Vacuum Incineration Apparatus For Waste Disposal and Vacuum Preservation Method Thereof

Abstract

Disclosed are a vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal and a vacuum preservation method thereof. The present invention provides a vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal and a vacuum preservation method thereof, which are capable of effectively preventing harmful substances from being produced by forcibly sucking in gases generated from thermally-decomposed waste in an incinerator. By sequentially operating a plurality of vacuum regulating tanks for forcedly and instantly sucking in gas generated from waste when the waste is treated, it is possible to keep a space where the waste is thermally decomposed in a complete vacuum state.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal and a vacuum preservation method thereof, and more particularly, a vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal and a vacuum preservation method thereof, which are capable of effectively preventing harmful substances from being produced by forcibly sucking in gases generated from thermally-decomposed waste in an incinerator.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a waste disposal apparatus employs a direct heating system (also called a stoker system) as that incinerates waste injected into an incinerator made of refractory materials by heating the waste directly and remove generated gases by means of an impinger.

However, since such a direct heating system can not obtain sufficient combustion due to various factors including loadage and density of waste, a size of an incinerator, heating temperature, water (moisture), etc., pollutants such as soot, dust, dioxin and the like are produced to have a serious effect on the environment.

In addition, in the conventional disposal apparatus, an impinger can not fully filter remove contaminated or noxious substances out and parts such as a filter in the impinger have to be frequently replaced with new ones. Moreover, many harmful substances captured and stored in the replaced parts have to be separately disposed of. Furthermore, considerable fuel is consumed to incinerate waste containing water (moisture) at required temperature, which results in excessive costs.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a conventional high temperature decomposition type incineration apparatus which is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 10-1998-27673.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional high temperature decomposition type incineration apparatus includes a hopper 101 into which waste is injected, a vacuum mixer 103 equipped with a feeding screw to mix the waste while feeding the waste, a vacuum pump 102 which makes the vacuum mixer 103 vacuous to prevents air from being introduced into the vacuum mixer 103, a thermal decomposition chamber 104 equipped with a burner 104a to burn the waste at a high temperature, and a combustion chamber 105 which burns exhaust gases discharged from the thermal decomposition chamber 104.

The conventional high temperature decomposition type incineration apparatus with this configuration makes the vacuum mixer 103 vacuous to some degrees by drawing out air introduced, together the waste, into the vacuum mixer 103. However, the thermal decomposition chamber 104 can not form a vacuum due to gases generated from the waste thermally decomposed in the thermal decomposition chamber 104, which may result in imperfect combustion to generate pollutants such as dioxin and so on, like the general heating type incinerator.

Moreover, such a conventional high temperature decomposition type incineration apparatus has no means to remove harmful substances contained in the air discharged from the vacuum mixer 103 by actuation of the vacuum pump 102.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal and a vacuum preservation method thereof, which are capable of thermally decomposing waste by heating the waste indirectly in a perfect vacuum state in order to suppress harmful substances (such as dioxin and so on) from being generated while burning the waste.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal and a vacuum preservation method thereof, which are capable of keeping an incinerator vacuous until waste is completely treated by forcedly and continuously sucking in gas generated from the waste thermally decomposed in the incinerator.

Technical Solution

To achieve the above objects, according to an aspect, the present invention provides a vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal, comprising an incinerator for thermally decomposing waste; a combustor for burning gas generated from the waste thermally decomposed in the incinerator; and a vacuum forming unit for making the incinerator vacuous, wherein the vacuum forming unit keeps the incinerator vacuous by forcedly and continuously sucking in the generated gas.

Preferably, the vacuum forming unit comprises a plurality of vacuum regulating tanks for sucking in the gas discharged from the incinerator, and a vacuum pump for making the plurality of vacuum regulating tanks vacuous, and the plurality of vacuum regulating tanks operate sequentially according to a predetermined order and forcedly suck in the generated gas by exchanging the generated gas with the vacuum of the vacuum regulating tanks.

Preferably, the plurality of vacuum regulating tanks comprises a first vacuum regulating tank and a second vacuum regulating tank, and the first vacuum regulating tank is disconnected from the incinerator when the first vacuum regulating tank reaches a predetermined pressure as the first vacuum regulating tank sucks in the gas discharged from the incinerator, and at the same time, the second vacuum regulating tank is connected to the incinerator so that the second vacuum regulating tank continuously sucks in the gas generated from the waste thermally decomposed in the incinerator.

Preferably, the vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal further comprises a ventilator for introducing external air into the plurality of vacuum regulating tanks, and, when one of the plurality of vacuum regulating tanks reaches a predetermined pressure as the one vacuum regulating tank sucks in the gas discharged from the incinerator, the introduction of the gas into the incinerator is interrupted, and then the ventilator is actuated to discharge the sucked gas to the combustor.

Preferably, the vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal further comprises a vacuum filter provided at a front stage of the vacuum pump.

Preferably, the vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal further comprises a gas cooling and storing unit having one end connected to the incinerator and the other end connected to the vacuum forming unit for cooling and storing the gas discharged from the incinerator before the gas is fed into the vacuum forming unit.

Preferably, the vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal further comprises an automatic pressure regulating unit for directly discharging the gas from the gas cooling and storing unit to the combustor when a pressure of the gas cooling and storing unit exceeds a predetermined value.

