Patent US4864648A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3604375A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Incineration process and unfired afterburner apparatus
Assignee: International Hydronics Corp
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Filing: 1970-03-31
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Granted: 1971-09-14
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Expires: 1990-03-31
Abstract
Abstract Process for achieving complete and relatively inexpensive combustion of solid, semiliquid, and liquid combustible waste materials, and combinations thereof, having low heat value, by incompletely burning a combination of such materials in a first furnace to produce a combustible gaseous exhaust stream, achieving complete combustion in a second furnace of combustible high heat value waste materials to produce a noncombustible gaseous stream, intimately admixing the two streams in an unfired afterburner, without the addition of heat from an auxiliary heat source, while maintaining a minimum admixture temperature above the temperature required for autoignition of the combustibles in the first stream, whereby the heat produced by combustion of the high heat value waste materials is utilized for the spontaneous ignition and complete combustion of the incompletely burned materials. Liquid wastes of high heat value and of low heat value are separately stored, and are variously blended for feed to the first furnace and the second furnace in accordance with the heat requirements of the system to achieve complete combustion of all wastes being burned. The apparatus particularly adapted to perform the process comprises a pair of furnaces, a refractorylined afterburner chamber having no auxiliary heat source, duct means interconnecting said afterburner chamber and each of said furnaces, and exhaust means defined by said afterburner for permitting exhaust of the burned gas stream after combustion is completed. The apparatus preferably includes appropriate draft handling, gas cooling, and particle removal means to render the gaseous atmospheric discharge relatively pollution-free.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert B Bruns
- 👤 Donald J Frey
- 👤 Emil J Huyghebaert
- 👤 Albert B Mindler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 02:54
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23M; F23M9/00; F23M9/003; F23G; F23G5/00; F23G5/008; F23G5/08; F23G5/14; F23G5/16; F23J; F23J15/00; F23J15/06; F23G2202/00; F23G2202/10; F23G2202/103; F23G2900/00; F23G2900/50204; F23G2900/52001; F23J2217/00; F23J2217/20; F23J2217/50; F23J2217/60; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E20/00; Y02E20/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
An incineration process comprising the steps of: a. burning a high heat value, low viscosity liquid waste materials in a first furnace to produce a substantially completely burned first effluent stream; b. burning combustible waste materials in a second furnace to produce a substantially combustible second effluent stream; c. removing said streams from said furnaces; and d. completing combustion of the unburned material in said second effluent stream by turbulently, intimately admixing said first and second streams.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
An incineration process comprising the steps of: a. burning a high heat value, low viscosity liquid waste materials in a first furnace to produce a substantially completely burned first effluent stream; b. burning combustible waste materials in a second furnace to produce a substantially combustible second effluent stream; c. removing said streams from said furnaces; and d. completing combustion of the unburned material in said second effluent stream by turbulently, intimately admixing said first and second streams.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the combustible waste materials are selected from the group consisting of solids, high viscosity materials, low heat value, low viscosity liquids, and combinations thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the waste materials include a variety of high heat value, low viscosity liquids and low heat value, low viscosity liquids, and wherein said process includes the initial step of combining selected amounts of said liquids to produce a first input stream for feed into said first furnace and a second stream of low heat value for feed into said second furnace.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the amount of heat required to achieve complete combustion of the combustible components of said second stream is not constant, and including the step of regulating the flow rate and composition of the input to said first furnace and the conditions of combustion thereof such that the temperature of said first effluent stream and its heat content are sufficient to achieve autoignition of all combustible materials in said second stream throughout the range of temperatures and heat contents required to achieve such autoignition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the temperature of said first stream is in the range from about 2,500* F. to about 2,800* F. and its heat content is in the range from about 15 million B.t.u./hr. to about 75 million B.t.u./hr.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein combustion in said first furnace takes place in the presence of an excess of the stoichiometric amount of air required for complete combustion of said high heat value waste liquid, and combustion in said second furnace takes place in the presence of an excess of the stoichiometric amount of air required to achieve complete combustion of the materials in said second furnace.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process as set forth in claim 6, including the step of preheating said air for said first furnace to a temperature of at least about 400* F. prior to introducing said air into said first furnace.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the temperature of said admixture is at least about 2,000* F.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first stream and said second stream are introduced at substantially right angles to each other in an insulated afterburner chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process as set forth in claim 9, wherein the average residence time of any portion of the admixture in the afterburner is in the range from about 0.3 second to about 0.6 second.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
