Refuse Agitating Patents (Class 110/258)
  • Patent number: 9296962
    Abstract: A system for gasifying biomass materials is provided. The system includes a gasifying unit for converting the biomass materials into a gas and a feeder mechanism for introducing the biomass materials into the gasifying unit. The gasifying unit includes a plurality of gasifying medium and biomass injection ports distributed along a vertical length of the gasifying unit, and each of the plurality of injection ports has a corresponding injection angle. The injection angles include at least one of an upward tangential angle and a downward tangential angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Starlight Energy Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Bart Kavanaugh, Donald W. Kendrick, Steven Kushnick, Steven R. Brncic
  • Publication number: 20140196640
    Abstract: A method for disposing of solid refinery waste is disclosed. The method includes removing solid waste constituents from inside a refinery tank using excavating machinery, delumping the solid waste constituents, and conveying the delumped solid waste constituents into a mobile tank. The method further includes transporting the delumped solid waste constituents in the mobile tank to a burning facility, adding at least one diluent, mixing, and pumping from the mobile tank a flowable mixture of refinery waste and the at least one diluent at the burning facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: The Maitland Company
    Inventor: Robert M. RUMPH
  • Patent number: 8770118
    Abstract: An oxygen supplying apparatus of a melting furnace, in which waste contained within the melting furnace is stirred by using an oxygen supplying member of the melting furnace, includes an air cooling member provided in a through hole formed on the melting furnace and mounted on the oxygen supplying member to allow an outside air to enter thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Je Cho, Deuk Man Kim, Seok Mo Choi, Cheon Woo Kim, Tae Won Hwang
  • Patent number: 8726818
    Abstract: To suppress the generation of clinker so as to prevent the generation of a burning trouble, ceramic particles 30 are covered over a porous plate 4 to form a fire bed 3. Woody pellets 31 are scattered on the fire bed and combustion air is ejected from the lower side of the porous plate so as to burn the pellets. At the time of discharging ash generated by the burning to a secondary combustion space on the downstream side together with an air current of the combustion air or combustion gas, the ceramic particle layers and the woody pellet layer are stirred by a stirring section 21, 22 to thereby break clinker of the combustion ash formed in the fire bed, whereby the growth of the clinker is suppressed and the generation of a burning trouble is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Energy System Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Tongu, Muneo Iwauchi
  • Patent number: 8677913
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for incinerating combustion material in the form of combustible waste during cement production is provided. The method includes introducing combustion material in the form of combustible waste into a combustion chamber and burning the combustion material within a first air flow. In addition, a second air flow in a region of a floor of the combustion chamber is included in such a manner that residues or remaining combustion materials which are located on the floor are moved by the second air flow back into the first air flow. Cement raw meal can also be fed into the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Polysius AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Kastingschafer, Frank Ruoss
  • Patent number: 8640633
    Abstract: A furnace system for heating a poultry brooder house includes a firebox for burning biomass fuel, and a grate within the firebox for burning the biomass fuel thereon. A distributor assembly may positioned within the firebox and is located directly above the grate. The distributor assembly includes a distributor plate having a plurality of apertures therethrough, and a distributor arm above the distributor plate that is movable relative to the distributor plate to cause biomass fuel supported on the plate to pass through the apertures and fall onto the grate. The furnace system may include a hopper assembly that defines a well for receiving a volume of biomass fuel for delivery to the grate or to the distributor plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Wayne/Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventors: Jimmie C. Raley, Jeremy S. Lord, Timothy A. Mann, Gerald D. Stimson, Anthony B. Tranquill, Charles E. Wood, Donald W. Cox
  • Patent number: 8550018
    Abstract: A stirring control method is adapted for a combustion apparatus which includes a furnace for burning fuel material, and a stirring member rotatably disposed in the furnace for stirring the fuel material and ash resulting from burning of the fuel material. The stirring control method includes: controlling rotation of the stirring member at an initial rotational speed; determining whether a height of the fuel material reaches an upper detection range; generating an indication when the height of the fuel material reaches the upper detection range; determining whether the height of the fuel material reaches a lower detection range when the height of the fuel material does not reach the upper detection range; and controlling rotation of the stirring member at a rotational speed higher than the initial rotational speed when the height of the fuel material reaches the lower detection range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Suncue Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-Lang Lin
  • Publication number: 20130133560
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-catalytic biomass burner that may be used to burn a variety of fuel types at high efficiencies. The burner may include a cylindrical combustion chamber with an auxiliary igniter to heat the fuel in the combustion chamber until desirable combustion temperatures are reached. Fuel may be added to the chamber via a fuel feed assembly, and the rate of fuel addition to the chamber by the fuel feed assembly may be controlled by a computer. A fan located on the distal side of a flue pipe from the chamber may also be provided that pulls air into the chamber through one or more air inlets that are designed to encourage cyclonic air and exhaust flow in the chamber. Methods are further provided for controlling the manner of operation of the burner by a computer that may be instructed by a computer program code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Scott Laskowski, Timothy Baughman, Johann Duerichen, Donald Laskowski
  • Publication number: 20120272874
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a biomass fuel internal circulation mechanical fluidized-bed corner tube intelligent boiler which is highly effective in energy-conservation and emission-reduction, which comprises a primary combustion chamber, a secondary combustion chamber, a burning-out chamber, a high temperature multi-tube cyclone dust collector, a heat convection pipe bundle, the hearth of the primary combustion chamber consists of a square membrane water-cooled wall and a profiled seat with a square top and a circular bottom, at the four corners of the seat, there are mounted Venturi tube internal circulators, at the bottom of the hearth, there is mounted a mechanical fluidizing machine; the profiled cyclone separation hearth of the secondary combustion chamber consists of a square membrane water-cooled wall, a profiled seat with a square top and a circular bottom, a profiled fume-venting tube, at the bottom of the hearth, there is mounted a mechanical fluidizing machine; the burning-out chamber is conne
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: SHANDONG UCR BIOMASS ENERGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhijun Yang
  • Publication number: 20120247377
    Abstract: A stirring control method is adapted for a combustion apparatus which includes a furnace for burning fuel material, and a stirring member rotatably disposed in the furnace for stirring the fuel material and ash resulting from burning of the fuel material. The stirring control method includes: controlling rotation of the stirring member at an initial rotational speed; determining whether a height of the fuel material reaches an upper detection range; generating an indication when the height of the fuel material reaches the upper detection range; determining whether the height of the fuel material reaches a lower detection range when the height of the fuel material does not reach the upper detection range; and controlling rotation of the stirring member at a rotational speed higher than the initial rotational speed when the height of the fuel material reaches the lower detection range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SUNCUE COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Jung-Lang Lin
  • Publication number: 20110271883
    Abstract: A process and related apparatus for the treatment of hazardous waste and an initially separate waste stream, the process comprising gasifying the waste stream in a gasification unit to produce an offgas and a char material; and plasma treating the offgas, and optionally the char material, in a plasma treatment unit to produce a syngas; and blending hazardous waste with the waste stream at a point in the process determined by the relative chemical and/or physical properties of the hazardous waste and the waste stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: ADVANCED PLASMA POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Chris Chapman, Martin Brooks, Rolf Stein, Edward S. Manukian, Robert M. Clark
  • Patent number: 7721661
    Abstract: A heating apparatus for the combustion of highly variable biofuel feed stocks is generally provided. The apparatus generally includes a combustion chamber or burn box adapted to receive a regulated feed of biomass. The burn box includes a grate for receipt of a distributed mass of the regulated feed, and further includes an oscillating blade adjacent to the grate for agitation of the distributed mass of the regulated feed received thereby. The combustion apparatus for the production of thermal energy from a biofuel of the subject invention is preferably and further characterized by means for producing the distributed mass of the regulated feed of biofuel, and/or a burn box incorporating an oxygen manifold assembly adjacent to the grate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Hestia Heating Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric W. Nelson, Marion L. Mast
  • Patent number: 7694636
    Abstract: A furnace includes: a furnace housing; a perforated tray mounted in the furnace housing; and a stirring rod disposed rotatably on the perforated tray. The stirring rod has top and bottom ends, two opposite lateral ends, a middle portion, and opposite first and second portions, each of which extends from the middle portion to a respective one of the lateral ends. Each of the first and second portions has an inclined face that extends between the top and bottom ends of the stirring rod from the respective one of the lateral ends toward the middle portion of the stirring rod, that is inclined relative to the perforated tray, and that faces toward the perforated tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Suncue Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-Lang Lin
  • Publication number: 20090272302
    Abstract: An apparatus for combustion of biomass is provided. The apparatus generally includes opposingly paired sidewalls, a fixed panel traversing the opposingly paired sidewalls, an actuatable panel opposite the fixed panel, and a fuel platform supported by a panel of either of the panels. A portion of the fuel platform is reversibly receivable through a portion of a panel opposite the panel supporting the fuel platform in furtherance of fuel conditioning upon actuation of the actuatable panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Eric W. Nelson, John L. Madsen, William D. Orvis
  • Publication number: 20090199747
    Abstract: A biomass burner system includes a burner assembly, a fuel storage assembly coupled to the burner assembly, and a heat exchanger configured to receive the heat from the burner assembly. The biomass burner system includes a controller which is programmable to monitor various operating conditions of the biomass burner and control the operation of the biomass burner to confirm safe and efficient operation. The controller is operable to monitor a temperature associated with the combustion chamber, a temperature associated with the heat exchanger, and a temperature associated with the air exiting the system. The biomass burner system is operable to vary the flow of air into the combustion chamber, the flow of fuel into the combustion chamber, the operation of an igniter system to maintain the efficient operation of the biomass burner system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: WOOD-MIZER PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Scott M. Laskowski, Johann G. Duerichen, Timothy W. Baughman
  • Publication number: 20080286169
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal destruction process for at least one organic or halogenated organic product in liquid, gaseous or powder form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE
    Inventors: Erick Meillot, David Guenadou
  • Patent number: 7424856
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a grate element (1) for a grate of a waste-incineration plant, having a plurality of rows of grate blocks, which are moveable or fixed, arranged one behind the other, a plurality of grate blocks (67) being arranged in each row of grate blocks. A first number of grate blocks arranged in a moveable row of grate blocks here is assigned to a first grate carriage (5), and a second number of grate blocks arranged in a moveable row of grate blocks is assigned to a second grate carriage (35), it being possible for the first number of grate blocks to be moved independently of the second number of grate blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Von Roll Umwelttechnik AG
    Inventors: Werner Brennwald, Manfred Wider, Fritz Weber
  • Publication number: 20080156237
    Abstract: The combustor for solid particulate fuels is particularly well suited for burning shelled corn, but is also capable of burning other solid particulate fuels as desired, with no modification required for their use. The combustor includes a rotary agitator extending across the combustor chamber or “burning pot,” with the agitator having a plurality of radial arms. Combustion air passes through the hollow agitator shaft outwardly through the hollow arms, the arms distributing combustion air into the fuel mass as the arms rotate therethrough to produce more efficient combustion of the fuel and thereby reduce coagulation of partially burned corn on the internal surfaces of the combustor. The opposed walls of the combustor include at least one pivotally mounted wall, with the angle of that wall being adjustable to adjust the ash dispersal gap between the pivoting wall and the opposite wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Joseph Q. Leihgeber
  • Patent number: 7293511
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the treatment of particulate organic waste material, the apparatus comprising: a hopper means having flow control means for controlling flow rate of the waste material; a pyrolysis unit having (i) a heating means for heating the material, and (ii) a means in the form of a cascade of vanes for controlling rate of flow therethrough; means for removing gaseous products generated in the pyrolysis unit, the gaseous products being recycled; and residual treated waste material collection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Hudol Limited
    Inventors: Robert Marshall Prigmore, Brian Davies, Colin Cook
  • Patent number: 6435860
    Abstract: An automated, computer-controlled landfill condensate injection system includes a pump that pumps condensate into a flare chamber at a pressure that is sufficiently high and through a nozzle that is configured to vaporize the condensate without requiring the use of high pressure air injected with the condensate. Secondary injection lines can also be provided that terminate in nozzles which are vertically staggered from each other along the chamber, to inject additional condensate into the flare and thus dispose of it at a higher rate depending on vaporization conditions. Computer-controlled valves can be provided in the lines for selectively opening and closing the lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: LFG & E International
    Inventors: Ronald L. Brookshire, Travis Brookshire, Robert Hamilton
  • 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: 6343557
    Abstract: A combustion furnace for solid fuel, including combustable fuel, wherein the furnace is arranged with a grate (11) with openings (12) which are situated for supply of air or another gas mixture for combustion. A first and second rod feeder (1, 2) is provided which includes parallel bars (3a, 3b; 4a, 4b) with intermediate carriers (5, 6). The rod feeders (1, 2) are arranged to be moved back and forth on the grate (11), independently of each other. The openings (12) are surrounded by spacers (13) carrying rails (14) in such a way that slots (15) are formed between the spacers (13) and the rails (14), so that the air has a direction out onto the grate (11) which is parallel with the rail (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Inventor: Helge Rosvold
  • Patent number: 6298690
    Abstract: A large tumbling device into which broken pieces of labeled glass such as beverage bottles, or cullet, are fed. After entering the interior chamber of the tumbler, the cullet is carried by a plurality of interior fins along the inside circumference of the tumbler to a point where the glass falls back to the low point of the tumbler. During this fall, the cullet passes through a flame generated in the interior cavity of said tumbler. The glass is heated to a temperature well below 600 degrees Fahrenheit (the temperature at which the molecular structure of glass begins to change) therefore ensuring that the processed glass retains its original properties. This process is repeated numerous times, ensuring that all of the foreign material is removed, before the cullet passes through the entirety of the chamber and is cooled to be processed into the desired grades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Inventors: Joel Millard Dahl, Millard Justin Dahl
  • Patent number: 6276286
    Abstract: A compression device for feeding a waste material to a reactor includes a waste material feed assembly having a hopper, a supply tube and a compression tube. Each of the supply and compression tubes includes feed-inlet and feed-outlet ends. A feed-discharge valve assembly is located between the feed-outlet end of the compression tube and the reactor. A feed auger-screw extends axially in the supply tube between the feed-inlet and feed-outlet ends thereof. A compression auger-screw extends axially in the compression tube between the feed-inlet and feed-outlet ends thereof. The compression tube is sloped downwardly towards the reactor to drain fluid from the waste material to the reactor and is oriented at generally right angle to the supply tube such that the feed-outlet end of the supply tube is adjacent to the feed-inlet end of the compression tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Paul M. Williams, Kenneth M. Faller, Edward J. Bauer
  • Patent number: 6253689
    Abstract: A waste incinerator which includes a housing formed by a heat insulating outer wall, air ducts; a decomposing chamber; a fire room; and a catalytic converter, all disposed in the housing. Waste is introduced into the fire room and incinerated there, and the remains are retrieved from the fire room in such a manner that the incoming materials such as air and waste on one hand the combustion gases and residue on the other hand form a counter flow heat exchange. Various embodiments are disclosed in which the fire wall is or not rotary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Inventor: Takehiko Futatsugi
  • Patent number: 6220189
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: The University of Sheffield
    Inventor: Joshua Swithenbank
  • Patent number: 6120567
