Combined Patents (Class 110/233)
  • Patent number: 7014778
    Abstract: A method and device are provided for treating a waste water waste-product mixture from a toilet by coupling the toilet to a waste product mixture to a waste product holding tank, connecting the tank with a vacuum container having a stirring member for breaking up the waste product and a heating system for drying the waste product to an ash, introducing water from a water holding tank that communicates with the toilet to the ash to form a gel, separating the water from the gel, returning the water to the water holding tank, and discharging the gel residue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Fuchigami
  • Patent number: 6997118
    Abstract: A gasifier system and process comprises a pulse combustion device in communication with a fluid channel for producing a gas stream having heat or fuel value. The pulse combustion device is operated under sub-stoichiometric conditions such that combustion and steam reforming both occur in the fluid channel. The pulse combustion device also produces a pulsating combustion product stream and an acoustic pressure wave. The acoustic pressure wave serves to cause agglomeration of particles contained within the combustion stream for easy removal. In one embodiment, a sulfur capturing agent is injected into the fluid channel for not only removing sulfur from the combustion product stream but for also facilitating particle agglomeration. Ultimately, a gas stream containing hydrogen is produced that may be used in various processes, such as in the production of electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Manufacturing & Technology Conversion International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Momtaz N. Mansour
  • Patent number: 6978725
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for treating biogenic residues, particularly sludges, preferably in the area of a clarification plant. Biogenic residues with a variable dry substance are subjected to aerobic drying until an energy-independent thermal treatment can be carried out. During the drying process, evaporated water is discharged in an odor-free condition without releasing freely volatile components, the dried sludge is intermediately stored a number of times and then utilized in preferably a number of successive thermal treatment steps. The two-stage cleaning of the stream of waste gas includes a dust collection unit and an adsorption unit. The waste heat is recycled through a heat exchanger to generate heat and electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Tecon Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Michael Ramharter, Harald Bayer
  • Patent number: 6935251
    Abstract: A steam-generating combustion system includes an oxygen enriched gas provided as at least part of an oxidant stream. A combustion chamber receives and combusts a fuel in the oxidant stream and generate steam. The combustion chamber generates flue gas having a flue gas volume which is smaller than a volume of flue gas generated by the combustion chamber when operated with air as the oxidant stream. A flue gas pollutant control system receives the flue gas from the combustion chamber and reduces at least one of particulate matter, SOx, NOx, and mercury. The reduction in flue gas volume allows the implementation of much smaller pollutant control equipment, since the size of the pollutant control units is mainly based on the volume or mass flow rate of flue gas to be treated. Moreover, the system including oxygen-enriched gas in the oxidant will lead to concentrated levels of the pollutants in the flue gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: American Air Liquide, Inc.
    Inventors: Ovidiu Marin, Scott MacAdam, Erwin Penfornis, Fabienne Chatel-Pelage
  • Patent number: 6904850
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an innovative treatment system with a large capacity of 4,000 kg to 32,000 kg /per 8 hours up to 24 hours, and an animal incinerator is of the largest capacity all over the world at the present time. The present invention, comprising assemblable and movable devices that can be moved to any location needed, provides special functions: as carcasses be fed and dismembered automatically and continuously before incinerating, solids and liquids thereof being separated automatically, wherein the liquids can be reused after being evaporated and cooled, the solids be conveyed into the combustion chamber for incinerating, and combustible materials be kept moving, stirring and burning automatically in the furnace. The incinerator is equipped with scrubbers, shifters and a conveyor in the chamber having an automatic ash withdrawal. All systems described above conform to legal environmental regulations and fully meet environmental requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Inventors: Ting-Ting Chang, Yu-Ting Chang, Hsiu-Ting Chang
  • Patent number: 6892655
