as flyash (5) and/or precipitated filter dust (18, 20) into gas suspension drying unit (4) mounted--seen in the direction of movement of the kiln gases--after a kiln (1) and heated with kiln gases for creating a gas/material suspension in the drying unit (4) thereby preheating and drying the wet raw materials before their returning via an overflow bin (11) and a duct (14) to the kiln inlet (2) and their further treatment in the kiln (1) and thereby simultaneously through an SO.sub.2 adsorption by the dry particles in the unit (4) ensuring the cleansing of the kiln gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: F. L. Smidth & Co. A/S
    Inventor: Peter B. Neilsen
  • Patent number: 5170726
    Abstract: The remediation apparatus includes a pair of heating units, e.g., rotary drum dryers, each having a contaminated material inlet and a burner at opposite ends whereby the contaminated material and hot gases of combustion are in heat exchange, preferably counterflow relation. Material-bearing hydrocarbon contaminants are heated in the first drum to volatilize the low boiling fraction. The soil is conveyed to the second drum and heated to a higher temperature to volatilize the intermediate and high boiling fractions. The volatilized contaminants from the second drum are returned to the burner of the first drum for at least partial oxidation and reduction of the higher fractions to lower fractions. The dust and gases exiting the first drum flow to a baghouse for separation into dust and volatilized contaminants. The dust is returned to the soil. The volatilized contaminants are further eliminated, e.g., by oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Thermotech Systems Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Brashears, Edward E. Harwood, Alfred A. Dishian
  • Patent number: 5169307
    Abstract: A process for producing micropellets of lightweight aggregate having a substantially spheroidal configuration which includes continuously mixing ceramic clay and liquid in a high speed rotating pin mixer to encapsulate substantially all other non-volatile inorganic solid materials present in micropellets having a diameter not exceeding about six mesh. The spheroidal micropellets are then fired at a temperature of at least 2,000.degree. F. to oxidize all volatile organic compounds present. The lightweight aggregate of micropellets can advantageously be used to replace sand in a cement or concrete matrix, as a well as for numerous other uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Inventor: James A. Frye
  • Patent number: 5165888
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermally reclaiming used foundry sand is disclosed. The apparatus includes a vertically disposed furnace having a combustion chamber therein. A sand dispersion system supported within the combustion chamber disperses the free falling sand particles to expose the particles to a combustion supporting furnace environment. Disposed immediately below the furnace is a sand retention chamber in which the sand is accumulated. Heated air is introduced into the retention chamber to maintain the combustion supporting environment. Residual coatings remaining on the sand particles are thermally removed in the retention chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Inventors: John J. Rothschild, James L. Donahue
  • Patent number: 5139749
    Abstract: A method for enhancing the efficiency of a thermal process such as calcination. The incoming solid particulate material is preheated in the conveyor by partially cooled exhaust vapors from the thermal processor. In passage through the conveyor, the cooled, intermediate temperature vapors contact, fluidize and heat the particulate solids to increase the available throughput of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Tas, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin C. White
  • Patent number: 5132102
    Abstract: A method to operate a flash calcination unit with both atmosphere and temperature control is described for mineral processing requirements and other atmosphere controlled processes. The method can be used to process phosphate, gold ore or activated carbon. The critical steps of the method involve an initial mixing of fine material combined with stoichiometric burning using at least one staged combustion furnace in a vertically oriented suspension calcination furnace. This effects control of oxygen or atmosphere in the combustion furnace with attendant control of temperature in that furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Fuller Company
    Inventors: Sidney M. Cohen, William E. Lindquist, Barry W. Diamond
  • Patent number: 5123364
    Abstract: A method of thermal decontamination of organic wastes in which the waste is treated in a primary incinerator by a heat source such that solid residue is collected from the incinerator and exhaust fumes then participate in an industrial thermal process by being directed to an industrial containment by combusting the exhaust gases together with fuel and an oxidizer with oxygen concentration in excess of air to decontaminate the exhaust gases and using the heat produced in the industrial process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: American Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Gitman, Frederick J. Kuntz
  • Patent number: 5122190
    Abstract: A method for producing a hydraulic binder using partially calcined raw meal entrained in the kiln off gases. The raw meal flow form the lowermost cyclone is interrupted at or near the junction of the meal chute, kiln inlet and riser duct. This flow interruption causes turbulence in the partially calcined meal facilitating dust entrainment in the gas. The splash plate can be selectively adjusted to entrain more or less raw meal. The entrained meal is drawn off from the riser duct through a kiln bypass duct, processed and hydrated to convert the calcium oxide in the meal to calcium hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Southdown, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael von Seebach, J. Bruce Tompkins
  • Patent number: 5110289
    Abstract: In the heat treatment of lime mud, the lime mud to be introduced to a lime reburning kiln is dried in a penumatic drier by flue gases from the lime reburning kiln in order to regenerate the lime contained in the mud. Prior to drying, the lime mud is thickened in a drying filter to a dry solids content of over 75%, preferably to approximately 80%. In this way, the lime reburning kiln can be made approximately 30% shorter than conventional kilns, and the apparatus is simpler than the conventional apparatus provided with a pneumatic drier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: A. Ahlstrom Corp.
    Inventor: Esko I. Mattelmaki
  • Patent number: 5098285
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for calcining fine grained material in the manufacture of cement clinker wherein material is preheated and partially calcined in a cyclone preheater, further partially calcined by a waste zone wherein waste material such as used tires are burned in an excess of oxygen, completely calcined in a kiln, the exhaust gases from the waste zone and kiln fed to a separate auxiliary burning zone which is supplied only with fuel and utilizes the excess oxygen from the waste zone reducing the presence of CO and the CO surges, and the heat from the burning zone is fed to the preheaters to further precalcine the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Kloeckner-Humboldt-Deutz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Claus Bauer
  • Patent number: RE34775
    Abstract: A method is shown for producing a lightweight aggregate by treating flyash and sewage sludge. The flyash and sewage sludge are mixed together and then agglomerated into pellets, with or without the use of a binder. The pellets may be coated and then are dried. The dried pellets are introduced into a rotary kiln in a direction that is co-current with the flow of fuel and air through the kiln. The pellets in the kiln will be indurated and will experience complete calcination as well as varying degrees of pyrolizing and sintering. The product of the kiln is a nodular material having a low density but with a hard and porous structure. The product of the kiln is feed to a cooler. The flyash sewage sludge mixture has a significant fuel value that is usable in the kiln. Furthermore, the fuel valve available in the kiln off-gases may be used for drying the materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Minergy Corp.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Nechvatal, Glenn A. Heian