US3859033A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sequential combustion of waste gases
Assignee: XERMAC Inc
•
Filing: 1973-03-07
•
Granted: 1975-01-07
•
Expires: 1993-03-07
Abstract
Abstract A waste gas flare provides two separate sequential burner arrays within a combustion chamber, which is enclosed at the sides but open at the top and bottom. The lower one of the two burner arrays handles the first 25 percent of the waste gas which the flare is designed to receive. A substantial excess of air is induced in order to produce low temperature combustion. The combustion products and excess air from the lower burner array pass to an upper array which burns all the remaining waste gas (above the first 25 percent sent to the lower array). The flare is substantially smokeless without the need for steam injection at most gas rates, although at extremely low rates small quantities of steam are added. Each of the burner arrays produces, by means of slotted openings, a series of fan-shaped flames which require less steam for smokeless operation than is needed when gas is discharged from circular nozzles.
Inventors
- 👤 William L Buchanan
- 👤 Arthur C Worley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:06
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23G; F23G7/00; F23G7/06; F23G7/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of burning waste gases without premixing of air and gas comprising: a. introducing a first fraction of said gases uniformly across a first combustion zone established within a hollow enclosure open at the top and bottom wherein said first fraction is burned in a large excess of air induced through the bottom opening of said enclosure into said first zone by natural draft created by combustion; b. flowing the combustion products from said first zone upward into a second combustion zone established within said enclosure; c. introducing the remaining fraction of said gases into said second zone wherein said remaining fraction is burned in the presence of combustion products and air from said first zone; d. discharging the combustion products and air from said second zone through the top opening of said enclosure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of burning waste gases without premixing of air and gas comprising: a. introducing a first fraction of said gases uniformly across a first combustion zone established within a hollow enclosure open at the top and bottom wherein said first fraction is burned in a large excess of air induced through the bottom opening of said enclosure into said first zone by natural draft created by combustion; b. flowing the combustion products from said first zone upward into a second combustion zone established within said enclosure; c. introducing the remaining fraction of said gases into said second zone wherein said remaining fraction is burned in the presence of combustion products and air from said first zone; d. discharging the combustion products and air from said second zone through the top opening of said enclosure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first fraction is all of said waste gases up to a maximum of 25 percent of the design maximum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said remaining fraction is the remaining portion of said gases above 25 percent of the design maximum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the air induced into the primary combustion zone is about seven times that required for complete combustion of the first gas fraction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the air flowed into said second combustion zone is about twice that required for complete combustion of the design maximum gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
119 words
A ground flare for burning waste gases in a noiseless and smokeless manner without premixing of air and gas comprising: a. a hollow structure open at the top and bottom within which combustion takes place, said structure being elevated sufficiently to permit inducing air through said bottom in excess of that needed for combustion of said waste gases; b. first burner grid means within said structure for distributing a first fraction of said gas uniformly across the horizontal cross section of said structure; c. second burner grid means within said structure for distributing the remainder of said gas uniformly across the horizontal cross section of said structure, said second grid disposed above said first burner grid within said structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
119 words
A ground flare for burning waste gases in a noiseless and smokeless manner without premixing of air and gas comprising: a. a hollow structure open at the top and bottom within which combustion takes place, said structure being elevated sufficiently to permit inducing air through said bottom in excess of that needed for combustion of said waste gases; b. first burner grid means within said structure for distributing a first fraction of said gas uniformly across the horizontal cross section of said structure; c. second burner grid means within said structure for distributing the remainder of said gas uniformly across the horizontal cross section of said structure, said second grid disposed above said first burner grid within said structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The flare of claim 6 wherein said first fraction of gas is within the range of 0-25 percent of the design maximum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The flare of claim 6 wherein said gas remainder is the remaining portion of said gases above 25 percent of the design maximum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The flare of claim 6 wherein the air induced into said structure is about 100 percent of that needed for stoichiometric burning of the design maximum gas rate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The flare of claim 6 wherein said first and second burner grid means each comprise a plurality of horizontal tubes disposed across the interior of said structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The flare of claim 10 wherein gas is distributed from a plurality of nozzles longitudinally spaced on said tubes and shaped to produce flat fan-shaped flames disposed normal to the axis of said tubes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The flare of claim 10 wherein each of said tubes is provided with a multiplicity of longitudinally spaced narrow slots.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The tubes of claim 12 wherein said slots extend around one quarter of the circumference of said tubes in the upper portion thereof, thereby creating flat fan-shaped flames.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US975868A
Cited
US1925303A
Cited
US2177258A
Cited
US2920689A
Cited
US3105540A
Cited
US2971605A
Cited
US3497308A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-06 | 1978-07-08 | 1979-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-06 | 1982-07-08 | 1983-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-06 | 1986-07-08 | 1987-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |