Abstract: In a process for the thermal treatment of solid materials (3), in particular refuse, in which the solid materials (3) are burnt/gasified or pyrolized in a first step (5) with a lack of oxygen, and then, in an afterburning zone (14), the flue gases (6) from the first step (5) are mixed with an oxygen-containing gaseous medium (15) and are burnt with complete burn-off, the flue gases (6) emerging from the first step (5) are firstly actively homogenized in a mixing zone (7) with the addition of a gaseous oxygen-free or low-oxygen medium (8) before they are mixed with the oxygen-containing medium (15). Then, the homogenized flue-gas stream flows through a holding zone (13), in which it stays for at least 0.5 second, before, in an afterburning zone (14), the medium (15) which serves to ensure complete burn-off of the flue gas is added. The process according to the invention is distinguished by simple process steps and by a reduced level of pollutant emissions, in particular NOx, compared to the prior art.

Abstract: A rotatable fluidised bed incinerator comprises a rotatable combustion chamber, a means for rotating the combustion chamber, a means for introducing combustible material into the combustion chamber, and a means for introducing a gas into the combustion chamber to create a fluidised bed within the chamber. A flow area of the combustion chamber remains substantially constant or increases with decreasing chamber radius.

Abstract: According to the present invention, boiler water is pressurized so that its boiling point is set at approximately 200.degree. C. to 320.degree. C. The boiler water is heated in at least two stages. Thermal energy of gases containing chlorine compounds is used to heat the water to its boiling point. Thermal energy of gases which do not contain chlorine compounds is used to heat the water from its boiling point until superheated steam of a given temperature is generated. The heating which uses the thermal energy of gases containing chlorine compounds is accomplished using the thermal energy from the combustion of pyrolysis gases obtained from a pyrolysis means in which waste material is supplied into a chamber containing a fluidized bed medium which has been heated to at least 300.degree. C., and a pyrolytic reaction is induced.

Abstract: To a fluidized combustor bed there is passed particulate fuel via a fuel flow distributor which comprises a vessel for receiving a particular fuel from a fuel storage. The fuel is fed into the vessel of the fuel flow distributor from the fuel storage, whereupon the fuel is fluidized in a bed above a bed bottom in the vessel of the fuel flow distributor. The fuel flow distributor comprises at least two feed pipes with associated inlets located adjacent the surface of the bed in the fuel flow distributor, where fluidization gas which leaves the vessel via a feed pipe feeds out fuel to at least one nozzle is in the bed of the combustor. Additional gas is supplied to the feel pipes at the inlets thereof, such that the flow of fuel through an individual feel pipe can be controlled by controlling the gas flow supplied to the inlets of the respective feed pipes.

Abstract: A recovery boiler for combusting spent liquor from cellulose cooking while at the same time recovering chemicals. The recovery boiler is constructed for so-called "rotafire" combustion and the speed of rotation of the secondary air has been increased by a constriction of the boiler being arranged at the tertiary air level. The invention also includes a process for using the boiler which is based on certain ports through which the secondary air is blown in being provided with air which is at a higher pressure than that at the other ports on the same level, thereby achieving a higher inflow velocity than from the other ports.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for using biofuel or waste material or both for energy production. The biofuel or the waste material is gasified in a fluidized bed gasifier (10), preferably a circulating fluidized bed gasifier. The gas produced in the gasifier is introduced into a boiler (12) equipped with fossil fuel burners (28, 28'28"), typically burners for pulverized coal. The gas is introduced at a level above the burners. Ash from the boiler may be used to form the bed of the gasifier. For control of NO.sub.x, the gas is burned in the upper part of the boiler at a low temperature level of 800.degree.-1050.degree. C. (1472.degree.-1922.degree. F.), preferably 850.degree.-900.degree. C. (1562.degree.-1652.degree. F.), and with a small excess air content of about 5-10 percent. In a second embodiment, the raw gas may be cleaned of harmful or noxious components, and cooled if desired, between the gasifier and the boiler in an additional circulating fluidized bed reactor (152) having a bed of coal ash.

