US3840002A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for submerged combustion (with air pollution control)
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-08-06
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Granted: 1974-10-08
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Expires: 1993-08-06
Abstract
Abstract Improvements in submerged combustion evaporators and heaters particularly adapted to the heating and evaporation of various heat sensitive solutions, including both methods and apparatus therefor; Improved apparatus and methods for the discharge of products of combustion from the combustion chamber of a submerged burner into and through the body of a heat-sensitive solution, said discharge handled in such manner as to reduce air pollution resulting from the practice of the submerged combustion process with respect to the given solution, as well as improve the effectiveness of the burner, per se, and the submerged combustion process.
Inventors
- 👤 C Douglas
- 👤 W Young
- 👤 J Phillips
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:33
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D1/00; B01D1/14; F; F23; F23C; F23C3/00; F23C3/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
334 words
A method of concentrating heat sensitive liquids comprising the steps of: a. establishing and maintaining a liquid body to be concentrated in two adjacent vessels having both an upper conduit communicating therebetween, same both considerably above and slightly below the common, maintained liquid level in said vessels, and a lower, large volume conduit interconnecting said vessels below the common liquid level therebetween; b. burning a combustible mixture of fuel and air in a combustion chamber positioned substantially entirely below the surface of a first portion of the liquid body being concentrated in a first one of said vessels, the combustion chamber being in direct contact with said liquid body first portion; c. discharging the products of combustion from the lower portion of the combustion chamber at a plurality of locations in said liquid body first portion; d. then passing said products of combustion from said combustion chamber in indirect heat exchange with said liquid body first portion and below the surface thereof through and within a plurality of tubes which first rise in said body first portion substantially above said discharge locations at least substantially to the top of the combustion chamber and thereafter descend in saiD body first portion at least substantially to the level of said locations; e. passing said products of combustion into said liquid body first portion at a level substantially below the liquid body first portion surface and at a plurality of points in said liquid body first portion substantially spaced away from said conbustion chamber for direct contact with said liquid body first portion; f. circulating liquid from said first vessel to the other via the upper conduit and from the second to the first vessel via the lower conduit, whereby to cool the combustion chamber and tubes discharging combustion gases therefrom by circulating liquid in contact therewith; g. discharging gaseous products of combustion and vapors overhead from the second vessel, and h. removing concentrated liquid from one of said two vessels below the liquid level maintained therein.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
334 words
A method of concentrating heat sensitive liquids comprising the steps of: a. establishing and maintaining a liquid body to be concentrated in two adjacent vessels having both an upper conduit communicating therebetween, same both considerably above and slightly below the common, maintained liquid level in said vessels, and a lower, large volume conduit interconnecting said vessels below the common liquid level therebetween; b. burning a combustible mixture of fuel and air in a combustion chamber positioned substantially entirely below the surface of a first portion of the liquid body being concentrated in a first one of said vessels, the combustion chamber being in direct contact with said liquid body first portion; c. discharging the products of combustion from the lower portion of the combustion chamber at a plurality of locations in said liquid body first portion; d. then passing said products of combustion from said combustion chamber in indirect heat exchange with said liquid body first portion and below the surface thereof through and within a plurality of tubes which first rise in said body first portion substantially above said discharge locations at least substantially to the top of the combustion chamber and thereafter descend in saiD body first portion at least substantially to the level of said locations; e. passing said products of combustion into said liquid body first portion at a level substantially below the liquid body first portion surface and at a plurality of points in said liquid body first portion substantially spaced away from said conbustion chamber for direct contact with said liquid body first portion; f. circulating liquid from said first vessel to the other via the upper conduit and from the second to the first vessel via the lower conduit, whereby to cool the combustion chamber and tubes discharging combustion gases therefrom by circulating liquid in contact therewith; g. discharging gaseous products of combustion and vapors overhead from the second vessel, and h. removing concentrated liquid from one of said two vessels below the liquid level maintained therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said second vessel has a conical bottom extending substantially below the second conduit and product is removed from said conical bottom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said first vessel has a frusto-conical bottom into the wall of which the second conduit connects and discharges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the second conduit discharges from the second vessel into the first vessel below the level of the combustion chamber and the discharge tubes connecting thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein secondary air is added into the combustion gases within said discharge tubes before said combustion gases are discharged into the liquid body first portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
334 words
Means for treating and concentrating heat sensitive liquids with gaseous products of combustion comprising, in combination: a. a first liquid containing vessel having a submerged combustion burner therein operative to flow gaseous products of combustion through the liquid in said first vessel within a multiplicity of independent passageways and thereafter into the liquid of said first vessel; b. said burner having an elongate, hollow, vertical combustion chamber; c. said chamber having at the distal end thereof a plurality of ports for discharge of combustion products from said chamber; d. means connecting with the proximal end of said combustion chamber for continuously supplying thereto a gaseous combustible mixture; e. 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; f. a second liquid containing vessel positioned closely adjacent said first vessel; g. a first liquid and gas carrying flow line interconnecting said two vessels at a level both considerably above and slightly below the maintained common liquid level in said vessels, whereby gas and liquid can readily flow therebetween from said first to said second vessel; h. means for exhausting combustion gases and vapors from said second vessel overhead above the liquid level therewithin; i. a second large volume liquid carrying line interconnecting said two vessels below the common liquid level therewithin, whereby liquid can flow therebetween, thereby to continuously circulate the liquid being concentrated in heat exchanging contact with the combustion chamber and pipe means connected therewith, and j. a product withdrawal line on one of said vessels below the maintained liquid level therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
334 words
Means for treating and concentrating heat sensitive liquids with gaseous products of combustion comprising, in combination: a. a first liquid containing vessel having a submerged combustion burner therein operative to flow gaseous products of combustion through the liquid in said first vessel within a multiplicity of independent passageways and thereafter into the liquid of said first vessel; b. said burner having an elongate, hollow, vertical combustion chamber; c. said chamber having at the distal end thereof a plurality of ports for discharge of combustion products from said chamber; d. means connecting with the proximal end of said combustion chamber for continuously supplying thereto a gaseous combustible mixture; e. 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; f. a second liquid containing vessel positioned closely adjacent said first vessel; g. a first liquid and gas carrying flow line interconnecting said two vessels at a level both considerably above and slightly below the maintained common liquid level in said vessels, whereby gas and liquid can readily flow therebetween from said first to said second vessel; h. means for exhausting combustion gases and vapors from said second vessel overhead above the liquid level therewithin; i. a second large volume liquid carrying line interconnecting said two vessels below the common liquid level therewithin, whereby liquid can flow therebetween, thereby to continuously circulate the liquid being concentrated in heat exchanging contact with the combustion chamber and pipe means connected therewith, and j. a product withdrawal line on one of said vessels below the maintained liquid level therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
Means as in claim 6 wherein the second vessel has a conical bottom extending substantially below the second liquid carrying line and product is removed therefrom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
Means as in claim 6 wherein said first vessel has a frusto-conical bottom and the second flow line connects thereinto to pass liquid therethrough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
Means as in claim 6 wherein said second flow line is positioned to recycle said concentrated liquid into said first vessel below the combustion chamber and discharge pipes connected thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
Means as in claim 6 including means for flowing secondary air into said burner pipes prior to their termination away from said combustion chamber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-07 | 1978-04-08 | 1978-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-07 | 1982-04-08 | 1982-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-07 | 1986-04-08 | 1986-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |