US4176611A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for treating waste material
Assignee: Nichols Engineering and Research Corp
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Filing: 1978-07-18
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Granted: 1979-12-04
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Expires: 1998-07-18
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for treating waste material in a counter-flow furnace wherein the material is introduced at one end thereof and the processed material is discharged from the other end, while air is simultaneously introduced thereto and the gases of combustion are caused to flow in counter-current direction with respect to the material being processed and are exhausted at the first end of the furnace, and wherein the furnace has a natural tendency to form zones of processing including sequentially from the first end of the furnace, a drying zone, a charring and volatile burning zone, a fixed carbon burning zone and an ash cooling zone, the method comprising the steps of bleeding secondary exhaust gases from the middle of the furnace substantially between the fixed carbon burning zone and the charring and volatile burning zone, and adding air to the furnace in the charring and volatile burning zone. According to one aspect of the invention the secondary exhaust gases are passed in heat exchange relationship with respect to the air being added to the furnace.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles F. von Dreusche, Jr.
- 👤 Louis T. Barry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:41
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23G; F23G5/00; F23G5/24; F23G5/28; F23G5/08; F23G5/14; F23G5/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
In a counter-flow furnace wherein waste material to be processed is introduced at one end thereof and the processed material is discharged from the other end thereof, while simultaneously air is introduced thereto and the gases of combustion are caused to flow in counter-current direction with respect to the material being processed and are exhausted at said one end of the furnace and wherein the furnace has a natural tendency to form zones of processing including sequentially from said one end of the furnace, a drying zone, a charring and volatile burning zone, a fixed carbon burning zone and an ash cooling zone, a method comprising the steps of bleeding secondary exhaust gases from the middle of said furnace substantially between said fixed carbon burning zone and said charring and volatile burning zone, and adding supplemental air to said furnace in the charring and volatile burning zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a counter-flow furnace wherein waste material to be processed is introduced at one end thereof and the processed material is discharged from the other end thereof, while simultaneously air is introduced thereto and the gases of combustion are caused to flow in counter-current direction with respect to the material being processed and are exhausted at said one end of the furnace and wherein the furnace has a natural tendency to form zones of processing including sequentially from said one end of the furnace, a drying zone, a charring and volatile burning zone, a fixed carbon burning zone and an ash cooling zone, a method comprising the steps of bleeding secondary exhaust gases from the middle of said furnace substantially between said fixed carbon burning zone and said charring and volatile burning zone, and adding supplemental air to said furnace in the charring and volatile burning zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said secondary exhaust gases are passed in heat exchange relationship with respect to said supplemental air being added to the furnace in the charring and volatile burning zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein air is added to said furnace in one of the last named two zones in a quantity below that theoretically required for complete combustion of the material being processed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
176 words
In a multiple hearth furnace having a plurality of vertically spaced hearths, wherein waste material is introduced to the furnace at the top thereof and moves downwardly in a generally serpentine fashion alternately inwardly and outwardly across the hearths and is discharged at the bottom of the furnace, while simultaneously air is introduced thereto towards the bottom of the furnace and the gases of combution are caused to flow in countercurrent direction with respect to the material being processed and are exhausted at the top of the furnace, and wherein the furnace has a natural tendency to form zones of processing including sequentially from the top of the furnace to the bottom thereof, a drying zone, a charring and volatile burning zone, a fixed carbon burning zone, and an ash cooling zone, a method comprising the steps of bleeding secondary exhaust gases from the middle of said furnace substantially between said fixed carbon burning zone and said charring and volatile burning zone, and adding supplemental air to said furnace in the charring and volatile burning zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
176 words
