Abstract: A method of quick purging beds of a regenerative fume incinerator which is practically applicable for use in 2, 3 and 4 bed incinerators. For a very short purge period near the end of an operating time cycle, the bed being switched from receiving impure gases to discharge of clean gas is purged of impure gases by being supplied with clean gas discharged by the incinerator. The quick purging takes less than 4% of the cycle time and thus inflow of impure gases is stopped for a very brief period when this quick purge method is used in a 2 bed incinerator. When using this quick purge method in a three or four bed regenerative fume incinerator there is always at least one bed receiving impure gases. This quick purge method improves the quality of the discharged clean gas without significant loss of thermal efficiency and without significant reduction in operating capacity.

Abstract: A rotary valve suitable for a 2-bed regenerative fume incinerator which provides for purging of the beds and uninterrupted inflow and outflow during operation of the incinerator including the time intervals in which the valve is rotated from one position of operation to another and during the time intervals in which the beds are individually purged.

Abstract: A continuous flow rotary valve for multiple bed regenerative fume incinerators which has a cylindrical valve housing with three or more bed ports spaced equally about the middle or central portion of the housing, feed and exit ports at opposite ends of the housing and a purge port spaced from the other ports. The valve also includes a cylindrical valve rotor having feed, exit and purge cavities in free flow fluid communication with the feed, exit and purge ports. The feed and exit cavities have radially outward openings which are circumferentially wider than the circumferential space on the housing between two bed ports. During rotary movement of the valve rotor from one operating position to another, the feed cavity will supply feed gas to two bed ports during a portion of the rotary movement and the exit cavity will receive exit gas from two beds during a different portion of the rotary movement.

Abstract: A three-bed regenerative fume incinerator system includes a single rotary fluid control valve which effects three operational cycles in a repeating sequence. A valve body has a cylindrical inner surface about a central axis. Six main conduit connection openings at 60.degree. angular intervals are organized as three regenerator connection openings and three interspersed functional connection openings. The regenerator connection openings are connected via conduits to the lower end of the three respective thermal regenerators, the upper ends of which are connected to a common combustion chamber. Respectively connected to the functional connection openings are a contaminated feed gas inlet, treated gas outlet, and a source of purge gas. A valve rotor within the body has a pair of generally parallel plates spaced apart a distance corresponding to the angular extent of the openings, and supported substantially equidistant from the central axis for rotation between three functional valve positions.

Abstract: A single rotary valve is designed to control feed, purge and exit flow in a multiple bed regenerative fume incinerator system thereby replacing the large number of valves heretofore used to operate such a system. The housing of the rotary valve has ports for connection to at least one feed conduit, to at least one exit conduit, to at least 3 regenerator bed conduits and includes an annular opening on the valve axis for a purge gas conduit. The purge gas conduit extends through the annular opening and connects to an interior cavity of the valve rotor which has a peripheral opening registrable individually with the regenerator bed ports. The valve rotor divides the interior chamber of the valve housing into a feed subchamber and an exit subchamber and includes a sealing plenum preventing leakage from the feed subchamber to the exit subchamber.

Abstract: A multiple bed regenerative incinerator is cycled at regular intervals by an automatic control which causes fuel gas to be added to the impure inlet air for a first part of each cycle interval and interrupts the flow of fuel gas to the impure air inlet during a last part of each cycle interval thereby improving the purging of fuel gas from the regenerator being fed the impure air. Fuel gas flow may be adjusted by the control in response to signals from a monitor sensing the lower explosive limit of the impure air/fuel gas mixture. The control may cause the fuel gas to be delivered to a burner in a combustion chamber interconnecting the hot ends of the regenerators during the last part of each cycle interval. High dilution of fuel limits fume temperature and NOx production.

Abstract: A multiport fluid flow control valve, particularly for use in a regenerative incinerator system for treating process emissions to remove volatile organic combustibles (VOCs). A valve housing has at least three main conduit connection openings. A butterfly valve element rotatable within the housing on a valve element axis has at least two radially-extending rectangular wings such that different pairs of the main conduit connection openings are in deliberate fluid communication depending on the position of the valve element. To accommodate thermal expansion, there is a gap between the peripheries of the valve element wings and an inner surface of the valve housing. Leakage across this gap is prevented by a valve element structure which cooperates with a portion of the valve housing inner surface to define a plenum. The plenum is either pressurized or forcibly vented. In one form, the structure which cooperates to define a plenum comprises a U-shaped channel element on the peripheries of the wings.

Abstract: A single unit, shell and tube fume incinerator utilizes a vacuum baffle (34) structure proximate a combustion zone (24) to control the flow of combustion exhaust gas. The vacuum baffle (34) is located slightly above the hot ends of a plurality of heat exchange tubes (20) to deflect the hot exhaust gases from the combustion zone (24) away from the ends of the tubes (20), and back to the outside of the tubes (20), thereby controlling the "time at temperature" for contaminants in the impure gas feed. A vacuum effect is created just below the baffle (34) to draw cleansed exhaust below the baffle (34) back up into the combustion zone (24) to prevent the escape of impure gas.

Abstract: A flow control valve comprising a pair of parallel, circular butterfly disks that are connected to a shaft for rotation about an axis extending diametrically of a cylindrical valve housing. The parallel disks form a valve plenum within the housing when the valve is in a closed position. A pair of annular flanges on the inner periphery of the valve housing each align radially with a respective one of the butterfly disks when the valve is in the closed position. A small gap is provided between each flange and corresponding disk to facilitate thermal expansion of the valve components. At least a portion of the shaft is hollow and extends externally through the housing. The hollow portion of the shaft is provided with a first aperture located within the valve plenum and a second aperture located external to the valve housing. An external pressure source connects to the second aperture to pressurize or vent the valve plenum to prevent any fluid leakage through the valve.

Abstract: A method for removing nitrogen oxides NO.sub.x and volatile organic combustibles VOC's from impure air or gases is provided. The method includes the steps of admixing ammonia or other reducing gas to the feed of an incinerator, heating the gas to about 1000.degree. F., reacting the NO.sub.x with the reducing gas to form nitrogen gas and water, and further heating the gas to oxidize the VOC's and residual reducing gas with the oxygen present.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and method for removing odors from the air. The apparatus has a base with a candle mounted thereon and a container open at two ends located above the candle. The container houses activated charcoal. The candle causes the odor filled air to move through the container and thus through the activated charcoal by the chimney effect. Odors are removed from the air by the combustion of the candle, and by the activated charcoal and odors may also be masked by the scent of the candle.

Abstract: A valve comprising a circular butterfly that is rotatable about an axis extending diametrically of a cylindrical valve housing. The butterfly has two axially spaced seal surfaces on the periphery thereof that, in conjunction with complementary axially spaced seats on the valve housing, control the flow of air to or from an annular plenum that surrounds the valve housing.

Abstract: There is provided a magnetohydrodynamics system which utilizes liquid metal or alloy moving in a channel through a magnetic field to generate electricity. Energy is put into the system by pumping the liquid metal to an elevated collection zone. A portion of the liquid metal is collected in a cooling zone where a solid metal outer skin is formed in the shape of a piston. Pressure is applied to the bottom of the piston to move the piston and a portion of the remaining liquid metal to the collection zone where the metal is heated thus remelting the piston and cycle is repeated.

Abstract: A furnace for burning sawdust wherein combustion of the fuel is complete and recovery of heat of combustion is high, which incorporates an aspirator for controlling combustion of the fuel and for secondarily recovering heat from the products of combustion, and additionally for cleaning the exhaust gases. The invention incorporates primary and secondary heat exchange chambers.