143 words
An incineration process comprising the steps of: a. burning combustible waste materials in a first furnace to produce a substantially combustible gaseous first effluent stream; b. burning low viscosity, high heat value combustible waste materials in a second furnace to produce a substantially noncombustible gaseous second effluent stream having a substantially higher temperature and heat cOntent than said first stream; c. regulating the composition and combustion rate of said high heat value waste material such that the temperature and heat content of said second stream when admixed with said first stream are sufficient to raise the temperature of said first stream above its autoignition temperature and to complete combustion thereof without the addition of further heat; d. removing said streams from said furnaces; and e. turbulently, intimately admixing said first and second streams to permit substantial completion of combustion of said first stream.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
143 words
An incineration process comprising the steps of: a. burning combustible waste materials in a first furnace to produce a substantially combustible gaseous first effluent stream; b. burning low viscosity, high heat value combustible waste materials in a second furnace to produce a substantially noncombustible gaseous second effluent stream having a substantially higher temperature and heat cOntent than said first stream; c. regulating the composition and combustion rate of said high heat value waste material such that the temperature and heat content of said second stream when admixed with said first stream are sufficient to raise the temperature of said first stream above its autoignition temperature and to complete combustion thereof without the addition of further heat; d. removing said streams from said furnaces; and e. turbulently, intimately admixing said first and second streams to permit substantial completion of combustion of said first stream.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
A process as set forth in claim 11, wherein the temperature of said first stream is in the range from about 1, 200* F. to about 1,500* F., the temperature of said second stream is in the range from about 2,500* F. to about 2,800* F., and the temperature of said admixture is at least about 2,000* F.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
A process as set forth in claim 11, wherein the amount of heat required to achieve complete combustion of the combustible components of said first stream is not constant, and including the step of regulating the flow rate and composition of the input to said second furnace and the conditions of combustion thereof such that the temperature of said second effluent stream and its heat content are sufficient to achieve autoignition of all combustible materials in said first stream throughout the range of temperatures and heat contents required to achieve such autoignition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
149 words
A process for achieving substantially complete combustion of liquid and solid combustible waste materials, comprising the steps of: a. substantially completely burning in a first furnace a low viscosity combustible liquid having a high heat value; b. withdrawing from said first furnace a substantially burned gas stream having a temperature of at least about 2,000* F.; c. burning in a second furnace combustible materials selected from the group consisting of high viscosity materials, solids, and low heat value, low viscosity liquids and combinations thereof, to achieve partial combustion of such materials; d. withdrawing from said second furnace a gaseous stream comprising unburned and partially burned combustible materials at a temperature substantially less than 2,000* F; and e. turbulently intimately admixing said gaseous streams in an insulated afterburner chamber to achieve the substantial decomposition by combustion of the combustible material in said second stream without the extrinsic introduction of heat.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
149 words
A process for achieving substantially complete combustion of liquid and solid combustible waste materials, comprising the steps of: a. substantially completely burning in a first furnace a low viscosity combustible liquid having a high heat value; b. withdrawing from said first furnace a substantially burned gas stream having a temperature of at least about 2,000* F.; c. burning in a second furnace combustible materials selected from the group consisting of high viscosity materials, solids, and low heat value, low viscosity liquids and combinations thereof, to achieve partial combustion of such materials; d. withdrawing from said second furnace a gaseous stream comprising unburned and partially burned combustible materials at a temperature substantially less than 2,000* F; and e. turbulently intimately admixing said gaseous streams in an insulated afterburner chamber to achieve the substantial decomposition by combustion of the combustible material in said second stream without the extrinsic introduction of heat.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as set forth in claim 14, wherein the average residence time of any portion of the admixture of said streams in said afterburner chamber is at least about 0.3 second.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
A process as set forth in claim 14, wherein the temperature of said first stream is at least about 2,500* F., the heat content of said first stream is substantially constant, the temperature of said second stream is at least about 1,200* F., and the temperature of the admixture is substantially greater than 2,000* F.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
70 words
A process as set forth in claim 14, wherein the waste materials include a variety of high heat value, low viscosity liquids and low heat value, low viscosity liquids, and wherein said process includes the initial step of combining selected amounts of said liquids to produce a first input stream for feed into said first furnace and a second stream of low heat value for feed into said second furnace.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
221 words