In a multiple hearth furnace having a plurality of vertically spaced hearths, wherein waste material is introduced to the furnace at the top thereof and moves downwardly in a generally serpentine fashion alternately inwardly and outwardly across the hearths and is discharged at the bottom of the furnace, while simultaneously air is introduced thereto towards the bottom of the furnace and the gases of combution are caused to flow in countercurrent direction with respect to the material being processed and are exhausted at the top of the furnace, and wherein the furnace has a natural tendency to form zones of processing including sequentially from the top of the furnace to the bottom thereof, a drying zone, a charring and volatile burning zone, a fixed carbon burning zone, and an ash cooling zone, a method comprising the steps of bleeding secondary exhaust gases from the middle of said furnace substantially between said fixed carbon burning zone and said charring and volatile burning zone, and adding supplemental air to said furnace in the charring and volatile burning zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for treating waste material comprising, in combination, a counter-flow furnace wherein waste material to be processed is introduced at one end thereof and the processed material is discharged from the other end thereof, means for introducing air to said furnace, means for causing the gases of combustion to flow in counter-current direction with respect to the material being processed, a primary exhaust gas outlet disposed at said one end of the furnace, said furnace having a natural tendency to form zones of processing including sequentially from said one end of the furnace, a drying zone, a charring and volatile burning zone, a fixed carbon burning zone and an ash cooling zone, means for bleeding secondary exhaust gases from the middle of said furnace substantially between said fixed carbon burning zone and said charring and volatile burning zone, and means for adding supplemental air to said furnace in the charring and volatile burning zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for treating waste material comprising, in combination, a counter-flow furnace wherein waste material to be processed is introduced at one end thereof and the processed material is discharged from the other end thereof, means for introducing air to said furnace, means for causing the gases of combustion to flow in counter-current direction with respect to the material being processed, a primary exhaust gas outlet disposed at said one end of the furnace, said furnace having a natural tendency to form zones of processing including sequentially from said one end of the furnace, a drying zone, a charring and volatile burning zone, a fixed carbon burning zone and an ash cooling zone, means for bleeding secondary exhaust gases from the middle of said furnace substantially between said fixed carbon burning zone and said charring and volatile burning zone, and means for adding supplemental air to said furnace in the charring and volatile burning zone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus for treating waste material according to claim 5 further comprising means for passing said secondary gases in heat exchange relationship with respect to said supplemental air being added to the furnace in the charring and volatile burning zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus for treating waste material according to claim 5 further comprising means for adding air to said furnace in one of said last named two zones in a quantity below that theoretically required for complete combustion of the material being processed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
178 words
Apparatus for incinerating waste material comprising, in combination, a multiple hearth furnace having a plurality of vertically spaced hearths, a rotatable center shaft extending through the center of the furnace and passing through each hearth, a plurality of spaced rabble arms secured to the center shaft and extending radially outwardly over each hearth, alternate hearths having drop holes disposed towards the center shaft and the other hearths having drop holes disposed toward the outer periphery thereof, said furnace having an upper material inlet and a lower material dispensing outlet, and said furnace having an upper exhaust gas outlet, said furnace having a natural tendency to form zones of processing including sequentially from the top thereof to the bottom, a drying zone, a charring and volatile burning zone, a fixed carbon burning zone and an ash cooling zone, means for bleeding secondary exhaust gases from the middle of said furnace substantially between said fixed carbon burning zone and said charring and volatile burning zone, and means for adding supplemental air to said furnace in the charring and volatile zone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
178 words
Apparatus for incinerating waste material comprising, in combination, a multiple hearth furnace having a plurality of vertically spaced hearths, a rotatable center shaft extending through the center of the furnace and passing through each hearth, a plurality of spaced rabble arms secured to the center shaft and extending radially outwardly over each hearth, alternate hearths having drop holes disposed towards the center shaft and the other hearths having drop holes disposed toward the outer periphery thereof, said furnace having an upper material inlet and a lower material dispensing outlet, and said furnace having an upper exhaust gas outlet, said furnace having a natural tendency to form zones of processing including sequentially from the top thereof to the bottom, a drying zone, a charring and volatile burning zone, a fixed carbon burning zone and an ash cooling zone, means for bleeding secondary exhaust gases from the middle of said furnace substantially between said fixed carbon burning zone and said charring and volatile burning zone, and means for adding supplemental air to said furnace in the charring and volatile zone.
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) | 1982-12-03 | 1983-06-04 | 1983-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-12-03 | 1987-06-04 | 1987-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-12-03 | 1991-06-04 | 1991-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |