Controlled atmosphere incinerator

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said combustible materials are introduced into said furnace while minimizing the entry of outside air at the same time.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein the atmosphere within said furnace is controlled so that said gaseous products of combustion from said burning comprise primarily carbon monoxide, said afterburned gases comprising primarily carbon dioxide.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 wherein said second gas-air mixture comprising said controlled atmosphere comprises roughly 75 percent carbon dioxide and 25 percent air.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein said second gas-air mixture comprises roughly 75 percent afterburned gases and 25 percent air.

Claim 7

A controlled atmosphere incinerator comprising, a primary combustion chamber including a normally closed combustible material inlet, a combustion gas outlet, and controlled atmosphere inlets, an afterburner chamber above said primary combustion chamber and connected to the latter by said combustion gas outlet, afterburner means for providing a source of flame within said afterburner chamber, combustion air inlet means leading into said afterburner chamber, exhaust gas outlet passage means leading from said afterburner chamber, recirculation gas passage means leading from said exhaust gas outlet passage means into said primary combustion chamber, and means for inducing a flow of exhaust gases from said afterburner chamber through said recirculation passage means into said primary combustion chamber and mixing said flow within said recirculation passage with a controlled proportion of air in a manner so that said primary combustion chamber can be continuously supplied with an atmosphere consisting of a controlled proportion of air at a controlled temperature.

Claim 8

A controlled atmosphere incinerator comprising, a primary combustion chamber including a normally closed combustible material inlet, a combustion gas outlet, and controlled atmosphere inlets, an afterburner chamber above said primary combustion chamber and connected to the latter by said combustion gas outlet, afterburner means for providing a source of flame within said afterburner chamber, combustion air inlet means leading into said afterburner chamber, exhaust gas outlet passage means leading from said afterburner chamber, recirculation gas passage means leading from said exhaust gas outlet passage means into said primary combustion chamber, and means for inducing a flow of exhaust gases from said afterburner chamber through said recirculation passage means into said primary combustion chamber and mixing said flow within said recirculation passage with a controlled proportion of air in a manner so that said primary combustion chamber can be continuously supplied with an atmosphere consisting of a controlled proportion of air at a controlled temperature.

Claim 9

An incinerator according to claim 6 including ram-type charging means for injecting combustible materials into said primary combustion chamber through said material inlet while minimizing the entry of air through said inlet at the same time.

Claim 10

An incinerator according to claim 6 wherein said inducing means includes an induced draft fan means in said recirculation passage means.

Claim 11

An incinerator according to claim 6 wherein said recirculation passage means terminates at said primary combustion chamber in a gas return manifold means including a plurality of gas inlets leading into said primary chamber.

Claim 12

An incinerator according to claim 6 wherein said manifold means includes a pair of return manifolds, one extending along each of the opposite sides of said primary chamber.

Claim 13

An incinerator according to claim 6 including a material-charging means associated with said material inlet, said charging means including normally closed power-operated gate means movable between open and closed positions to open and close said material inlet, a material-charging chamber on the opposite side of said gate means from said primary combustion chamber, means defining a normally closed charge opening for introducing material to be burned into said charging chamber, charging ram means in said charging chamber and movable toward and away from said gate means for pushing material to be burned through said inlet into said primary combustion chamber when said gate means is open, said charging ram means being retractable to a position clearing said charge opening to enable introduction of material to be burned into said charging chamber ahead of said ram means, whereby material can be introduced first into said charging chamber with said gate means closed and said charging ram means retracted and then introduced into said primary combustion chamber with said charge opening closed and said gate means open upon extension of said ram means to minimize the introduction of outside air into such primary combustion chamber through said inlet.

Claim 14

An incinerator according to claim 6 including means for varying the proportion of exhaust gases and air in said recirculation gas passage means for introduction into said primary combustion chamber.

Claim 15

An incinerator according to claim 6 wherein said primary combustion chamber is of generally cylindrical shape, said material inlet being provided in one end wall of said chamber, said combustion gas outlet being in an upper cylindrical wall portion of said chamber, said controlled atmosphere inlets being provided along opposed cylindrical sidewall portions of said primary combustion chamber, combustion gas outlet passage means interconnecting said combustion gas outlet of said primary combustion chamber and said afterburner chamber, said combustion air inlet means being provided in said combustion gas outlet passage means between said primary combustion chamber and said afterburner chamber, said means for inducing a flow of exhaust gases from said afterburner chamber through said recirculation passage means into said primary combustion chamber including fan means in said recirculation passage means, and air inlet means at said fan means for introducing air into said recirculation passage means.

Claim 16

The method of claim 1 including introducing said second gas-air mixture into a primary combustion chamber of said furnace, and controlling the rate and temperature of burning in said primary combustion chamber by controLling the proportion and temperature of said second gas-air mixture.

Claim 17

The method of claim 14 wherein said second gas-air mixture provides the only substantial source of air for supporting burning within said primary combustion chamber.