Abstract: An incinerator having a generally cylindrical, horizontally disposed shell enclosed at its ends by vertical end plates and defining a combustion chamber. The upper sector of the shell is provided with a feed opening for introducing combustible waste into the housing and the opening extends continuously between the opposite end plates. Enclosing the feed opening is a generally curved door, the lower portion of which is hinged to the shell so that the door can be pivoted between a closed and open position. The gases of combustion are discharged from the combustion chamber through a stack and the upper portion of the shell bordering the stack can be formed with an enclosed heating jacket through which a heating medium can be circulated. Heat from the combustion of waste will act to heat the medium and the heated medium can be used for auxiliary heating purposes.

Abstract: Apparatus for disposing of pelletized refuse by conversion into useful gaseous products and inert solid residue, comprising a vertical shaft and an enlarged hearth beneath the shaft, with a multiplicity of tuyeres for feeding oxygen-containing gas into the hearth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the heat treatment of industrial wastes wherein at least some of the constituent materials of the wastes are subjected to combustion and/or to pyrolysis to produce flue gases and, in some applications, a residue. The supply of an oxygenated combustion-supporting gas to the wastes is regulated as a function of at least one sensed predetermined characteristic of the flue gases. The oxygenated gas may be a mixture of air and substantially pure oxygen, the feed rate of one or both of these being regulated in response to the sensed temperature and/or oxygen content of the flue gases. Such regulation maintains the oxygen content of the flue gases within the range of from 0 to 7%; and the temperature of the flue gases may be maintained from 400.degree. to 1200.degree. C. and, preferably within a range of 50.degree. C. in this region.

Abstract: An incinerator for burning garbage has a combustion chamber and an after-burner chamber. The top wall of the combustion chamber has an open loading aperture therein. An air curtain of over-fire combustion air is provided below the loading aperture, to prevent exhaust of gases and suspended solids through the loading aperture, by means of a slot jet extending the length of the combustion chamber and directing a stream of air across the chamber. This air is also used as combustion air, along with under-fire air supplied to the bottom of the chamber and further air supplied to the after-burner chamber. Efficient combustion air flow patterns are established reducing the over-all requirement for combustion air in the incinerator of the invention.

Abstract: An air-curtain incinerator for burning energetic materials. Both the volume f air and the angle at which air enters the fire box are remotely controllable. The combustion process is monitored, and the air volume and angle at which air enters the fire box are controlled to minimize the production of air pollutants by the combustion of energetic materials.

Abstract: A prefilter and a filter are made from wood chips, and carbonized wood chips respectively, and the filters are employed to remove hydrocarbon fumes generated in paint spray booths. The filters are subsequently incinerated and the heat of incineration may then be used as a source of energy. The system is particularly advantageous for furniture manufacturing plants which produce abundant wood chips and have air pollution problems associated with their spray paint or finishing booths.

Abstract: Moist combustible matter is burned in a combustion zone following a drying treatment in which the combustible matter is brought into contact with hot, inert particulates circulated from the combustion zone. The water in the combustible matter is evaporated at a relatively low temperature in the drying zone, thereby conserving heat in the system. The exhaust gas stream from the drying zone is handled separately from the reactor exhaust gases to condense the water vapor therein, the water is removed from the process and the remaining gas is subjected to odor-destroying high temperature.

Abstract: A pollution controlled incinerator system comprises an elongated combustion products duct system having a series of spaced incineration station inlets positioned above ground level and a permanently installed pollution control apparatus. The branch combustion product duct from a remote station terminates at a more proximate station whereby when two or more portable incinerators are installed, the combustion products from the incinerator station further from the pollution control apparatus pass through the charge of the next proximate incinerator station in the series. The combined combustion products effluent from all of the incinerators or furnaces installed along the duct system is concentrated and directed to the permanently installed pollution control apparatus. The pollution control apparatus functions to clean and to cool the combustion products effluent and then to discharge the effluent to atmosphere.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for use in a sewage treatment plant, and is characterized by a centrifuge for receiving material precipitated by lime in the plant and for discharging a regenerable lime sludge, the centrifuge having a centrate stream of non-regenerable sludge, and means for drying the centrate stream with hot exhaust gases from a sludge furnace.

Abstract: A process for the thermal decomposition of polychorinated organic compounds such as polychlorinated phenyls and biphenyls comprising heat treating the polychlorinated organic compounds in a flame, in a high-turbulence combustion chamber in a pulsating spiral flow at a temperature of at least about 850.degree. C. with a residence time of at least about 0.1 second, an excess of at least about 5% by weight of oxygen, based on the organic carbon to be burnt, being present in the combustion chamber. Advantageously the polychlorinated organic compound is present in the fuel feed in about 0.1 to 30% by weight.

Abstract: Continuously flowing solid material, such as municipal waste, is pretreated in an air-starved hot moving grate carbonizer furnace to drive off low temperature volatiles, and then further devolatized in a shaft furnace wherein limited amounts of air are let into a downwardly moving stack of the precarbonized material at a plurality of locations spaced sufficiently apart as to preclude formation of hot spots, i.e., localized regions of intense reaction, such as would cause clinkers to be formed. Low Btu gas is exhausted from the pretreatment carbonizer and shaft furnace and sterile ash residue is discharged from the bottom of the shaft furnace.

Abstract: A multi-chambered combuster apparatus for the controlled burning of all forms of light combustible organic material and the generation of steam or dry heat energy, resulting in essentially pollution free combustion as atmospheric emissions have zero opacity and low particulate discharge. A primary combustion chamber in which air and fuel are introduced in controlled ratio has interior walls acting as ignition surfaces which also direct combustants in a cyclonic flow path. Combustion gases then expand into a counterflow chamber where cooling and deceleration causes settling of pollutants. The gas stream next enters a purification chamber, passing through a hot filtering medium which entraps any remaining fine particulate matter.

Abstract: Method and installation (apparatus) for continuous combustion of combustibles effecting combustion in a closed room into which a controlled quantity of substantially pure oxygen is introduced. The gases emitted by the combustible combined with oxygen to produce a semi-continuous explosion as a first effect; also produce as a side effect, an atomization of any water present (in the form of steam) and of any gaseous combustion products within the closed room as a second effect. Energy is provided not only in the form of calorific energy from combustion, but is released as radiation, and other forms produced by the atomization of the water and gaseous combustion products, including the kinetic energy of the gaseous molecules within the closed room.

Abstract: A vertical shaft furnace for the pyrolysis of pelletized refuse, having a hearth in the base provided with a refuse bed support structure comprising a plurality of cooled, refractory support members, extending radially inward from the wall toward the axis of the hearth. The support structure is characterized by having a plurality of peripheral spaces extending through side structure and converging in the downward direction, each of the peripheral spaces being formed, at least in part, by the side wall surfaces of adjacent support members and the inside surface of the hearth.