US3844948A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reactor for continuous wet oxidation process
Assignee: Whirlpool Corp
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Filing: 1972-12-04
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Granted: 1974-10-29
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Expires: 1992-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A reactor for a continuous process home sewage treatment system handling all organic wastes arising out of normal habitation of a domestic dwelling place by a wet oxidation process. The reactor is in the form of a pressure vessel in the form of a coil of tubing contained in an insulated vessel and having an inlet at one end for the raw waste entrained in water coming from the heat exchanger and forced along the tubing by air under pressure, the air providing the oxygen required for oxidation. Heat is added to the tubing by an electric heater having heating elements in intimate contact with the coil. The coil is of sufficient length that the raw waste introduced into the inlet end of the coil is completely oxidized as it leaves the coil, resulting in an effluent in the form of carbon dioxide, substantially clean water and a small amount of sterile ash. The length of the coil is proportioned to the flow rate to provide sufficient residence time in the reactor to complete the process.
Inventors
- 👤 H Burke
- 👤 G Boswinkle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:35
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F11/00; C02F11/06; C02F11/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
In a continuous process wet oxidation apparatus for home sewage treatment systems, for treating the organic waste sewage from the home by the wet oxidation process, means forming a continuous hydraulic circuit and including in series connection with one another, a tank, a pump, a heat exchanger and a reactor, and means for supplying oxygen under pressure to the sewage as it enters said reactor, said reactor comprising a pressure vessel, having a coil of tubing having an inlet at one end thereof for receiving in combination raw waste and oxygen passing from the heat exchanger and the means for supplying oxygen and having an outlet at its opposite end through which hot, oxidized effluent is discharged from said vessel and said coil of tubing being of sufficient length relative to its cross-section to provide coil residence time of the material passing therethrough sufficient to complete oxidation of substantially all organic solids pumped through said coil at a preselected rate, a housing for said reactor including a heat insulating sheath extending from said coil, and a source of heat in said reactor extending along said coil in intimate relation therewith to maintain a constant temperature along said coil and supply the heat to said coil to completely oxidize the waste as passing from said inlet to said outlet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
In a continuous process wet oxidation apparatus for home sewage treatment systems, for treating the organic waste sewage from the home by the wet oxidation process, means forming a continuous hydraulic circuit and including in series connection with one another, a tank, a pump, a heat exchanger and a reactor, and means for supplying oxygen under pressure to the sewage as it enters said reactor, said reactor comprising a pressure vessel, having a coil of tubing having an inlet at one end thereof for receiving in combination raw waste and oxygen passing from the heat exchanger and the means for supplying oxygen and having an outlet at its opposite end through which hot, oxidized effluent is discharged from said vessel and said coil of tubing being of sufficient length relative to its cross-section to provide coil residence time of the material passing therethrough sufficient to complete oxidation of substantially all organic solids pumped through said coil at a preselected rate, a housing for said reactor including a heat insulating sheath extending from said coil, and a source of heat in said reactor extending along said coil in intimate relation therewith to maintain a constant temperature along said coil and supply the heat to said coil to completely oxidize the waste as passing from said inlet to said outlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The continuous process reactor of claim 1, including a base for said housing, support means for said coil extending upwardly from said base and wherein the source of heat extends through said coil along the inside Thereof in intimate relation therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The continuous process reactor of claim 2, wherein the source of heat is an electric heating element including at least one rod of a hairpin form, and means supplying electric energy to heat said rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The continuous process reactor of claim 1, wherein a plurality of heating elements extend along the inside of said coil in intimate relation therewith for the entire length of the coil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The continuous process reactor of claim 4, wherein the source of heat comprises a plurality of electric heating elements of the rod type of a generally hairpin form and means supplying electric energy to heat said rod.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
113 words
The continuous process reactor of claim 1, including a base having said insulating sheath extending upwardly from said base, a metal lining within said insulating sheath extending therealong for the length thereof, a plurality of coil supports spaced about said base and extending upwardly therefrom along the inside of said metal lining, support brackets for said coil supports mounted on said base and gusseting said coil supports to said base into engagement with said metal lining, said coil supports being generally channel-like in cross section and having webs facing the coil, legs extending from said webs to said metal lining, and hook means extending from said webs in supporting engagement with the coil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The continuous process reactor of claim 6, wherein the source of heat includes an electric heating element, wherein a support plate for the heating element is disposed at the top of said metal lining, and wherein a plurality of hairpin-type electric heating elements depend from said support plate along the inside of said coil in intimate relation therewith for substantially the length thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The continuous process reactor of claim 7, wherein insulating strips are disposed between said webs of said coil supports and said coil, and wherein the electric heating elements comprise rods of a hairpin form circumferentially spaced along the inside of said coil, and means supplying electric energy to said rods.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The continuous process reactor of claim 8, wherein the coil is formed by coiling stainless steel tubing of a length proportioned to the flow rate of influent through the coil, to provide sufficient residence time in the reactor to complete the oxidation process.
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) | 1977-10-28 | 1978-04-29 | 1978-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-28 | 1982-04-29 | 1982-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-28 | 1986-04-29 | 1986-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |