US4699588A — Method and apparatus for conducting a process in …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 167 words

An improved pulsating processing system for conducting a process in a pulsating environment, comprising: a processing chamber for processing material; means for introducing material to be processed into said processing chamber; means operatively associated with said processing chamber for introducing a flow of heated gases into said processing chamber to process material introduced into said processing chamber; means for exciting at least one transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode in said processing chamber, said exciting means being operative about the frequency of a transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode of said processing chamber; tuning means operatively associated with said processing chamber and said exciting means for selecting the frequency of said exciting means about the frequency of said transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode; and means for removing processed material from said processing chamber; whereby material introduced into said processing chamber is subjected to acoustic pulsations about the frequency of said transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode while the material is being processed in said processing chamber.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 167 words

An improved pulsating processing system for conducting a process in a pulsating environment, comprising: a processing chamber for processing material; means for introducing material to be processed into said processing chamber; means operatively associated with said processing chamber for introducing a flow of heated gases into said processing chamber to process material introduced into said processing chamber; means for exciting at least one transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode in said processing chamber, said exciting means being operative about the frequency of a transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode of said processing chamber; tuning means operatively associated with said processing chamber and said exciting means for selecting the frequency of said exciting means about the frequency of said transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode; and means for removing processed material from said processing chamber; whereby material introduced into said processing chamber is subjected to acoustic pulsations about the frequency of said transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode while the material is being processed in said processing chamber.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 15 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 1, wherein said system is a heat transfer system.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 15 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 2, wherein said heat transfer system is a boiler.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 15 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 2, wherein said heat transfer system is a heater.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 1, wherein said system is a chemical processing system.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 5, wherein said chemical processing system is a calcining system.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 1, wherein said pulsating processing system is a physical processing system.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 7, wherein said physical processing system is a magnetohydrodynamic electrical generation system.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 17 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 7, wherein said physical processing system is a material drying system.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 17 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 9, wherein said material drying system is a kaolin drying system.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 1, wherein said transverse acoustic mode in said processing chamber is a radial acoustic mode.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 1, wherein said transverse acoustic mode is a tangential acoustic mode.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 18 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 12, wherein said tangential acoustic mode is the first tangential acoustic mode.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 12, wherein said tangential acoustic mode is a tangential acoustic mode other than the first tangential mode.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 35 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 12, wherein said exciting means comprises a plurality of combustors operatively associated with said processing chamber so as to excite the first tangential acoustic mode of said processing chamber.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 15, wherein said plurality of combustors are tangentially mounted to said processing chamber in a nonparallel array.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 27 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 15, wherein said plurality of combustors comprises a pair of combustors tangentially mounted to said processing chamber in a parallel array.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 19 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 17, wherein said pair of combustors are operated in an opposing phase relationship.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 18 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 17, wherein said pair of combustors are operated in a phased relationship.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 20 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 1, wherein said transverse acoustic mode in said processing system is a tangential-radial mode.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 29 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 1, wherein said tuning means comprises variable frequency fuel modulation means for modulating fuel inflow into a combustion region of said combustor means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 39 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 1, further comprising exhaust means for expelling spent gases from said processing chamber, and wherein said tuning means comprises variable frequency exhaust modulation means for modulating exhaust gases expelled by said exhaust means.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 23 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 22, wherein said exhaust gas modulating means comprises rotary valve means operatively associated with said exhaust means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 23 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 7, wherein said tuning means comprises variable frequency acoustic driver means operatively associated with said processing chamber.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 44 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 1, further comprising air intake means for introducing air for combustion into said combustor, and wherein said tuning means comprises variable frequency air intake modulation means for modulating air introduced into said combustor through said air intake means.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 41 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 1, wherein said tuning means comprises variable frequency gas modulation means operatively positioned between said combustor and said processing chamber for modulating the flow of hot gases expelled from said combustor into said processing chamber.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 16 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 1, wherein said tuning means comprises a tunable pulse combustor.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 15 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 1, wherein said exciting means comprises a pulse combustor.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 20 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 1, wherein said processing chamber is supported for operation at a predetermined angular inclination.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 24 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 1, further comprising means for introducing gases into said processing chamber for temperature control within said processing chamber.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 119 words

An improved pulsating processing system, comprising: an acoustically excited processing chamber for processing material; means for introducing material to be processed into said processing chamber; means operatively associated with said processing chamber for introducing a flow of heated gases into said processing chamber to process material introduced into said processing chamber; means for exciting at least one natural longitudinal acoustic mode in said processing chamber; and selectively variable tuning means operatively associated with said longitudinal mode exciting means for changing the excited frequency to optimize processing of the material introduced into said processing chamber, whereby material introducing into said processing chamber is subjected to selectable tunable longitudinal acoustic pulsations while the material is being processed in said processing chamber.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 119 words