    Abstract: A drum transport device is disclosed which includes a plate, a first and a second pair of connected and vertically spaced horizontal bars a pair on opposite sides of the row of drums. Each bar has an end which is connected to the plate. The device includes middle horizontal bars, a first between the first pair of horizontal bars and a second between the second pair. The middle horizontal bars move in unison with one another and to move relative to the first and second pair bars. The device also includes a plurality of vertically oriented hinge doors, pivotably connected to the horizontal bars. Tie rods are pivotably connected to both the hinge doors and a corresponding middle horizontal bar, such that when a middle bar is moved relative the pairs of horizontal bars, the hinge doors swing to a position substantially parallel to or substantially parallel to the bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Continental Cement Company, LLC
    Inventor: Robert C. Nunemacher
  • Patent number: 6871603
    Abstract: A gasification system for producing useful energy from a source of biomass material includes a gasifier for partially combusting biomass material into gaseous fuel, a contained fuel preparation site for preparing biomass material to be delivered to the gasifier, a boiler for combusting gaseous fuel from the gasifier to produce useful energy, and an air delivery system for directing combustion air to at least one of the gasifier and the boiler from the contained fuel preparation site. This arrangement recovers energy normally lost to atmosphere in the form of exhaust from biomass drying facilities. Drawing combustion air from the contained fuel preparation site also permits the fuel preparation site to be maintained at a negative pressure in relation to atmosphere, therefore any odour that is produced from the preparation of the biomass at the site is contained within the closed air delivery system and used for primary combustion at the gasifier or at the boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Home Farms Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Ross H. Maxwell
  • Patent number: 6863004
    Abstract: The invention provides processes and systems for generating heat from a carbon-containing material or converting a carbon-containing material to a combustible gaseous fuel, comprising (a) pyrolysing the material in a reactor to produce a carbon-enriched solid and a first gaseous product, (b) burning at least part of the first gaseous product and/or a second gaseous product obtained by reacting the carbon-enriched solid with water vapour to generate heat, and (c) returning combustion products from the burning step to the reactor and/or removing part of the first gaseous product and/or the second gaseous product as a combustible fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: World Oasis Australia Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Denis A. Randall
  • Publication number: 20040261673
    Abstract: A fossil-fuel-fired system, which includes an emissions-control-agent dispenser, a furnace, an emissions monitor and, optionally, a controller, is disclosed. The emissions-control-agent dispenser provides a prescribed amount of organic-emissions-control agent, such as, for example, an opacity-control agent to the fossil-fuel-fired system. The furnace includes an exhaust communicating with the atmosphere. The emissions monitor is capable of measuring at least one property of the flue-gas communicated through the exhaust to the atmosphere. For example, when an organic-emissions-control agent is an opacity-control agent, the emissions monitor has the capability of at least measuring opacity. When included, the controller communicates with at least the emissions-control-agent dispenser and the emissions monitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Gary W. Allen, John T. Joyce
  • Publication number: 20040221778
    Abstract: A system for disposing of municipal solid waste provides commercially-available equipment that is modified to initially remove identifiable unwanted components from the waste, and then chop the waste into small pieces of a size suitable for handling, separation and combustion. The moisture content of the waste is reduced in a closed system by passing dry air through the waste in a confined space to absorb moisture and produce moist air, which is then dehumidified via refrigeration equipment. The dehumidified air is recycled through the waste repeatedly through the closed system until the water content has reached the predetermined amount. The waste is stored in a bunker for later use or is immediately combusted in a two-step process by first gasifying the dried waste to produce combustible syngas and then immediately or later combusting the gas in a gas turbine or other engine to produce electricity that is partly used to power the process and partly sold commercially.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Richard B. Pallett, Warren Hyland
  • Patent number: 6814011
    Abstract: Plant for the hot treatment of waste gases from municipal waste incinerators or the like, comprising a first line of taking up hot waste gases for treating in an exit section of a municipal waste incinerator, a one stage or multiple stage fluid bed contained within one or several reactors and invested by the waste gases to be treated, at least one hopper for charging the solid granular material into the reactor or reactors, a cyclone separator at the outlet of the reactor or of the last of the reactors; the treated waste gases exiting from the reactor or reactors being first introduced into said separator and subsequently conveyed, by said first uptake line, toward a final discharge chimney; said first uptake line providing, downstream of said cyclone separator, a second recirculating line moving the waste gases treated by the reactor or reactors, upstream of the reactor or of the first of the reactors, so that by this second line said treated waste gases mix with the waste gases to be treated originating fro
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Inventor: Cesare Saccani
  • Patent number: 6807915
    Abstract: The method of carbonization of organic waste according to the present invention comprises the steps of supplying organic waste to a dryer, reducing an amount of water in the organic waste by heating with high-temperature gas, supplying the organic waste to a carbonization furnace for carbonizing the organic waste in a high-temperature ambience, removing carbide from the carbonization furnace, incinerating gas, which is generated in the carbonization furnace, in a re-incinerating furnace, and supplying combustion gas of the re-incinerating furnace to the dryer as the high-temperature gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Zoki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Sugano, Yoshihiro Nagashima, Masashi Ibata, Masaaki Ohyama
  • Patent number: 6807916
    Abstract: Systems and methods for pyrolyzing waste materials are described. The method utilizes waste heat from a cement kiln and the pyrolysis system includes at least a feed inerting section and a pyrolysis chamber. The method includes feeding drums of waste into the feed inerting section, replacing oxygen in the feed inerting section with carbon dioxide recovered from the cement kiln, and transporting the drums of waste through the pyrolysis chamber. The waste is pyrolyzed in the pyrolysis chamber with exhaust gasses from the cement kiln and a fuel gas created by the pyrolysis is routed to provide heat to the cement kiln.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Continental Cement Company, LLC
    Inventor: Robert C. Nunemacher
  • Patent number: 6796250
    Abstract: A waste water recovery and utilization system that converts waste water including gray water, liquid sewerage waste and solid macerated sewerage waste to steam and to electricity comprises a gray water tank, a sewerage tank, a steam generator with a gray water crucible for vaporizing the gray water and a sewerage crucible for vaporizing the liquid sewerage waste and for incinerating the solid macerated sewerage waste thereby generating steam for space heating. A variable speed injection pump cooperates with the gray water tank, with the sewerage tank, with the gray water crucible and with the sewerage crucible. Condensate is collected in a condensate tank. The system is operable on multiple fuels, including hydrogen and oxygen provided by the system, natural gas and liquid propane gas. Alternate energy including solar, wind and mechanical, supply electrical power to an electrolysis machine when conventional electrical energy is to be conserved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Inventor: Brian W. Greene
  • Publication number: 20040154501
    Abstract: Discloded is an incinerator system including gas generating furnace (100) provided with incinerating room (130) into which combustibles including waste tire is loaded, and cover part (110), burning part (200) for burning a gas generated from the gas generating furnace (100) and introduced into burner (220) through introducing part (222) by using igniter (228) of ignition part (224), an enthothermal part (300) provided with gas circulation tubes (310), in which high temperature burnt gas introduced through connection tube (10b) is circulated through the gas circulation tubes (310) to water and drain the water through heated water drain tube (314); and cyclon (400) for collecting dust contained in waste gas that has passed through the enthotermal part (300) and discharging the dust into the atmosphere. Combustion gas generated by incinerating waster materials is perfectly burned at a high temperature and high pressure state, thereby restraining occurrence of contamination substances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventor: Haw-Won Lee
  • Publication number: 20040134395
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for treating and utilizing waste materials and mixtures thereof in multiple steps resulting in a high-yield utilization particularly of organic components of the waste for generating kinetically useful energy. The waste materials are sorted by classes, principally between organic and non-organic, e.g. metallic and ceramic, substances. The organic substances are briquetted and gasified, the produced gas being utilized for the direct and indirect generation of electricity and heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Claus Eberhardt, Bernd Ruediger Kipper, Ulrich Stegmann, Jochen Zingelmann
  • Publication number: 20040129188
    Abstract: In a power generation system biomaterial is grown in a biomass field near a furnace. The plants or oils from the plants are periodically harvested and burned by the furnace to generate steam which runs a generator. Waste heat from the furnace and condenser is collected and returned to the biomass field. The by-products of combustion, principally heat, carbon dioxide, water vapor and ash, are in part cycled back to a biomass field as input energy and nutrients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventor: John E. Traina
  • Patent number: 6758150
    Abstract: A system and method are set for pyrolysis of waste feed material including a first retort segment disposed through a combustion chamber and a second retort segment disposed outside of the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber supplies the heat for pyrolysis to the material conveyed through the first retort segment, which pyrolysis is completed as it is conveyed through the second retort segment. A thermal oxidizer oxidizes off gases and a stack unit provides a draft to move the gases from pyrolysis from the retort segments and through the thermal oxidizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Energy Associates International, LLC
    Inventors: Mike Ballantine, Frank Reed, Edward Stammel, III
  • Patent number: 6745706
    Abstract: A system for disposing of municipal solid waste 10) provides commercially-available equipment that is modified to initially remove identifiable unwanted components from the waste (12), and then chop the waste into small pieces (16) of a size suitable for handling and combustion. The moisture content of the waste is reduced in a closed system (20) by passing dry air through the waste in a confined space (30) to absorb moisture and produce moist air, which is then dehumidified via refrigeration equipment (34). The dehumidified air is recycled (30, 40) through the waste repeatedly through the closed system (20) until the water content has reached the predetermined amount. The waste is stored in a bunker (41) for later burning, or is immediately burned in a furnace (24) to produce heat that is used to produce steam (50), which drives a generator (26) to produce electricity (52) that is partly used to power the process and partly sold commercially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Inventor: Richard B. Pallett
  • Patent number: 6729246
    Abstract: A garbage incinerator comprises an incinerator body having an elongated incinerating chamber, which forms an angle with a horizontal plane. A plurality of inlets are provided on the incinerator body for feeding burnable construction garbage and house refuse, respectively. A plurality of house refuse drying channels are provided in the incinerating chamber for drying the house refuse received from the inlets. A waste oil burner is provided at the bottom of the incinerating chamber. Also provided are a dust-removing device for removing dust from exhaust of the incinerator and a harmful substance detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventor: Koon Kwan Lo
  • Patent number: 6715431
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multifunctional disposal apparatus for performing disposal by incineration, desiccation, fusion, degradation, ash melting and others on an object to be disposed such as raw refuse, general garbage, sludge, expanded polystyrene and others produced from a manufacturing plant, a service providing facility, a wholesale market, a general firm, a general store, a general house and others. [Structure] In a multifunctional disposal apparatus comprising: a dry combustion furnace; a kiln furnace; a first smoke feeding portion; a second smoke feeding portion; a smoke combustion portion; a dust filter portion; a second smoke feeding portion; an air heating portion; and a cooling tank portion, the present invention has such structure as that a flow of air is generated in one direction from the cooling tank to the second smoke feeding portion to form a vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Takashi Maejima
  • Patent number: 6694900
    Abstract: The methods and systems of the present invention reduce NOx emissions in combustion systems, e.g., power plants, boilers, furnaces, incinerators, engines, and any combinations thereof. The inventive process decreases NOx emissions from stationary combustion sources and provides improved utilization of low-grade biomass and other waste fuels without slagging and fouling problems. The invention reduces NOx emissions while utilizing gasified fuels, including biomass and low-grade waste fuels, by gasifying solid fuels and injecting produced gas into a reburning zone of, for example, a boiler at relatively low temperatures and in relatively small amounts. By feeding the gas directly into a reburning zone, the need for gas cleaning is eliminated or substantially reduced as tars are burned in the flame and alkali species may be present at much lower levels than is the case with direct combustion applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vitali Lissianski, George Rizeq, Vladimir Zamansky
  • Patent number: 6694899
    Abstract: A method for minimizing corrosion and the build-up of deposits on surfaces of a flue-gas system exposed to moist substances and elevated temperatures, and particularly those surfaces which are used to convey other additives to the system and the surfaces of gas/gas heaters which receive the output from scrubbers, which method involves adding to the system, particularly in those conduits and at the surfaces of the gas/gas heater, generally inert bulking agents such as perlite and vermiculite in expanded form, such agents, apparently by acting under the operating conditions to which they are subjected to retain substantial quantities of water without becoming dissolved, accomplishing the desired results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Apollo Technologies International Corp.