Abstract: Steam plasma reactor incorporating an induction steam plasma torch where superheated steam is generated and passed through an induction coil or coils to generate high temperature steam plasma for conversion and disposal of waste products such as low level radioactive waste, energetics, such as solid rocket propellants, liquid rocket fuel, chemical agents such as nerve gas, industrial waste such as paint sludge, hazardous chemical waste, medical waste and other general wastes in a downstream conversion reactor referred to as a plasma energy recycle and conversion (PERC) reactor.

Abstract: High temperature combustion apparatus incorporating a pneumatically suspended combustion zone and capable of supporting relatively high combustion temperatures, in excess of 2400.degree. C. (4352.degree. F.) for essentially total combustion with minimal pollutant production. The combustion apparatus may be employed for waste material incineration in general, toxic waste incineration, and for smokeless burning of wood and vegetation. The combustion apparatus may be employed in an efficient steam electric power generating plant which employs municipal solid waste as fuel, and/or in combination with a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) electric generator. The pneumatically suspended combustion zone is created by having streams of combustion air directed upwardly from a floor grate and from the sides of a combustion chamber such that combustion occurs in a swirling turbulent mass which does not directly contact either the walls or the floor of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An incinerator which includes a furnace shell, a filtering device and an ash ejector is provided. Three blowers are placed around the furnace shell along tangent lines to the outer furnace shell wall. The air blown by the blowers forms a whirling airflow within the incinerator. Upper and lower guide plates are affixed within the furnace shell to divide the incinerator into a space for supplying garbage and a second burning region. The hot airflow containing ashes is carried to a filtering device and sprayed with water. The ashes are then trapped on filter material. Ash that remains on the bottom of the furnace shell can be poured into an ash collector by a rotatable grate. The ashes from the ash collector are removed by an auger stem of an ash ejector located below the ash collector.

Abstract: The method of incinerating a combustible material (1) comprises, before custion, the following steps:dividing (2) the material into particles,incorporating (3) the divided material into an aqueous medium at a rate of not more than 35% by weight of solid relative to the liquid,foaming and pressurizing the suspension thereby obtained, by incorporating an oxidizer gas (10) and surface-active additives (9) in a mixer (8) of the suspension.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for incinerating waste whose ease of burning may vary form batch to batch, wherein burning is conducted in a main combustion region to form combustion products containing combustibles and in a secondary combustion zone which is supplied with oxygen at a rate during a first period of time which is independent of the composition of the combustion products or resulting flue gas and at a rate during a second period of time which is determined as a function of the concentration of at least one component of the combustion products or flue gas.

Abstract: High temperature combustion apparatus incorporating a pneumatically suspended combustion zone and capable of supporting relatively high combustion temperatures, in excess of 2400.degree. C. (4352.degree. F.) for essentially total combustion with minimal pollutant production. The combustion apparatus may be employed for waste material incineration in general, toxic waste incineration, and for smokeless burning of wood and vegetation. The combustion apparatus may be employed in an efficient steam electric power generating plant which employs municipal solid waste as fuel, and/or in combination with a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) electric generator. The pneumatically suspended combustion zone is created by having streams of combustion air directed upwardly from a floor grate and from the sides of a combustion chamber such that combustion occurs in a swirling turbulent mass which does not directly contact either the walls or the floor of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A fluidized bed system in which a plate is disposed in an enclosure and is adapted to support particulate material. A plurality of nozzles are supported by the plate for receiving air and directing the air through the plate and into the particulate material to fluidize same. Each of the nozzles includes a vertical tubular portion extending upwardly from the plate for receiving air from the air plenum, an angled tubular portion extending downwardly and outwardly from the vertical tubular portion for discharging the air, and a valve member movably housed in the vertical tubular portion, which permits air flow during operation but, upon shutdown, seals the nozzle and prevents backflow or backsifting of the particulate material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for immobilizing ashes by vitrification thereof in a plasma arc reactor, which is very efficient to treat ashes and any other pulverulent residues containing toxic leachable components that may be a source of pollution. The process makes use of a plasma reactor of the falling film type, in which an axial transferred or non-transferred arc melts and treats a load tangentially injected or otherwise blown in a cyclonic manner in a sleeve while this load falls down by gravity along the wall of the sleeve and accumulates at the bottom of the reactor in the form of a liquid bath. The load that is fed into the reactor consists of the ashes exclusively if they contain a sufficient amount of silica to make them self-vitrifying, or of a mixture of ashes with silica or another glass-forming agent.