A process for achieving substantially complete and inexpensive combustion of combustible waste materials, comprising the steps of: a. substantially completely burning in a first furnace a low viscosity liquid combustible material having a heat value with an excess of air above the amount necessary to achieve complete combustion thereof; b. incompletely burning in a second furnace combustible materials selected from the group consisTing of low viscosity, low heat value liquids, high viscosity materials, solids and combinations thereof with an excess of air above the amount necessary to achieve complete combustion thereof; c. withdrawing a gaseous stream of substantially completely burned materials from said first furnace at a temperature in the range from about 2,000* F. to about 3,000* F. and a heat content in the range from about 15 million B.t.u./hr. to about 75 million B.t.u./hr. d. withdrawing a gaseous stream containing incompletely burned combustible materials from said second furnace at a temperature in the range from about 1,000* F. to about 1,500* F. and a heat content in the range from about 15 million B.t.u./hr. to about 60 million B.t.u./hr. e. intimately admixing said streams in a proportion such that the temperature of the admixture is in excess of 2,000* F.; and f. maintaining said admixture in an insulated afterburner chamber until combustion of said second stream is substantially complete.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
221 words
A process for achieving substantially complete and inexpensive combustion of combustible waste materials, comprising the steps of: a. substantially completely burning in a first furnace a low viscosity liquid combustible material having a heat value with an excess of air above the amount necessary to achieve complete combustion thereof; b. incompletely burning in a second furnace combustible materials selected from the group consisTing of low viscosity, low heat value liquids, high viscosity materials, solids and combinations thereof with an excess of air above the amount necessary to achieve complete combustion thereof; c. withdrawing a gaseous stream of substantially completely burned materials from said first furnace at a temperature in the range from about 2,000* F. to about 3,000* F. and a heat content in the range from about 15 million B.t.u./hr. to about 75 million B.t.u./hr. d. withdrawing a gaseous stream containing incompletely burned combustible materials from said second furnace at a temperature in the range from about 1,000* F. to about 1,500* F. and a heat content in the range from about 15 million B.t.u./hr. to about 60 million B.t.u./hr. e. intimately admixing said streams in a proportion such that the temperature of the admixture is in excess of 2,000* F.; and f. maintaining said admixture in an insulated afterburner chamber until combustion of said second stream is substantially complete.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
62 words
A process as set forth in claim 18, wherein said first furnace is a cyclone-type furnace and said second furnace is a rotating kiln, and including the steps of intermittently heating said kiln with burning fuel to maintain a kiln temperature of at least 850* F., and preheating the air entering said furnace to a temperature of at least about 400* F.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process as set forth in claim 18, including the step of maintaining the heat content of said first stream at a level of at least twice the heat content of said second stream.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
183 words
An apparatus for achieving substantially complete combustion of liquid, semiliquid, and solid waste materials, comprising: a. a first furnace adapted to achieve substantially complete combustion of high heat value, low viscosity liquid waste materials; b. a second furnace adapted to achieve substantially incomplete combustion of combustible materials selected from the group consisting of low heat value, low viscosity liquids, high viscosity materials, and solids and combinations thereof; c. an afterburner chamber comprising an enclosed chamber having an interior lined with a refractory material, said chamber defining two inlet ports and an outlet port and having no means for the extrinsic introduction of heat; d. duct means interconnecting each of said furnaces and a corresponding one of said inlet ports; e. whereby intimate admixture in said afterburner chamber of a substantially noncombustible gas stream from said first furnace and a combustible gas stream of incompletely burned material from said second furnace may be so regulated as to temperature and heat content that autoignition and complete combustion of said second stream can be achieved in said afterburner without the use of an auxiliary heat source.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
183 words
An apparatus for achieving substantially complete combustion of liquid, semiliquid, and solid waste materials, comprising: a. a first furnace adapted to achieve substantially complete combustion of high heat value, low viscosity liquid waste materials; b. a second furnace adapted to achieve substantially incomplete combustion of combustible materials selected from the group consisting of low heat value, low viscosity liquids, high viscosity materials, and solids and combinations thereof; c. an afterburner chamber comprising an enclosed chamber having an interior lined with a refractory material, said chamber defining two inlet ports and an outlet port and having no means for the extrinsic introduction of heat; d. duct means interconnecting each of said furnaces and a corresponding one of said inlet ports; e. whereby intimate admixture in said afterburner chamber of a substantially noncombustible gas stream from said first furnace and a combustible gas stream of incompletely burned material from said second furnace may be so regulated as to temperature and heat content that autoignition and complete combustion of said second stream can be achieved in said afterburner without the use of an auxiliary heat source.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 21, wherein said duct means are oriented at substantially right angles with respect to each other.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 21, wherein said first furnace is a cyclone furnace and said second furnace is a kiln.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 22, including a baffle located in alignment with one of said inlet ports and adjacent to said outlet port.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 21, including means to turbulently, intimately admix said gas streams.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
