Burning Waste Gas, E.g., Furnace Gas, Etc. Patents (Class 431/5)
  • Patent number: 5533890
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the monitoring and abatement of fugitive VOC emissions is disclosed. Suction, generated by a fume pump or a venturi type ejector, pulls air and VOC's from one or more sources of VOC emissions such as the mechanical seals of pumps or compressors. These VOC fumes are collected, separated from any liquids in a knock-out pot, and directed to a flameless combustor/thermal oxidizer comprising a tube packed with heat resistant material and surrounded by an electric heater and thermal insulation. This matrix bed of heat resistant materials is heated to a temperature sufficient to oxidize/destroy the VOC emissions. Thereafter, an optional convective quench section may be used to lower the temperature of the exhaust gases prior to their release to the atmosphere. By monitoring the temperature and/or the amount of power needed, changes in VOC emissions can be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Thermatrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark R. Holst, Richard J. Martin, John D. Stilger, Samson C. Yee
  • Patent number: 5527984
    Abstract: Methods for the incineration of waste gas containing oxygen are disclosed which, in one aspect, have a combustion chamber with a high intensity, stable burner jet projecting therein and a backmixing zone in which are mixed burner fuel and waste gasses flowing into the chamber via a waste gas flow line. As desired additional fuel, e.g. fuel such as methane added to vitiated air, may be introduced into the chamber. Preferably, the heat content of the supplemental fuel is adjusted to control temperature in the combustion chamber while a stable combustion zone is provided. In one aspect flue gas from the chamber flows to a heat recovery apparatus to recover heat value of the flue gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Stultz, Danford L. Bice
  • Patent number: 5525053
    Abstract: A method of using internal combustion engine exhaust in a combined cycle power plant is disclosed, wherein the quality and distribution of exhaust to the boiler space of a steam generated electric power plant is controlled to achieve greater system efficiencies. Outside air is blended only with that portion of the exhaust that passes through the burner ports as secondary or higher level combustion gas. The remainder of the exhaust is provided to the boiler space by a route other than through the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Wartsila Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: F. Mack Shelor
  • Patent number: 5516499
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the emissions from a thermal oxidizer for volatile organic compounds (VOC) containing waste gases. The waste gas is treated in a thermal reactor and either before, in or after the thermal reactor the waste gas is contacted with a catalyzed surface device in the gas stream within the thermal oxidizer. The catalyzed surface device has a catalyzed surface which contacts the waste gas and further oxidizes the waste gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Carmo J. Pereira, Rodney J. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 5510093
    Abstract: The disposal of troublesome substances, especially global-warming halogenated compounds is difficult enough, but is particularly difficult when associated with particulate-forming matter, such as silane and arsine commonly encountered in waste gas streams of the semiconductor industry. The combustive destruction of the troublesome substances in such a waste gas stream is simply and successfully achieved by injecting the stream admixed with fuel gas into a combustion zone surrounded by the radiant surface of a foraminous gas burner that is separately fed fuel gas and excess air sufficient to burn all the combustibles entering the combustion zone. A simple apparatus integrates the combustion zone with a quenching zone for the combustion product stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Alzeta Corporation
    Inventors: David Bartz, Robert M. Kendall, Frederick E. Moreno
  • Patent number: 5498153
    Abstract: A gas flare is described which includes a vent stack for combustion air having a first end and a second end. A gaseous fuel cyclone chamber surrounds the vent stack. The cyclone chamber has an interior wall conterminous with the vent stack and an exterior wall spaced from the vent stack. The cyclone chamber has a narrowing defining an access opening adjacent the first end of the vent stack. A gaseous fuel injection ring surrounds the first end of the vent stack with fuel nozzles extending into the access opening of the cyclone chamber. Gaseous fuel is fed into the cyclone chamber for thorough mixing prior to combustion. An igniter is positioned above the first end of the vent stack. Gaseous fuel flowing under pressure from the cyclone chamber creates a venturi effect drawing air up the vent stack to form a mixture of air and gaseous fuel which is ignited by the igniter. A combustion air passage communicates with the second end of the vent stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Inventor: Wendyle Jones
  • Patent number: 5484279
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the on-site disposal of landfill gas (LFG) condensate is disclosed. Any contaminants in the condensate are incinerated in an LFG flare. The LFG condensate is first pressurized and then injected, in an atomized state, into a combustion zone of the LFG flare. The LFG condensate is pumped from a plurality of sumps to an accumulator. A pump controlled by a liquid level sensor cycles on and off in response to the level of condensate in the accumulator. The pressurized condensate is delivered to a nozzle via a conduit system. The pressurized condensate is atomized by the nozzle and the resulting mist is directed into the combustion zone where it is vaporized. Any contaminants in the condensate are incinerated along with similar contaminants in the LFG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Emcon, Inc.
    Inventor: David Vonasek
  • Patent number: 5466418
    Abstract: A low-temperature thermal desorption (LTTD) system remediates highly contaminated soils. The system (1) reduces the concentration of vaporized contaminants exhausted from the primary treatment unit (PTU) and (2) precisely controls the concentration of vaporized contaminants exhausted from the PTU so as to permit the safe oxidization of contaminants in a secondary treatment unit without oversizing the secondary treatment unit or the baghouse. The concentration of vaporized contaminants exhausted from the PTU is reduced by drawing the vaporized contaminants into a low-pressure region of the PTU so as to contact the burner flame and by supplying this area of flame contact with a modulated supply of air to oxidize a designated portion of the vaporized contaminants within the PTU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Astec Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm L. Swanson, Wendell R. Feltman, Robert E. Schreter
  • Patent number: 5462429
    Abstract: A mechanical wiper mounted within an incinerator for waste gases, such as silane, and said wiper adapted to move adjacent selected internal surface areas to remove combustion products buildup on such selected areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis E. Pritchard, Eugene H. Koederitz, Ronald E. Fuhrhop, Thomas H. Barker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5460511
    Abstract: A small energy efficient afterburner for oxidizing the byproducts of incomplete combustion is disclosed. Gases are forced into a firebox, where a heating element maintains a temperature above the flash point for the more common and undesirable pollutants. Typical temperatures are 500.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. for burning hydrocarbons coming from internal combustion engines or wood stoves. After gases pass through the firebox, they are forced into a chamber adjacent to the firebox intake, so that heat energy may be transferred to the incoming gases, thereby greatly increasing the thermal efficiency of the device. Greater efficiencies are achieved by putting a catalytic surface in the firebox, and by insulating the afterburner exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Inventor: Dennis Grahn
  • Patent number: 5460789
    Abstract: An apparatus for purifying a pollutant-containing outgoing air from the industrial installations has a heat exchanging bed, which has a predetermined thickness, consist of a suitable, preferably mineral, material, and is located in the interior of a shaft-like reactor housing. During the purifying operation, the pollutant-containing air flows through the heat exchanging bed into a combustion chamber, and heated purified air flows from the combustion chamber through the heat exchanging bed in opposite direction, giving up its heat to the heat exchanging bed and thereby being cooled down. The pollutants contained in the pollutant-containing air are burned in the heat exchanging bed and, if needed, in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Eisenmann Maschinenbau KG
    Inventor: Friedrich Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 5449439
    Abstract: Combustible off-gas(es) produced by the process of pyrolysis are superheated; and a pressurized gaseous mixture including oxygen, normally compressed air, is preheated; before, and by, a burning of the combustible off-gas(es) produced by process of pyrolysis in the presence of stoichiometric oxygen. The burning transpires in a large number of relatively small burner cups having bulbously-shaped and exhaust-constricted combustion chambers. The burner cups are both individually, and collectively, adjustable in their uptake of combustible gases by adjusting the flow of compressed air. The combustion in each burner cup is very complete and efficient nonetheless to having increased area contact with the chamber wall, and nonetheless to the rapidly and turbulent flow of gases, because everything contributing to or touching the combustion reaction is optimally hot, and because the shape of the burner cups holds the combustion optimally long.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Inventor: Ronald Heald
  • Patent number: 5427521
    Abstract: A valve flushing system supplies a cleaning gas to a relatively large plenum, which in turn communicates with a restricted passage directing the flow along a face of the valve disk. In a main feature of this invention, a flushing gas flow moves through a restricted path along a face of a valve disk away from a valve disk contact area with a valve seat. In this way, the flushing gas prevents a potential leakage gas flow from approaching the valve/valve seat interface. In this way, leakage is reduced. Although the efficiency of the system may be reduced by a small amount, the resulting prevention of leakage more than justifies this potential small decrease in efficiency. The use of the relatively large plenum ensures that there will be complete and adequate coverage of the valve disk preventing any leakage across the valve disk. In an important feature of this invention, supply passages extend into the plenum along a direction which does not include a component moving in the direction of the valve disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Rose Controls Corp.
