Abstract: Discarded rubber tires are charged in random state into a vertical dry distillation furnace, and the tires at a lower part thereof are caused to undergo combustion to give off hot combustion gases by which the tires at higher levels undergo dry distillation to produce distillation gases which are useable as fuel. The combustion is started by burners and is then self-sustained by supplying only air. The furnace interior at its part below the combustion zone is expanded or flared in the downward direction to an open end immersed in water, but the downward movement of the tires and residue is braked by a self-sustained grate effect until the residue finally drops out of the furnace to be removed by a conveyor. The continuous and efficient operation over a long period of this furnace is assisted by a separator also capable of long continuous operation.

Abstract: A waste material treatment furnace includes a furnace chamber having an interior surface formed by a flexible sheet of an insulating fabric to minimize heat-up and cool-down time and to facilitate interior surface repair. The treatment furnace additionally includes an exhaust gas treatment facility for neutralizing and/or removing undesirable elements from an exhaust gas stream. The treatment facility includes a chamber having inlet and outlet openings, a conduit therebetween defined by wall members permeable to the passage of exhaust gas therethrough. A supply of a selected reactive material is provided in a compartment formed about the periphery of the permeable wall members, and means are provided to move the exhaust gas from within the conduit through the permeable wall members thereof into the selected reactive material within the compartment.

Abstract: Energy and useful products are recovered from plantain wastes in a self-contained waste treatment plant wherein the raw material waste is charged into a boiler where the same is combusted to produce flue gases containing several organic compounds and dry ash containing residue mineral salts. The flue gas heats water in a water reservoir to generate steam which drives a turbine generator to produce electricity, the flue gas then being collected and at least partially condensed to form a pyroligneous acid solution from which alcohols and the like can be recovered. The dry ash containing residue mineral salt is mixed with other minerals or reagents with the resulting mass being supplied into a continuously stirred fusion furnace situated within the boiler to which heat is supplied by the flue gas to produce commercially useful products, such as zeolites, dolomite or other related products.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for burning green wood chips in which the hot combustion gases generated by the burning of the chips in a furnace are passed through chips in a storage silo from which the chips are subsequently fed to the furnace. A column of chips of substantial height is maintained in a top vented silo. Chips are fed from the lower portion of the column to the furnace and usually mixed with other fuel such as particulate coal or coal dust, and the hot combustion gases from this combustion are fed into the silo at a location substantially below the top of the column of chips so that the gases permeate and pass upwardly through the column of chips to dry them. The chips also act as a filter to remove environmental contaminants from the gases.

Abstract: A continuous gasification furnace and method of operation. The charge is fed into the furnace chamber between two rolls at least one of which is driven. The furnace chamber can be sealed from the ambient atmosphere. The bed of the furnace contains three zones from top to bottom, these zones are; a volatilization zone, a char reaction zone and an ash zone. Additionally, there can be a drying zone above the volatilization zone. Fuel, air, and steam enter the lower portion of the furnace through strategically located inlet ports. Fuel is used to start up the burning bed while carefully controlled steam to air ratio is used during continuous operation of the furnace. Simultaneously controlled steam cooling effects and exothermic reactions occur in the char reaction zone whereby all or controlled amounts of the oxygen is consumed so that pyrolysis can occur in the volatilization zone without the danger of combustion in that zone or combustion of the fumes leaving the bed.

Abstract: Apparatus for the conversion of solid fuels and solid organic waste materials by high temperature gasification into gaseous fuel called "producer gas." The apparatus comprises a stacked two-section gasifier defining sequentially descending drying, distillation, oxidation and reduction reaction zones through which a column of the solid fuel descends during its conversion to the gaseous fuel. The lower reactor section is of double-shell construction and defines the lower oxidation and reduction reaction zones. Means are provided for drawing air into the oxidation zone for burning reaction with carbonized fuel passing therethrough and for thereafter drawing reaction gases downwardly through the lower reduction zone of the gasifier and then through the annular space defined by the double-shell structure of the lower section in indirect counter-current heat exchange relationship with the fuel column portion in the oxidation and reduction zones.

Abstract: An incinerator and method for burning both sorted and unsorted rubbish and refuse cleanly and efficiently. Rubbish is inserted in a non-clogging hopper where it is preheated and preliminarily combusted as it moves downwardly to a primary combustion chamber where air is added. A moving grate beneath the primary combustion chamber draws ashes and uncombusted materials downwardly away from that chamber. Gases of combustion are further combusted as they are drawn by the natural draft in the incinerator through a secondary combustion chamber and gas circulating and flyash collecting chamber before exiting through an exhaust. The natural draft through the incinerator is controlled by a series of movable baffles and doors.

Abstract: A combustion process and a plant therefor, said process comprising the steps of introducing combustion material into a first chamber included in the plant and burning said combustion material therein, and finally burning out and treating in a second chamber residual products, such as gases and gas-borne components as well as slag, ash and the like passing into said second chamber from said first chamber.The novelty of the process resides in that the combustion in the first chamber is controlled so that a pyrolitic process takes place therein and that combustible gases expelled during said process are led to the second chamber in which the gases are burnt while yielding high heat which is utilized for melting the slag, the air and the like, and in that air or oxygen is supplied to bring about decarbonization of the slag.

Abstract: A furnace adapted for burning waste materials such as straw, brushwood or the like has a cylindrical housing enclosing a combustion chamber and a hopper above the chamber for supplying fuel thereto. A slidable partition member separates the hopper from the combustion chamber. A suction tube having a constriction in its wall to reduce the cross-section of the tube is provided to withdraw combustion gases from the combustion chamber. A conduit connected to a source of compressed air terminates in a nozzle disposed in the suction tube to direct compressed air in the direction of the flow of gases from the combustion chamber. Pillers are provided in the chamber to support a bale of straw or other fuel material.

Abstract: A method of operating a furnace for incinerating refuse, notably household refuse, commercial and industrial waste or rubbish, wherein the furnace is of the type comprising a charging zone, a drying zone, a pyrolysis zone, and a combustion and melting zone with at least one orifice for extracting volatile products from the drying zone, at least one orifice for extracting the melted material in the combustion and melting zone, and one or more tuyeres for injecting the combustion gases under pressure into the combustion and melting zone, by which the combustion gases under pressure are injected into a volume of liquid or molten slag at the level of the combustion and melting zone so that the energy liberated by the injection of the gases under pressure is diminished and controlled.