Preferably, the vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal further comprises a flowing water storing unit provided at a rear stage of the combustor, the flowing water storing unit including a heating pipe through which high-temperature burned gas discharged from the combustor passes, and the flowing water storing unit sterilizes and vaporizes flowing water discharged from the gas cooling and storing unit and the vacuum filter.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a vacuum preservation method of a vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal, the method comprising: a first step of initially making an incinerator into which waste is injected and a plurality of vacuum regulating tanks vacuous; a second step of heating the incinerator; and a third step of keeping the incinerator vacuous as the plurality of vacuum regulating tanks forcedly and continuously suck in gas generated from waste thermally decomposed in the incinerator.

Preferably, in the third step of keeping the incinerator vacuous, the plurality of vacuum regulating tanks operate sequentially according to a predetermined order and forcedly suck in the gas generated from the waste thermally decomposed in the incinerator by exchanging the generated gas with the vacuum of the vacuum regulating tanks.

Preferably, the plurality of vacuum regulating tanks comprises a first vacuum regulating tank and a second vacuum regulating tank, and the third step of keeping the incinerator vacuous comprises a fourth step in which the first vacuum regulating tank sucks in the gas discharged from the incinerator; a fifth step in which the first vacuum regulating tank is disconnected from the incinerator when the first vacuum regulating tank reaches a predetermined pressure, and the second vacuum regulating tank is connected to the incinerator so that the second vacuum regulating tank continuously sucks in the gas discharged from the incinerator; a sixth step in which the gas is discharged from the first vacuum regulating tank disconnected from the incinerator, and then a vacuum pump make the first vacuum regulating tank vacuous again; a seventh step in which the second vacuum regulating tank is disconnected from the incinerator when the second vacuum regulating tank reaches a predetermined pressure, and the first vacuum regulating tank is connected to the incinerator so that the first vacuum regulating tank continuously sucks in the gas discharged from the incinerator; and an eighth step in which the gas is discharged from the second vacuum regulating tank disconnected from the incinerator, and then the vacuum pump make the second vacuum regulating tank vacuous again.

Preferably, the vacuum preservation method further comprises a ninth step in which the fifth to eighth steps are repeated until incineration of the waste in the incinerator is completed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a configurational view of a conventional high temperature decomposition type incineration apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a configurational view of a vacuum incineration apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an internal configurational view of an incinerator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an internal configurational view of a gas cooling and storing unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an internal configurational view of a combustor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a state view illustrating a process of making an incinerator, a gas cooling and storing unit, and first and second vacuum regulating tanks vacuous according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a state view illustrating vacuum and gas exchange between a gas cooling and storing unit and a first vacuum regulating tank according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a state view illustrating vacuum and gas exchange between a gas cooling and storing unit and a second vacuum regulating tank according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a state view illustrating a process for a gas discharged from a first vacuum regulating tank according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a state view illustrating a process of making a first vacuum regulating tank vacuous according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a state view illustrating a process for flowing water according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, configuration and operation of a vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a configurational view of a vacuum incineration apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an internal configurational view of an incinerator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is an internal configurational view of a gas cooling and storing unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an internal configurational view of a combustor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Prior to the detailed description of the configuration and operation, “gas” is referred to as being generated from thermal decomposition of waste in an incinerator, and “air” is referred to as being introduced from the outside into a vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal, not being generated from thermal decomposition of waste in an incinerator.

Referring to FIG. 2, a vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an incinerator 210, first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242, a vacuum pump 250, and a combustor 260.

Preferably, the vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal further includes a gas cooling and storing unit 220 and a ventilator 290.

More preferably, the vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal further includes an automatic pressure regulating unit 230, a flowing water storing unit 270, and a refrigeratory 280.

As shown in FIG. 2, preferably, components of the vacuum incineration apparatus are systematically interconnected by pipes having valves V₁ to V₁₃. Also, preferably, the valves V₁ to V₁₃ are automatically opened/closed according to a system flow, under control of a controller (not shown) to control.

It will be easily practiced by those skilled in the art that the vacuum incineration apparatus includes measuring instruments used for the control of the controller (not shown), such as a thermometer (not shown), a pressure gauge (not shown) and so on, for measuring physical values obtained in the components of the vacuum incineration apparatus, and the controller (not shown) may be embodied by those skilled in the art based on a technical idea of the present invention. Therefore, detailed configuration of the measuring instruments and the controller will be herein omitted for the sake of avoiding complexity of the description.

Typically, the incinerator 210 treats waste injected thereinto through high temperature decomposition. In the present invention, the incinerator 210 may be configured in various ways without being limited to a particular configuration.

Referring to FIG. 3, the incinerator 210 includes an open/close door 211, a heat insulating part 212 having an internal double spatial structure, and a heat generating part 213 equipped with an incineration container 214 and an electric heater 215. In this embodiment, a discharge pipe 216 is formed above the heating generating part 213. As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge pipe 216 has a pipe connection with the gas cooling and storing unit 220, which will be described later.

In addition, preferably, the incinerator 210 has an enclosure structure where the incinerator 210 forms a vacuum by actuation of the vacuum pump 250 and the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242, which will be described later.

In addition, preferably, the heat generating part 213 is heated to a high temperature of more than 200° C. so that waste injected into the incinerator 210 can be thermally decomposed.

The gas cooling and storing unit 220 has a structure where high-temperature gas generated by the thermal decomposition of the waste is cooled and stored. As shown in FIG. 4, preferably, the gas cooling and storing unit 220 is provided with a plurality of partitions 221 to cool the high-temperature gas introduced from the incinerator 210 into the gas cooling and storing unit 220. Preferably, cold wind or cooling water to cool the high-temperature gas hitting the partitions 221 is introduced between the partitions 221.