    Abstract: A heating system for producing heat by the gasification of solid, organic biomass materials. A mass of such materials is maintained on a grate in a primary oxidation chamber of the catalytic type, and materials in such mass are gradually heated in a deficiency of oxidation for full oxidation of such materials to produce a gaseous, combustible effluent. The gaseous combustible effluent is transferred through an insulated exit duct to a secondary oxidation chamber where it is further oxidized to a fully oxidized state by burning. In one embodiment, the insulated exit duct has a restricted inlet portion within the primary oxidation chamber to serve as a flame deflector. The gaseous effluent from the secondary oxidation chamber is used as a heat source for a water tube boiler. A storage hopper is provided to store the biomass feed materials for delivery to the primary oxidation chamber. The bottom of the storage hopper is inverted and reciprocating plates are provided along the bottom of the storage hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Enviro-Combustion Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Henry L. Cordell, David G. Galer
  • Patent number: 6006682
    Abstract: A garbage incinerator with tunnel furnace combustion includes a tunnel furnace serving as the burner unit, a number of carriers serving as the burner beds, and a specified track course to deliver the garbage-loaded carriers into the tunnel furnace to incinerate the garbage. A hopper is provided to receive the garbage and spread it evenly onto the carrier. Each carrier is driven into the tunnel furnace to burn the garbage and includes a bottom loading plate onto which the consumed embers fall. An automatic ember removing equipment is provided for to remove the embers from the carrier. The carriers travel on a circular track so that they continuously move in and out of the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Inventor: Ming-Chin Hung
  • Patent number: 5967062
    Abstract: An apparatus burns tires in a horizontally rotating combuster. The tires are loaded into a rotating combustion chamber through a traveling air lock and burned until they are reduced to ash. Combustion is enhanced by tumbling the burning tires in the rotating chamber while adding preheated draft air. The intake draft air is controlled using thermal expansion of the rotary combustion chamber to activate the draft control valve. The inner surface of the chamber is tapered in order to prevent unburned debris from advancing prematurely; however, angled flights, positioned along the inner surface, cause the residual ash to advance with each successive revolution of the combustion chamber. The resulting combination of gases and ash are then forwarded to an afterburner for completion of the combustion and disposal of the ash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Atlantic Pacific Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack B. Larson, James C. Branscome
  • Patent number: 5927216
    Abstract: A burner apparatus uses fuel derived from waste resin. The burner includes a cylindrical body in combination with an oxygen supplier, which form an oxygen deficient atmosphere. While rotating the cylindrical body, a small portion of waste resin is partially combusted to generate heat energy and changes its form to finely divided particles. The heat energy is used for heating and gasifying a remaining larger portion of the waste resin. The produced gas particles are conveyed toward an outlet nozzle of the cylindrical body and are injected outwardly for complete combustion in air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaichi Metal Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeru Oga
  • Patent number: 5913273
    Abstract: A waste incinerator including separate burning-, blower-, chimney- and ash-receiving chambers. A suction-discharge port is provided in a wall between the burning chamber and the chimney chamber for discharging gases from the burning chamber through a chimney to the atmosphere. The chimney extends from the chimney chamber for discharging gases to the atmosphere. The chimney receives an air feed pipe from the blower and an ignition sleeve extends into the chimney for burning unconsumed waste gas. A vibrator vibrates an ash receiver in the ash receiving chamber, and a drying chamber may be provided for drying high moisture garbage by combustion gases from the burning chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Maejima Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Maejima
  • Patent number: 5868085
    Abstract: A system for pyrolysis of hydrocarbon constituents of waste material including a treatment unit featuring a retort with a ellipsoidal cross-section forming a first retort half and a second retort half, the material to be treated being selectively deposited in only one half of the retort at a time during any given period of system operation, to avoid abrasion and wear of the half not in use, thus effectively doubling the life of the retort component. Another feature of a treatment unit according to the invention is a heat reclamation arrangement that introduces gases that have first been combusted to supply heat energy to the retort through a conduit directly into the interior of the retort, to improve the efficiency with which pyrolysis takes place. Further, the treatment unit has an exhaust and cleaning arrangement to render gases produced during pyrolysis substantially free of pollutants such that the gases can be vented to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Balboa Pacific Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew H. Hansen, William C Walker
  • Patent number: 5836258
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for incinerating loose waste material in which the loose waste material is introduced into a furnace chamber to form a layer in the bottom of the furnace chamber. The layer of loose waste material is subjected to the direct action of technical-grade oxygen, preferably in less than stoichiometric amounts, with the oxygen fed at least at the speed of sound. The oxygen is supplied utilizing a plurality of lances distributed in the furnace chamber. Heat produced by combustion of the waste material melts incombustible constituents of the waste material. Residual unburnt combustible gases can be fed through an outlet stack to a secondary combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Von Roll Umwelttechnik AG
    Inventors: Hans Ruegg, Thomas Ungricht
  • Patent number: 5802992
    Abstract: A method for drying and heating sludge to remove pathogens and to dry the sludge into a powder form in an elongate housing having an endless chain conveyor inside. The method includes slowly urging solid material from one end of the housing to the other with the conveyor which has outwardly extending scrapers. The method further includes heating the sludge and removing moisture laden air from within the housing with a fan. The stream of solid material is sequentially split, redirected, split, and redirected again when being urged through the housing by the scrapers. The scrapers may include specialized scrapers including plows, inclined paddles, and round rods. Mixing the stream of sludge avoids cold and hot spots, and build up of sludge on a floor of the housing during the process of heating and drying the sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Alar Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Alex J. Doncer
  • Patent number: 5769007
    Abstract: A heating chamber or low-temperature carbonization drum has an interior receiving bulk material or trash and has a longitudinal axis about which the heating chamber or drum is rotatable. A number of heating tubes through which a heating gas can flow in a given direction, are disposed in the interior of the heating chamber or drum, are oriented approximately parallel to one another, and have an end region as seen in the given flow direction. Turbulators are disposed inside the heating tubes in the end region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Herbert Tratz, Helmut Werdinig, Joachim Boretzky, Anton Ebert
  • Patent number: 5735224
    Abstract: A thermal dechlorinating apparatus for collected ash, having a vertically elongated cylindrical apparatus body, a collected ash inlet and a collected ash outlet which are provided on the apparatus body and spaced in a vertical direction thereof, an inlet port for heated air provided on the portion of the apparatus body between the inlet and the outlet, an exhaust gas outlet provided on the portion of the apparatus body above the collected ash inlet, a rotary shaft provided along the axial direction of the apparatus body, a screw provided on the rotary shaft, and heating means provided on the portion of the apparatus body between the collected ash inlet and the collected ash outlet. Heated air is led into the apparatus body through the heated air inlet port. A stirred fluidized layer is formed in the portion of the apparatus body above the heated air inlet port, and a moving layer is formed below the heated air inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gentaro Takasuka, Mazumi Itaya
  • Patent number: 5727483
    Abstract: A rotary incinerator for disposal of industrial waste is provided. The incinerator is slopedly and rotatably disposed to a slant support and has a plurality of spirally arranged tubular conveying ribs on entire inner periphery for squeezedly transmitting the incinerating waste from the lower portion to an exit in the tapered upper end so that the waste is stirred while incinerating and the slag and ash are automatically discharged via the exit, a combustion system worked together with a ventilation system at a lower end for supplying the flame and the fresh air into the incinerator, a drive system for driving the incinerator to rotate and a control device for controlling the operation of the above recited elements. The improvement is characterized in safe and rapid incineration of the industrial waste, therefore, economical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventors: Kang-Shin Chen, Chung-Hsing Wu
  • Patent number: 5680821
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for safely conveying hazardous solid waste material to a waste processing system; for enhancing its subsequent combustion, in the case of an incinerator; and for reducing the size and duration of a moisture plume created by water vapor in the gases exiting such combustion process. The waste may be inside boxes, bags, or other containers, or may be in loose bulk form. The waste is dropped into a hopper. The hopper lid is of a design to offer safety from personal exposure to the waste and from any size reduction equipment, such as a shredder, and/or conveying machinery that might be at the bottom of the combustion chamber in the case of an incinerator. An air draft is hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Advanced Envirotech Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Wright, Matthew Fleeger
