US3870474A — Regenerative incinerator systems for waste gases

Claim 1

Independent Claim 140 words

A REGENERATIVE INCINERATOR SYSTEM COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF REGENERATORS EACH CONTAINING PACKING MATERIAL, DIRECTING MEANS FOR ALTERNATELY DIRECTING THE CONTAMINATED AIR OR GAS THROUGH SAID REGENERATORS FIRST IN ONE DIRECTION AND THEN IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION TO PURIFY THE CONTAMINATED AIR AND TRANSFER HEAT FROM THE PACKING MATERIAL TO THE AIR AND VICE VERSA, A COMBUSTION CHAMBER COMMON TO ALL OF SAID REGENERATORS FOR RECEIVING THE AIR PASSING FROM ONE REGENERATOR TO ANOTHER TO ASSURE COMPLETE OXIDATION OF THE CONTAMINANTS IN THE AIR PRIOR TO BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE SYSTEM, AND PURGING MEANS FOR PURGING SAID REGENERATORS OF ANY CONTAMINATED AIR REMAINING IN SAID REGENERATORS WHEN THE FLOW OF AIR THROUGH SAID REGENERATORS IS REVERSED AND REINTRODUCING SUCH PURGED AIR BACK INTO SAID COMBUSTION CHAMBER TO REMOVE THE CONTAMINANTS FROM THE PURGED AIR PRIOR TO BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE SYSTEM.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 140 words

A REGENERATIVE INCINERATOR SYSTEM COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF REGENERATORS EACH CONTAINING PACKING MATERIAL, DIRECTING MEANS FOR ALTERNATELY DIRECTING THE CONTAMINATED AIR OR GAS THROUGH SAID REGENERATORS FIRST IN ONE DIRECTION AND THEN IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION TO PURIFY THE CONTAMINATED AIR AND TRANSFER HEAT FROM THE PACKING MATERIAL TO THE AIR AND VICE VERSA, A COMBUSTION CHAMBER COMMON TO ALL OF SAID REGENERATORS FOR RECEIVING THE AIR PASSING FROM ONE REGENERATOR TO ANOTHER TO ASSURE COMPLETE OXIDATION OF THE CONTAMINANTS IN THE AIR PRIOR TO BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE SYSTEM, AND PURGING MEANS FOR PURGING SAID REGENERATORS OF ANY CONTAMINATED AIR REMAINING IN SAID REGENERATORS WHEN THE FLOW OF AIR THROUGH SAID REGENERATORS IS REVERSED AND REINTRODUCING SUCH PURGED AIR BACK INTO SAID COMBUSTION CHAMBER TO REMOVE THE CONTAMINANTS FROM THE PURGED AIR PRIOR TO BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE SYSTEM.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 140 words

A regenerative incinerator system comprising a plurality of regenerators each containing packing material, directing means for alternately directing the contaminated air or gas through said regenerators first in one direction and then in the reverse direction to purify the contaminated air and transfer heat from the packing material to the air and vice versa, a combustion chamber common to all of said regenerators for receiving the air passing from one regenerator to another to assure complete oxidation of the contaminants in the air prior to being discharged from the system, and purging means for purging said regenerators of any contaminated air remaining in said regenerators when the flow of air through said regenerators is reversed and reintroducing such purged air back into said combustion chamber to remove the contaminants from the purged air prior to being discharged from the system.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 140 words

A regenerative incinerator system comprising a plurality of regenerators each containing packing material, directing means for alternately directing the contaminated air or gas through said regenerators first in one direction and then in the reverse direction to purify the contaminated air and transfer heat from the packing material to the air and vice versa, a combustion chamber common to all of said regenerators for receiving the air passing from one regenerator to another to assure complete oxidation of the contaminants in the air prior to being discharged from the system, and purging means for purging said regenerators of any contaminated air remaining in said regenerators when the flow of air through said regenerators is reversed and reintroducing such purged air back into said combustion chamber to remove the contaminants from the purged air prior to being discharged from the system.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 41 words

The system of claim 1 further comprising means for injecting fuel into said combustion chamber and mixing the fuel with the air to cause combustion for raising the temperature of the air sufficiently to oxidize any contaminants remaining in the air.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 70 words

The system of claim 1 wherein there are at least three of said regenerators each having one end always in open communication with said combustion chamber, said directing means being operative to direct the main flow of air through at least two of said regenerators during any one cycle while said purging means purges at least one of said regenerators of any contaminated air in preparation for the next cycle.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 105 words

The system of claim 3 wherein said directing means is operative during the next cycle of operation To redirect the main air flow for discharge from the regenerator which was purged of any contaminated air during the previous cycle and introduce the main flow of incoming air during such next cycle into the regenerator from which the main flow of air was discharged during the previous cycle, and said purging means is operative to purge the regenerator which was receiving the main flow of incoming air during such previous cycle of contaminated air during the next cycle in preparation for use during still another cycle.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 44 words

The system of claim 3 wherein said purging means is operative to direct a small flow of treated air through the regenerator being purged and mix the purged air leaving the regenerator being purged with the incoming air flow for processing through said regenerators.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 42 words

The system of claim 1 which is used to purify the exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, said purging means being operative to direct the purged air from the regenerator being purged to the intake manifold of such internal combustion engine.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 6 further comprising means for introducing air into the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine to provide oxygen for oxidation of the contaminants in the exhaust gases.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 59 words

The system of claim 3 wherein said means for purging said regenerators comprises first valve means for blocking off the main flow of air through the regenerator being purged, and second valve means for directing pure air or a portion of the purified air leaving another regenerator back through the regenerator being purged to remove any contaminated air therefrom.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 47 words

The system of claim 8 wherein said purging means is operative to direct the purged air from the regenerator being purged to said combustion chamber where it is mixed with the main air flow and the contaminants therein are oxidized prior to being discharged from the system.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system of claim 3 further comprising means for introducing air or fuel into said combustion chamber to facilitate combustion of such contaminants.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system of claim 3 wherein said regenerators contain a combustion catalyst to cause oxidation of the contaminants in the air at a lower temperature.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system of claim 3 wherein said regenerators contain a layer of a suitable catalyst at the proper temperature level for removing any NO or NO2 from the air.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 45 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said regenerators include removable top and bottom flanges to permit withdrawal of some of the packing material from the bottom and adding of fresh or cleaned packing material through the top without disturbing the continuous operation of the system.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 13 further comprising baffles adjacent the air passages in said regenerators to prevent the packing material from blocking said passages.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 181 words

A regenerative incinerator system comprising at least two regenerators each containing packing material, directing means for alternately directing the contaminated air or gas through said two regenerators first in one direction and then in the reverse direction to purify the contaminated air and transfer heat from the packing material to the air and vice versa, and purging means for purging said two regenerators of any contaminated air remaining in said two regenerators when the flow of air through said regenerators is reversed, said purging means comprising a vacuum surge tank, valve means connecting said vacuum surge tank to the regenerator from which the air is being discharged from the system at the beginning of each reversal of the flow of air through said two regenerators to withdraw any contaminated air contained within said two regenerators into said tank, check valve means for preventing outside air from being drawn into said surge tank with the air from said two regenerators, and pump means for evacuating said tank after purging of said two regenerators of contaminated air in preparation for the next cycle.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 181 words

A regenerative incinerator system comprising at least two regenerators each containing packing material, directing means for alternately directing the contaminated air or gas through said two regenerators first in one direction and then in the reverse direction to purify the contaminated air and transfer heat from the packing material to the air and vice versa, and purging means for purging said two regenerators of any contaminated air remaining in said two regenerators when the flow of air through said regenerators is reversed, said purging means comprising a vacuum surge tank, valve means connecting said vacuum surge tank to the regenerator from which the air is being discharged from the system at the beginning of each reversal of the flow of air through said two regenerators to withdraw any contaminated air contained within said two regenerators into said tank, check valve means for preventing outside air from being drawn into said surge tank with the air from said two regenerators, and pump means for evacuating said tank after purging of said two regenerators of contaminated air in preparation for the next cycle.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 15 further comprising meaNs for mixing the air which is evacuated from said tank with the incoming air for processing through said two regenerators.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 15 further comprising a common vessel for said two regenerators with a combustion chamber therebetween.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 48 words

The system of claim 15 wherein said system is used to purify the exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, and means are provided for connecting said tank to the intake manifold of such internal combustion engine to provide the vacuum required to evacuate the tank of air.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 18 further comprising means for introducing air into the exhaust gases to support combustion for oxidation of the contaminants in the exhaust gases.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-03-10	1978-09-09	1979-03-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-03-10	1982-09-09	1983-03-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-03-10	1986-09-09	1987-03-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Regenerative incinerator systems for waste gases

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