In addition, preferably, at one side of the gas cooling and storing unit 220 is formed a high-temperature gas inlet 222 through which the high-temperature gas discharged from the incinerator 210 is introduced, and, at the other side thereof is formed a cooled gas outlet 223, opposing the high-temperature gas inlet 222, through which cooled and dehydrated gas inside the gas cooling and storing unit 220 is fed to the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242, which will be described later.

In addition, preferably, at a lower and middle side of the gas cooling and storing unit 220 is formed a first flowing water outlet 224 through which water generated when the high-temperature gas introduced into the gas cooling and storing unit 220 is cooled is discharged.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the cooled gas outlet 223 and the automatic pressure regulating unit 230, which will be described later, are connected to the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 by pipes having the valves V₅ and V₆, and the first flowing water outlet 224 is connected to the flowing water storing unit 270, which will be described later, by a pipe having the valve V₉.

The automatic pressure regulating unit 230 drives gas filled inside the gas cooling and storing unit 220 from the gas cooling and storing unit 220 into the combustor 260, which will be described later, when a pressure of the gas exceeds a tolerance limit. Preferably, one end of the automatic pressure regulating unit 230 is connected to the gas cooling and storing unit 220 by a pipe, and the other end thereof is connected to the combustor 260 by a pipe.

The automatic pressure regulating unit 230 as configured above prevents an accident which may happen when the high-temperature gas fed from the incinerator 210 is excessively filled in the gas cooling and storing unit 220.

The first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 sucks in and stores the cooled gas from the gas cooling and storing unit 220 using an internal pressure difference and then supplies the cooled gas to the combustor 260. These tanks 241 and 242 are essential components in the vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal according to the embodiment of the present invention, which allow the incinerator to maintain a vacuum in the process of waste disposal. Preferably, the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 have an enclosure structure of a predetermined size where first and second induction pipes 241a and 242a and first and second discharge pipes 241b and 242b are respectively formed at one sides and another sides of the he first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242.

Preferably, the first and second discharge pipes 241b and 242b of the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 are connected to the combustor 260 by pipes having the valves V₇ and V₈.

In addition, although two vacuum regulating tanks are employed in this embodiment, three or more vacuum regulating tanks may be preferably provided in parallel and operate in sequence.

The vacuum pump 250 makes the incinerator 210, the gas cooling and storing unit 220, and the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 vacuous. As shown in FIG. 2, preferably, the vacuum pump 250 is connected to the incinerator 210, the gas cooling and storing unit 220, and the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242. The vacuum pump 250 may be any pump known in the art, and therefore, details of which will be herein omitted for the sake of avoiding complexity of description.

As shown in FIG. 2, preferably, the incinerator 210, the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the vacuum pump 250 are interconnected by pipes having the valves V₁ and V₂, and the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 are interconnected by pipes having the valves V₃ and V₄.

In addition, preferably, at the front stage of the vacuum pump 250 is provided a vacuum filter 251 to purify air introduced into the vacuum pump 250 to filter out moisture and alien substance contained in the air. At a lower portion of the vacuum filter 251 is provided a second flowing water outlet 251a through which moisture and alien substance are discharged. Preferably, the second flowing water outlet 251a is connected to the flowing water storing unit 270 by a pipe having the valve V₁₀.

In addition, preferably, the vacuum filter 251 is connected to the vacuum pump 250 by pipes in such a manner that air introduced through a vacuum inlet 252 of the vacuum pump 250 is discharged through a vacuum outlet of the vacuum pump 250 and is burned in the combustor 260.

Accordingly, harmful substance (such as infectious bacteria) contained in air discharged from the vacuum pump is removed by being burned in the combustor 260, thereby purifying the air.

The combustor 260 burns harmful substance (such as infectious bacteria)-contained gas and air generated in the vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal and supplied from the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242, the automatic pressure regulating unit 230 and the vacuum pump 250 so that the harmful substance (such as infectious bacteria) contained in the gas and air. As shown in FIG. 2, preferably, the combustor 260 is connected to the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242, the automatic pressure regulating unit 230 and the vacuum pump 250 by pipes.

In addition, preferably, a combustion outlet 264 of the combustor 260 is connected to the flowing water storing unit 270, which will be described later, by a pipe so that burned gas discharged from the combustor 260 can be fed into the flowing water storing unit 270.

As shown in FIG. 5, the combustor 260 includes a combustion heat generating part 261 therein. Preferably, the combustion heat generating part 261 includes a combustion electric heater 262, a flowing round combustion pipe 263, and a combustion outlet 264. The harmful substance (such as infectious bacteria)-contained gas and air introduced into the combustor 260 is burned while passing through the flowing round combustion pipe 263. The burned gas and air is discharged from an end of the flowing round combustion pipe 263, flows around and goes up inside the combustion heat generating part 261, and then goes out of the combustor 260 through the combustion outlet 264. In addition, preferably, the combustion heat generating part 261 is heated to a temperature of 300° C. to 400° C. or above in order to burn the harmful substance (such as infectious bacteria)-contained air discharged by actuation of the vacuum pump 261, and is heated to a temperature of 850° C. or above in order to burn the cooled air fed from the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the automatic pressure regulating unit 230.

In addition, preferably, at a lower middle side of the combustor 260 is provided a dust outlet 265 through which alien substance (such as dust) generated when the gas is burned inside the combustor 260 is discharged. The dust outlet 265 is connected to a pipe having the value V₁₁. The alien substance (such as dust) is discharged through the dust outlet 265 according to control of the valve V₁₁.

It is to be appreciated that the vacuum incineration apparatus of the present invention may employ other various configurations of the combustor 260, in addition to the above-described configuration according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, preferably, the flowing water storing unit 270 has an enclosure structure of a predetermined size where a heating pipe 273 is installed, and is connected to the gas cooling and storing unit 220, the vacuum filter 251, the combustor 260, and the refrigeratory 280, which will be described later, by pipes. The heating pipe 273 heats the high-temperature burned gas discharged from the combustor 260 and passing through the heating pipe 273.

The flowing water storing unit 270 is supplied with the moisture and alien substance discharged from the first and second flowing water outlets 224 and 251a of the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the vacuum filter 251, respectively, sterilizes the supplied the moisture and alien substance with the high-temperature heat generated from the heating pipe 272, and then vaporizes and discharges the sterilized moisture and alien substance to the outside.

Preferably, the refrigeratory 280 cools the burned gas burned in the combustor 260 and high-temperature substance (such as vapor) discharged from the flowing water storing unit 270 to a low temperature.

Preferably, the ventilator 290 introduces air from the external in order to forcedly fed the cooled gas filled in the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 into the combustor 260, and is connected to the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 by pipes having the valves V₁₂ and V₁₃.

In addition, the ventilator 290 blows the external air into the high-temperature incinerator 210 after performing a first cycle operation of the vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal, thereby cooling the incinerator 210 to a low temperature, Preferably, the ventilator 290 is connected to a pipe so that a user who loads new waste into the high-temperature incinerator 210 can be protected against the incinerator 210 while the ventilator 290 feeds the external air into the incinerator 210.

In constructing a series of apparatus arrangement by combining the components of the above-configured vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal, preferably, the incinerator 210 is first connected to the gas cooling and storing unit 220 by a pipe, and then, the combustor 260, the flowing water storing unit 270 and the refrigeratory 280 are systematically interconnected by pipes, as shown in FIG. 2.

In the above apparatus arrangement, the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 are connected to the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the combustor 260, and the vacuum pump 250 is connected as shown in FIG. 2 by pipes to make the combustor 210, the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 vacuous, thereby completing the vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a state view illustrating a process of making an incinerator, a gas cooling and storing apparatus, and first and second vacuum regulating tanks vacuous according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows an initial vacuum formation process. Referring to FIG. 6, in conditions where the incinerator 210, the gas cooling and storing unit 220, and the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 are connected to the vacuum pump 250 via the vacuum filter 251 by pipes, and the valves V₁, V₂, V₃ and V₄ are opened and the remaining values are closed, the vacuum pump 250 is actuated to make the incinerator 210, the gas cooling and storing unit 220, and the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 vacuous.

Under this condition, the harmful substance (such as infectious bacteria)-contained air injected into the incinerator 210 along with the waste before thermal decomposition of the waste is absorbed into the vacuum pump 250 by its pumping and then fed into the combustor 260. At this time, in order to remove the harmful substance (such as infectious bacteria) by burning the harmful substance (such as infectious bacteria)-contained air in the combustor 260, preferably, the combustor 260 is pre-heated to a predetermined high temperature (300° C. to 400° C. or above) at which the harmful substance (such as infectious bacteria)-contained air can be burned before pumping by the vacuum pump 250.

Accordingly, the harmful substance (such as infectious bacteria)-contained air absorbed and discharged by the vacuum pump 250 in the initial vacuum formation process is purified while passing through the combustor 260, and the purified air is discharged to the external after passing through the flowing water storing unit 270 and the heating pipe 273 and being cooled by the refrigeratory 280.

After initially making the incinerator 210, the gas cooling and storing unit 220, and the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 vacuous, preferably, the valves V₁, V₂, V₃ and V₄ are closed to maintain the initial formed vacuum.

FIG. 7 is a state view illustrating vacuum and gas exchange between the gas cooling and storing apparatus and the first vacuum regulating tank according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a state view illustrating vacuum and gas exchange between the gas cooling and storing apparatus and the second vacuum regulating tank according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, considering a process that the first vacuum regulating tank 241 sucks in the high-temperature gas generated from the thermally decomposed waste in the incinerator 210 and stored in the gas cooling and storing unit 220, the incinerator 210, the gas cooling and storing unit 220, and the first vacuum regulating tank 241 are interconnected by pipes and the valve V₅ is opened to open a corresponding pipe.

First, irrespective of open/close of the valve V₅, the high-temperature gas generated from the thermally decomposed waste in the incinerator 210 is discharged to the discharge pipe 216 of the incinerator 210, introduced into the high-temperature gas inlet 222 of the gas cooling and storing unit 220, and then stored and cooled in the gas cooling and storing unit 220.

At this time, as the pipe connecting the cooled gas outlet 223 of the gas cooling and storing unit 220 to the first induction pipe 241a of the first vacuum regulating tank 241 is opened by opening of the valve V₅, the first vacuum regulating tank 241 initially forming the vacuum forcedly sucks in the cooled gas cooled and stored in the gas cooling and storing unit 220 by a pressure difference, with exchange the cooled gas with the vacuum of the first vacuum regulating tank 241.

Subsequent to the sucking of the first vacuum regulating tank 241, the incinerator 210, the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the second vacuum regulating tank 242 are interconnected by pipes and the valve V₆ is opened to open a corresponding pipe in order that the second vacuum regulating tank 242 sucks in the cooled gas, as shown in FIG. 8.

First, irrespective of open/close of the valve V₆, the high-temperature gas generated from the thermally decomposed waste in the incinerator 210 is continuously introduced from the discharge pipe 216 of the incinerator 210 into the high-temperature gas inlet 222 of the gas cooling and storing unit 220, and then stored and cooled in the gas cooling and storing unit 220.

At this time, as the pipe connecting the cooled gas outlet 223 of the gas cooling and storing unit 220 to the second induction pipe 242a of the second vacuum regulating tank 242 is opened by opening of the valve V₆, the second vacuum regulating tank 242 initially forming the vacuum forcedly sucks in the cooled gas cooled and stored in the gas cooling and storing unit 220 by a pressure difference, with exchange the cooled gas with the vacuum of the second vacuum regulating tank 242.

Such sequential sucking of the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 keeps the incinerator 210 in the vacuum state during the thermal decomposition of the waste. The high-temperature gas generated in the incinerator 210 is cooled and stored in the gas cooling and storing unit 220, and the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 are sequentially driven to suck in the cooled and stored gas.

In the sequential sucking of the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242, when one of the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 sucks in the cooled gas to a predetermined pressure (this is hereinafter referred to as “fill,” the cooled gas sucking is interrupted and, at the same time, the other begins to suck in the cooled gas.

Preferably, the number of vacuum regulating tanks may be three or more to achieve more effective gas sucking.

FIG. 9 is a state view illustrating a process for a gas discharged from the first vacuum regulating tank according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

When the first vacuum regulating tank 241 sucks in and fills with the cooled gas, it stops the cooled gas sucking. At this time, the second vacuum regulating tank 242 continuously sucks in the cooled gas and the first vacuum regulating tank 241 filling with the cooled gas feds the filled cooled gas into the combustor 260.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the ventilator 290, the first vacuum regulating tank 241 and the combustor 260 are interconnected by pipes and the valves V7 and V12 are opened to open corresponding pipes, the cooled gas filled in the first vacuum regulating tank 241 is forced to be pushed out of the firsts vacuum regulating tank 241 through the opened pipes according to introduction of external air by the ventilator 290, and then is introduced into the combustor 260 through a combustion inlet 263 of the combustor 260.

In this manner, the process of forcedly feeding the cooled gas filled in the first vacuum regulating tank 241 into the combustor 260 to empty the first vacuum regulating tank 260 is performed while the second vacuum regulating tank successively sucks in the cooled gas.

In addition, the cooled gas fed into the combustor 260 is burned in the combustor 260 at a high temperature to remove the harmful substance (such as infectious bacteria). The burned gas is discharged to the heating pipe 273 of the flowing water storing unit 270 through the combustion outlet 264 of the combustor 260. The burned gas passing through the heating pipe 273 is discharged to the external through the refrigeratory 280.

The process of feeding the cooled gas from the first vacuum regulating tank 241 to the combustor 260 is true of the second vacuum regulating tank 242 driven subsequent to the first vacuum regulating tank 241.

FIG. 10 is a state view illustrating a process of making the first vacuum regulating tank vacuous according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

When the first vacuum regulating tank 241 becomes empty by forcedly feeding the filled cooled gas into the combustor 260, the first vacuum regulating tank 241 must form a vacuum again as a process preparatory to sucking in cooled gas again.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the first vacuum regulating tank 241, the vacuum filter 251 and the vacuum pump 250 are interconnected by pipes and the valves V₂ and V₃ are opened to open corresponding pipes, the first vacuum regulating tank 241 forms a vacuum again through the opened pipes when the vacuum pump 250 is actuated.

At this time, air introduced from the first vacuum regulating tank 241 into the vacuum inlet 252 of the vacuum pump 250 is discharged through the vacuum outlet 253 to the combustion inlet 263 of the combustor 260 to burn the air. The burned air passes through the heating pipe 273 of the flowing water storing unit 270 and is discharged to the external through the refrigeratory 280. The air introduced into the vacuum pump 250, which contains harmful substance (such as infectious bacteria) a little remaining in the first vacuum regulating tank 241, is discharged after removing the harmful substance (such as infectious bacteria) by burning the air in the combustor 260.

Such a vacuum re-formation process of the first vacuum regulating tank 241 is true of the second vacuum regulating tank 242 driven subsequent to the first vacuum regulating tank 241.

Accordingly, the above-described sucking, feeding and vacuum re-formation processes of the first vacuum regulating tank 241 are true of the second vacuum regulating tank 242. When the first vacuum regulating tank 241 sucks in the cooled gas, the second vacuum regulating tank 242 is ready to suck in the cooled gas while maintaining the vacuum. When the first vacuum regulating tank 241 is filled with the cooled gas, the sucking of the first vacuum regulating tank 241 is interrupted and the second vacuum regulating tank 242 begins to suck in the cooled gas. The cooled gas filled in the first vacuum regulating tank 241 is discharged when the ventilator 290 introduces the external air and the first vacuum regulating tank 241 again form the vacuum. These processes alternate between the first vacuum regulating tank 241 and the second vacuum regulating tank 242 so that gas generated in the incinerator 210 and cooled and stored in the gas cooling and storing unit 220 can be removed through realtime sucking and feeding operations by the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242.

FIG. 11 is a state view illustrating a process for flowing water according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, water generated from the gas passing through the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the vacuum filter 251 is processed and discharged through the flowing water storing unit 270.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the gas cooling and storing unit 220, the vacuum filter 251, the flowing water storing unit 270 and the refrigeratory 280 are interconnected by pipes and the valves V₉ and V₁₀ are opened to open corresponding pipes, water in the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the vacuum filter 251 is discharged through the opened pipes and the first and second flowing water outlets 224 and 251a and is introduced into the flowing water storing unit 270 through a flowing water inlet 271 of the flowing water storing unit 270.

