Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A process for the combustion of solid waste material containing combustibles in a gravity-type furnace having multiple groups of superimposed hearths, the improvement comprising: (a) feeding solid waste material into the upper hearth of each said group of superimposed hearths so that said material is preheated, dried and burned within said group of superimposed hearths, (b) selectively supplying controlled amounts of an auxiliary fuel to the lower hearth of each said group of superimposed hearths to maintain the discharge temperature of gases flowing from each said upper hearth above the ignition temperature of said gases, and (c) removing ash from the lower hearth of at least the lowermost group of superimposed hearths.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A process for the combustion of solid waste material containing combustibles in a gravity-type furnace having multiple groups of superimposed hearths, the improvement comprising: (a) feeding solid waste material into the upper hearth of each said group of superimposed hearths so that said material is preheated, dried and burned within said group of superimposed hearths, (b) selectively supplying controlled amounts of an auxiliary fuel to the lower hearth of each said group of superimposed hearths to maintain the discharge temperature of gases flowing from each said upper hearth above the ignition temperature of said gases, and (c) removing ash from the lower hearth of at least the lowermost group of superimposed hearths.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process as defined in claim 1 in which the flow of auxiliary fuel into said lower hearth of each said group of superimposed hearths is regulated to obtain a minimum discharge temperature of the gases flowing from the upper hearth superjacent thereto ranging from approximately 1250° to 1400° F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process as defined in claim 1 in which preheated air for combustion is introduced into the lower hearth of the lowermost group of said superimposed hearths with said air for combustion flowing upwardly through said groups of superimposed hearths.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process as defined in claim 3 in which said preheated air is heated to a temperature ranging from 1000° to 1200° F prior to being introduced into said lower hearth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process as defined in claim 1 in which said solid waste material and said auxiliary fuel are fed into the upper and lower hearths, respectively, of each group of superimposed hearths in a generally horizontal plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process as defined in claim 1 in which the temperatures throughout the furnace range from approximately 1250° F to 2000° F.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
The process as defined in claim 1 in which all inlet air is introduced into the lowermost group of hearths in an amount ranging from approximately 10 to 13 times the theoretical amount required for combustion in the lowermost group of hearths in a 14 hearth furnace with the total air introduced into the combustion system ranging from approximately 1.25 to 2 times the theoretical requirement for combustion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process as defined in claim 1 in which ash is also removed from selected lower hearths of said superimposed groups of hearths.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
145 words
In apparatus for the disposal of solid waste material containing combustibles in a gravity-type furnace having multiple groups of superimposed hearths, (a) means for feeding solid waste material into the upper hearth of each said group of superimposed hearths so that said material is preheated, dried and burned within said group of superimposed hearths, (b) means for introducing preheated air for combustion into the lower hearth of the lowermost groups of said superimposed hearths with said air for combustion flowing upwardly through said groups of superimposed hearths, (c) means for supplying auxiliary fuel to the lower hearth of each said group of superimposed hearths, and (d) means regulating the flow of said auxiliary fuel into said lower hearth of each said group of superimposed hearths to maintain the discharge temperature of gases flowing from each said upper hearth above the ignition temperature of said gases.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
145 words
In apparatus for the disposal of solid waste material containing combustibles in a gravity-type furnace having multiple groups of superimposed hearths, (a) means for feeding solid waste material into the upper hearth of each said group of superimposed hearths so that said material is preheated, dried and burned within said group of superimposed hearths, (b) means for introducing preheated air for combustion into the lower hearth of the lowermost groups of said superimposed hearths with said air for combustion flowing upwardly through said groups of superimposed hearths, (c) means for supplying auxiliary fuel to the lower hearth of each said group of superimposed hearths, and (d) means regulating the flow of said auxiliary fuel into said lower hearth of each said group of superimposed hearths to maintain the discharge temperature of gases flowing from each said upper hearth above the ignition temperature of said gases.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which the means for regulating the flow of said auxiliary fuel into said lower hearth comprises a temperature sensor in each said group of superimposed hearths.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which the means for introducing preheated air for combustion into the lower hearth of the lowermost group of said superimposed hearths comprises, (a) a heat exchanger, (b) means for conveying exhaust gases from the upper hearth of the uppermost group of said superimposed hearths through said heat exchanger, and (c) means for circulating the air to be preheated through said heat exchanger.