An improved pulsating processing system, comprising: an acoustically excited processing chamber for processing material; means for introducing material to be processed into said processing chamber; means operatively associated with said processing chamber for introducing a flow of heated gases into said processing chamber to process material introduced into said processing chamber; means for exciting at least one natural longitudinal acoustic mode in said processing chamber; and selectively variable tuning means operatively associated with said longitudinal mode exciting means for changing the excited frequency to optimize processing of the material introduced into said processing chamber, whereby material introducing into said processing chamber is subjected to selectable tunable longitudinal acoustic pulsations while the material is being processed in said processing chamber.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 40 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 31, wherein said heated gas introducing means comprises a combustor means, and wherein said tuning means comprises variable frequency fuel modulation means for modulating fuel inflow into a combustion region of said combustor means.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 39 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 31, further comprising exhaust means for expelling spent gases from said processing chamber, and wherein said tuning means comprises variable frequency exhaust modulation means for modulating exhaust gases expelled by said exhaust means.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 22 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 33, wherein said exhaust modulating means comprises rotary valve means operatively associated with said exhaust means.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 23 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 31, wherein said tuning means comprises variable frequency acoustic driver means operatively associated with said processing chamber.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 52 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 31, wherein said heated gas introducing means comprises a combustor means, and wherein said tuning means comprises variable frequency gas modulation means operatively positioned between said combustor and said processing chamber for modulating the flow of hot gases expelled from said combustor into said processing chamber.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 21 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 31, wherein said heated gas introducing means and said tuning means comprises a pulse combustor.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 54 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 31, wherein said heated gas introducing means comprises a combustor, and further comprising air intake means for introducing air for combustion into said combustor, and wherein said tuning means comprises variable frequency air intake modulation means for modulating air introduced into said combustor through said air intake means.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 24 words

The pulsating processing system of claim 31, further comprising means for introducing gases into said processing chamber for temperature control within said processing chamber.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system of claim 31, wherein the optimized processing comprises controlling the final content of the processed material.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 31, wherein the optimized processing comprises controlling the amplitude of pulsations inside the processing chamber to the reduce noise level.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system of claim 31, wherein the optimized processing comprises controlling the final temperature of the processed material.

Claim 45

Independent Claim 145 words

A method of processing material by subjecting the material to a pulsating processing environment, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a processing chamber for processing material; (2) introducing material to be processed into a first predetermined region of the processing chamber; (3) providing a flow of heated gases to a second predetermined region of said processing chamber to process material introduced into the processing chamber; (4) providing an acoustic exciter operative at about the frequency of a transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode in the processing chamber; and (5) tuning the acoustic exciter to a frequency about said transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode of the processing chamber. whereby material introduced into the processing chamber is subjected to acoustic pulsations about the frequency of a transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode of the processing chamber while the material is being processed in the processing chamber.

Claim 46

Independent Claim 145 words

A method of processing material by subjecting the material to a pulsating processing environment, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a processing chamber for processing material; (2) introducing material to be processed into a first predetermined region of the processing chamber; (3) providing a flow of heated gases to a second predetermined region of said processing chamber to process material introduced into the processing chamber; (4) providing an acoustic exciter operative at about the frequency of a transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode in the processing chamber; and (5) tuning the acoustic exciter to a frequency about said transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode of the processing chamber. whereby material introduced into the processing chamber is subjected to acoustic pulsations about the frequency of a transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode of the processing chamber while the material is being processed in the processing chamber.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of optimizing the processing of material in said processing chamber by providing acoustic oscillations with the acoustic exciter at a frequency which optimizes a particular parameter for a given process.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 44, wherein the optimized parameter is the temperature of the processed material.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 44, wherein the optimized parameter is moisture content in the processed material.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 44, wherein the optimized parameter is the amplitude of pulsations inside the processing chamber to reduce noise level.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of adding dilution air into the processing chamber for temperature control in the processing chamber.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 184 words

An improved dryer for drying material in a pulsating environment, comprising: a generally cylindrical drying chamber; means mounted inside said drying chamber for introducing material downwardly into said drying chamber; at least one pulse combustor connected to exhaust a pulsating stream of heated gases at a selected frequency along an interior tangential path inside a predetermined first region of said drying chamber; said frequency of said pulse combustor being selected to excite at least one transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode in said drying chamber for agitating and drying material passing downwardly through said drying chamber; tuning means operatively associated with said drying chamber for selectively exciting said transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode: means for collecting dried material in a second region of said drying chamber beneath said material introducing means after passage of said material through said stream of heated gases; and means for removing dried material from said second region, whereby material introduced into said drying chamber is subjected to acoustic pulsations produced by the excited transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode while being dried by the stream of heated gases.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 184 words

An improved dryer for drying material in a pulsating environment, comprising: a generally cylindrical drying chamber; means mounted inside said drying chamber for introducing material downwardly into said drying chamber; at least one pulse combustor connected to exhaust a pulsating stream of heated gases at a selected frequency along an interior tangential path inside a predetermined first region of said drying chamber; said frequency of said pulse combustor being selected to excite at least one transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode in said drying chamber for agitating and drying material passing downwardly through said drying chamber; tuning means operatively associated with said drying chamber for selectively exciting said transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode: means for collecting dried material in a second region of said drying chamber beneath said material introducing means after passage of said material through said stream of heated gases; and means for removing dried material from said second region, whereby material introduced into said drying chamber is subjected to acoustic pulsations produced by the excited transverse or three dimensional acoustic mode while being dried by the stream of heated gases.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 17 words

The improved dryer of claim 49, wherein said material to be dried is a slurry of material.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-10-12	1991-04-13	1991-10-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-10-12	1995-04-13	1995-10-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-10-12	1999-04-13	1999-10-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for conducting a process in a pulsating environment

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