Methods and apparatus for submerged combustion (with air pollution control)

Claim 2

In a submersible burner for the submerged combustion of fuel beneath the surface of a liquid and substantially out of contact therewith, said burner having an elongate hollow vertical combustion chamber, said chamber having at the distal end thereof a plurality of ports at a plurality of levels for discharge of combustion products from said chamber, said chamber at the proximal end thereof connecting directly with the larger end of a frusto-conical expansion chamber, and means connecting with the smaller end of said expansion chamber for continuously supplying thereto a gaseous combustible mixture, the improvement which comprises pipe means connecting at one end thereof to each said chamber discharge port, extending substantially parallel with the combustion chamber axis but in the opposite direction with regard to gas flow in a portion of the length thereof and further having an open submerged end return bend of sufficient length, whereby, when the combustion chamber is substantially submerged in fluid to be heated, a portion of the return bend is above the liquid surface and the portion thereof furthest from the combustion chamber discharge port is submerged in said liquid.

Claim 3

In a submersible burner for the submerged combustion of fuel beneath the surface of a fluid and substantially out of contact therewith, said burner having an elongate, hollow, vertical combustion chamber, said chamber having at the distal end thereof a plurality of ports for discharge of combustion products from said chamber, said chamber at the proximal end thereof connecting directly with the larger end of a frusto-conical expansion chamber, and means connecting with the smaller end of said expansion chamber for continuously supplying thereto a gaseous combustible mixture, the improvement which comprises pipe means connecting at one end thereof to each said chamber discharge port, extending substantially parallel with the combustion chamber axis but in the opposite direction with regard to gas flow in a portion of the length thereof and further having an open submerged end return bend of sufficient length, whereby, when the combustion chamber is substantially submerged in liquid to be heated, a portion of the return bend is above the liquid surface and the portion thereof furthest from the combustion chamber discharge port is submerged in said liquid, and means connecting into each said return bend for the addition of secondary air to the combustion products flowing downwardly through said return bend.

Claim 4

In a submersible burner for the submerged combustion of fuel beneath the surface of a fluid and substantially out of contact therewith, said burner having an elongate, hollow, vertical combustion chamber, said chamber having at the distal end thereof a plurality of ports for discharge of combustion products from said chamber, said chamber at the proximal end thereof connecting directly with the larger end of a frusto-conical expansion chamber, and means connecting with the smaller end of said expansion chamber for continuously supplying thereto a gaseous combustible mixture, the improvement which comprises pipe means connecting at one end thereof to each said chamber discharge port, extending substantially parallel with the combustion chamber axis but in the opposite direction with regard to gas flow in a portion of the length thereof and further having an open submerged end return bend of sufficient length, whereby, when the combustion chamber is substantially submerged in liquid to be heated, a portion of the return bend is above the liquid surface and the portion thereof furthest from the combustion chamber discharge port is submerged in said liquid, and means connecting into each said return bend for the addition of secondary air to the combustion products flowing downwardly through said return bend.

Claim 5

In a submersible burner for the submerged combustion of fuel beneath the surface of a fluid and substantially out of contact therewith, said burner having an elongate, hollow, vertical combustion chamber, said chamber having at the distal end thereof a plurality of ports for discharge of combustion products from said chamber, said chamber at the proximal end thereof connecting directly with the larger end of a frusto-conical expansion chamber, and means connecting with the smaller end of said expansion chamber for continuously supplying thereto a gaseous combustible mixture, the improvement which comprises pipe means connecting at one end thereof to each said chamber discharge port, extending substantially parallel with the combustion chamber axis but in the opposite direction with regard to gas flow in a portion of the length thereof and further having an open submerged end return bend of sufficient length, whereby, when the combustion chamber is substantially submerged in liquid to be heated, a portion of the return bend is above the liquid surface and the portion thereof furthest from the combustion chamber discharge port is submerged in said liquid, means connecting into each said return bend for the addition of secondary air to the combustion products flowing downwardly through said return bend, the means for supplying secondary air comprising the portion of said return bend which is above the liquid surface.

Claim 6

In a submersible burner for the submerged combustion of fuel beneath the surface of a fluid and substantially out of contact therewith, said burner having an elongate, hollow, vertical combustion chamber, said chamber having at the distal end thereof a plurality of ports for discharge of combustion products from said chamber, said chamber at the proximal end thereof connecting directly with the larger end of a frusto-conical expansion chamber, and means connecting with the smaller end of said expansion chamber for continuously supplying thereto a gaseous combustible mixture, the improvement which comprises pipe means connecting at one end thereof to each said chamber discharge port, extending substantially parallel with the combustion chamber axis but in the opposite direction with regard to gas flow in a portion of the length thereof and further having an open submerged end return bend of sufficient length, whereby, when the combustion chamber is substantially submerged in liquid to be heated, a portion of the return bend is above the liquid surface and the portion thereof furthest from the combustion chamber discharge port is submerged in said liquid, means connecting into each said return bend for the addition of secondary air to the combustion products flowing downwardly through said return bend, the means for supplying secondary air comprising the portion of said return bend which is above the liquid surface.

Claim 7

A process of concentrating liquids comprising the steps of: a. burning a combustible mixture of fuel and air in a combustion chamber positioned substantially entirely below the surface of the liquid body being concentrated, the combustion chamber being in direct contact with said liquid body, b. discharging the products of combustion from the lower portion of the combustion chamber at a plurality of locations in said liquid body, c. then passing said products of combustion from said combustion chamber in indirect heat exchange with said liquid body and below the surface thereof through and witHin a plurality of tubes which first rise in said body substantially above said discharge locations at least substantially to the top of the combustion chamber and thereafter descend in said body at least substantially to the level of said locations, and d. finally passing said products of combustion into said liquid body at a level substantially below the liquid body surface and at a plurality points in said liquid body substantially spaced away from said chamber for direct contact with said liquid body.

Claim 8

A process of concentrating liquids comprising the steps of: a. burning a combustible mixture of fuel and air in a combustion chamber positioned substantially entirely below the surface of the liquid body being concentrated, the combustion chamber being in direct contact with said liquid body, b. discharging the products of combustion from the lower portion of the combustion chamber at a plurality of locations in said liquid body, c. then passing said products of combustion from said combustion chamber in indirect heat exchange with said liquid body and below the surface thereof through and witHin a plurality of tubes which first rise in said body substantially above said discharge locations at least substantially to the top of the combustion chamber and thereafter descend in said body at least substantially to the level of said locations, and d. finally passing said products of combustion into said liquid body at a level substantially below the liquid body surface and at a plurality points in said liquid body substantially spaced away from said chamber for direct contact with said liquid body.

Claim 9

A process as in claim 4 wherein the tubes discharge at or below the level of the combustion chamber discharge locations.

Claim 10

A process as in claim 4 wherein the tubes in part each extend substantially radially from the combustion chamber.

Claim 11

A process as in claim 4 wherein the number of tubes and their cross-sectional area is greater than the burner cross-sectional area so that the pressure therein is less than in said combustion chamber.

Claim 12

A process as in claim 4 wherein secondary air is added to the products of combustion after discharge thereof from the combustion chamber.

Claim 13

A process as in claim 8 wherein said secondary air is added on the return of the tubes downwardly.