Abstract: A large volume microwave plasma process for "in-situ" detoxification of dioxins, furans and other toxicants is disclosed. A helical coil and a cylinder of a low loss dielectric tubing is coaxially positioned inside a microwave resonant cavity to extend from a cross-polarized fluid inlet to a cross-polarized vapor outlet. Fluid passing through the coil cylinder and is directly ionized to the plasma state by microwave energy introduced into the cavity. The geometry of the coil relative to the cylinder induces a magnetic field in the plasma to compress the plasma to the center of the cylinder, thereby preventing charring of the cylinder walls. The geometry of coil to cylinder also provides a slower fall through rate for the treatment of liquid and solid waste. The process and apparatus, are particularly suitable for mobile applications that can be moved from site to site, for on-site treatment of hazardous wastes.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing pneumatically conveyed solid pulverulent material over an annular area of large diameter comprises an enclosure defining an annular chamber having a substantially vertical axis, a closed upper end and a lower end, an upper portion adjacent the closed upper end and a lower portion adjacent the lower end. A section defined by a plane extending perpendicularly to the axis has a constant area in the upper portion and an area decreasing progressively towards the lower end in the lower portion. An annular outlet opening or a series of annularly arranged outlet openings is defined by the lower end, and an inlet conduit for a flow of gaseous fluid for pneumatically conveying the solid pulverulent material into the chamber is connected to the upper chamber portion so that the gaseous fluid flow penetrates the chamber in an approximately radial direction.

Abstract: A ram feed waste incinerator apparatus includes a vertical waste storage cylinder positioned above a combustion chamber and contains a movable ram to force the waste to be incinerated downwardly against a transversely extending, rotatably driven bar at the top of the combustion chamber. Combustion temperature control is provided by feeding air into the combustion chamber and by rotating the bar to abrade char from the waste supported by the bar. A bed of ash is maintained within optimum levels for thermal protection of bottom of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A method for the thermal decomposition of a fluid toxic substance contained in a gas comprises a cylindrical main combustion chamber and a secondary combustion chamber arranged thereabove. An inlet opening leads into the main combustion chamber at an angle to introduce a stream of the gas containing the toxic substance into the main combustion chamber with an angular momentum, a burner is arranged to direct a flame into the main combustion chamber above the inlet opening for subjecting the gas containing the toxic substance to combustion, and an annular gas stream retaining device is arranged above the burner.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for incinerating refuse or the like in a furnace where the flue gases of combustion are combined with secondary air for afterburning the gases in an afterburning zone. The flue gases are dammed before entering the afterburning zone so as to increase retention time of the flue gases in a zone of uniform temperature in the furnace space, then are accelerated in a venturi-like manner in the afterburning zone, and then are decelerated in a venturi-like manner in the afterburning zone. Secondary air is injected across the front of the afterburning zone in a direction opposite the flow of the flue gases so as to further increase the retention time of the flue gases in the furnace space, and so that the combustible components entrained in the flue gases are burnt completely before entering the afterburning zone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the combustion of a hydrocarbonaceous material wherein an open topped trough means is provided for containing the hydrocarbonaceous material, at least one of an oxygen containing gas and a fluid fuel is introduced into a lower portion of the trough means to mix with the hydrocarbonaceous material to be combusted in the trough means, and an oxygen containing gas curtain is established around the trough means to pick up at least some combustion products rising from the open top of the trough means, circulate same around the under side of the trough means, and carry same back to the top of the trough means, whereby visible emissions are reduced and at least some particulate solids removed.