    Inventor: Richard Greco
  • Patent number: 5427746
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the emissions from a thermal oxidizer for volatile organic compounds (VOC) containing waste gases. The waste gas is treated in a thermal reactor and either before, in or after the thermal reactor the waste gas is contacted with a catalyzed surface device in the gas stream within the thermal oxidizer. The catalyzed surface device has a catalyzed surface which contacts the waste gas and further oxidizes the waste gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Carmo J. Pereira, Rodney J. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 5425630
    Abstract: A kinetic dissociator is formed by a primary combustion chamber and a secondary combustion chamber. The primary and secondary combustion chambers are connected by at least one flow stabilization tube. A source of high temperature, high velocity gas is provided by at least one high speed combustion jet axially aligned with the flow stabilization tube such that the jet gas mixes with a process gas passes through the tube and impinges against a conically shaped wall forming a portion of the secondary combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Inventors: Cornel Dutescu, Gilbert Versteeg
  • Patent number: 5425923
    Abstract: A system for remediating soil containing contaminants. The system comprises a rotary volatilizer, a thermal dust conductor, a soil cooler, a separator and an afterburner. The rotary volatilizer includes a rotatable, counterflow volatilizer drum with a drying zone, a heating zone and a burn zone. The burn zone of the volatilizer has an outer shell and a stainless steel inner liner supported by spring brackets within the outer shell. A separator is provided to receive exhaust gases from the volatilizer and the soil cooler and to remove dust from the exhaust gases. Dust from the separator and hot soil from the volatilizer is introduced into the thermal dust conductor. Hot gases from the thermal dust conductor are returned to the volatilizer to preheat combustion air for the volatilizer and to incinerate contaminants in the returned gases. Soil is transferred from the thermal dust conductor to the soil cooler, where water injection cools the remediated soil and adds moisture to the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: CMI Corporation
    Inventors: George W. Swisher, Jr., Jerry R. Collette
  • Patent number: 5424045
    Abstract: Combustible hydrocarbon gas from a contaminated zone of soil and/or water is abated by removing hydrocarbon gas from the zone, combusting a first portion of the hydrocarbon gas in an internal combustion engine to develop power and to produce hot exhaust gas, delivering a second portion of the hydrocarbon gas and the hot exhaust gas to a catalytic unit, passing the hot gas exiting the catalytic unit in countercurrent heat exchange relation to the second portion of the hydrocarbon gas before venting said exit gas and utilizing the power from said engine to remove hydrocarbon gas and contaminated water from the zone and to pump the gases throughout the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Newlandex Corporation
    Inventors: Michael I. Orman, Michael J. Joy
  • Patent number: 5422077
    Abstract: A regenerative bed incinerator 10 is provided with a gas recirculation duct 80 through which a controlled amount of gaseous fuel is injected in the contaminated process exhaust gases 3 prior to admission to the regenerative bed incinerator 10 to increase the heating value of the process exhaust gases 3 so as to improve overall contaminated destruction efficiency for process exhaust gases which have a low level of combustible contaminants therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Combusiton Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig E. Bayer
  • Patent number: 5419284
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery method can provide heat recovery from exhaust gases, full firing of exhaust gases, and auxiliary burning, either simultaneously or independently. Such method is carried out by installing a tube-nested (or heat-absorbing water tube furnace-inserted type) combustion chamber in a boiler of a cogeneration system or combined cycle system or the like which generates both heat and power. The boiler is provided with a combined full firing burner and auxiliary burner confronted by the exhaust gas entrance. This structure allows for elimination of a separate auxiliary chamber and thus has made it possible to provide a waste heat boiler of a simplified structure which is smaller in size and thus occupies less space, at a reduced price and with a greatly expanded heat-to-electricity ratio. Accordingly, the boiler of the invention has a greatly extended range of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Hirakawa Guidom Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kobayashi, Yoshiharu Ueda, Masamichi Yamamoto, Keiryo Tou, Seikan Ishigai, Sentaro Miura, Kiyoshi Furushima
  • Patent number: 5417927
    Abstract: A multiple bed regenerative incinerator is cycled at regular intervals by an automatic control which causes fuel gas to be added to the impure inlet air for a first part of each cycle interval and interrupts the flow of fuel gas to the impure air inlet during a last part of each cycle interval thereby improving the purging of fuel gas from the regenerator being fed the impure air. Fuel gas flow may be adjusted by the control in response to signals from a monitor sensing the lower explosive limit of the impure air/fuel gas mixture. The control may cause the fuel gas to be delivered to a burner in a combustion chamber interconnecting the hot ends of the regenerators during the last part of each cycle interval. High dilution of fuel limits fume temperature and NOx production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Inventor: Reagan Houston
  • Patent number: 5376340
    Abstract: A regenerative thermal oxidizer for oxidizing a contaminant in an air or other gas stream includes a heat transfer material which heats the incoming air and collects heat from the exiting air. The direction of flow of the air through the oxidizer is periodically reverse for the regenerative heat exchange. When flow is reversed, a quantity of untreated air in the oxidizer which would otherwise be discharged to the atmosphere is collected in a purge chamber which surrounds the lower portion of the discharge stack. The untreated air enters the bottom of the chamber and the air already in the chamber is forced out from vent holes in the top of the chamber into the stack. The untreated air in the chamber is fed back to the oxidizer through the inlet of the blower feeding the oxidizer while clean air is drawn into the chamber from the stack through the vent holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: ABB Air Preheater, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig E. Bayer, William G. Heard
  • Patent number: 5366699
    Abstract: An apparatus for the thermal destruction of waste which includes an afterburner assembly for removing pollutants from industrial waste streams by high temperature thermal destruction using a mixture of gas and gaseous hydrocarbons which is injected into the combustion chamber of the assembly using a ring injector assembly of novel construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignees: Bonnie June Goodrich, Keith Joseph Goodrich
    Inventors: Leslie R. Milfeld, Keith J. Goodrich
  • Patent number: 5364259
    Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for the gas phase reaction of a feed gas mixture in a regenerative incinerator comprising a combustion zone in fluid communication with at least three separately-housed chambers. Each chamber contains a layer of solid heat exchange material, and is in selective fluid communication with an inlet manifold and an exhaust manifold such that each chamber is selectively operable in an intake mode and an exhaust mode. A layer of catalyst is disposed in each chamber such that catalytic reaction of the feed gas mixture occurs and the operating temperature of the combustion zone may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Monsanto Enviro-Chem Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Yurii S. Matros, David E. McCombs
  • Patent number: 5364262
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the early detection and relief of a closed, pressurized gas charged system, such as an ammonia refrigeration system, wherein a central control system measures and assimilates system and ambient conditions, and responds to alleviate system pressures in excess of design parameters, and, further, combusts system gasses so relieved, breaking such gasses into nontoxic byproducts of combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Inventor: Douglas E. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5362449
    Abstract: A regenerative device can thermally treat gases. This device has a housing with a gas inlet and a gas outlet. A cage having a central interior is rotatably mounted in the housing between the inlet and the outlet. A plurality of gas permeable blocks are mounted peripherally in the cage around its central interior to provide therethrough: (a) an incoming flow path from the inlet to the central interior, and (b) an outgoing flow path from the central interior to the gas outlet. This incoming flow path within the blocks is non-converging. A drive motor can rotate the cage to move blocks successively past the inlet and the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Applied Regenerative Tech. Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Jorgen G. Hedenhag
  • Patent number: 5328354
    Abstract: An incinerator for combustible or thermally-decomposable gases includes a device which insures that gas continues to flow through the incinerator in the event of failure of the scrubber fan connected to the outlet of the incinerator. When the scrubber fan fails, a solenoid-operated valve opens, and compressed gas from a tank flows through the valve into the main conduit of the incinerator. The compressed gas enters the main conduit through an air flow amplifier installed within the main conduit. The air flow amplifier magnifies the effect of the compressed gas, and creates a region of negative pressure which assures that toxic or hazardous gases do not remain in the incinerator, but instead continue to flow toward the scrubber fan, even after the fan has failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: MG Industries
    Inventors: Kevin D. McGrath, Sivaramasubramanian Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 5326537
    Abstract: A catalytic oxidizer having a combined central catalyst chamber and a spiral heat exchanger for treatment of air hydrocarbon vapor mixture including an outer shell of circular cross section having a tangentially directed longitudinal inlet aperture, a parallel exhaust aperture, an end cover plate and having a catalytic chamber centrally and coaxially positioned in the outer shell including an inlet port and an outlet port, the catalytic chamber including an upstream plenum, a catalyst core member and a downstream plenum, having perforated partitions for separating the catalyst core member from the inlet plenum and the exhaust plenum, and a coaxial spiral plate heat exchanger surrounding the catalytic chamber including a spiral inlet passage formed by coiled plates connected at one end to the inlet aperture and at the other end to an outlet associated with the inlet plenum defining a first heat exchange region, the coiled plates being spaced apart to create an intermediate spiral exhaust passage, the heat exch
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Inventor: James M. Cleary
  • Patent number: 5320523
    Abstract: A burner for heating a gas stream is disclosed having a primary combustor mounted coaxially within a main combustor to form an assembly. The assembly is coaxially mounted within a burner housing and defines a gas flow space between the assembly and the housing. Gas enters the housing upstream of a substantial portion of the assembly and flows axially over the exterior thereof, picking up heat rejected from the assembly as it travels axially through the housing to an outlet area of a reduced diameter which defines a mixing zone. In the mixing zone, burner output and excess air are introduced to the gas stream in a manner so that the inputs are injected into the exhaust stream in a direction which has a normal component to the direction of gas flow thereby assuring adequate mixing and a resultant even distribution of heat in the flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Terrance L. Stark
  • Patent number: 5310334
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing contaminates from industrial waste streams by thermal destruction in which contaminated waste emission gases are controllably intermixed with hydroxy gas and the mixture thus formed ignited within a combustion chamber of unique design. The temperature within the combustion chamber is maintained at no less than 3000 degrees Fahrenheit to achieve molecular disassociation of the pollutants contained within the emission gas into harmless compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Air Duke Australia, Ltd.
    Inventor: Spiro Spiros
  • Patent number: 5306138
    Abstract: The incinerator has a closed housing (10) with high temperature insulation (17). A linear gas burner (50) is wholly within the bottom portion of the incineration chamber (22), producing a line of small flames (59). Polluted air, passing downwardly through vertically suspended heat exchanger tubes (47) wholly within the combustion chamber, is preheated and then discharged downwardly against the flames 59 of the linear burner (50), producing products of combustion and air heated to about 1400.degree. F. The products of combustion and air pass upwardly and on opposite outer sides of the tubes (47) and exit the incinerator. The heated air and products of combustion heat the insulation sufficiently that it emits radiant energy inwardly for heating the tubes 47 by radiation, as the products of combustion and air heat the tubes 47 by convective heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Inventor: Willie H. Best
  • Patent number: 5297954
    Abstract: A volatile organic compound (VOC) abatement system is provided which incorporates a carbon or zeolite type concentrating adsorption device, with VOCs collected upon the adsorption surfaces. A heat source is required heat gases flowing to the adsorption device in order to remove the concentrated VOCs. Also, heat is required to oxidize the VOCs into a safe form prior to their release into the atmosphere. The present invention employs a regenerative thermal oxidizer for efficiently combusting the VOCs prior their release into the atmosphere. The present system also employs a bypass valve for introducing a portion of the VOCs directly into a combustion chamber without regenerative preheating. The resulting lowering of thermal efficiency of the regenerative thermal oxidizer allows the exhaust from the regenerative thermal oxidizer to carry more thermal energy. The thermal energy from the exhaust is then transferred to a heat exchanger to heat gasses flowing into the adsorption device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Haden Schweitzer Corporation
    Inventor: Frank M. Colagiovanni
  • Patent number: 5291859
    Abstract: A catalytic incinerator system for oxidation/combustion of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The system is relatively compact, is designed to accommodate the thermal stresses within the system without adversely affecting the system components, and to provide substantially uniform temperature distribution in the VOCs and combustion air. The system includes a dual shell housing having an inner shell and an outer shell, wherein the inner shell is capable of thermal expansion and movement relative to the outer shell. Also included is a multi-pass tube-type heat exchanger suspended or otherwise mounted within a heat exchange chamber. The heat exchanger is mounted within the heat exchange chamber so that one end is unfixed and thus the heat exchanger can freely expand and contract due to temperature fluctuations within the heat exchange chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Joseph A. Brinck
    Inventors: Joseph A. Brinck, Stephen L. Reis
  • Patent number: 5275115
    Abstract: A single unit, shell and tube fume incinerator utilizes a vacuum baffle (34) structure proximate a combustion zone (24) to control the flow of combustion exhaust gas. The vacuum baffle (34) is located slightly above the hot ends of a plurality of heat exchange tubes (20) to deflect the hot exhaust gases from the combustion zone (24) away from the ends of the tubes (20), and back to the outside of the tubes (20), thereby controlling the "time at temperature" for contaminants in the impure gas feed. A vacuum effect is created just below the baffle (34) to draw cleansed exhaust below the baffle (34) back up into the combustion zone (24) to prevent the escape of impure gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Inventor: Reagan Houston
  • Patent number: 5260047
    Abstract: A process for purifying waste gases containing polyhalogenated compounds, in particular dioxins and furans, which waste gases accumulate, for example, in a garbage incinerator 1, are directed through a filter 3, which contains an adsorption agent, e.g., activated coke. The adsorption agent, loaded with harmful substances, in particular dioxins and furans, is transported under an inert gas to another processing operation or to storage. During this transportation step, the dioxins and furans are decomposed in heating zones 11 and cooling zones 12, with the preferred decomposition temperature being about 250.degree.-450.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Berger
  • Patent number: 5259757
    Abstract: Smokeless burnout of regenerative thermal oxidizer systems is accomplished by isolating the incineration system from the process flow and drawing fresh air into the heating regenerator at approximately one-fourth of the normal process flow. A purge/burnout fan is employed to induce flow through an idle regenerator drawing high temperature gas from the retention chamber through the idle regenerator. Gas is directed from the purge/burnout fan back into the retention chamber to oxidize contaminants which has been volatilized from the media in the third regenerator. The reduced flow rate of the system and maintaining flow through the regenerator being burned out while continuing to cycle the remaining regenerators as heating and cooling regenerators builds the temperature in the burnout regenerator until volatilization of all contaminants is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Smith Engineering Company
    Inventors: Marlin D. Plejdrup, Melanius D'Souza
  • Patent number: 5249952
    Abstract: A three-chambered combustion burner is provided with a seed fuel under pressure to burn simultaneously injected waste products such as incompletely combusted exhaust fumes or air entrained combustible solid waste. An explosive mixture is provided in a first chamber and ignited. The heated and pressurized gas products are ejected into a second smaller combustion chamber into which air is injected. The hot and incompletely combusted products in the second chamber explosively reignite and are ejected into a yet smaller third combustion chamber. Air is again injected into the third combustion chamber wherein the products again explosively reignite to be ejected through a jet nozzle. The heat energy output of the burner or its propulsive momentum thrust may be utilized as appropriate in other applications. The toxicity of the gaseous or solid waste products burnt in the chambers is reduced and oxidized by the injection of air and hydrolization of water also injected with the waste products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Cosmos Ventures, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill West, Thomas Trulis
  • Patent number: 5245933
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the extraction of smoke from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion of fuel in a mechanical device. It also relates to the extraction of heat from such exhaust gases. The apparatus is positioned to accept the flow of the device's hot exhaust gases through its insulated chambers and is sized to allow sufficient time of exposure of said hot exhaust gases to the high temperatures held within said chambers. The high temperatures are augmented by a heating element and the introduction of additional outside air at a venturi tube located near the entrance of the apparatus. Thus the apparatus holds the exhaust gases long enough inside its sufficiently oxidized chambers under sufficiently high temperatures to burn all the smoke particles in said exhaust gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Temperature Adjusters, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry T. Childs
  • Patent number: 5242295
    Abstract: A combustion method for the simultaneous control of PICs and NO.sub.x wherein the combustion is carried out in two combustion zones. High velocity oxidant is injected into the second combustion zone to aspirate exhaust from the first combustion zone prior to combustion within the second combustion zone. The first combustion zone is preferably operated under pyrolytic conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Min-Da Ho
  • Patent number: 5240403
    Abstract: An improved regenerative thermal oxidizer ("RTO") and improved method of operating same in order to provide a substantially steady-state flow of contaminant-laden air into the RTO. The RTO includes an automatically-operated balancing valve structure for minimizing pressure variations experienced at the inlet of the RTO. The balancing valve is connected to and provides a selectively closeable bypass path for air flow between the high pressure and low pressure sides of an exhaust fan. The balancing valve opens the bypass path whenever flush valves of the RTO are all closed. The RTO further includes a hydraulic control system for minimizing variations in the operation of the RTO due to varying ambient or seasonal temperature conditions to which the RTO may be subjected. The RTO additionally includes a gravity-actuated damper valve structure near the top of a vertically arranged exhaust stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Moco Thermal Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald I. McAnespie
  • Patent number: 5236354
    Abstract: A power plant with efficient emission control and high turbine inlet temperatures is disclosed. The power plant includes a combustor for the combustion of carbonaceous sulfur-bearing fuel. The combustion of this fuel produces a hot gas with SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x contaminants. This gas is conveyed to a refractory heat exchanger where some of the heat from the gas is transferred to a pressurized air stream. The gas is then conveyed to a fluidized bed reactor. The fluidized bed reactor includes a central chamber with a fluidized bed positioned at the base of the chamber. Heat exchangers are positioned within the fluidized bed. These heat exchangers preheat the pressurized air stream which is then conveyed to the refractory heat exchanger and later conveyed to a turbine assembly. The fluidized bed reactor also includes circulating particulate matter, such as CaO. Ammonia may also be injected into the fluidized bed reactor. When operating at a temperature of at least 1,500.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Combustion Power Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerhardt O. Goldbach, John C. Haas, Frank Walton
  • Patent number: 5221522
    Abstract: A regenerative thermal oxidizer for removing pollutants from industrial exhaust gas flows by high temperature oxidation is composed of at least two regenerative units having a modular construction and a much more compact design than previously achieved in units of comparable size. The more compact design is achieved without any sacrifice in thermal efficiency by providing a regenerative bed having one hot-face area and two cold-face areas connected by an inlet/outlet crossover duct. The bed has "w"-shaped cross-section to support and contain interlocking heat-exchange elements without the use of hot-face or cold-face area retaining members. Each unit has inlet and outlet flow dividing mechanisms, an inlet duct, and an outlet duct. The inlet duct contains the inlet flow dividing mechanism and communicates with an inlet manifold and the cold-face areas for conducting process gas to the cold-face areas during inlet mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Regenerative Environmental Equipment Co., Inc.
    Inventor: James T. Cash
  • Patent number: 5221523
    Abstract: A system for controlling organic contaminants released from a regenerator during the process of liquid dehydration of natural gas where contaminants are vaporized into a gaseous mixture. The system includes conducting the vaporized mixture from the regenerator to a heater, heating the vaporized mixture in the heater, conducting the vaporized mixture from the heater to a liquid collection chamber where suspended liquid particles are separated out from the vaporized mixture, drawing the vaporized mixture from the liquid chamber using fuel gas as an aspirator, mixing atmospheric air with the vaporized mixture, and combusting the vaporized mixture in order to incinerate the vaporized mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: National Tank Company
    Inventors: Bert B. Miles, Gary W. Sams
  • Patent number: 5216968
    Abstract: In a combustion process, liquid or gaseous residues having little or no calorific value are supplied to a flame in the main combustion chamber in addition to the fuel gas and the air for combustion. Stabilization of the flame and hence a reduction in the emission of nitrogen oxides is achieved by preheating the fuel gas and introducing it into the main combustion chamber at a temperature above its ignition temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karel Capek, Holger Kirchmann, Martin Schweitzer, Winfried Vaulont
  • Patent number: 5215075
    Abstract: Odor/pollutants from cooking food products are collected and delivered to a plenum proximate the burner of a heat exchanger which serves the food cooker. The burner issues a flame into a combustion chamber having a baffle arranged normal to the flame and a central opening in the baffle is partially occluded by a frusto-conically shaped turbulence increasing body spaced from the baffle to define an annular flow slot along the body which is has an central flow passageway therethrough. Efficient pollution vapor incineration results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Heat and Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew A. Caridis, Lawrence F. Klein
  • Patent number: 5213492
    Abstract: A combustion method for the simultaneous control of PICs and NO.sub.x wherein the combustion is carried out in two combustion zones. High velocity oxidant is injected into the second combustion zone to aspirate exhaust from the first combustion zone prior to combustion within the second combustion zone. The first combustion zone is preferably operated under pyrolytic conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Min-Da Ho
  • Patent number: 5199362
    Abstract: A pollution control system for removing harmful elements from industrial smoke streams comprises a reciprocating pump assembly that draws smoke from a furnace or the like and delivers it through a passageway where the smoke is treated sequentially to remove harmful elements therefrom. Disposed along the passageway is an atomizer station, a first fibrous filter, an ignition chamber, and a second fibrous filter. Having traversed the passageway, the smoke is ejected into a large tank of water and bubbles to the surface thereof, thus being further cleansed. From the water tank, the cleansed smoke stream moves up a stack, through a final fibrous filter, and into the atmosphere where it poses a substantially reduced environmental hazard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Inventor: Lee R. Carter
  • Patent number: 5190451
    Abstract: An emission control fluidized bed reactor is disclosed. The reactor includes a central chamber with a fluidized bed at the base of the central chamber and circulating particulate matter above the fluidized bed forming a freeboard. The fluidized bed is maintained at a temperature range between 1500.degree. F. and 1600.degree. F. The freeboard is operated in a predetermined environment between 1600.degree. F. and 1700.degree. F. and with a velocity between 4 to 12 feet per second. An externally fed gas from a discrete industrial process such as an external combustion system or a plant process is conveyed into the freeboard. The externally fed gas includes pollutants which are suppressed as a result of the predetermined environment in the freeboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Combustion Power Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerhardt O. Goldbach
  • Patent number: 5188042
    Abstract: A process for incinerating fluid waste, which comprises introducing a high heating value fluid waste and an oxidant having at least about 28% oxygen concentration into an oxygen/fuel burner to engender a flame and providing additional oxidant annularly around the flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eddy J. Lauwers
  • Patent number: 5188804
    Abstract: In a regenerative bed incinerator 10 of type wherein the direction of gas flow through the bed 14 is periodically switched via a gas switching valve 30, a controller 80 is provided to periodically activate the gas switching valve 30 to reverse the direction of gas flow through the bed 14 in response to the temperature of the cooled incinerated process exhaust gases 5 as measured by gas sensing means 90.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: The Air Preheater Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Darr C. Pace, Craig E. Bayer, Mark T. Casagrande, Craig R. Johnson, Danny K. Hall, Andrew W. Nolan
  • Patent number: RE34298
    Abstract: The invention relates to an afterburner apparatus and an incineration system and methods of waste destruction in primary incineration combustion means and afterburner means which both preferably utilize at least two different oxidizing gases. By varying the ratio of said oxidizing gases, the amount of total oxygen and nitrogen delivered in either means can be dynamically adjusted in accordance with the process requirements. Varying the flows of at least two oxydizing gases and auxiliary fuel in both the primary incinerator and afterburner makes it possible to operate the system under fluctuating waste loading conditions, by controlling temperature, partial pressure of oxygen and heat available for the process as a function of said ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: American Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Gitman, Boris M. Khudenko