148 words
Incinerator apparatus for burning waste material, comprising, in combination: a. first furnace means for burning solid and liquid waste materials, including means for discharging the effluent gases therefrom; b. second furnace means for burning liquid waste materials, including means for discharging the effluent gases therefrom; c. gas-processing means disposed downstream from said first and second furnace means, including a burner compartment wherein the effluent gases from said first and second furnace means can be burned by the intimate mixture thereoF; d. means for passing the effluent gases from said first and second furnace means to said gas-processing means and thence to the atmosphere; and e. means for operating said second furnace means to produce an effluent gas having a temperature sufficient to render the resultant gas temperature in the burner compartment of said gas-processing means above the autoignition temperature of the effluent gas from said first furnace means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
148 words
Incinerator apparatus for burning waste material, comprising, in combination: a. first furnace means for burning solid and liquid waste materials, including means for discharging the effluent gases therefrom; b. second furnace means for burning liquid waste materials, including means for discharging the effluent gases therefrom; c. gas-processing means disposed downstream from said first and second furnace means, including a burner compartment wherein the effluent gases from said first and second furnace means can be burned by the intimate mixture thereoF; d. means for passing the effluent gases from said first and second furnace means to said gas-processing means and thence to the atmosphere; and e. means for operating said second furnace means to produce an effluent gas having a temperature sufficient to render the resultant gas temperature in the burner compartment of said gas-processing means above the autoignition temperature of the effluent gas from said first furnace means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 26, wherein said gas-processing means comprises: a. rectangularly disposed walls defining an elongate, substantially closed chamber; b. means defining openings in a pair of spaced walls communicating with said first and second furnace means for the passage of effluent gas therefrom into said burner compartment; and c. means in said burner compartment to turbulently, intimately admix the effluent gases from said first and second furnace means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
187 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 27, wherein said effluent gas discharge openings are disposed in adjacent walls of said chamber and said last-named means comprises an upright baffle extending transversely of said chamber in spaced relation to said openings, said baffle being operative to direct the gas flow from one of said openings toward the wall containing the other of said openings. 29 Apparatus as set forth in claim 26, wherein said gas-processing means comprises: a. rectangularly disposed walls defining an elongate, substantially closed chamber; b. means dividing said chamber into an afterburner compartment, a spray compartment, and a demisting compartment, said compartments extending across the entire width of said chamber end thereof for discharge of end-to-end gas therefrom to said afterburner therethrough; d. means in said afterburner compartment for turbulently, furnace admixing the effluent gases from the respective furnace means; e. means in said spray compartment for injecting liquid coolant into direct heat exchange relation with gases flowing through said chamber; and f. means in said demisting compartment for removing excess liquid from gases flowing through said chamber prior to their discharge to the atmosphere.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein said spray compartment includes: a. a plurality of upstanding columns disposed in staggered relationship in two rows across the width of said chamber and extending the full height thereof; b. liquid spray nozzles mounted in said chamber for discharging liquid coolant rows said columns to create a liquid film on the surface thereof; and c. means for draining liquid coolant from said chamber.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 30, wherein each of said columns is provided with a concave surface in facing relation to the direction of gas flow through said compartment.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 30, wherein said spray compartment further comprises a pair of independently operated sets of spray nozzles disposed on alternate sides of said columns and arranged to discharge a diffused spray of liquid coolant into said compartment, one of said sets including means for continuously operating said set to lower the temperature of the flowing gases to a predetermined level, and the other of said sets including means for operating the same when the gas temperature at the outlet of said chamber exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein said demisting compartment comprises a. baffle means defining a tortuous path for imparting abrupt changes of direction in gas flow through said compartment; and b. means for draining separated liquid from said compartment to the exterior of said chamber.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 29, including induced draft fan means communicating with said chamber at the discharge end thereof for passing the resultant gases through said chamber for ultimate discharge to said atmosphere.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 34, whereiN said first furnace means comprises a rotary kiln.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein said second furnace means comprises a furnace of the cyclone type.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-13 | 1975-03-15 | 1975-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-13 | 1979-03-15 | 1979-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-13 | 1983-03-15 | 1983-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |