Abstract: An improved method of introducing air into a rotary combustor for burning municipal solid waste in an incinerator, wherein a large amount of air is introduced over the top portion of the combustor adjacent the outlet end thereof to maintain the CO at acceptable low levels in response to a reduction in the amount of oxygen in the flue gas even when varying amounts of high heating value materials are introduced sporadically.

Abstract: Perforated plugs fitted into combustion air holes in a rotary combustor in which combustion air for burning municipal solid waste passes through the perforations to prevent molten aluminum and fines from passing through the perforations and the method of preventing molten aluminum from passing through the perforations using the plugs.

Abstract: A rotary combustor has a wall formed from water cooled pipes that are secured together by welded perforated strips. The strips comprise cylindrical shaped metallic rods and the perforations are provided either by forming apertures through the cylindrical shaped metallic rods, or by slots formed between segments by spacing segments of cylindrical shaped rods along the pipes, or by gaps formed between welds that are provided at spaced intervals along the pipes and rods. A method of fabricating a rotary combustor wall is also provided.

Abstract: An improved waste heat boiler having a front, back and two side walls that cooperate to form a flue with a rotary combustor for burning municipal solid waste extending through the front wall and an asymmetrical bull nose protuberance disposed on the back wall above the rotary combustor and a plurality of nozzles disposed in the side walls or the front wall aligned with the tip of the protuberance to direct jets of air inwardly and downwardly into the flue to reduce the CO content of the exhaust gases from the waste heat boiler.

Abstract: An improved method for automatically controlling rate of combustion in a rotary combustor having a rotating combustion barrel (11) by precisely controlling a supply of combustion gas to three separate combustion zones (A, B and C) of the combustion barrel (11) in the rotary combustor used for the incineration of municipal solid waste material (15), the combustion zones (A, B and C) have an associated windbox (34, 37 and 40) disposed directly beneath a respective combustion zone, the windboxes (34, 37 and 40) are further divided into an overfire air zone (36, 39 and 42) and an underfire air zone (35, 38 and 41) forming six air zones which are adjusted by a controller (51) to precisely regulate the supply of combustion gas to each of the six air zones (35, 36, 38, 39, 41, 42).

Abstract: A waste material incinerator which produces an exhaust, containing trace amounts of a toxic organic substance, includes a flue containing a refractory filter. The refractory filter is heated by the exhaust produced by the incinerator to a temperature above 700.degree. C. to destroy the toxic organic substance in the exhaust. The refractory filter preferably includes a plurality of ceramic cylinders and is periodically cleaned to remove accumulated solid particles on the upstream surface of the cylinders by injecting high pressure air into the cylinders.

Abstract: A combustion controller controls the supply of combustion gas to the combustion barrel of a rotary combustor used for incinerating solid waste material. The rotary combustor includes a combustion barrel having a gas-porous side wall and windboxes underneath the combustion barrel to supply the combustion gas to support incineration of the waste material into combustion products which include exhaust gases. The windboxes receive combustion gas via individual control ducts which are controlled by the combustion controller to regulate the corresponding supplies of combustion gas and thereby to provide substantially complete incineration of the solid material. An oxygen sensor detects the percentage of oxygen present in the exhaust gases and the combustion gas supplied to the combustion barrel is controlled to maintain the percentage of oxygen near a predetermined level.

Abstract: A rotary combustor for incinerating solid waste material, such as municipal trash, includes a combustion barrel supplied by air through windboxes underneath the barrel. Molten metal, such as aluminum, which is commonly present in the waste material, drops through perforations in the side wall of the combustion barrel and collects on a heated contact surface in each of the windboxes. The heated contact surface may have a funnel shape and be connected to a heated pipe for transferring the molten metal out of each windbox. Alternatively, the heated element may be attached to the interior surface of each windbox and separated therefrom by heat insulation. In this case, heated airlock doors at the lower end of the windboxes are used to discharge the molten metal from the windboxes.

Abstract: An improved rotary combustor has side walls with slanted openings. Air used to support combustion passes through the slanted openings and is directed at an acute angle to a vector in the direction of rotation of the combustion barrel. As a result, the air is directed towards the combustion area within the barrel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calcining limestone to produce lime wherein coal is combusted to provide heat for the calcination. The coal is combusted in a two stage combustion unit, with at least seventy-five percent of the slag formed by the coal combustion removed from the first stage of the combustion unit. Residual gases and fuel are further combusted in the second stage of the two stage combustor, with hot combustion gases therefrom, having the molten slag removed, fed directly to the calcining chamber of a rotary lime kiln. The coal may be carbonized to form a char and a fuel gas for use in the two stage combustor.

Abstract: Utilizing a CO monitor to control thermal de-sooting of a heat exchanger in order to prevent run-away reactions.