Abstract: A pollution-free waste reclamation furnace which is comprised of a forced air burn chamber for burning presorted combustible non-petroleum derivative waste. A petroleum derivative waste cooking ring-like chamber, which is at least partially surrounded by the burn chamber, has an oil bath therein for receiving and cooking petroleum derivative waste wherein the waste is heated until it melts and dissolves within the oil to form sweet crude. A solid waste cage operably moves through the oil in the ring chamber to collect undissolved non-petroleum derivative solid waste to thereby remove such undissolved solid waste from the cooking ring chamber. An exhaust stack is provided having a spiraling exhaust gas tunnel wrapped therearound wherein the tunnel is in flow communication with the burn chamber where exhaust gases rise and pass therethrough. A plurality of steam jets are within the tunnel along with a plurality of openings permitting communication between the tunnel and the inside of the stack.

Abstract: An oven is described which is especially adapted to maintain accurate and uniform temperature control. The device of the invention includes a central treatment chamber surrounded by a plenum chamber which, through a number of spaced apart apertures introduces gases at a preselected temperature and elevated pressure into the treatment chamber. The plenum chamber is configured to insure a substantially uniform pressure at each of the apertures to provide a uniform flow of temperature regulated gases through each of the apertures.

Abstract: Improved dehydration section construction for pulse jet combustion apparatus for the drying of particulate materials that includes vibratable finger like sections at the downstream end thereof to minimize particle accumulationthereon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high speed burning furnace and incinerator, particularly to a high speed burning furnace and incinerator capable of completely burning pulverized coal in the burning furnace, separating the ash produced by the combustion, injecting the said flame into the incinerator, and then completely burning the waste products. The main feature of this invention resides in that a heavy oil or a pulverized coal can be mixed with a primary air flow and injected into the burning furnace so as to introduce a rapidly revolving secondary air flow from tangential air flow inlets on an inner pipe to help combustion and thus a complete combustion can be effected and the flame can be intensified. This intense flame is introduced into the incinerator to completely burn the waste products sent into the incinerator by a conveyer through a preheating chamber.

Abstract: Improved dehydration section construction for pulse jet combustion apparatus for the drying of particulate materials that includes a plurality of exhaust flow disturbing rings on the confining walls thereof.

Abstract: The total evaporator heating surface of a steam generator with circulating atmospheric or pressurized turbulent layer firing is distributed over several partial surfaces which are arranged in a turbulence-type combustion chamber (1) in a flow-bed cooler (7) or in a waste-heat steam generator (9). The partial surface through which flow takes place first, is dimensioned for the required low-load operation of the steam generator. The steam generator is so regulated that during increasing load of the steam generator the flow-bed cooler (7) receives an increasing quantity of solids, and during sinking load it receives a decreasing quantity of solids.

Abstract: A shaking grate having inclined continuous tubes disposed parallel to the direction of incline and communicating with a liquid or fluid coolant circuit. The tubes are arranged on a vibrating grate carriage. The shaking grate is made free of grate bars by means of a planar tube-crosspiece-tube grate sheet construction, with the tube crosspieces having slot-shaped openings which are conically tapered in the direction of the fuel bed. The shaking grate is free of slots in the region of the fuel bed inlet as far as to the beginning of the first combustion zone of the fuel bed. The shaking grate is connected with crossbars of the vibrating grate carriage via ridge or comb plates and heat-compensating gliding elements. The shaking grate is provided with a riser for the draining liquid or fluid coolant. The riser is arranged in the charging region of the fuel bed inlet.

Abstract: A burner casing having a vertical support sleeve mounted at its center forms a combustion chamber below the sleeve and an annular duct space that surrounds the sleeve. A self supporting fuel cartridge containing consolidated solid fuel particles fits slidably within the support sleeve and has one end resting upon a mandrel located in the combustion chamber. Air to support steady state combustion of the fuel particles at a surface of the cartridge is forced downwardly through the cartridge. The heat of combustion and exhaust products pass from the combustion chamber through the annular duct space and then to other furnace components.

Abstract: Method and furnace for the incineration of combustible material and the generation of hot gas, the furnace comprising a lower chamber provided with an inlet for air and an inlet for combustible material and an upper chamber provided with an inlet for air and a stack which chambers are communicated with each other inside the furnace, and the method comprising blowing air and combustible material into the lower chamber of the furnace in a direction tangential to the wall of the lower chamber and blowing air into the upper chamber of the furnace in a direction tangential to the wall of the upper chamber for thereby generating hot gas in the upper chamber.

Abstract: The method of treatment during transport of solid waste by depositing the solid waste on the surface of a molten stream of lead traveling in one direction whereby organic material in the waste is subjected to thermal degradation, metals and other materials in the waste which are insoluble in the molten lead and of lesser specific gravity remain on the surface of the molten lead for removal and recovery while metals and other materials which are soluble in the molten lead dissolve in the molten lead for separation from the remainder while metal and materials which are insoluble in the molten lead and of higher specific gravity fall to the bottom of the stream of molten lead.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for producing a combustible mixture of a solid fuel pellet made from organic fibrous material and a flammable gas or liquid. A suitable burner structure is described for burning the fuel mixture in an overfire system efficiently and producing a minimum of solid combustion products as ash. The flammable gas mixed with the solid fuel material may be made by burning pellets of an organic fibrous material.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for generating combustible gas from cellulosic fiber material. A gas production chamber contains an inclined support chute having a grate perforated with alternately angled ports for admission of a controlled amount of air through the grate portion for performing first a lifting function and then a propelling function on cellulosic material entering at the top and undergoing progressive destructive to form combustible gases in the chamber. The chamber atmosphere has an oxygen content insufficient for complete combustion. The combustible gases are withdrawn, additional secondary air is blended in the gas, and complete combustion of the blend is effected in a combustion chamber. The heated gases formed are then forced by a recirculation blower to a point of use, such as the interior atmosphere of a lumber drying kiln.

Abstract: Waste waters from salt bath hardening and galvanizing operations are removed through evaporation of the injurious material containing waste water and complete detoxification of the concentrate from the evaporation. The waste waters are first brought to a salt content of 300-500 grams/liter and this concentrated solution is then supplied to a molten salt bath.

Abstract: An incinerator is provided having an extended length of tubing, preferably coiled, and immersed within a bath of molten salt. Means are provided for introducing sludge at a controlled rate along with hot air under pressure for carrying the sludge through the immersed length of tubing, the air and the heat supplied from the molten salt bath causing concurrent drying and burning of the sludge. The exhausted gases are further oxidized by passing them through a portion of the molten salt bath, while solids are separated out and removed.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for carrying out an exothermic process in which a combustible-containing solid (e.g. coal shale, pyrite or limestone in combination with fuel oil) are burned in a fluidized-bed reactor with primary and secondary streams of oxygen-containing combustion-sustaining gas (in a volume ratio of 1:20 to 2:1) supplied at different levels so that the primary gas acts as the fluidizing gas. The gas velocities and rate of gas feeds are controlled to provide a mean suspension density above the secondary gas inlet of 10 to 40 kg/m.sup.3. The major portion of solid feed is introduced into the space below the secondary gas inlet which is maintained substantially free of internal fixtures and the effluent gases are separated from the entrained solids which are recycled to the bed. Solids withdrawn from the bed are cooled in a fluidized-bed cooler and the temperature of the bed is maintained constant by the controlled recirculation of cooled solids thereto from the cooler.