At this time, the flowing water storing unit 270 can sterilize and vaporize the flowing water introduced from the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the vacuum filter 251 by maintaining the flowing water storing unit 270 at a high temperature when the high-temperature burned gas fed from the combustor 260 heats the heating pipe 273 to a high temperature while passing through the heating pipe 272.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 11, the vaporized flowing water is cooled in the refrigeratory 280 and is discharged into the air through a purified gas outlet 282 of the refrigeratory 280, or cooled and frozen flowing water flows out of the refrigeratory 280 through a purified flowing water outlet 283.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

A method of keeping the vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal in the vacuum state according to sequential driving of the first and second vacuum regulating tanks will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 12.

To begin with, waste to be treated is injected into the incinerator 210 at Step S301.

In the Step S301, the incineration container 214 into which the waste is put is injected into the heat generating part 213 of the incinerator 210, and then the open/close door 211 is closed to make the heat generating part 213 airtight.

Next, the combustor 206 is heated at Step S302.

In the Step S302, the combustor 260 is pre-heated so that the combustor 260 can burn harmful substance-contained air at a high temperature to remove the harmful substance (such as infectious bacteria) when the vacuum pump 250 sucks in the harmful substance-contained air inside the incinerator 210 and discharges the air in order to make the incinerator 201 vacuous.

Accordingly, the combustor 260 is heated before the vacuum pump 250 is pumped to suck in air inside the incinerator 210, the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 and discharge the air to the external, so that the discharged harmful substance-contained air can be fully burned in and discharged from the heated combustor 260. Preferably, the heated combustor 260 keeps at an internal temperature of 300° C. to 400° C. or above to allow the harmful substance-contained air to be fully burned to remove the harmful substance.

Preferably, the combustor 260 heated with the internal temperature is again heated to a temperature of 850° C. or above to allow gas generated in the thermal decomposition of waste in the incinerator 210 to be fully burned later.

Next, the incinerator 210, the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 form an initial vacuum at Step S303.

In the Step S303 as an initial vacuum formation process, as shown in FIG. 6, the incinerator 210, the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 are connected by pipes to the vacuum pump 250 via the vacuum filter 251, and the valves V₁, V₂, V₃ and V₄ are opened with the remaining valves closed. In this condition, when the vacuum pump 250 is actuated, the incinerator 210, the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 form a vacuum.

When the initial vacuum completed, the valves V₁, V₂, V₃ and V₄ are closed to maintain the initial vacuum.

The completion of the initial vacuum of the incinerator 210 may be confirmed by a typical vacuum gauge, details of which will be herein omitted for the sake of avoiding complexity of description.

Next, the incinerator 210 is heated at Step S304.

In the Step S304, the waste injected in the Step S301 is thermally decomposed in the vacuum state. Preferably, a temperature at which the waste is thermally decomposed is 200° C. or above.

Next, the first vacuum regulating tank sucks in cooled gas and the second vacuum regulating tank maintains a vacuum at Step S305.

In the Step S305, after the initial vacuum is completed in the Step S303, the valve V₅ is opened to connect the gas cooling and storing unit 220 to the first vacuum regulating tank 241, with the valves V₁, V₂, V₃ and V₄ closed to maintain the initial vacuum. Accordingly, the cooled gas stored in the gas cooling and storing unit 220 is automatically fed into the first vacuum regulating tank 241 maintaining the initial vacuum by a pressure difference.

Next, the first vacuum regulating tank 241 is filled with the cooled gas and the second vacuum regulating tank 242 sucks in the cooled gas at Step S306.

In the Step S306, in order that high-temperature gas generated by the thermal decomposition of waste in the incinerator 210 is cooled in the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the cooled gas is continuously fed into the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242, the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 suck in the cooled gas sequentially. When the first vacuum regulating tank 241 is so filled with the cooled gas that this tank can not suck in the cooled gas any longer, the valve V₅ is closed and the valve V₆ is opened. Accordingly, the first vacuum regulating tank 241 does not suck in the cooled gas any longer, while the second vacuum regulating tank 242 begins to suck in the cooled gas.

Next, the first vacuum regulating tank 241 discharges the filled cooled gas and the second vacuum regulating tank 242 continues to suck in the cooled gas at Step S307.

In the Step S307, the cooled gas filled in the first vacuum regulating tank 241 is fed into the combustor 260 where the cooled gas is purified by being fully burned. In order to forcedly feed the cooled gas from the first vacuum regulating tank 241 into the combustor 260, the valves V₇ and V₁₂ are opened and the ventilator 290 is actuated to introduce external air into the first vacuum regulating tank 241. At this time, the second vacuum regulating tanks 242 continues to suck in the cooled gas while the valve V₆ keeps opened.

According to the introduction of the external air, the cooled gas filled in the first vacuum regulating tank 241 is forced to be pushed out through the first discharge pipe 241b.

At this time, since the vacuum pump 250 may be damaged when the high-temperature gas (containing water) generated by the thermal decomposition of waste in the incinerator 210 is pumped into the vacuum pump 250 at a step to be described later, the gas cooling and storing unit 220 does not completely cool the high-temperature gas. The external air introduced into the first vacuum regulating tank 241 by the ventilator 290 cools and cleans the interior of the first vacuum regulating tank 241, thereby preventing the vacuum pump 250 from being damaged due to the high-temperature gas.

Next, the first vacuum regulating tank 241 again forms a vacuum and the second vacuum regulating tank 242 continues to suck in the cooled gas at Step S308.

In the Step S308, the first vacuum regulating tank 241 again forms a vacuum as a step preparatory to re-sucking when the cooled gas filled in the first vacuum regulating tank 241 is fed into the combustor 260. At this time, the valves V₇ and V₁₂ are closed and the valves V₂ and V₃ are opened to connect the vacuum pump 250 to the first vacuum regulating tank 241. At this time, the valve V₆ keeps opened and the second vacuum regulating tank 242 continues to suck in the cooled gas.

With the vacuum pump 250 connected to the first vacuum regulating tank 241, when the vacuum pump 250 is actuated, the first vacuum regulating tank 241 again forms the vacuum, and then again sucks in the cooled gas when the second vacuum regulating tank 242 is filled with the cooled gas.

At this time, water and impurities filtered by the vacuum filter 251 while air filled in the first vacuum regulating tank 241 at the time of pumping of the vacuum pump 250 is introduced into the vacuum pump 250 are fed into and treated in the flowing water storing unit 270 through the second flowing water outlet 251a of the vacuum filter 251 and then discharged to the external.

Next, the second vacuum regulating tank 242 is filled with the cooled gas while the first vacuum regulating tank 241 continues to suck in the cooled gas at Step S309.

In the Step S309, in order that high-temperature gas generated by the thermal decomposition of waste in the incinerator 210 is cooled in the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the cooled gas is continuously fed into the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242, the second and first vacuum regulating tanks 242 and 241 suck in the cooled gas sequentially. When the second vacuum regulating tank 242 is so filled with the cooled gas that this tank can not suck in the cooled gas any longer, the valve V₆ is closed and the valve V₅ is opened. Accordingly, the second vacuum regulating tank 242 does not suck in the cooled gas any longer, while the second vacuum regulating tank 242 begins to suck in the cooled gas.

Next, the second vacuum regulating tank 242 discharges the filled cooled gas and the first vacuum regulating tank 241 continues to suck in the cooled gas at Step S310.

In the Step S310, the cooled gas filled in the second vacuum regulating tank 242 is fed into the combustor 260 where the cooled gas is purified by being fully burned. In order to forcedly feed the cooled gas from the second vacuum regulating tank 242 into the combustor 260, the valves V₈ and V₁₃ are opened and the ventilator 290 is actuated to introduce external air into the second vacuum regulating tank 242. At this time, the first vacuum regulating tanks 241 continues to suck in the cooled gas while the valve V₅ keeps opened.

According to the introduction of the external air, the cooled gas filled in the second vacuum regulating tank 242 is forced to be pushed out through the second discharge pipe 242b.

At this time, as mentioned in the Step S307, since the vacuum pump 250 may be damaged when the high-temperature gas (containing water) generated by the thermal decomposition of waste in the incinerator 210 is pumped into the vacuum pump 250, the gas cooling and storing unit 220 does not completely cool the high-temperature gas. The external air introduced into the second vacuum regulating tank 242 by the ventilator 290 cools and cleans the interior of the second vacuum regulating tank 242, thereby preventing the vacuum pump 250 from being damaged due to the high-temperature gas.

Next, at Step S311, if the waste continues to be thermally decomposed in the incinerator 210, the process returns to the Step S305. Otherwise, that is, if the thermal decomposition of waste is completed, the process proceeds to the next step.

In the Step S311, if it is determined that the thermal decomposition of waste is not completed, the process returns to the Step S305. This shows that the first vacuum regulating tank 241 and the second vacuum regulating tank 242 alternately perform a group of Steps S309, S310 and S305 and another group of Steps S306 to S308.

On the contrary, if it is determined at the Step S311 that the thermal decomposition of waste in the incinerator 210 is completed, the flowing water filtered by the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the vacuum filter 251 is discharged at Step S312.

In the Step S312, the water and impurities filtered out of the gas and air passing through the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the vacuum filter 251 are fed into the flowing water storing unit 270, purified therein, and then discharged to the external. The valves V₉ and V₁₀ are opened so that the flowing water collected in the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the vacuum filter 251 is fed into the flowing water storing unit 270 through the flowing water inlet 271 of the flowing water storing unit 270. The flowing water storing unit 270 vaporizes and sterilizes the fed flowing water using the heating pipe 273 heated by the high-temperature burned gas discharged from the combustor 260, and then feeds the vaporized and sterilized flowing water into the refrigeratory 280. The refrigeratory 280 cools the fed flowing water and discharges the cooled flowing water to the external.

Next, the incinerator 210 is cooled at Step S313.

In the Step S313, the ventilator 290 cools the high-temperature incinerator 210 to a low-temperature by introducing external air into the incinerator 210 after one-cycle operation of the vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal. The valves V₁, V₁₂ and V₁₃ are opened to allow the ventilator 290 to introduce the external air into the incinerator 210, thereby cooling the incinerator 210, so that a user who loads new waste into the incinerator 210 can be protected against the incinerator 210.

In addition to such a series of processes, after the gas generated by the thermal decomposition of waste in the incinerator 210 is cooled and stored in the gas cooling and storing unit 220, if the first and second vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 does not operate normally, and accordingly, the pressure of the gas cooling and storing unit 220 and the pressure of the vacuum regulating tanks 241 and 242 exceed a reference value, the automatic pressure regulating unit 230 is actuated to connect the gas cooling and storing unit 220 to the combustor 260 so that the pressure is automatically, thereby preventing any possible accident.