  • Patent number: 5671687
    Abstract: An incinerator comprises a feeding plate, a first combustion chamber, a second combustion chamber, a curved duct, an air exhausting device, a water screen device, and a water tank. The feeding plate is provided on the underside thereof with a vibrating device for causing the feeding plate to vibrate so as to move trash gradually into the first combustion chamber in which trash is incinerated to produce ash and exhaust fume which is then burned completely in the second combustion chamber. When the exhaust fume is passed through the water screen located in the curved duct, ash contained in the exhaust fume is washed away and deposited in the water tank which is provided therein with a device for removing ash that is deposited in the water tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Inventor: Chwan Yuh Chen
  • Patent number: 5660124
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying and heating sludge to remove pathogens and to dry the sludge into a powder form which includes an elongate housing having an endless chain conveyor inside. The conveyor having outwardly extending scrapers for slowly urging solid material from one end of the housing to the other. The housing is heated to heat the sludge and a fan removes moisture laden air from within the housing. The scrapers are provided in rows and include specialized scrapers including plows, inclined paddles, and round rods to sequentially split, redirect, split, and redirect again the stream of sludge being urged through the housing. By so mixing the stream of sludge, cold and hot spots are avoided during heating and a build up of sludge on a floor of the housing is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Alar Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Alex J. Doncer
  • Patent number: 5655465
    Abstract: Toxic wastes and other contaminants are removed from soil which is fed through a passage in an agitating means into a retort (10, 110) where the soil is agitated and brought into contact with the retort walls (11, 111, 111A) (at a temperature preferably above 500.degree. C.) to cause the toxic wastes or contaminates to be desorbed. The "off-gases" from the soil may be mixed with air/fuel in a combustion chamber (31, 131), to heat the retort; may be burnt in a secondary burner (40) to preheat and/or dry the soil feed; or be condensed in a condenser (41) and stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignees: Tox Free Systems, Inc., Tox Free Limited
    Inventor: Struan Glen Robertson
  • Patent number: 5653183
    Abstract: A system for pyrolysis of hydrocarbon constituents of waste material including a treatment unit featuring a retort with a ellipsoidal cross-section forming a first retort half and a second retort half, the material to be treated being selectively deposited in only one half of the retort at a time during any given period of system operation, to avoid abrasion and wear of the half not in use, thus effectively doubling the life of the retort component. Another feature of a treatment unit according to the invention is a heat reclamation arrangement that introduces gases that have first been combusted to supply heat energy to the retort through a conduit directly into the interior of the retort, to improve the efficiency with which pyrolysis takes place. Further, the treatment unit has an exhaust and cleaning arrangement to render gases produced during pyrolysis substantially free of pollutants such that the gases can be vented to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Balboa Pacific Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew H. Hansen, William C. Walker
  • Patent number: 5628260
    Abstract: This invention related to aprocessing device such as a calciner or the like. The processing vessel is vertical with concentric cylindrical inner and outer walls, closely spaced and heated for rapid thermal processing, with strong boiling, evaporating, fluidizing and gasifying feed. This vigorous action is helping the steady gravitational movement of feed through the vessel. A top inlet for feed and a bottom outlet for residue are provided. Means for preventing air infiltration and means for controlling flow and keeping vessel filled during processing are provided. Any number of outlets for steam, boiling hot water, fluidized and gasified material at various heights of the vessel. Some material require addition of catalysts to bring about a chemical change and reduction in a pyrolitic process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Inventor: Paul I. Rongved
  • Patent number: 5611290
    Abstract: A waste conveyor includes a conveyor channel. A feed shaft is connected to the conveyor channel. A worm is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor channel. The worm has a shaft with an axis. A first metal cutter is disposed at an edge of a portion of the worm and is curved relative to the axis of the shaft. A second metal cutter is disposed at a portion of the conveyor channel, is curved relative to the axis of the shaft and has a radius of curvature being greater than the radius of curvature of the first metal cutter. The two metal cutters are disposed side by side and approximately concentric to the shaft, at a predetermined rotary position of the worm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Herbert Tratz, Karl May, Hartmut Herm, Karlheinz Unverzagt
  • Patent number: 5590610
    Abstract: The waste burning boiler comprises a cylindrical outer wall, a cylindrical inner wall consisting of a plurality of vertical water pipes having the gaps therebetween closed by plate members. The plate members are provided with a plurality of holes communicating the annular chamber between the inner and outer walls with the combustion chamber defined inside the inner wall. Compressed air is introduced into the annular chamber, and is blown into the combustion chamber from these small holes. The air blown from these holes provide a sufficient amount of oxygen for combustion, and raises the combustion temperature. Additionally, the air flow from the small holes provide a favorable stirring effect which improves the transfer of heat produced by combustion to the water pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventor: Yutaka Sanbonmatsu
  • Patent number: 5103744
    Abstract: An apparatus for the combustion and/or decomposition of fuel by heat, especially of solid fuels such as peat, coal, wood, straw or garbage, comprising a fuel supply and air supply to a bar grate which is used as combustion site and cooperates with material loosening means in the form of disks, prongs or the like which extend through the grate interstices and are mounted on a support member which extends transversely to the grate bars, in which the disks are reciprocable relative to the grate bars in the direction towards the same. The material loosening disks are fitted onto support members each in the form of a support rod of substantially rectangular cross-section such that the disks are individually displaceable in the direction of the support rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Inventor: Nils E. Tunstromer
  • Patent number: 5086714
    Abstract: A hearth for use in a thermal processor or incinerator includes a substantially planar grate which is inclined upwardly and which is vibrated in such a way that material deposited on the input end of the grate moves upwardly toward the output end thereof. A dam in the form of a raised wall at the beginning of the grate prevents liquids and other materials from spilling off. A plurality of openings passing through the grate allow combustion air to pass therethrough from below. Located beneath the hearth is an ash bin in the form of a plenum which catches and accumulates ashes that fall through the air openings in the grate. Air forced into the plenum is used to clean out the ash by opening an outlet port at the end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Hladun
  • Patent number: 5020452
    Abstract: A thermal remediation apparatus for the combustion of hydrocarbon contaminants within particulate fill including a generally cylindrical combustion chamber having an exhaust port, an inlet, an outlet, and a mill having two shafts and four burners. The apparatus also includes a condenser including a condensing unit and a conduit, and an exhaust system including a fan, and optionally an exhaust stack, and a plate burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Murya, Inc.
    Inventor: David T. Rybak
  • Patent number: 4986196
    Abstract: A solid waste incinerator apparatus has an elongated hearth having a plurality of walls and a floor and an elongated open side having a track mounted to each side of the open hearth. The hearth has a grate mounted above the floor thereof. A burner car has a plurality of motorized wheels riding in the elongated track for moving the burner car over the open side of the hearth. The burner car has a plurality of burners mounted thereon having a flame directed into the hearth to incinerate solid refuse in the hearth. The burner car also has a solid refuse agitation system thereon having at least one drum with cutting discs mounted therein to agitate the trash prior to incineration with the burners. A plurality of plenums are connected to one side of the hearth beneath the grate for drawing heated gases and burned ash therethrough. Each plenum forms a zone in the hearth for the removal of heated gases and ash from the zone within the elongated hearth as the burner car incinerates the refuse in that zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Inventor: Adam F. Butch
  • Patent number: 4947769
    Abstract: An apparatus for burning solid particulate fuels in a top-fed combustion system that permits the use of fuels that produce large amounts of ash and clinkers. The apparatus displaces the ash and clinkers from the grate which, if not removed, would adversely affect the heat output and efficiency of combustion. The apparatus uses a rotating reciprocating member that removes the ash and clinkers from the grate that supports the solid particulate fuel during combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Inventor: Oliver J. Whitfield