    Inventors: Ira Kukin, William Carmen Pepe
  • Patent number: 6688106
    Abstract: A waste-to-energy incineration system, in which the amount and heat value of exhaust gas largely changes in long and short periods, comprises an incinerator for burning waste, a boiler in the incinerator for generating steam with exhaust heat generated by the incinerator, a superheater for superheating steam generated in the boiler, a steam turbine driven by steam superheated by the superheater, a generator driven by the steam turbine, a fuel reformer for reforming source fuel, and a combustor burning fuel gas reformed by the fuel reformer and at least a part of exhaust gas led from the incinerator which is able to stably decompose generated dioxin in waste incineration exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Okusawa, Kazuhito Koyama, Masahiko Yamagishi, Shigeo Hatamiya, Taiko Ajiro, Megumi Sunou, Yukio Ishigaki, Kenji Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 6686556
    Abstract: A solid-waste conversion plant produces useful products and electrical energy in a closed system with zero emission of pollutants into the atmosphere. The plant is characterized by catalytic ionic-impact chambers having a pair of electrodes that establish an electric arc. The electric arc breaks down solid waste molecules into a plasma of atomic constituents which exothermically recombine into simple molecules upon leaving the plasma. A primary chamber converts carbon-based waste into solidifiable metal, sulfur and glassy slag extractable from the bottom of the chamber, and into gas containing CO, H2, and CH4. A second chamber contains high carbon waste input that is converted by the arc into incandescent coke, which converts CO2 and H2O in the gas from the first chamber into more CO, H2 and CH4, thereby forming a fuel gas. The fuel gas is combusted in gas turbine generators to produce electricity for operating the electric arcs, plus a sellable surplus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: C. Kenneth Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6647903
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for generating fuel gas and optionally, activated carbon gasification from biomass fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: Charles W. Aguadas Ellis
  • Patent number: 6638396
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a waste product and producing a synthesis gas is provided. The system includes a sealed, heated rotatable drum for preheating and preparing the waste material suitable for a plasma reactor, and processing the material in the reactor. The synthesis gas created by the reactor is used to preheat the waste material by circulating the hot synthesis gas around the drum. In an alternative embodiment, the hot synthesis gas flows through the drum to preheat the waste material and to clean the synthesis gas. Different methods of cooling and cleaning the synthesis gas are used. The system may comprise two plasma reactors in combination with a rotating desorber drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventor: Jim Smith Hogan
  • Publication number: 20030177963
    Abstract: A gasification system for producing useful energy from a source of biomass material includes a gasifier for partially combusting biomass material into gaseous fuel, a contained fuel preparation site for preparing biomass material to be delivered to the gasifier, a boiler for combusting gaseous fuel from the gasifier to produce useful energy, and an air delivery system for directing combustion air to at least one of the gasifier and the boiler from the contained fuel preparation site. This arrangement recovers energy normally lost to atmosphere in the form of exhaust from biomass drying facilities. Drawing combustion air from the contained fuel preparation site also permits the fuel preparation site to be maintained at a negative pressure in relation to atmosphere, therefore any odour that is produced from the preparation of the biomass at the site is contained within the closed air delivery system and used for primary combustion at the gasifier or at the boiler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: Industrial Energy Management Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Ross H. Maxwell
  • Patent number: 6619215
    Abstract: An incinerator includes a furnace, a heat-insulating shield, an air conduit, an air blower, and a dryer. The heat-insulating shield has a top wall, a vertically extending peripheral wall that extends downwardly from the top wall and that surrounds and that is spaced apart from the furnace by a gap, and an open bottom end. The peripheral wall of the heat-insulating shield has an air outlet that is disposed adjacent to the top wall and that is in fluid communication with the gap. Atmospheric air is introduced via the open bottom end through the gap and the air conduit and into the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Dai-You Lin
  • Patent number: 6619214
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating waste material that comprises four major cooperating subsystems, namely a pyrolytic converter, a two-stage thermal oxidizer, a steam generator and a steam turbine driven by steam generated by the steam generator. In operation, the pyrolytic converter is uniquely heated without any flame impinging on the reactor component and the waste material to be pyrolyzed is transported through the reaction chamber of the pyrolytic converter by a pair of longitudinally extending, side-by-side material transfer mechanisms. Each of the transfer mechanisms includes a first screw conveyor section made up of a plurality of helical flights for conveying the heavier waste and a second paddle conveyor section interconnected with the first section for conveying the partially pyrolyzed waste, the second section comprising a plurality of paddle flights. Once operating, the apparatus is substantially self-sustaining and requires a minimum use of outside energy sources for pyrolyzing the waste materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: William C. Walker
  • Patent number: 6619216
    Abstract: An incinerator includes a furnace, a heat-insulating shield, an air conduit, an air blower, and a dryer. The heat-insulating shield has a top wall, a vertically extending peripheral wall that extends downwardly from the top wall and that surrounds and that is spaced apart from the furnace by a gap, and an open bottom end. The peripheral wall of the heat-insulating shield has an air outlet that is disposed adjacent to the top wall and that is in fluid communication with the gap. Atmospheric air is introduced via the open bottom end through the gap and the air conduit and into the dryer. A feed motor is used to deliver solid waste into the furnace. A control unit controls rotating speed of the feed motor based on temperature in the dryer so as to adjust the temperature in the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Dai-You Lin
  • Patent number: 6615748
    Abstract: A method and portable apparatus is described for the conversion of cellulose and other blomass waste materials through a pyrolysis and partial combustion sequence in a downdraft gasifier to produce a gas which can be immediately utilized to fuel an internal combustion engine in a generator set (genset). More specifically, the heat from the combustion of part of the cellulosic or other waste input is used to pyrolyze the remainder of the input to produce a mixture of permanent fuel gases. Particulates are removed (water scrubbers, filters) from the gas mixture which can then be used directly as a major part of the fuel to operate the internal combustion engine in the genset. All movement into, through, and out of the gasifier and purification train is controlled by the vacuum associated with the intake of the internal combustion engine, thereby ensuring a steady production of electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Malahat Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Sunter, Jake Neufeld, David Wiles
  • Patent number: 6615750
    Abstract: A sorbent conditioning and direct feed apparatus is provided for direct feeding of a conditioned solid sorbent to a combustor 12. The sorbent conditioning and direct feed apparatus includes raw solid sorbent storages means 102, particle size reducing means 112 for reducing the particle size of solid sorbent supplied thereto from a relatively larger coarse particle size to a relatively smaller fine particle size, metering means 108 for metering the supply of raw solid sorbent from the raw solid sorbent storage means to the particle size reducing means 112, and transport means 118 for transporting solid sorbent which has been conditioned by the particle size reducing means 112 to the combustor 12, whereby conditioned solid sorbent is fed to the combustor 12 without any intermediate storage of the solid sorbent between the raw solid sorbent storage means 102 and the transport means 118.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: James F. Durant, John E. Ferguson, Glen D. Jukkola, Reed S C. Rogers
  • Patent number: 6615749
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for completely destroying documents having been shredded by document shredders, wherein the system comprises: collecting means for shredded documents, burning means being arranged together with collecting means, and the burning means having a burning chamber for burning the shredded documents. The burning chamber has an outlet with a filter unit and an air exhaust for remains of shredded documents that have been burnt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Schleicher & Co. of America, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Larry Wilkins
  • Patent number: 6588350
    Abstract: An automatic coal stoker is provided with internal means to increase the sensible heal outflow from the operating stoker, which means comprises a modified stoker housing that provides a first combustion chamber and an abutting second chamber for induced air heat exchange with the hot combustion gases. A tubular means is disposed in the second chamber which intakes the combustion gases to be vented and extracts much of their sensible heat, and then directs by forced convection, the heated air useful to the stoker environment, while venting the spent combustion gases to the standard flue means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Keystoker Inc.
    Inventor: George E. Somers
  • Patent number: 6574885
    Abstract: The cyclone heat exchanger according to the invention comprises a set of cyclones for preheating powdered raw material. The set of cyclones is divided into a high temperature part (1) and a low temperature part (2) mutually interconnected by a tube (4) with a return loop (40) which is located below the lever of lower cyclone (21) of low temperature part (2). The powdered raw material is transferred from the low temperature part (2) to the high temperature part (1) by means of a transport tube (50), fed with hot transporting gas. The high temperature part (1) and the low temperature part (2) are located in such a way, that the connection of the warm gas input (130) of the highest cyclone (13) of high temperature part (1) is located above the connection of warm gas input (210) of lower cyclone (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Tetrapat
    Inventors: Jaroslav Pospí{haeck over (s)}il, Josef {haeck over (Z)}ajdlík, Zden{haeck over (e)} K Michálek, Petr Krej{haeck over (c)}í, Alois Pumprla
  • Publication number: 20030089288
    Abstract: An energy conversion system which comprises a solid fuel fed combustor system having a first chamber portion with an inlet feed for feeding a metered amount of a solid fuel thereto, a first burner stage having a first traveling conveyor firebelt, a metered amount of air introduced in progressively increasing proportions along the length of the first traveling conveyor. A second burner stage having a second traveling conveyor firebelt with air introduced in a progressively decreasing amount along the length of said second traveling conveyor firebelt and a controller for controlling air introduced to the system. The chamber has a sloped common roof section common to the burner stages and is made of radiative energy reflective fire brick and angled to reflect radiative energy generated from fuel traveling on the traveling conveyor firebelts and directing the radiative energy on fuel traveling on the first firebelt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Applicant: Nathaniel Energy Corporation
    Inventor: Stan E. Abrams
  • Patent number: 6553924
    Abstract: A system and method for treating, injecting and co-combusting sludge in a municipal waste or other solid fuel combustor. The system includes a sludge receiving and treatment module and a sludge injection and combustion module. The sludge is received and stored in one or more storage hoppers where its moisture content is monitored and varied to obtain a sludge having a desired moisture content. The treated sludge is then pumped to a furnace injection nozzle where it is preferably atomized with steam and sprayed into the combustion zone of the furnace. Improved odor control in sludge handling is also provided by a storage tank and a sludge tanker trailer each having an air diffuser for mixing and aerating the sludge and a filter system for filtering odors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: ECO/Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: E. Larry Beaumont, Larry D. Richardson, Kevin G. Rousseau
  • Patent number: 6536360
    Abstract: A heat recovery system for an air curtain incinerator includes a transportable box defined by a plurality of walls and has an open top and an open bottom. The walls are lined with a refractory material operatively associated with the open bottom to form a combustion chamber. The system also includes a source of high velocity air and a manifold for directing an effective curtain of high velocity air across the top opening and down into the combustion chamber. The heat recovery system comprises a system of tubing for conveying a heat conductive medium through the tubing during the combustion process. The tubing may be mounted to the walls, mounted inside the walls, or formed integrally in the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Air Burners, LLC
    Inventor: Brian M. O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20030010266
    Abstract: A system and method are set for pyrolysis of waste feed material including a first retort segment disposed through a combustion chamber and a second retort segment disposed outside of the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber supplies the heat for pyrolysis to the material conveyed through the first retort segment, which pyrolysis is completed as it is conveyed through the second retort segment. A thermal oxidizer oxidizes off gases and a stack unit provides a draft to move the gases from pyrolysis from the retort segments and through the thermal oxidizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Mike Ballantine, Frank Reed, Edward Stammel
  • Publication number: 20020195031
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating waste material that comprises four major cooperating subsystems, namely a pyrolytic converter, a two-stage thermal oxidizer, a steam generator and a steam turbine driven by steam generated by the steam generator. In operation, the pyrolytic converter is uniquely heated without any flame impinging on the reactor component and the waste material to be pyrolyzed is transported through the reaction chamber of the pyrolytic converter by a pair of longitudinally extending, side-by-side material transfer mechanisms. Each of the transfer mechanisms includes a first screw conveyor section made up of a plurality of helical flights for conveying the heavier waste and a second paddle conveyor section interconnected with the first section for conveying the partially pyrolyzed waste, the second section comprising a plurality of paddle flights. Once operating, the apparatus is substantially self-sustaining and requires a minimum use of outside energy sources for pyrolyzing the waste materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventor: William C. Walker
  • Patent number: 6494153
    Abstract: An improved method of burning low sulfur coal in order to power gas turbines using unmixed combustion that ensures virtually complete oxidation of the coal, with the sulfur content of the coal being recovered as elemental sulfur for use as recycle in the unmixed combustion process. An unmixed combustion catalyst is circulated between two fluid bed reactors and becomes reduced by low sulfur coal in the first fluid bed reactor and oxidized by air in the second fluid bed reactor. The first reactor produces carbon-containing fly ash which is then separated and contacted with gases containing SO2 from the first fluid bed reactor to produce CO2, CO, H2S, COS, CS2, and elemental sulfur. The elemental sulfur is separated and a portion thereof recycled back to the first fluid bed reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventor: Richard K. Lyon
  • Publication number: 20020174811
    Abstract: An energy conversion system which comprises a solid fuel fed combustor system having a first chamber portion with an inlet feed for feeding a metered amount of a solid fuel thereto, a first burner stage having a first traveling conveyor firebelt, a metered amount of air introduced in progressively increasing proportions along the length of the first traveling conveyor. A second burner stage having a second traveling conveyor firebelt with air introduced in a progressively decreasing amount along the length of said second traveling conveyor firebelt and a controller for controlling air introduced to the system. The chamber has a sloped common roof section common to the burner stages and is made of radiative energy reflective fire brick and angled to reflect radiative energy generated from fuel traveling on the traveling conveyor firebelts and directing the radiative energy on fuel traveling on the first firebelt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventor: Stan E. Abrams
  • Patent number: 6484882
    Abstract: In order to separate a carbon-containing fraction as completely as possible from a residue, for example a pyrolysis residue, a combustible constituent is first separated from a non-combustible constituent. A carbon-containing light fraction is subsequently separated from a small-fragment fraction of the non-combustible constituent. For this purpose, in a preferred embodiment, a combination of a facility for the separation of wire with a heavy-fragment separator following the latter is provided for a continuous separation operation. The carbon-containing fraction thus obtained is preferably supplied for further utilization to a combustion chamber of a pyrolysis plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Boretzky, Anton Ebert, Leonhard Teschers, Winfried Von Rhein, Helmut Werdinig
  • Patent number: 6470812
    Abstract: Method and apparatus to recover energy from waste by means of combustion of such waste in industrial furnaces, particularly of the rotary type, that has an external calciner, feeding such waste into the tertiary air duct of the calciner and burning the waste inside the duct itself, to efficiently make use of the energy produced by such combustion, as a contribution of the total cost of fuel necessary to operate the industrial furnace. The method and apparatus permit the elimination of hazardous wastes that are efficiently disassociated when burned sufficiently to produce effluents that are typically non-toxic, producing greatly reduced or even no atmospheric pollution nor environmental damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Cemex, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Jose Luis Arroyave-Garcia, Jorge Berrun-Castanon, Juan Manuel Diosdado, Luis Farias, Armando J. Garcia, Javier Garza-Ondarza, Simon Gonzalez-Guerra, Ignacio M. Mayoral-Rodriguez, Juan Jose Morales-Peregrina, Alejandro Padilla-Cortez
  • Patent number: 6453829
    Abstract: An incinerator device includes an incinerator for burning the garbage to generate a smoke, the smoke has a portion sent back to and retreated by the incinerator, and the other portion sent to and retreated by a furnace. The furnace may energize a steam boiler to actuate an electric generator and to generate electricity. A filtering device includes a serpentine conduit for receiving the smoke from the furnace, and disposed in a casing for heating the water in the casing and for supplying the heated water for family use or for use in swimming pool or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Inventors: Wu Chin Tsai, Sin Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 6439135
    Abstract: A municipal waste gasification system comprises a plurality of primary gasification chambers for receiving municipal waste, a means for operating the municipal waste gasification system so that one or more of the primary gasification chambers may be idle while the other primary gasification chambers are operating to produce an effluent by an oxygen-starved process, a means for heating the municipal waste under oxygen-starved conditions in the primary gasification chambers in order to gasify the municipal waste and produce the effluent, and at least one mixing chamber positioned to receive the effluent produced by the primary gasification chambers with an effluent pathway extending through each mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: International Environmental Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: G. Michael Pope
  • Patent number: 6425335
    Abstract: A miniature garbage incinerator includes a base, a cover on the base, a pot shaped furnace at the center of the base to define an revolving space therearound, a helical pipe connected to the air revolving space and heat source in the bottom of the base for providing whirlpool flame around the furnace, a motor on the central top of the cover to actuate a stirring rod inside the incinerator, an inlet including a spiral propeller tube in a side wall of the cover for feeding the garbage and filthy mud into the furnace, a heat revolving pipe including a blower connected between a top of the cover and a lateral wall of the base, a chimney connected to a lateral wall opposite to the heat revolving pipe, a pressure adjustment valve on a top of the cover and an ashes collector under the chimney connected to the bottom of the furnace through an ashes spiral propeller tube. The miniature garbage incinerator can be used individually or combined with a filthy mud furnace and a heat stove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Ying-Tsung Chen
  • Patent number: 6401633
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating organic waste material characterized by high ash content is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Minergy Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Baudhuin
  • Patent number: 6401635
    Abstract: Process for recycling of liquid carton waste material or other similar waste material having fibrous, metal and plastics materials. The process includes introducing the waste material and a slushing liquid into a slushing apparatus and slushing of the waste material to thereby form defibrated fibrous material therein. The treated waste material is then separated into (i) a fiber suspension which includes the defibrated fibrous material, and (ii) a reject portion which includes the metal and plastics materials. The obtained fiber suspension is cleaned and the fibrous material therein is reclaimed for further use. The reject portion is introduced into a fluidized bed gasifier so as to gasify the plastics therein to produce a hydrocarbon product gas, which is thereafter separated from the metal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Corenso United Oy Ltd.
    Inventors: Jorma Nieminen, Juha Palonen, Markku Itäpelto, Pekka Harkki, Lauri Mäkipaja