After a first cycle operation of the vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal is performed through the whole of the above-described processes, vacuum thermal decomposition for one-time loaded waste is completed.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal and a vacuum preservation method thereof, which are capable of thermally decomposing waste using an indirect heating system under a complete vacuum state, thereby preventing various harmful substances (such as infectious bacteria) from being produced when the waste is treated.

In addition, the present invention provides a vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal and a vacuum preservation method thereof, which are capable of sequentially operating a plurality of vacuum regulating tanks for forcedly and instantly sucking in gas generated from waste when the waste is treated while keeping a space where the waste is thermally decomposed in a complete vacuum state.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal and a vacuum preservation method thereof, which are capable of deodorizing and sterilizing flowing water generated when waste is treated, by heating and vaporizing the flowing water and discharging the vaporized flowing water to the external, using thermal energy of gas burned in an incinerator.

Claims

1. A vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal, comprising:

an incinerator for thermally decomposing waste;

a combustor for burning gas generated from the waste thermally decomposed in the incinerator; and

a vacuum forming unit for making the incinerator vacuous,

wherein the vacuum forming unit keeps the incinerator vacuous by forcedly and continuously sucking in the generated gas.

2. The vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum forming unit comprises a plurality of vacuum regulating tanks for sucking in the gas discharged from the incinerator, and a vacuum pump for making the plurality of vacuum regulating tanks vacuous, and

wherein the plurality of vacuum regulating tanks operate sequentially according to a predetermined order and forcedly suck in the generated gas by exchanging the generated gas with the vacuum of the vacuum regulating tanks.

3. The vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of vacuum regulating tanks comprises a first vacuum regulating tank and a second vacuum regulating tank, wherein the first vacuum regulating tank is disconnected from the incinerator when the first vacuum regulating tank reaches a predetermined pressure as the first vacuum regulating tank sucks in the gas discharged from the incinerator, and at the same time, the second vacuum regulating tank is connected to the incinerator so that the second vacuum regulating tank continuously sucks in the gas generated from the waste thermally decomposed in the incinerator.

4. The vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal according to claim 3, further comprising a ventilator for introducing external air into the plurality of vacuum regulating tanks,

wherein, when one of the plurality of vacuum regulating tanks reaches a predetermined pressure as the one vacuum regulating tank sucks in the gas discharged from the incinerator, the introduction of the gas into the incinerator is interrupted, and then the ventilator is actuated to discharge the sucked gas to the combustor.

5. The vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal according to claim 3, further comprising a vacuum filter provided at a front stage of the vacuum pump.

6. The vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal according to claim 1, further comprising a gas cooling and storing unit having one end connected to the incinerator and the other end connected to the vacuum forming unit for cooling and storing the gas discharged from the incinerator before the gas is fed into the vacuum forming unit.

7. The vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal according to claim 6, further comprising an automatic pressure regulating unit for directly discharging the gas from the gas cooling and storing unit to the combustor when a pressure of the gas cooling and storing unit exceeds a predetermined value.

8. The vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal according to claim 6, further comprising a flowing water storing unit provided at a rear stage of the combustor, the flowing water storing unit including a heating pipe through which high-temperature burned gas discharged from the combustor passes,

wherein the flowing water storing unit sterilizes and vaporizes flowing water discharged from the gas cooling and storing unit and the vacuum filter.

9. A vacuum preservation method of a vacuum incineration apparatus for waste disposal, the method comprising:

a first step of initially making an incinerator into which waste is injected and a plurality of vacuum regulating tanks vacuous;

a second step of heating the incinerator; and

a third step of keeping the incinerator vacuous as the plurality of vacuum regulating tanks forcedly and continuously suck in gas generated from waste thermally decomposed in the incinerator.

10. The vacuum preservation method according to claim 9, wherein, in the third step of keeping the incinerator vacuous, the plurality of vacuum regulating tanks operate sequentially according to a predetermined order and forcedly suck in the gas generated from the waste thermally decomposed in the incinerator by exchanging the generated gas with the vacuum of the vacuum regulating tanks.

11. The vacuum preservation method according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of vacuum regulating tanks comprises a first vacuum regulating tank and a second vacuum regulating tank, and

wherein the third step of keeping the incinerator vacuous comprises:

a fourth step in which the first vacuum regulating tank sucks in the gas discharged from the incinerator;

a fifth step in which the first vacuum regulating tank is disconnected from the incinerator when the first vacuum regulating tank reaches a predetermined pressure, and the second vacuum regulating tank is connected to the incinerator so that the second vacuum regulating tank continuously sucks in the gas discharged from the incinerator;

a sixth step in which the gas is discharged from the first vacuum regulating tank disconnected from the incinerator, and then a vacuum pump make the first vacuum regulating tank vacuous again;

a seventh step in which the second vacuum regulating tank is disconnected from the incinerator when the second vacuum regulating tank reaches a predetermined pressure, and the first vacuum regulating tank is connected to the incinerator so that the first vacuum regulating tank continuously sucks in the gas discharged from the incinerator; and

an eighth step in which the gas is discharged from the second vacuum regulating tank disconnected from the incinerator, and then the vacuum pump make the second vacuum regulating tank vacuous again.

12. The vacuum preservation method according to claim 11, further comprising a ninth step in which the fifth to eighth steps are repeated until incineration of the waste in the incinerator is completed.